On June 20th & 21st, in Utrecht, The Netherlands, the latest addition to the international seminars of the ITF will kick-off: the International Competition Course (ICC). You’ve guessed it right, this seminar will focus on the competitive elements within ITF Taewkon-Do, as well as subjects that need more attention then they receive in the well-known IIC’s, like competion tuls and practical applications of hosinsuls.

The seminars will be under supervision of the ICC Committee, that consists of ciritically acclaimed ITF Taekwon-Do coaches and trainers GM Wim Bos, Masters Willy van de Mortel en Jeruk Jedut, en Sabum Tomaz Barada.

The registration form can be found here: http://www.itf-nederland.nl/1st-icc/

You can win free admission to the 1st ICC through the Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/328043624071231/

Special deal for every competitor who goes to the World Cup in Jesolo we raffling a set of gloves and a Top Ten Dobok among everyone who registers for the ICC in the Netherlands!

INTERVIEW WITH MASTER WILLY VAN DE MORTEL ON THE 1st ICC

Within ITF Taekwon-Do Master Willy van de Mortel (8th Degree) is a well known name. Since 1976 he has been practicing Taekwondo, he was very successful as a participant in many (inter) national tournaments (more than 140 prizes!). Master Willy achieved as a trainer and coach of Tomaz Barada (Slovenia), Julia Cross (Scotland) and Bianca Tapilatu (Netherlands) many successes. With the national teams of the Netherlands, Italy, Slovenia, New Zealand and Norway he obtained more than 50 places of honor at both the European and World Championships. Meanwhile, he is also part of the International Competition Committee as one of the instructors who will teach at the International Competition Courses (ICC). A good opportunity for an interview about the past en present with a passionate Master with an impressive resume.

• Nowadays you’re an icon in Taekwondo yourself, but who were once your idols?
  "Grand Master Bos, Bill Wallace and GM Hee Il Cho."

• The ICC offers the possibility to train with well-known (Grand)masters, but was this also possible in previous times?
  "In the past this was almost impossible. I personally trained with Bill Wallace and GM Hee Il Cho. Training together was for me the ideal opportunity to acquire knowledge from different sources. So was Bill was very approachable and GM Hee Il Cho was very powerfull. Personally I think Grandmaster Bos was the best, because he was very allround. "

• What is the difference in the way of training compared with your active competition period and today?
  “A lot has changed. In the past there was much more basic training. For example, you we would practice the same technique over and over for 45 minutes during training. It used to be technically simpler, but much harder. If you’re training like that today you’ll be the only one left in the dojang eventually."

• What is your favorite element in Taekwon-Do competition?
  "Sparring. For me as a coach one or two tips that make all the difference for your student are the most satisfying. Becoming champion is not necessarily the main goal. It’s about the growth of your students."

• Would you previously like to have had the chance to go to an ICC?
  "Sure. Especially because these opportunities not exist. Now there is the opportunity to gain knowledge, "to open your mind." Previously, if you were on a club which did not took part in competitions, you had bad luck."

• Why is the ICC created?
  "There was already the idea to do something with competition. The idea originated a few years ago. During the European Cup in Hungary (2014), the plan has become concrete."

• Do you see anything on the international tournaments which you thought we should do something about it and why this is the way to fill that need?
  "At the moment that on IIC's also parts of sparring were taught questions arose, but there was no time to answer them. During IIC's, more and more questions where asked about sparring and exercises, and also because some parts are always snowed under for lack of time such as hosin sul. "

• How does the ICC fits into the ‘grand strategy’ of the ITF?
  "Since the ITF is growing fast it fits in very well. Graduations and examinations are an important part, but also competitions are an important and large part of the ITF. Major tournaments, seminars and similar meetings are a moment of (international) connection. Increasing the quality fits, partly as a connecting element, excellent within the ITF strategy."

• What do you want to achieve as International Competition Committee by giving the ICC's? And what do you expect from the ICC?
  "I hope that the ICC will find its progress and that the next generation gets involved with the ICC Committee to help it grow into a future proof platform of knowledge. For me it is important that development takes place: it is an open growth model that evolves.

