During the Shavuot holiday, the technical manager of the ITF and My Instructor, Grandmaster Hector Marano visited Israeli for the sixth time, as a guest of the Israel Taekwon-Do Association.

On the first day of the visit the city of Yoqneam hosted exams for black belt. 19 Practitioners from Zichron Ya'akov, Yoqneam and Tel Aviv were examined for first degree and six more from those cities to second degree. All were nine years old and above, while some have been practicing in the local community center since the age of four.

On the following day the new community center in Zichron Ya'akov hosted a seminar for the many Israeli practitioners. The first part was designed for color belts blue and above and from the age of 10 up to youth and seniors. Over 60 sportsmen participated from Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Haifa, Ra'anana, Yoqneam, Giva'at Ada and Zichron Ya'akov. At the start, all those who had an exam the previous day recieved the good news that as of today they are black belts.

In the seminar, many intersting questions indicating on intelligence and will to study from the participants. The Grand Master explained and answered all the questions and even complimented the askers for their wise questions.

In the second part of the day took place the second seminar for black belts starting first degree up to the, as of the previous day, Israel's first sixth degree and highest rank - Sabumnim Mario Cosacow!

During the three hours the sportsmen learned techniques from white to black belt. The many questions inveitably lengthened the seminar, but all were happily answered. On the following day all instructors second degree and above from across the country had another seminar, in it participated trainers from Ashdod, Tel Aviv, Ra'anana, Haifa and Yassur.

In the evening of the third day a Gala dinner was arranged for members of the Israel Taekwon-Do Association (ITA), instructors and practitioners, during which a movie was screened, following the first visit in 2003 of then Master Marano, until today, and including the successes of the Israeli team in the Open European Cup this year in Bratislava, Slovakia.

After the movie a short ceremony carried out and management members of the ITA made short speeches: the president Danny Roth, vice president Mario Cosacow, General secretary Leonardo Oros-Duek, Treasurer Luis Sajnovetzky and the lawyer Efrayim Barak who's representing the ITA and who's also an international sports referee in Israel and in the world.

Grand Master Marano then congratulated the ITA saying that the Israeli Taekwon-Do is constantly growing and improving, and in the past years the Israeli flag is starting to make its appearance in the world competitions taking place abroad. The Israeli Taekwon-Do ITF is starting to get familiar worldwide and for this he thanking the sportsmen, practitioners and supporting families.

Yours in Taekwon-Do
Leonardo Oros Duek
General Secretary TKD-Israel