A Brief History of ITFNZ Taekwon-Do

Part 3 of 3

Top row from left: 2001 World Camp – black water rafting team. • The junior team at the airport ready for the ITF Junior World Championships in North Korea. • The team representing New Zealand at the 12th World Championships held in Italy. • In September 2001 the very first New Zealand Instructors’ Conference was held at Tui Ridge in Rotorua. Gradees and examiners were: Mr Chris Fitzgerald, Mr Jake Pearson, Mr Mark Banicevich, Mr Vince Pygott, Mr McPhail, Master Leong, Mr Davidson, Mr Andrew Niven, Mr Lawrence Mantjika, Mr Matthew Breen. • 2002 saw the very first Oceania Championships, hosted by Master Michael Daher, who is pictured with Toni Moki and Mark Trotter on a tour of Sydney. • Middle row from left: On 15th June 2002 our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi, passed away. A very sad occasion for all Taekwon-Doin the world over. • Early morning Lake Taupo dip at the first “Stripes 1 to 1” seminar 2002. • Junior World Championships in Puerto Rico – A happy Coach and Manager, Steve McQuillan and Debbie Trotter. • In 2003 – ITFNZ is to date the only Taekwon-Do organisation to gain SPARC recognition. • The Senior World Championships in June 2003 were held in Poland. Proud coach Andrew Niven with gold medalist Carl van Roon. • Bottom row from left: Mr Peter Graham and Master Trân in 2003. • Bay of Plenty became the location of ITFNZ’s first National Juniors Camp 2003. • Notable in 2004 was ITFNZ retaining its 3rd place position at the Junior World Championships held in Italy. • New Zealand came of age at its first International Instructors’ Course since the passing of General Choi. Pictured are Master Hector Marano and Master Pablo Trajtenberg.

The new millennium

It was during this stable period when many first time events took place.

The new millennium got off to an exciting start with New Zealand hosting a World Camp and, for the first time, a Junior Team was sent to the ITF World Championships in North Korea. (The team returned with a bronze in individual sparring.)

In February 2001 the New Zealand Taekwon-Do Academy, headed by Mr Harry Hemana, merged with ITFNZ, bringing together the two major ITF Taekwon-Do organisations in New Zealand. July saw a team representing New Zealand sent to the 12th World Championships held in Italy.

In September the very first New Zealand Instructors' Conference was held at Tui Ridge in Rotorua. It was very successful, with over 100 instructors and assistant instructors from throughout the country coming together to discuss the future direction of their organisation. The Conference kicked off with the largest senior dan grading New Zealand has ever had, with seven candidates grading to 4th dan. It was conducted by Master Leong Wai Meng (ITF Board member in charge of the Oceania region) who was the guest instructor for the Conference.

February 2002 started a new series of motivational seminars for all grades, called “Stripes on Tour”, conducted by newly promoted 4th dans. This became an annual event kicking off the start of each year with senior dans conducting seminars throughout the country.

The very first Oceania Championships was held in March in Canberra, Australia. New Zealand sent a small team over, and Mark Trotter returned as Grand Champion.

During the beginning of 2002, ITFNZ was approached by a group of instructors belonging to an organisation called Pacific Sun. Over the next few months various members of the Auckland North Region discussed with them the possibility of joining ITFNZ. At a meeting held in Orewa the Pacific Sun instructors decided to join. Present at the meeting were George Konia, Ricky Lawrence, Vince Pygott, Shirley Pygott and Andrew Niven. In May, ITFNZ gained three new clubs in Northland, becoming the most northerly ITFNZ clubs.

Top row: Photos from the 2003 National Camp held in January at Massey University. • Bottom row from left: To conclude the International Instructors’ Course in 2004, there was a senior dan grading, at which New Zealand gained its very first masters, Master Evan Davidson and Master Paul McPhail. • In 2005, New Zealand slipped one place to 4th overall at the Senior World Championships in Germany. Pictured: Luke Thompson – silver in individual men’s power test. • In November 2005, ITFNZ hosted its second Instructors’ Conference for instructors and assistant instructors. Master Davidson and Master McPhail conducted their first senior dan grading at the event, promoting two 5th dans and two 4th dans.

On the 15th June our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi, passed away, a very sad occasion for all Taekwon-Do practitioners the world over. He was due to conduct a seminar here later that year. In September we hosted the Aussie Invitational Tournament, which was the first ever tournament between ITFNZ and Bai-Rui.

ITFNZ’s commitment to the ITF

November saw another event that became an annual tradition: the first "Stripes 1 to 1" seminar. New Zealand was coming of age. For the first time there were enough home-grown 4th dans and above to have a senior dan seminar. It was at this meeting that the senior dans confirmed the Executive Committee’s earlier opinion that ITFNZ would align itself with the ITF under the leadership of Acting President Mr Russell MacLellan.

