In the midst of the Covid pandemic ITFS hosted a national Master’s Seminar via the online meeting platform Zoom today, allowing practitioners to continue their training during “lockdown”.

The online event was the first of its kind hosted in Scotland, with over 90 participants from across the country logging in and taking part over three 45 minute sessions.

The first session was taught by Master Heath Denholm VII Degree, with the focus on coloured belt patterns, more specifically breaking down some of the more complicated movement combinations within the coloured belt patterns.

After a short break we moved on to the second session under the guidance of Master David McNairn VII Degree, who taught Kwang-Gae to the assembled participants, answering a number of questions posed by the students.

The final session of the afternoon was taught by Master Gordon Wallace VIII Degree. Choi-Yong was the focus of this session, and with a smaller number of participants, it allowed for in depth technical discussions, and corrections to all.

After the last session we ended with some insightful history of Taekwon-Do from each of the Masters.

We’d like to express our thanks to the Master’s who gave their time today, and to all the participants for taking part. We do hope to repeat the successful event in the near future, please look out for further information on online seminar’s coming soon.

ITF Scotland are hosting their first Online Zoom Masters Seminar on Saturday 6th June 2020.

The sessions will each be 45 minutes, as follows;

• 11:00 – 11:45 – Kup Grade Patterns with Master Heath Denholm VII
• 12:00 – 12:45 – Kwang-Gae with Master David McNairn VII
• 13:00 – 13:45 – Choi-Yong with Master Gordon Wallace VIII

These sessions are open to all. Full meeting details have been sent to instructors via email.

ITF Scotland advice on Coronavirus / COVID-19. (updated 18^th March 2020)

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak within Scotland continues to advance, ITF Scotland offer the following updated to instructors and members.

Our advice to our membership as of 18^th March 2020, is for instructors to continue keeping themselves fully up to date with all advice on how to halt the spread of the virus.  And be pro-active in use of these methods within their gyms, practicing the hygiene routines posted below and in our previous statement.

There remains no government directive to close gyms, clubs, and large-scale events, or restricting classes, that coupled with the education authorities continuing to open as normal, ITF Scotland believe it remains the decision of the instructor as to whether to run their respective classes or not.  We suggest taking all local authority advice on board when making any decision on running classes.

As such we advise that instructors continuing with their classes as normal note the following advice; 

• Facilities, surfaces and equipment should be cleaned regularly. Instruct students to ensure their own sparring equipment is also cleaned. 
• Instructors should be proactive and encourage hand washing before and after class. And encourage coughing and sneezing control (e.g. sneezing into elbow, not hands). 
• Any members displaying flu like symptoms should stop attending class for a minimum of 7 days and inform their instructor accordingly. 
• It is up to instructors as to whether they wish to restrict physical contact such as hand shaking. 
• Instructors are advised to practise social distancing within classes, limiting activities with partner contact where possible; such as omitting ho sin sul training during the epidemic as this discipline involves the closest physical contact. 

We are also aware a number of local authorities have now closed their public buildings and many of their community facilities, this in turn affects many Taekwon-Do clubs and instructors who are forced to close for a period of time.

We understand that this situation we are all experiencing in the UK and further afield is unprecedented, with advice changing daily.  Should a further directive be issued from the government we will update accordingly.

UK Government Statement & Updates regarding coronavirus can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

Find out more about the virus and measure you should take to protect yourself here:

https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus

ITF Scotland Board of Directors would like to welcome Master Heath Denholm – VII Degree and his school STA-Whitburn Martial Arts (WMA) who have affiliated to ITF Scotland as a new regional school.

In light on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak within Scotland, ITF Scotland recognises that the situation is continually evolving, and we are monitoring the advice from the UK government.  

Our advice to our membership as of 15^th March 2020, is for instructors to keep themselves fully up to date with all advice on how to halt the spread of the virus.  And be pro-active in use of these methods within their gyms.

Cleanliness and personal hygiene on hand washing and containing coughs and sneezes are particularly important.  There is clear guidance on preventing spread on the UK government website noted below.

At this point the government advice does not extend to restricting activity of classes, or events.  Therefore, we advise that instructors should continue with their classes as normal noting the following advice;

• Facilities, surfaces and equipment should be cleaned regularly.  Instruct students to ensure their own sparring equipment is also cleaned.
• Instructors should be proactive and encourage hand washing before and after class.  And encourage coughing and sneezing control (e.g. sneezing into elbow, not hands).
• Any members displaying flu like symptoms should stop attending class for a minimum of 7 days and inform their instructor accordingly.
• It is up to instructors as to whether they wish to restrict physical contact such as hand shaking.
• Instructors may wish to omit ho sin sul training during the epidemic as this discipline involves the closest physical contact.

