Sunday 28th June saw members of the ITF Scotland board and National Coaching Staff meet in Stirling to finalise the goals and objectives for the up coming campaign and set the training dates on the run to the European Championships in Scotland this October.

During the meeting the coaching staff for the 2015 European Championships were confirmed as ;
Team director – Master G. Wallace
Team manager – Mr. J. McIlvaney
Head coaches;
Pattern/Pre-Arranged – Mr. M. Boydell
Sparring – Mr. R. Blair
Assistant Coaches – Mr. D. McGhee & Mr. M. Leask

The training dates and selection details will be released this week via www.itfscotland.com, as well as the Facebook page and e-mail.

The next two training sessions confirmed as follows;

NORTH – Saturday 4th July (12.30pm – 3.30pm @ MWBA, Aberdeen)
SOUTH – Sunday 5th July (10.00am – 2.30pm @ GMAC Livingston Gym)

We look forward to a European championships on home soil in just over 4 months time.

Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th of July

Taekwon-Do Uk are proud to be hosting a seminar with Master Wallace 8th Degree Blackbelt. Master Wallace has just been elected to the ITF Umpire Committee and has been working hard in raising the technical standards of referee and students.

We are very proud to be training under such a technical mind

Monday 25th May – Departure

The ITF Scotland National Team consisting of 5 coaches, 22 squad members, and numerous traveling support, departed from Edinburgh for the Italian Coastal City of Lido de Jesolo on the early morning flight at 6am.  The team arrived in Jesolo shortly after 2pm on Monday afternoon.  On settling into the rooms, the team had a quick meeting, with the coaches giving the itinerary for the day ahead; a quick bite to eat, re-hadrate and some light training in pre-dinner.  Shortly after arrival Mr. McIlvaney (Team Manager) along with coaches Mr. Blair, Mr. Boydell, Mr. Condie and Mr. McGhee headed off to the arena to complete the registration process with the organising committee, collecting the teams ID Cards.  The day ended with the evening team meeting.

Arrival in Jesolo

Tuesday 26th May – Registration/Weigh-in

First official day of the championships for Team Scotland, after a light breakfast, the team headed off to the championships arena to make use of the matted area available for training, this was also the venue for the team’s weigh-in due at 12:48.

After a 1 1/2 hours training, in very hot conditions the team made way to the weigh-in room, with all competitors making weight first time.  On completion of the process, we headed back to the hotel for lunch, and some downtime, before the afternoon patterns session.  Most of the team made use of the beach for some team volleyball, and had a cool down in the hotel pool afterwards.

5pm team patterns training, and individual for those competing in patterns on Wednesday and some light sparring work for those juniors competing in sparring also.

After dinner, the team, headed off to the opening ceremony at 9.30pm.  To end the day team meeting, with details of the draws, and preparation for the competition beginning tomorrow at 9am.

Wednesday 27th May – Morning First day of competition

The time has come, competition Day 1!

Very early start here in Italy this morning, with 7am breakfast and heading straight to the venue, to warm – up.

A run down of todays results from our teams reporter for the week; Mrs Carr 🙂

AM – Juniors Sparring
Michael McRoberts was up first thing in -62kg dominated a win in first round v Belgium , defeated in second round v Argentina.
Erin Blair -55kg defeated by Germany in first round. Gutsy performance for first international.

PM – Patterns

Senior 2nd Degree Patterns
Stephanie Willis first round v Poland defeated 2:3
Alice Wilson first round v Uruguay win 5:0, second round v Paraguay win 3:2, third round v  Ireland defeated 0:5
Alexander Gray through first round competitor from Chile not approved, defeated second round v Finland 0:5

1st Degree Patterns
David Gray first round v USA win 5:0, second round v Ethiopia win 5:0, third round v Poland defeated 0:5.

Senior Power

Rachel Morning – first up for Scotland-  boards were stubborn, no breaks.
Stephanie Willis , boards still stubborn, scored 6 points for turning kick.

To end the day, the team surprised Caitlin McGhee with a birthday cake and card to celebrate her 19th birthday.

You can find the pictures from the past few days on the ITF Scotland Facebook Page – WC2015 Gallery

You can now subscribe to the ITF Scotland Website, and receive all news postings direct to your e-mail address.  Sign-up and be the first to receive news and information as they are posted on the site.

To sign up add your email address to the subscription box and hit “subscribe”.

ITF Scotland wil be represented by 22 members from across Scotland at the forthcoming World Championships in Jesolo, Italy from 26th – 31st May 2015.