The year concluded with ITFNZ sending a team to the Junior World Championships in Puerto Rico, where for the first time New Zealand place 3rd overall (winning three gold, three silver and four bronze medals). Our first ever gold medallists at a Junior World Championship were Daniel Kerr, Kyle Caldwell, and Mark Trotter.

While all this was going on, Mr Norman Ng (the pioneer of Taekwon-Do in New Zealand) took over the presidency of ITFNZ (succeeding Mr Peter Graham who held the position for 13 years, and Mr Lawrence Mantjika). While in the presidency Mr Ng began discussions with other Taekwon-Do organisations, both ITF and WTF. The New Zealand Taekwon-Do Council (NZTC) was born. The goal of the NZTC was to unite Taekwon-Do in New Zealand for the purpose of obtaining government and Olympic recognition. On many occasions the New Zealand Taekwon-Do Federation (NZTF), the Taekwon-Do Union of New Zealand (TUNZ) and ITFNZ got together to draw up a constitution and set of rules to govern the council. Then at a meeting with the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) on 24th May 2002, when delegates of the three organisations congregated (Paul McPhail (ITFNZ), Glenn McGill (NZTF), John Lee (NZTF), John Davies (NZOC), Mike Hannah (TUNZ), Vince Pygott (ITFNZ) and Mark Tester (TUNZ)) to sign the final documents, it became clear that John Lee was not going to co-operate; so the possibility of obtaining Hillary Commission and Olympic recognition was lost for the time being.

Not deterred by this for long, in 2003 ITFNZ put a case together to take to Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC), a new body taking over from the Hillary Commission. With this change of format we tried again. Mr Greg Skinner (Coaching and Selections Director) went to Wellington to speak with SPARC officials and succeeded in obtaining government recognition. ITFNZ is to date the only Taekwon-Do organisation to gain SPARC recognition.

Other notable events to take place in 2003 were the National Camp held in January at Massey (the site of the original National Camps) once again organised by Mr Mike Lowe (Central Districts Regional Director). The guest instructor was Master Michael Daher (the new ITF Board member in charge of the Oceania region) from AITF in Sydney, Australia. It was during this event that ITFNZ commemorated General Choi Hong Hi’s death by unveiling a plaque and planting a kauri tree. (This is most significant as the kauri is a symbol of strength and longevity living for 2,000 - 3,000 years.)

The Senior World Championships in June 2003 were held in Poland. The New Zealand team came in 3rd place overall, bring home three gold medals (Gray Patterson, Carl van Roon, Women’s Team) one silver and three bronze. To top it off, Gray Patterson won Male Grand Champion.

ITFNZ was contacted by another group of instructors who wanted to join us, this time from Rhee Taekwon-Do. Paul McPhail, Mahesh Bhana, and Sue Breen, along with others held discussions with Trevor Harbrow and his instructors. In July, ITFNZ gained five new clubs and 300 members. From 8th - 10th October, Master Trân Triêu Quân, the newly elected President of the ITF, visited NZ for discussions with the Executive Committee and senior members on the future of the ITF. Present for the discussion were Tanya Katene (Treasurer), Sue Breen (Counties Manukau Regional Director), Andrew Niven (Auckland North Regional Director), Paul McPhail (Techniques Director), Peter Graham (former President) and Mahesh Bhana (Senior Examiner).

In November, the Bay of Plenty became the location of ITFNZ's first National Juniors' Camp. It was a very successful camp, reaching its maximum of 70 kids within weeks of the applications going out. This camp became another of ITFNZ’s many annual events.

Notable in 2004 was ITFNZ retaining its 3rd place position at the Junior World Championships held in Italy. The Junior Team won three gold, two silver, and eight bronze medals, and the female team came home best overall.

ITFNZ comes of age

From 6th - 8th August 2004, New Zealand came of age at its first International Instructors' Course since the passing of General Choi. Master Hector Marano (8th dan, ITF Technical & Instruction Chairman), Master Pablo Trajtenberg (8th dan, ITF Senior Vice President), Master Wim Bos (8th dan, Tournament & Umpire Chairman), and Master Trân Triêu Quân (8th dan, President of ITF) all came to conduct the seminar. It was very well received by the over 100 participants. To conclude the seminar, the four masters conducted a senior dan grading, at which New Zealand gained its very first masters, Master Evan Davidson and Master Paul McPhail.

The year concluded with the 2nd Oceania Championships held in Auckland on 23rd - 24th October, and another Rhee Taekwon-Do club joined ITFNZ, this time from Rotorua instructed by Chris Davidson.

In 2005, New Zealand slipped one place to 4th overall at the Senior World Championships in Germany. The team won two gold, two silver and four bronze medals.

In November 2005, ITFNZ hosted its second Instructors’ Conference for instructors and assistant instructors. Master Davidson and Master McPhail conducted their first senior dan grading at the event, promoting two 5th dans and two 4th dans. Over 100 attendees were present to train, learn and discuss the future direction of ITFNZ.

Now, in 2006, it is time to make that future happen!