• The ICC is an attempt to lift the international quality to an even higher level: what qualities of the participants and/or countries would you like to bring together in a blender to create the ideal participant?
  “Well for example in South America and Canada, they particularly attack with the rear leg, with a lot of spirit and courage. In Europe this is done mainly with the front foot and the game itself is much more focused on tactics. These two approaches combined would create something beautiful."

• If you had to convince Taekwon-doins to come to the ICC, what would you say to them?
  "The ICC will be inspiring, it is about gaining knowledge, working hard (harder than during an IIC) and being dynamically involved. The goal is to motivate people and send them home with new ideas and knowledge. Whether for a coach as a participant, it is inspiring to hear how others experience things."

• There are a number of high quality international sparring seminars, how does the content of those seminars compair to the ICC?
  "The individual represent the ideas of those individuals. In the ICC, you get four different – experienced – views combined, which makes up for a bigger source to draw from."

• For whom is the ICC interesting?
  "Actually for everyone. Both active competitive athletes, coaches, teachers and practitioners who are less involved in competition. There’s a lot of knowledge to be gained at each level. Anyone can take out their own lessons, as long as they just open their mind."

• There are many items on the program. Why did you choose for two, instead of three days like the IIC's?
  "The difference is that the level of intensity of the seminar is higher than during an IIC. So three days might be a bit too much. Two days is still comfortable."

• Why is practical self defense in the program and what can we expect?
  "This was due mainly because people would like to see more of it during the IIC's. If it catches on the part can remain in it, but it can also be eliminated later. The program is evolving as a result of the input of the participants."

• Patterns are also part of competitions, how is it incorporated into the program? Why not prearranged sparring and team patterns?
  "Patterns will certainly be treated. The first few ICC’s there will be a lot of interaction and the final program will be formed on the basis thereof. For example, what’s concrete difference between a pattern during examination and during competition? You’re now judged on what you're doing wrong. There is less risk taken with force and balance due to the new way of refereeing. Personally I regret that the strength and experience is assessed less than in the past. Plus the mental aspect of performing patterns during a competition, how do you prepare for a "perfect" performance under high pressure. Prearranged sparring and team patterns aren’t on the program yet, but if there is demand can always include it. "

• Can you give an example how tactics will be handled during the ICC?
  "For example, during sparring someone stands one meter from the corner. What is your goal? Forcing a warning by forcing your opponent out of the ring? Try to score? What are your options and how do you decide on that in a split-second? What is your strategy? There’s no “right” answer to this, but there are different views on how to tackle things like this."

• What makes a coach a successful coach? Will coaches learn this during the ICC?
  "You only learn how to coach by doing it. You will make a lot of mistakes along the way, but you’ll learn from these. This way you’ll get new ideas. Just copying other coaches without thinking it through will not work, because every competitor is different. You have to put your own puzzle together. Personally, I think the most important success factor in coaching is the bond between coach and competitor. You have to be able to think and act as one."

• Referees do not always experience the same match as the participants and their coaches, is the ICC a bridge between these two worlds? Are, for example, competition rules being discussed and how to "play" with them?
  "We won’t discuss them seperately as such. However, there will be discussions during the course. For example, when a dollyo with the rear leg is being made and three referees who cannot see this still give two points … For referees it could be an enrichment to better understand the game from the perspective of a competitor. "

• Why should people attend at the first ICC?
  "Only at this ICC, the full ICC Committee will be present. In all following seminars, we will work with a different crew. This is the start of a new project and the perfect opportunity to see this with your own eyes and experience it yourself. It gives an extra dimension to be there "live" instead of being told by someone else."

• Who do you hope to see on the first ICC in the Netherlands?
  "We hope that a lot of people will come, also from neighbouring countries. Because the Netherlands is in central Europe, this is a great opportunity. As I said, as a master I also get new ideas from the seminars – and their attendees – that I visit."

• What would you like to say to international competitors who go to the European and World Championships and who have not yet registered?
  "Register and don’t miss this unique opportunity, invest in yourself!"