The national team have been training week-in-week-out over the last six months in preparation for the event beginning on Tuesday.  This year see’s many new competitors join the squad on their first international and world event, as well as a number of seasoned regulars.

Senior Female Team;  Stephanie Willis, Alice Wilson, Katie Humphries, Megan Brown, Rachel Morning & Caitlin McGhee

Senior Male Team;  Chris Dickson, Alexander Gray, Gilles Brown, Iain O’Hare & David Gray

Junior Female Team; Katrina Carr, Erin Blair, Dannielle Gallacher, Danielle Simmers, Jodie Boydell, Christina McGhee, Alex Marshall & Elle trinder

Junior Male Team; Michael McRoberts, Gregor Towers & Matthew O’Hare

Coaching Staff:  Robin Blair VI, John McIlvaney VI, Mark Boydell V, David Condie V, Daniel McGhee IV

Also in attendance will be ITF Scotland President Grand Master MacCallum.  Master Gordon Wallace who will be assisting the ITF Tournament Committee, and Mrs Wallace who shall be assisting with the ring councils during the event.

We would like to once again thank our National Team Sponsors Mightyfist UK for kitting the team out with their competition Doboks.

And Arnold Clark Motorstores for the sponsorship of the 2015 team wear.

A daily report will be posted on the progress of the team over the duration of the event.  Check back regularly for updates from Italy.

Dear Masters and Instructors,

Miss Katya Solovey Seminar, Aberdeen, Scotland 20-21 June 2015 

Please find enclosed details of our sparring seminar with Miss Katya Solovey III and assisted by Miss Viktoriia Sokolovska II. Miss Solovey needs no introduction and her partnership with her husband Sabum Oleg, in launching their Fight Evolution Programme has been widely received around the World.

Here in the NE of Scotland we are very excited to host the:

 2 times ITF World champion

 9 times ITF European champion

 2 times ITF World cup champion

 2 times ITF European cup champion

 3 times WAKO World champion

 2 times WAKO European champion

 4 times WAKO World cup champion

 WAKO World cup 2012 light-contact best fighter

to our small part of the country during the weekend of Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June 2015 and we extend this invitation for participation to all ITF members. We intend to have three seminars of the weekend to allow all ages and grades the experience of training with one of the foremost female sparring competitors in the ITF and who also extended her Taekwon-Do success to the WAKO kickboxing circuit.

Miss Solovey, ably assisted with Miss Sokolovska, will essentially determine the seminar contents but it will be based upon ITF sparring systems, drills and conditioning exercises that have made her the great champion that she is.

Please review the adjoining Information pages in this handout for further details.

Yours sincerely,

Master Gordon Wallace VIII

Northern Taekwon-Do Academies (NTA)

SEMINAR DETAILS

The venue will be the Beach Leisure Centre, Sea Beach Aberdeen, AB24 5NR, Scotland UK and it is the same venue that we had the 100 IIC in.

http://www.sportaberdeen.co.uk/venues/beach-leisure-centre/

SEMINAR ONE & TWO 

10:30 – 11:00 Hall Open and registration for 1st Seminar

11:00 – 12:30 SEMINAR ONE ALL GRADES WHITE – BLUE (3rd KUP) (Under 13 yrs. All participants must have sparring equipment and should bring one training pad with them) Plus photo session

12:30 – 13:30 Break for Lunch

13:30 – 14:00 Registration for 2nd Seminar

14:00 – 16:00 SEMINAR TWO ALL GRADES (13 yrs and over. All participants must have sparring equipment and should bring one training pad with them)

16:00 – 16:30 Photo Session

SEMINAR THREE 

12:00 – 12:30 Hall open and Registration for 3rd Seminar

12:30 – 15:00 SEMINAR THREE 2nd Kups and BLACKBELTS ONLY (All ages. All participants should bring one training pad with them)

15:00 – 15:30 Photo Session

All applications queries should go to Mrs Jacqui Wallace III at admin@ntaevents.co.uk

All seminar queries should go to Master Gordon Wallace VIII at info@ntaevents.co.uk

SEMINAR REGISTRATION 

Entry to the seminar will be by pre-paid ticket that is available only through the Organising Committee.

