Report of 1st African open ITF TKD championship and 7th IIC
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Ethiopian Tae –kwon-do Association is a
national association which shows promising improvement and growth from time to
time and it is now on an international level. Hence, the association prepares
annual instructors course. This year’s course, organized by the association was
held on Aug 7/2015 led by Master Kiros G/Meskel, and also assisted by Mr. MATTHEW BRUNGER of the
UK ITF Tae-kwon-do.
The course is organized for the 7the times in
Ethiopia, and 578 people were participated. Participants from Kenya, India, and
USA were presented to this 1st African open competition and ITF
course. The course and the competition was inaugurated by minister of the
national sport ministry. The honorable minister also conferred presents
prepared by the association on Ms. Amanda and Mr. Matt of USA, Mr. Matthew of
England, sabum David of Kenya, and of Mr. Sabir India. who came to support the
association in material as well as to participate in competitions. Mr. Matt and
Ms Amanda made a speech about the material support to the association they
brought from USA. The two people on their speech said that all we are of one
family under Grand master Choi Jung hwa. and the material support we brought
for you to day is easily found and buy in the USA but difficult for you to have
and therefore as long as we all are from one family we must help each other and
that’s why we coordinated members of Phoenix Group (INO 78) in the
USA to support and bring it here today. We have also found additional support
from Canada Cazzotto Martial Arts, a martial arts supply
dealer in Canada. and we
will bring it for you in the next time. They handed over the material support
they brought to the ETA president Master Kiros G/Meskel. The Medias has covered
the program sufficiently
Friday
Aug 7/2015
Morning at 7:00 Am Mr. MATTHEW arrived
in Addis Ababa Bole air port and received warm welcome, then taken to the
Hotel. There was no enough time as he come the day in which the course start so
he went to the place in which the course is held, where he received warm
welcome of 578 participants. Master Kiros introduced Mr.MATTHEW
From UK AND Mr. Matt and Ms Amanda who come from the USA
to the congregation of ETA tae-kwon-do family and started warming activity
right away. Next, Mr. MATTHEW gave
basic lesson of hand and kick techniques.
After a while Master Kiros also gave lessons
on sparring techniques and allow the time to Mister Matthew to continue on the
lesson and Mr.MATTHEW has done
it very well. The training continued until lunch break by Master Kiros’ lesson
of self defense. At 1:00 pm the training stopped for a while and certificates
were given to those who contributed for the program.
After lunch the training continued focusing
on patterns. At around the evening many were prepared for DAN exam and went through
it until 9:00 pm and accordingly, after successfully accomplished the exam
certificates were given to the participants
Friday Aug 7,2015 the tournament committee
has done weighing work and approval of certificates along with DAN exam
process, and commendably accomplished its tasks
Saturday
Aug 8,2015
Morning at 8:30 competitors presented in
person at their placed and the competition opened at 9:00 Am with green belt.
Mr.MATTHEW, Ms
Amanda, and Mr Matt along with other Ethiopian umpires led the competition.
Sparring competition was held in another ring. Most of competitions held in
Saturday were juniors, and it was successfully accomplished.
Since, Mr MATTHEW flies to England on Saturday
midnight, he was taken to the Ethiopian traditional night clubs together with
senior Ethiopian tae- kwon-do experts before his flight. He was delighted in
his stay at the traditional night clubs and spent unforgettable stay, then he
left to England.
Sunday
Aug 9,2015
At 9:30 Am competition opened at the recently
built sport academy constructed by the government of Ethiopia. Accordingly,
juniors’ competition which were not completed in Saturday and other senior
competitions were made with two rings. In this 1st African open ITF
championship 420 men and women competitors from abroad and from the nation have
participated. Many competitors from abroad witnessed the high level of
Ethiopian tae- kwon-do and they suggested if Ethiopian competitors participate
in world championship tournaments they would be effective.
Accordingly, the two good will ambassadors
who came from the USA competed in pattern, sparring and board braking and
hence, Ms Amanda in 4th DAN pattern received gold medal, and silver
medal in sparring. Mr. Matt received gold medal in 3rd DAN single
pattern and became 4th in sparring. Most of the Kenyan competitors
were strong rivals and have got many medals out which several are bronze and
silver and a few are gold. The woman, who come from India competed in the 70kg
category won gold medal. In the competition Ethiopian competitors have taken
high number medals in both sexes in pattern, sparring, and special technique
power braking.
As the competitions completed medals and
certificates were given and special award was given for the top winner.
Competitors from northern part of Ethiopia made a surprise to Master Kiros by
giving him special northern Ethiopian traditional presents.
Generally, the dream of Master Kiros; who
have made great effort to organize such a great tournament in Ethiopia has come
true. The tournament was magnificent and unforgettable with high support of Phoenix
Group (INO 78) group of USA, especially Master Suzan and
members of the group in general. In
addition to their material support they sent highly experienced world champion
competitors for the magnificent of the tournament hence, high government
officials, national Tae–kwon-do students, and Tae–kwon-do instructors presented
their gratitude to all who contributed to this tournament. More over the
Tae-kwon-do federation of Kenya has made great contribution by sending 20
competitors. Sebum Richard king David and his national Tae-kwon-do organization
contribution was great and we thanked them for this. Our Indian friends have
sent 6 competitors and couch , and the international tae-kwon-do federation and
the England Tae-kwon-do federation have sent Mr. Mathew and made the necessary
assistance and we thank them very much.
In general, 420 tae-kwon-do athletes and 30
umpires were participated in this tournament and we thank all them very much.
We believe that you will participate in the next tournaments and give the
necessary support.
Taekwon
Sabum Yonatan Alemayehu
ETA Secretary General
Written by: Ethiopian Taekwon-Do Association (INO 313) - 20th August 2015
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