A personal letter by ITF President, Grand Master Paul Weiler
The ITF has been working on the African continent since June 2008 to spread ITF Taekwon-Do of General Choi. The first country, I taught in was Ethiopia and therefore I have a special and personal relationship to this country and its people. More than 20 seminars and training courses, five IICs, up to four African Cups and two African Championships were organized in Ethiopia. During the time, all Taekwon-Do activities were brought to other countries in East and Southeast Africa, as Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to name only a few.
In 2016, the African Taekwon-Do Federation was founded and with the listing of a total of 9 founding members (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe) and five board members, the constitution was submitted for registration in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Various changes in office of the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Sports unfortunately led to the registration being postponed repeatedly. Although the hope for being successful decreased from year to year, we never gave up our common efforts. Finally, our perseverance has led to success and today I have received the written confirmation that the African Taekwon-Do Federation was successfully registered and recognized by the Ethiopian Ministry for Culture and Sport.
You can perhaps imagine how happy I am about this great news. Finally, the hard work over many years has been rewarded.
I would like to thank all those who contributed to the success, in particular all Grand Masters, Masters and Instructors supporting us, the Board of Directors of the Ethiopian International Taekwon-Do Federation (EITF) and the ITF Africa Development Team Members. A very special thanks goes to the current Minister of Sports, His Excellency Ambassador Mesfin Chennet, and the EITF Secretary General, Mr. Yimer Haile Tesfaye.
GM Paul Weiler
ITF President
November 12, 2022
ITF commemorates Gen Choi’s 104th birthday
Taekwon.John Njoroge from Kenya,i personally i appreciate the Effort that you are showing to make sure that this art grow in Africa
Great! this is the mile stone for Africa itf thank you every body involved bringing the results.
we are looking for additional efforts from the government to give offices to the continent federation