Seminar One and Two will be limited to 100 people per seminar and will be booked on a first come first served basis. Confirmation of your places will be done when the seminar fees are received in the NTA Account. Your instructor will be given an email confirmation and we will send out the participation tickets

Seminar Three for Red and Blackbelts will be limited to 65 in order to give all attendees more focused training with Miss Solovey. Red and blackbelts can also attend seminar two on Saturday afternoon and as extra session but not as an alternative.

All registrations must be done through instructor or group as we cannot accept individual applications from students.

SEMINAR ONE UNDER 13 yrs WHITE to BLUE BELT £20

SEMINAR TWO WHITE TO BLUE £25

SEMINAR THREE RED and BLACK £30

SEMINARS 2 & 3* RED and BLACK £40 

*Red and black belts may attend Seminar Two as an add on but not as an alternative.

ACCOMMODATION

The Seminar Organising Committee is not responsible for any accommodation bookings. Should you require accommodation there are an array of budget hotels within the City Centre area.

There are a range of budget hotels:

www.premierinn.com/

www.travelodge.co.uk

www.ibis.com/gb/united-kingdom/index.shtml

The following central hotels are not far from the Seminar Venue

www.jurysinns.com/hotels/aberdeen 

www.aberdeendouglas.com/ 

In addition to those listed and I am sure you will have your own web finder preferences, but here is one that we use:

www.booking.com

DOWNLOADS

Seminar Information Document 

Individual Entry Application Form

School Entry Application Form

ITF Scotland were hosts to the 100th International Instructors Course, in Aberdeen, Scotland over the weekend of 13th – 15th March 2015.

Below you can find a report compiled by Master Gordon Wallace 8th Degree and Master David McNair 7th Degree.

Thursday 12/3/15

100 IIC week started early with the arrival of the ITF Board of Directors and to Aberdeen for their first full board meeting of 2015. After some small sightseeing trips and good food, it was down to two days of business for them.  During this time members of the Technical Committee started to arrive.

On Thursday evening after day two of the meeting our ITF Board and Committee members were officially welcomed to Aberdeen by the City Lord Provost, Councillor George Adam at his official council chambers.  The purpose of the reception was for the city to officially welcome the ITF Board of Directors and Technical Committee with informal drinks reception.

 The evening started After his welcome address and the reply from Snr Vice President Master Weiler.  During his reply Master Weiler presented with an ITF lapel pin badge. Afterwards our VIPs were invited to an excellent buffet that was greeted enthusiastically by our VIPs. A tour of the Chambers followed directed by the town sergeant explaining the history of the building and its many artefacts. The reception evening lasted about 2 hours and it celebrated the start of IIC weekend.

Friday 13/3/15

Day One at 13:30 on Friday it started with the entrance of the ITF Board of Directors, minus of course, our President who could not make it due to extra ordinary circumstances, Aberdeen Lord Provost. Councellor George Adam and followed by the Technical Committee of GM Marano, GM Bos, GM Lan and making his inaugural position within the Technical Committee, from Canada Master Clint Norman and Master Donato Nardizzi of the Children’s Development Committee.  After the initial welcome addresses and official opening statement from Snr Vice President Master Paul Weiler, the 100th IIC declared open and it was time for business.

The assembly turned and paid respect in the now traditional Narani So Hanulson.  GM Bos opened the IIC first session with his trademark passionate array of hi energy drills, exercises and stretches.  From the balcony, venue staff members said their eyes were hurting with all the white suits dashing around everywhere.  Motivation being the key element in GM Bos’s instruction had everyone severely on their toes and knuckles at some points to give all practitioners the old memory and new experience of how training used to be on a wooden floor.

GM Marano then took over to give his trademark detailed section of fundamental movement with this time giving the key focus on the body movement, whilst stepping, changing stance sliding and shifting.  The fundamental theories were then put into practice with the early Kup grade patterns and they finished with Won Hyo.

Gm Lan took the next session of defending and attacking at the various distances and used drills of step and side shifting to highlight the importance of correct positioning to maximise the counter attack effectiveness. GM Lan then gave demonstrations and examples of close quarter defence and counters when being restrained and explained the importance of eliminating potential additional attacks by putting your opponent in a position of disadvantage.

Master Norman made his IIC debut by continuing the sparring theme from practical sparring theories into competition sparring theories.  The example drills were given in the form of practical inline sequences followed by demonstration drills by volunteers using focus equipment.

The afternoon session closed at 17:30.

Saturday 14/03/15

The second day started with “An Audience with GM MacCallum” in which he gave a narrative about his life and times with General Choi.  The talk was laced with some straight stories laced with some very funny anecdotes which gave everyone an insight into the public and private personality of our Founder.

