Master Juan Ferrando, ITF Secretary General and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of ITF Convention

The representatives of AETF HQ talked to Master Juan Ferrando, ITF Secretary General and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of ITF Convention held on 7th – 11th September in Benidorm, Spain. Below you can find his answers.

• What is your assessment of the ITF Convention?
  In my opinion the level of ITF Convention was very high. ITF Board of Directors and myself have received many information. Participants from many countries attended this event. We have gained the precious experience and learned feelings of our members as well as kind of service we must provide with our members. From the start I was convinced that our members need this kind of service from ITF authorities.

• Why this Convention is called the first? In the past there were Conventions organized by Gen. Choi Hong Hi like in the years 96-97 in Canada or after he passed away in Honduras or Warsaw?
  I called this Convention the first because I consider that this is the first event with such a wide spectrum of issues and topics. Former ones usually raised one subject. Probably in 2012 people will start noticing the changes in our Organization. That Convention was only the beginning.

• What do you consider the biggest success of that Convention?
  Taekwon-Do Kids and teaching Do, as well as panel with master Paul Weiler. IIC, although conducted on a very high and with attendance of many well-known masters level was nothing new for participants. Everyone received many materials and a big dose of knowledge. It was also occasion to meet with people from all over the world.

• Is ITF going to organize next Convention?
  ITF Board of Directors made a decision that ITF Conventions will be held in the year of World Championships. The next one will probably take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is one of the countries in which ITF counts with more members.

• How do you estimate the level of lecturers?
  Our Organization could have always boasted about distinguished people having big intellectual potential. Instructors were very professional, well prepared and conducted the classes very enthusiastically. Unfortunately some participants were not ready for such a high level of lecturers and classes.

• If you had have a chance to conduct the Convention once again what would you have changed?
  This Convention was kind of a test for us. As I said, not all participants were prepared to receive so many information on such a high content-related level. Thus I think that in Convention shall take part people with appropriate preparation, having minimum 4th Degree. They are more experienced, they understand better issues regarding development of Taekwon-Do ITF, are strongly bounded to ITF and have better economical situation.
  The date of the Convention coincided with the beginning of the school year in many countries as well as with the start of trainings in many schools and clubs, thus it shall be or bend of August or end of September. Willing to provide our members as much information as we can we made a mistake and had planned too many workshops per day. Convention shall last for about a week, with classes only in the morning or afternoon, and with longer breaks. Thanks to this it would be a platform to share ideas and opinions, it would become kind of discussion panel. This is what people expect. They have very good ideas. We must only listen to them and use their experiences. Currently, we had too many workshops and there was no time for exchanging opinions.

• Could you resume ?
  We have received very positive feedback. The Convention provided many helpful information for ITF Board of Directors which will increase the quality of our services, the policy and the plan for development plan for the next four years. I am sure that the all the members of our organization soon will see the effects of our activities.