In commemoration of the 71st anniversary of Taekwon-Do, the for Children’s Development Committee (CDC) reports that an open lecture for instructors was held on Saturday, April 11th, with the participation of one hundred and forty-one (141) members of the Colombian Taekwon-Do Association, along with special guests.
The event was opened by the president of the National Association, Master Nelson Gómez, who offered welcoming remarks. Following this, the vice president and organizer, Sabum Nim Arlex Obando, gave an institutional introduction, highlighting the importance of understanding, disseminating, and applying the content developed by this Committee to support Taekwon-Do instruction for children.
The presentation was given by Master Fabián Izquierdo, in his capacity as chair of the Committee, and Sabum Andrea Manna, a member of the Committee, who presented an overview of the institution’s work and its main areas of focus in children’s training.
Following the presentation, a question-and-answer session was held, focusing primarily on the following aspects:
a) The pedagogical suitability of Taekwon-Do instruction in relation to the different stages of child development.
b) Children’s participation in competitive events.
Given the virtual format of the meeting, the responses were formulated in general terms, prioritizing essential content for teaching practice, including: stages of child development, the distinction between growth and development, learning processes in childhood, sports initiation, and respect for children’s fundamental rights.
Due to the high number of questions received, several remained unanswered. Consequently, this Committee commits to scheduling further training and support sessions, either through a repeat of the implemented format or other modalities deemed appropriate, such as workshops, courses, or seminars.
All instructors are encouraged to continue deepening their training in child development, in accordance with the ITF guidelines promoted by this Committee.
Finally, all National Member Associations, and through them their Schools and Instructors, are invited to promote and organize training opportunities in conjunction with the Committee for Child Development, in order to sustainably strengthen the quality of Taekwon-Do instruction for children globally.
Children’s Development Committee
International Taekwon-Do Federation
Personnel changes in the ITF