Master Norman led the first technical session with all participants guiding them through 1^st degree patterns with a move by move explanation. GM Bos followed on with another hi energy kicking session with dynamic drills and exercises, not to mention a new “Shaving Chagi”, endorsed by Mr Brett Stronach IV degree from England.  After the break the group split with GM Lan leading 2^nddegree patterns and Master Norman directing the 1^st degree group with the remainder of the Kup grade patterns.

Lunch break was followed with the afternoon session led by Master Nardizzi and the Kids Programme.  In a very animated and group participating session Master Nardizzi showed many of the techniques and methods for leading a class of young students.  There was much role playing and laughter with his team acting out the special trial and tribulations of a junior student class leader.

The IIC weekend then got prepared for the 100 IIC Scottish themed Banquet.  The banquet was held at the home of Aberdeen FC, Pittodrie Stadium and 257 attendees had booked their places. Prior to this weekend the Technical Committee along with the ITF President were asked if they would like to get into the spirit of the Scottish evening by wearing traditional Scottish Highland dress.  All agreed including our President GM Trajtenberg, but of course he was not to attend, so in keeping with the duties of the Snr Vice President, Master Weiler agreed to fill his shoes, or kilt in this occasion.

A piper greeted the guests and the evening started with a reception drinks for the ITF VIPs whilst the banquet guests took their places. The ITF Board of Directors and Technical Committee were piped in to the guests in the room.  Master Wallace welcomed all to the Banquet and gave an outline of the evening.  Everyone was then treated to a pre-recorded video message from GM Trajtenberg and the successful candidates from the day’s degree test were given specially prepared congratulation cards to commemorate their achievement.

To start the Scottish evening properly a special tribute was given to the Scottish poet Robert Burns.  Each year he is remembered in the form of a supper of a local dish “Haggis”.  Burns made a special address to the “Haggis” and this address was acted out in front of the guests where it is ceremoniously “sacrificed” then served up to eat.  After the Banquet Dinner, guests were then treated to a Scottish Ceiled, where all guest were in full spirit and filled the dance floor, enthusiastically getting through the many varied Scottish dances.  The Banquet closed at 12 midnight with many of the VIPs staying late.  It was a fantastic night with many great photo opportunities and we would like to especially thank the many visitors who embraced the Scottish themed night.

Sunday 15/3/15

A very prompt start to the Sunday, with everyone lining up at 09:00. 

We were invited to sit and were given a presentation on the ITF Africa project (by the ITF VP, Mtr Wieler) and the progress of II Deg Mr Kamir and his prosthetic leg.

GM Bos followed with a warm up and some stretching for all. The hall was then divided into 2 groups, with I & II deg with Master Norman covering the colour belt patterns.

GM Bos then proceeded with III & IV degree patterns, he was pretty laid back with these but took some time to show the application of some of the
more complicated movements. There was a bit of Banter during these demos and GMB remarked how the IIC’s have changed since the General Choi days and that it was
possible to make jokes and laugh with the masters and other ranks. GM Marano & Lan were on hand walking thru the lines making small corrections to individuals
if required.

Again the hall was split  V – IX degree and I – IV degrees, the higher degrees went thru their patterns with GM Marano.

The lower degrees lined up under GM Lan then buddied up 1-2-1. GM Lan spent the rest of the morning showing kicking combinations and sparring drills which can be used to speed up everyone’s reaction times.

Everyone lined up in front of the ITF board, sadly due to over-running on the schedule some members had to leave to make flights and trains and missed out on what was to follow.

Master Wallace took to the microphone and one by one thanked the ITF Technical Committee and Board for their attendance, he presented gifts  symbolising friendship and spirit in TKD.

He spoke from the heart about his memories going back 30+ years with GM Bos and emphasised that this was GM Bos last European IIC now that he was starting a new
chapter with the ICCs, as an observer. According to testament from others, this was the most emotional scenes I’ve ever witnessed at an IIC. 

Each of the board members made their own acceptance speech in return and thanked the IIC organisers for what had been a wonderful  week. In an unusual turn of events GM Bos then made a presentation to
both Master Wallace and Mrs Wallace, to thank him for his organisation of the event, (again, testament from others) MW was visibly surprised humbled and quite emotional, 

The VP then officially closed the 100th IIC, there was the customary  group photo, followed by individual photos and book signing before a swift departure  

Report by

Master Gordon Wallace VIII and Master David McNairn VII