Should you be organising an event and have any concerns regarding coronavirus and whether the event should go ahead you should contact your local public health team at your local council.  At this moment there is no directive from the UK government to cancel events.  This decision has to be made by the event organizer based on risk and local circumstance. 

UK Government Statement & Updates regarding coronavirus can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

Find out more about the virus and measure you should take to protect yourself here:

https://www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus

How to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus (www.nhs.uk) 

Do

• Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• Always wash your hands when you get home or into work
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
• Try to avoid contact with people who are unwell

Do not

• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

ITF Scotland Board of Directors would like to welcome the following instructors and schools who have affiliated to ITF Scotland as a new regional group Northern Taekwon-Do Academies (NTA):

• Master Wallace Blackbelt Academy (Instructor: Master Gordon Wallace – VIII Degree)
• Boydell Blackbelt Academies (Instructor: Mr. Mark Boydell – V Degree)
• DC Taekwon-Do (Instructor: Mr. Dylan Craig – II Degree)
• Alba Blackbelt Academies (Instructor: Miss. Sarah Angus – II Degree)

In light of the outbreak of COVID-19, the National Coaching Team have taken the decision to cancel the upcoming squad training sessions as a precautionary measure, with safety everyone’s number one priority.

As the 2020 European Championships have also been cancelled, we will look to re-schedule future trainings around any potential revised tournament date.

We trust everyone understands the decision being taken at this time.

Best regards 

ITF Scotland National Coaching Team

The 2020 edition of the ITF Scotland National Championships were held over the weekend of 29^th February – 1^st March, at the Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell.  As in previous years the two-day event started with the Pre-Junior competition for up to 13 years on Saturday, and Juniors, Seniors and Advanced Seniors, as well as competitors with Additional Support Need’s competing on Sunday.

This year’s championships once again saw an administrative collaboration between the National Association; ITF Scotland, and Allied Association; TKDSL. With Master Gordon Wallace 8^thDegree and Mrs. Gillian McIlvaney 5^thDegree administrating the event via Sportdata Event Technology (SET) software, alongside support during the championships from Mr. John McIlvaney 6^th Degree, in arena management and Master Alexander Dunbar 8^th Degree who was charged with overseeing the umpires throughout the course of the competition.

In advance of this year’s event, we held a national umpire course three weeks earlier, in preparation for the umpires to become familiar with the SET software. The course was the first step in continuously training and developing our National Umpires to the highest level, parallel with the ITF.  This course has a great impact on the event, with all schools taking part putting forward umpires for the competition, allowing larger ring councils on the day, which in turn meant more hands-on experience for the umpires with the SET technology. 

We also would like to acknowledge the participation as Jury Presidents of Master David McNairn VII and Master Heath Denholm VII.

Once again registrations were handled by Sportdata Event Technology (SET) to align ITF Scotland with mainstream ITF tournament administration.  And for the first time as an organisation we had six (6) fully electronic rings set up, with an additional three (3) for special technique on day one of the competition.  This allowed for a streamlined, professional and high-quality event to be delivered.  This would not have been possible without the previous investment in both the technology, and the time given by the team of IT professionals who have continuously worked in the background over the past few years to evolve our national event to its current standard; Mr. Chris Forbes I Degree, Mr. Craig Rennie I Degree, both of whom were present over the course of the weekend to oversee the IT.

The competition itself drew 570 competitors from 42 schools across Scotland from both the NA and AA, including 4 schools from the north of England, and 2 schools from Wales also making the journey to take part.  

Registration commenced on Friday evening with many competitors taking the opportunity to register early, allowing for any small corrections to categories to be made.  On the morning of the competition the registration was completed for those who were unable to make it the previous evening.  

Saturday started with an official welcome and opening from Mr. Adam Paterson IV Degree; Chairman of ITF Scotland.  The umpires presented the first day’s participants with participation medals, before the tournament started at 09:30 with Patterns for under sevens and Special technique for the 11-13s and as each category passed all age groups and grades swapped events until all categories finished with sparring on schedule at 16:45.

On completion of the events, the organising team deconstructed and reformed the arena ready for Day Two, with four (4) full sized competition squares, two (2) special technique rings, and a power area.

