miguksaram
Master of Arts
Got this info sent to me today:
UNITED STATES TAEKWONDO COMMITTEE
INFORMATION SHEET
The following information is provided primarily to Dojang Owners who are seeking information about the United States Taekwondo Committee in an effort to help them to decide whether to join our organization or not.
The United States Taekwondo Committee (USTC) was formed on August 11, 2007 with the purpose of spreading the development and growth of the Martial Arts aspects of Taekwondo. We seek to promote the non-Olympic sport aspect of Taekwondo. To that end, the USTC hosted an International Hanmadang Referee Certification Course in February 2008 that was attended by 230 Masters and Grand Masters. The USTC then hosted the 2008 World Hanmadang in July 2008 in Los Angeles, CA, marking just the first time that the World Hanmadang was held outside of Korea. USTC is hosting a Kukkiwon International Poomsae Seminar in Dallas, TX on December 6-7, 2008, followed by another International Hanmadang Referee Certification and Refresher Course that will be held in April 2009 in Chicago, IL. Also, the USTC will be hosting the first United States National Hanmadang in June 2009 in Chicago, IL. All of this from such a young, fledgling organization, and with more to come!
An organization that exists primarily to stress the Martial Arts aspects of Taekwondo should appeal to all Dojang owners because, as you well know, only two (2) percent of your students are motivated to become Olympic Taekwondo athlete. The other 98% of your students practice Taekwondo for reasons other than making the Olympic team. Those reasons may include the following: Discipline, Self-Defense, Health Improvement, Self-Control, etc. All Taekwondo dojangs approach the study of Taekwondo by teaching a variety of kicks and punches, self-defense techniques, Poomsae (forms), and perhaps sparring techniques. Students young and old practice these activities daily in Taekwondo dojangs around the world. That is why we currently number over 70 million Taekwondo practitioners worldwide. So, ask yourselves- What is the chance of one of my students making an Olympic Taekwondo Team? The Olympics currently consists of only 128 athletes in total, male and female.
What chance does my student have of making it to a Taekwondo World Championship? The Taekwondo World Championship consists of national teams that can consist of no more than 8 male and 8 female athletes from each participating country. What about the other millions of Taekwondo practitioners around the world? What is there for them, as far as International or World competitions?
The fact is that the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the international Governing Body for the Olympic Sport of Taekwondo. Presently, only Olympic Sparring is an Olympic event. Poomsae is not an Olympic Sport event. Additionally, USA Taekwondo is the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of Taekwondo in America. Their charter is to select a team representing the USA that will compete at WTF events such a World Cup, World Championships, Pan Am Games, and the Olympic Games. So, the pecking order is as follows: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the world governing body for all Olympic sports. They recognize one international sports body for each sport. That internationally recognized body for Taekwondo is the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). The WTF, in turn, recognizes one national governing body (NGB) in each of its member countries. In the USA that NGB is USA Taekwondo.
Kukkiwon is the World Taekwondo Headquarters and is located in Seoul, Korea, as is the World Taekwondo Federation. Kukkiwon is charged with developing and promoting the Martial Art of Taekwondo globally. The martial art aspect of Taekwondo includes all areas that are not under the auspices of the Olympic Sport of Taekwondo- Poomsae, Breaking, Self-Defense, etc. These are the same aspects that the other 98% of Dojang students practice and in which they excel. Kukkiwon is also the International Body responsible for Dan Promotions and the licensing of Taekwondo Instructors. As you may see, Kukkiwon has a totally different responsibility and mission to promote Taekwondo globally. Sometimes, the WTF and Kukkiwon act cooperatively. For example, participants at WTF events must have Dan Certification from Kukkiwon.
The United States Taekwondo Committee is set up as a corollary organization to USA Taekwondo, only it is under the auspices of Kukkiwon. We follow closely the Kukkiwon mission of promoting the Martial Arts aspects of Taekwondo in the United States of America. We are not in competition with USA Taekwondo. We make no attempts to field a team of athletes to compete in Olympic competition. Rather, we promote participation of Taekwondo students young and old in the Taekwondo Hanmadangs.
A Hanmadang is simply a Taekwondo Festival. Hanmadangs include performances in High Kicks, Speed Kicks with breaking, Power Breaks, Poomsae performed solo, in pairs, and in teams. We also have Creative Poomsae divisions that include extreme weapons. There are also divisions for family members to perform as a team. Self-Defense divisions include individual and team performances as well. So, all of this represents directly what every Dojang owner already teaches in his/her school. All of this celebrates the martial arts aspects of Taekwondo and is attractive to the whole family.
Here is a diagram that shows the relationship between WTF and USAT, and between Kukkiwon and USTC:
WTF KUKKIWON
' '
USA Taekwondo United States Taekwondo Committee
From this diagram, you should be able to tell that we are separate organizations with distinct different paths to follow.
We suggest that all Dojang owners consider participating with the United States Taekwondo Committee for the large percentage of your students who may not be interested in trying to make an Olympic team.
