On 6 August 2011 an Umpire Seminar was hosted in Pretoria by Senior Master Kim. Thirty members ranging from red belts to 4th Dan black belts participated in the seminar and successfully passed the requirements. Five participants passed “Class B” umpire certification, while the rest received “Class C” umpire certification.

The certification class depends on a participants age and rank. The highest umpire ranking is “Class A” International Umpire for 4th Dan holders of at least 25 years old and other applicable criteria as required by ITF. “Class B” umpire certification are for 2nd Dan and higher holders of at least 18 years old and other applicable criteria as required by ITF and is only valid at domestic level. In South Africa we also have a domestic “Class C” umpire certification for red belts to 1st Dan holders to provide these members opportunity to actively participate in South African tournaments at an official level.

The SA-ITF wish to congratulate the thirty members with their new umpire certification.

This past weekend KwaZulu Natal and the San Kwan hosted their Annual KZN 24 Hour Last Man Standing Challenge at Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park.  Starting with around 70 Participants. In a nutshell students participated in a 24 hour training challenge.  The first half being an ITF Taekwondo seminar where we specifically focused on Vital Spots and their application and the second half of the challenge involved a variety of different disciplines.

Throughout the evening participants were subjected to training drills, trail running and orienteering.  Pretty much everything except the kitchen sink was thrown at them to eventually get down to one participant who was crowned the Last Man Standing.  Despite our efforts nine participants made it through to the morning.  We eventually separated them by making them run a BMX track dropping the slowest competitor in each race. Essentially the winner was required to run a 350m BMX track 8 times after 23 previous hours of training without sleep to claim the title.

This year was very special because we had Hapkido, GTF and Kick Boxing participants for the first time. Congratulations needs to go out to Saien Pather from Richards Bay for taking home the title of Last Man Standing.  Ben Van der Merwe from Durban put in a strong performance coming in third.  Second place went to someone from Hapkido so we are not going to talk about that much. :-)

All in all, it was a great event building great relationships with other Korean Art practitioners, not to mention some serious bonding between all who participated.

Sean Cremer – San Kwan

Photo by CJ Photography

South African provinces and regions are invited to enter representative SA-ITF affiliated competitors to compete at the 2011 SA-ITF Inter Provincial National Championships that will occur over 16th to 18th June in Primrose, Johannesburg. Provincial winners competing at the Inter Provincial National Championships stand the chance to win the National Cup.

The championship is open to provincial representatives, from Green Belt and higher, in the following age divisions:

Tigers – 13 years and under;
Juniors – 14 to 17 years;
Seniors – 18 to 34 years;
Veterans – 35 years and older.

As part of the events a Tiger Tournament (children 13 years and younger) will occur on Thursday, 16 June. The Tiger Tournament is open to all affiliated SA-ITF Tigers.

Entry forms for the Inter Provincial Championships need to be submitted by 27 May 2011; and entry forms for the Tiger Tournament must be submitted by 10 June 2011. For more information regarding both the Inter Provincial National Championships and the Tiger Tournament, please contact SA-ITF Events Director, Boosabeomnim Nadia Seedat.

Events Committee

The Acestes Taekwon-Do Clubs are celebrating a decade of exceptional tournaments this year, with the 10th ATC Invitational Tournament. The tournament will take place on7 May 2011, in Pretoria, at the Northern Gauteng Wrestling Hall, Menlo Park. Event categories include sparring, patterns, power breaking and special technique breaking for participants of all ages: tigers, juniors, seniors and veterans. Ranks from yellow stripes to IV degree black belts are allowed to enter. Participant entry fees are R170 before 17 April and R200 thereafter. No entries will be accepted on the day. "Trademark tournament medals" will be handed out on the day for all 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

For more information please contact Sabeomnim Karel Wethmar or Sabeomnim Annari Wethmar.

The Events Director, Boosabeomnim Nadia Seedat, released the most recent and updated version of the 2011 SA-ITF Year Plan. The year plan, which contains the dates for all the major SA-ITF events with, including regional promotional tests, tournaments, and seminars can be accessed from the SA-ITF Menu. You can also follow this direct link.

A senior and veteran sparring tournament is planned for 16 April 2011 in Pretoria. The tournament is hosted by the Tong-Il Dojang in Groenkloof. The senior category includes adults from 18 to 34 years of age and the veteran category starts at 35 years of age. The tournament will make use of the round robin system, allowing each competitor a number of competing opportunities.

Members interested in competing should enter by 9 April. Participation costs R150 per entrant and each participating club should provide at least one umpire. Please contact Bsb Ronel Rust of the Tong-Il Taekwon-dojang if more information is required.

I am pleased to confirm the appointment of Sabeomnim Michelle Rahl as South Africa National Team Manager, succeeding Sbn Tristian Vardy who has relocated to Australia.

With reference to the qualifications and attributes required for this role, Sbn Michelle meets most, if not all, to a high and admirable degree.

Sbn Michelle will work closely with National Coach Sbn Shaheed Karachi to ensure that our World Championship competitors receive maximum support in attendance arrangments.

In Taekwon-Do,

Dirk Nel (SA4/5, IIC 1248, IUA)

Executive President, SA-ITF

After a period of stagnation it was decided that the official SA-ITF website needed to be redesigned. For this purpose a web developer, Mr Franco Mocke, has been assigned under the guidance of Research & Education Director, Sbnim Sanko Lewis. It was decided at a National Council Meeting in 2010 that the website has a documentary and educational function and therefore ought to be relocated to the SA-ITF's Research & Education Directorate. The website will make available the basic Taekwon-Do theory required of practitioners, but also include more general information about the history of Taekwon-Do in South Africa. Other features to be develop include an Achievers Scroll and Hall of Fame. The developers has furthermore decided to give publishing rights to key figures in the SA-ITF Executive, which will make it easier to upload news and announcements in a more timely manner.