After 8 years of continuous growth, Romanian Taekwon-Do ITF Federation took the opportunity to organize the 1st ever International Instructor Course and International Adapted Course in Romania, in the beautiful city of Cluj-Napoca.
On July 8th – 10th, 2022 the Sports Hall “Horia Demian” was the venue for the 156th IIC, where 130 Taekwon-Do passionate instructors from 12 countries trained together in our wonderful martial art, perfecting the technique, learning new funny exercises to teach the students and being introduced into the Adapted methods to teach persons with disabilities.
The IIC was conducted by the Chairperson Grand Master Hector Marano from Argentina, assisted by the ITF Technical Committee Members Grand Master Ung Kim Lan from Germany and Master Jerzy Jedut from Poland.
We were honored to have as special guest from Israel, Master Leo Oros-Duek, Chairperson of Taekwon-Do Adapted Committee and President of All Europe Taekwon-do Federation, as well as Mr. Yavor Tasev, Secretary General of the All Europe Taekwon-do Federation.
The event was specially flavored by the presence of an important part of AETF Board Members, naming Master Virginia Dionisi from Belgium, Vice President of AETF, Master Alexandru Mureșan from Romania and Saboom Péter Szász from Hungary as Board Members.
On Friday afternoon, the event began with receiving our distinguished guests in the venue with the traditional Romanian custom, offering bread and salt as a sign of welcoming and openness.
Master Oros-Duek, as ITF representative, officially announced the opening of the event, then everybody in the venue paid respect to our Founder, Gen. Choi Hong Hi in a solemn saluting moment.
Grand Master Marano took the opportunity to announce that in the morning, Master Alexandru Mureșan was tested for the 8th degree black belt, there was an excellent examination and the Committee was happy to grant him this important degree.
After an energic and fun warming up conducted by Master Jedut, the afternoon continued with reviewing the color belt patterns techniques, receiving interesting explanations about sine wave and heap motions from GM Marano. GM Lan guided the audience through three, two and one step sparring rules as well as on ways of teaching.
On Saturday morning, the IIC continued with reviewing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree pattern techniques, occasion with which the attendance could perfect their pattern performance and fix eventual mistakes in the execution.
The whole afternoon was dedicated to the International Adapted Course, in which Master Oros-Duek explained the purpose, the context and need of introducing such an interesting topic to the Taekwon-Do instructors, offered one book to each country representative and continued afterwards with practical methods of teaching and fun exercises.
On Saturday evening, the official dinner was the best opportunity for attendants to celebrate together with Grand Masters and Masters, to exchange impressions in a formal yet friendly and fun atmosphere.
President of Romanian Taekwon-Do ITF Federation, Saboom Cosmin Oprescu, in the name of our organization, proudly offered a special plaque to Master Alexandru Mureșan for his 8th degree promotion in sign of recognizing his continuous dedication to the development of the federation, congratulating him for being the first 8th degree Taekwon-Do Master in Romania.
Sunday began with a group photo session, continued with warming up using belts where everybody enjoyed the funny moments while doing actually important movements for the body. The whole morning was dedicated to the refining and explaining the complex techniques of patterns for 4th degree and above, explained by GM Marano and GM Lan.
Black belt holders up to 3rd degree had the chance to practice various exercises presented by Master Jedut.
Grand Masters offered a special class for all present Masters in the course.
The event continued with handing over the certificates, thanking the organizers for such a successful event, President Oprescu offering presents to our guests and everything ending with individual and “by country” photo sessions.
Special thanks go to Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, and his local authority team, to Cluj County Direction for Sports, ITF Office for the support and Members of the Romanian Taekwon-Do ITF Federation Board members who worked hard to organize and give all our guests the best conditions for this International Course.
Looking forward to starting already preparing the next important international Taekwon-Do event in Romania, The European Championship in April 2023, in the name of our President Cosmin Oprescu and all the Romanian Board Members, I am sending all our readers our best and warm wishes.
Yours in Taekwon-Do,
Cristian Popa
Board Secretary of Romanian Taekwon-Do ITF Federation
Important meeting to concretize projects
