Photo: Radek Pietruszka (PAP)

On June 16, 2012 died General Sławomir Petelicki, Honorary Taekwon-do Black Belt.

The funeral mass was held at Warsaw's Church of Our Lady Queen of the Polish Crown, which is the field cathedral of the Polish army at 11am on June 26. The mass was followed by the funeral at The Military Cemetery at Powaski.

Polish Taekwon-do Assocation was represented by Mr. Tadeusz Łoboda, Mr. Andrzej Kozłowski and Mr. Andrzej Piotrowski.

Below, short interview with the President of Polish Taekwon-do Association and All Europe Taekwon-Do Federation Master Tadeusz Łoboda

• Why Gen. Petelicki was granted a Teakwon-do black belt?
  Taekwon-do from its very beginning had been closely associated with military. Its founder, Gen. Choi Hong Hi created this martial art for the needs of The Korean Arm Forces . Initial adepts and then Taekwon-do instructors were actually soldiers.
  Analogically, gen. Sławomir Petelicki founded GROM, Polish special forces unit that is extremely effective and considered to be one of the best special forces units in the world.
  He strongly supported efforts of the PZTKD of including Taekwon-do as one of the programs at the military universities and military units, as it is exceptionally effective martial art guided by code of conduct. A very important factor in granting General Petelicki a Black Belt was His strong character and achievements of His special forces unit during many international special operations.
  General Petelicki was certain that Teakwon-do was suppose to be included in Polish military training programs.
  In recognition of His achievements, International Taekwon-do Federation in 2006 awarded Him with master degree.

• What was Gen. Petelicki’s view on martial Arts?
  He was fascinated by martial arts since His early ages. He practiced judo himself. He had tremendous respect for martial arts masters. He was fascinated with their skills, sportsmanship and fortitude. One of the recruitment criteria for Grom was exceptional physical condition of the candidates, who actually in most cases had martial arts background (no wonder many soldiers practicing different martial arts, including TKD)

Click to see at higher size/resolution

• How Gen. Petelicki was supporting Taekwon-do?
  He supported the efforts of Taekwon-do in joining Sport Accord (international organization uniting sport associations) as well efforts of TKD being included in training programs in military units. His letter of support for the Taekwon-do was published in a special edition issued by the ITF „Quadratlon Taekwon-Do”.
  He also was a President of The Polish Military Taekwon-Do Federation and a representative of our country in CISM (the International Military Sports Council).
  For His 60th birthday, where many influential and important people were invited, one of the attractions was a Taekwon-do Presentation. It had made a great impression on all spectators.

• When did you meet him last time and where was it?
  General Petelicki was regulary inviting representatives of the Polish Taekwon-do Association to all His and the Grom foundation events such as the annual Christmas Eve gatherings as well as Easter ones. We had also attended His 60th birthday. We had been meeting at many occasions for example one associated with Taekwon-do joining Sport Accord or the one promoting a book about the General.
  There has always been incredible number of people attending all these events and surrounding the General creating a very special atmosphere. It was easy to spot a great respect and deference for him coming from everyone attending as well as from His soldiers.

From left: Master Tadeusz Łoboda, gen. Sławomir Petelicki, Mr. Andrzej Piotrowski, Master Jerzy Jedut

• How do you remember Gen. Petelicki, what kind of person He was?
  Warm, sensitive to people's harm, chatty, He liked talking about His adventures and about GROM unit. He often talked about His family. Nonconformist, often going upstream. He had a soul of the warrior, often quoting His grandfather that „God doesn’t like cowards”.
  Because of His achievements and a strong character he will always remain for the TKD a great example of an indomitable warrior with a strong legacy for the followers that Strength and Honor are the biggest values of each warrior, soldier and master of martial arts.

Read previous news:

Christmas meeting with gen. Petelicki - 22th December 2011

Black Belt For General Slawomir Petelicki - 5th October 2006