11th Annual Taekwon-Do International Seminar and Competition, April 11 and 12, 2015

On April 11, 1955 our martial art was officially named Taekwon-Do by General Choi Hong Hi.  To commemorate and celebrate 60 years on from this historic date, Taekwon-Do International hosted their 11th Annual Seminar and Championship over the weekend of April 10th to 12th.   Also, significantly, 2015 marks 40 years of teaching from TKDI Founder and President, Grandmaster Suk Jun Kim.  

Events celebrating both of these milestones were hosted over the weekend by Master John Meany, 6th Dan, owner and master instructor of Glen Ridge Taekwon-do.  Both TKDI member schools as well as several invited schools took part in the championship, and competitors did their best in forms, sparring and board breaking categories.  Grand Championship trophies were awarded in Male and Female black belt forms, in addition to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals for the student’s efforts.  Honored guests included Grandmaster Thomas Welsh, GM Ji Ho Choi, GM Young H. Kim and Master Jong S. Park, in addition to TKDI members Master Tony Morris from North Carolina, Master Mark Nathanson from New Jersey, Master Paul D’Ambrosio from California, Master James Marr from Ohio, Master Laura Giletti from New Jersey, Master Gil Choi from Delaware and Master Anna Gong from New York.  Demonstrations in patterns and board breaking were performed by Master Christopher Malarkey of Glen Ridge Taekwon-do, and Master Meany performed Tong Il, followed by him cutting an apple in half on the stomach of Master Malarkey, with a sword, while blind-folded!

The seminar on Sunday provided TKDI members and their students opportunity to practice  theories of movement and power generation, through the fundamentals of Taekwon-do, all under the direction of Grandmaster Kim and other senior instructors from the association.  In addition the pattern portion of the seminar students were given instruction on free-fighting techniques and competition training.

An exciting and historic weekend for all who attended!  Watch soon for details on our next event, the TKDI Summer Boot Camp August 7th - 9th in Goochland, VA. Thank you for your support of Taekwon-do International.

Morgan Prue, Secretary General