UNITED STATES TAEKWONDO COMMITTEE
INFORMATION SHEET
The following information is provided primarily to Dojang Owners who are seeking information about the United States Taekwondo Committee in an effort to help them to decide whether to join our organization or not.
The United States Taekwondo Committee (USTC) was formed on August 11, 2007 with the purpose of spreading the development and growth of the Martial Arts aspects of Taekwondo. We seek to promote the non-Olympic sport aspect of Taekwondo. To that end, the USTC hosted an International Hanmadang Referee Certification Course in February 2008 that was attended by 230 Masters and Grand Masters. The USTC then hosted the 2008 World Hanmadang in July 2008 in Los Angeles, CA, marking just the first time that the World Hanmadang was held outside of Korea. USTC is hosting a Kukkiwon International Poomsae Seminar in Dallas, TX on December 6-7, 2008, followed by another International Hanmadang Referee Certification and Refresher Course that will be held in April 2009 in Chicago, IL. Also, the USTC will be hosting the first United States National Hanmadang in June 2009 in Chicago, IL. All of this from such a young, fledgling organization, and with more to come!
An organization that exists primarily to stress the Martial Arts aspects of Taekwondo should appeal to all Dojang owners because, as you well know, only two (2) percent of your students are motivated to become Olympic Taekwondo athlete. The other 98% of your students practice Taekwondo for reasons other than making the Olympic team. Those reasons may include the following: Discipline, Self-Defense, Health Improvement, Self-Control, etc. All Taekwondo dojangs approach the study of Taekwondo by teaching a variety of kicks and punches, self-defense techniques, Poomsae (forms), and perhaps sparring techniques. Students young and old practice these activities daily in Taekwondo dojangs around the world. That is why we currently number over 70 million Taekwondo practitioners worldwide. So, ask yourselves- What is the chance of one of my students making an Olympic Taekwondo Team? The Olympics currently consists of only 128 athletes in total, male and female.
What chance does my student have of making it to a Taekwondo World Championship? The Taekwondo World Championship consists of national teams that can consist of no more than 8 male and 8 female athletes from each participating country. What about the other millions of Taekwondo practitioners around the world? What is there for them, as far as International or World competitions?
The fact is that the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) is the international Governing Body for the Olympic Sport of Taekwondo. Presently, only Olympic Sparring is an Olympic event. Poomsae is not an Olympic Sport event. Additionally, USA Taekwondo is the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of Taekwondo in America. Their charter is to select a team representing the USA that will compete at WTF events such a World Cup, World Championships, Pan Am Games, and the Olympic Games. So, the pecking order is as follows: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the world governing body for all Olympic sports. They recognize one international sports body for each sport. That internationally recognized body for Taekwondo is the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). The WTF, in turn, recognizes one national governing body (NGB) in each of its member countries. In the USA that NGB is USA Taekwondo.
Kukkiwon is the World Taekwondo Headquarters and is located in Seoul, Korea, as is the World Taekwondo Federation. Kukkiwon is charged with developing and promoting the Martial Art of Taekwondo globally. The martial art aspect of Taekwondo includes all areas that are not under the auspices of the Olympic Sport of Taekwondo- Poomsae, Breaking, Self-Defense, etc. These are the same aspects that the other 98% of Dojang students practice and in which they excel. Kukkiwon is also the International Body responsible for Dan Promotions and the licensing of Taekwondo Instructors. As you may see, Kukkiwon has a totally different responsibility and mission to promote Taekwondo globally. Sometimes, the WTF and Kukkiwon act cooperatively. For example, participants at WTF events must have Dan Certification from Kukkiwon.
The United States Taekwondo Committee is set up as a corollary organization to USA Taekwondo, only it is under the auspices of Kukkiwon. We follow closely the Kukkiwon mission of promoting the Martial Arts aspects of Taekwondo in the United States of America. We are not in competition with USA Taekwondo. We make no attempts to field a team of athletes to compete in Olympic competition. Rather, we promote participation of Taekwondo students young and old in the Taekwondo Hanmadangs.
A Hanmadang is simply a Taekwondo Festival. Hanmadangs include performances in High Kicks, Speed Kicks with breaking, Power Breaks, Poomsae performed solo, in pairs, and in teams. We also have Creative Poomsae divisions that include extreme weapons. There are also divisions for family members to perform as a team. Self-Defense divisions include individual and team performances as well. So, all of this represents directly what every Dojang owner already teaches in his/her school. All of this celebrates the martial arts aspects of Taekwondo and is attractive to the whole family.
Here is a diagram that shows the relationship between WTF and USAT, and between Kukkiwon and USTC:
WTF KUKKIWON
' '
USA Taekwondo United States Taekwondo Committee
From this diagram, you should be able to tell that we are separate organizations with distinct different paths to follow.
We suggest that all Dojang owners consider participating with the United States Taekwondo Committee for the large percentage of your students who may not be interested in trying to make an Olympic team.