Master Michael Muleta’s first visit to Korea

Between the 31st of January and 6th of February, Master Michael Muleta, the President of  United ITF Australia (INO#23), Chairman of the ITF Umpiring Committee (Oceania Region) and Chairman ITF Expansion Committee (Asia Region), visited Korea.

This was his first trip to the cradle of Taekwondo where he met the Secretary General of ITF-Korea Mr Oh Chang Jin, Chairman of the Chungcheong University Dr Oscar Oh and his fellow country man, the Chairman of the ITF Research Committee, Dr Zibby Kruk, who also resides in Korea and is part of the organizing committee for the upcoming World Taekwondo Festival and 2010 ITF World Taekwondo Championships.

The main purpose of Master Muleta’s visit was to assist in the development  of educational training programs with the newly established World Taekwondo Training Center at Chengchong University. Taekwondo ITF will be for the first time taught in a Korean university as an official subject.

The establishment of professional, government accredited courses with the highly successful and regarded Global Fitness Institute in Australia, of which Master Muleta is the CEO, will provide more opportunities for the students to become accredited instructors and coaches in the area of fitness, sports coaching (martial arts), sport development, administration and support services, along with their taekwondo training.

While in Korea, Master Muleta also conducted an ITF training session in Gwangju for the instructors and students of the region, assisted by Dr Kruk. The intense mini-seminar was well attended and received with students ranging from lower gups to 6th Degree, covering various sparring drills, patterns and fundamental movements. 

He visited Dong Hak Sa female monk temple and experienced the warmth of the traditional Korean steam spa (Jjim Jil Bang) and developed an appreciation of the unique Korean cuisine.  While in Gwangju, he visited a bamboo park and had a chance to enjoy the Gwangju instructor’s exceptional hospitality.

He also had an opportunity to pay his respects to our Taekwondo Founder, General Choi Hong Hi, at an eternal memorial shrine set up in the ITF Korea complex.

As the organizer of the 2006 Junior World Championships and long time Sports director, Master Muleta shared his knowledge and experience in a series of meetings with the organizing committee of the World Taekwondo Festival and ITF World Taekwondo Championships, which will be held in June-July this year in Korea, which was eagerly received and appreciated by the organizers.

Master Muleta''''s company has agreed to be a sponsor of the upcoming international Taekwondo festivities.

His successful first visit established good working relationship between the ITF Korea, Chungcheong University World Taekwondo Training Center and Global Fitness Institute, and opened the door for further visits and collaboration.

Dr Zibby Kruk – ITF Research, World Taekwondo Championship/Festival Organizing Committee