Sunday started at 09:00 with Junior Patterns, Advanced Senior Power Test, Senior Special Technique and our brilliant Additional Support Needs Students. Our ASN’s were directed on the mat by Senior Umpire Mr John Munro V and Jury President Mr John McIlvaney VI. The ring council comprised of umpires who have experience are running their own ASN classes, for some of whom their students were taking part in the categories.  We were also privileged to have a guest of honour in Mr. Dave Rhoney, a board member from Disability Sport Scotland, there to oversee the ASN events and present medals to the winners of these categories.  Mr. Rhoney was encouraged by the courage and perseverance of the competitors and commented on the standard of the event, that pathway of inclusion for these athletes was of the highest level. 

First Honourable Grand Master Thomas MacCallum IX Degree was also present, as guest of honour throughout Sunday’s competition.

The morning passed with all Patterns, and most of the Power and Special Technique completed, before a lunch break and the rings being readied for Sparring competition. Throughout the afternoon a fantastic spectacle of high energy sparring was given, especially from the Junior Black divisions which were very well represented, with all contenders clearly there to win.  This year our national championships was a ranking event for all black belt divisions, and as such we included four new “open weight” sparring events, for 14-17 M & F, and 18+ M & F respectively, in order to provide extra mat time for these competitors in preparation for the up-coming European Championships in April.  The 2020 ITF Scotland Championships closed just before 5pm with some spectacular sparring in each of these categories.

ITF Scotland and TKDSL would like to thank all competitors, coaches, umpires and supporters for a memorable championship in such a highly competitive manner but with such good sportsmanship, courtesy and friendship among everyone.

Additionally, we would like to thank our photographer for the event, Mr. Bill Irvine for giving up his time over the course of the weekend.  And express our thanks to both Ms Malgorzata Rogaczewska (Polish Taekwon-Do Association) and Mr. Grzegorz Ozimek (Top Ten Sport Poland) in helping us with replacement medals for the event at such short notice.

Top Clubs List

1. GMAC Martial Arts
2. Boydell Blackbelt Academies
3. Braveheart Martial Arts

Overall Competitors

Full results can be found here.  https://www.sportdata.org/taekwondo_itf/set-online/veranstaltung_info_main.php?active_menu=calendar&vernr=208#a_eventheadend

Photos from the event can be found here:

Day 1 – https://www.facebook.com/pg/ITFScotland/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10158410588751414

Day 2 – https://www.facebook.com/pg/ITFScotland/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10158406987881414

Links

Saturday 8^th February saw the first step in a new umpire initiative from ITF Scotland of “One Team – One Goal” with a brand-new series of courses being introduced in Scotland to continuously train and develop our National Umpires.  Prior to the course, all participants received a copy to the 2020 ITFS Championships Umpire Reference Manual.

The course was presented by Master Gordon Wallace, 8^th Degree and Master Alexander Dunbar 8^th Degree, with the event being held at the Craigwillow Centre, Livingston, West Lothian.  It is the plan of this training that the course(s), plus future umpiring participation will be rewarded a C Class accreditation which will be the start of a pathway of excellence for those who wish to aspire to a B or C Class ITF umpire accredited status.

Seventy (70) participants were in attendance and were privileged to have in joining them many current international umpires, namely: Master David McNairn VII (Scotland), Master Anthony McKenna VII (England), Mr. John Munro V (Scotland), Mr. Ronnie Dewhurst IV (Scotland) and Mrs. Jacqui Wallace IV (Scotland) who were happy to impart their past experiences to the participants.  

The morning started off with a “brief” presentation by Master Wallace, of the Sport Event Technology (SET) Software, which has been used in conjunction with the ITF Scoring systems at a number of Scottish competitions over the past few years and will now become the benchmark standard for all future National Championships and some Regional Events.  This ensures our umpire pathway of excellence mirrors the ITF standard as closely as possible.  Step One in this path was to get as many participants fully familiar with using the controllers to actively record scores and manage the duties of what would be the SET Controller.  It is the goal to have the SET controller an integral part of the ring council during the rotation of any particular category in progress.

Previous investments allowed the course participants practical access to five (5) electronic scoring systems that were all data linked to create a “mini-tournament” format which allowed each ring council to identify and access the categories that would be expedited on their respective rings.

The seventy (70) participants were managed in ten (10) ring councils of seven (7) with two (2) councils per ring. One ring council would manage the scoring and the other provide the performances to be judged.  Each category had 8 athletes entered making 7 matches.  This allowed the SET controller to manage a full category at a time and the scoring umpires’ continuity in the scoring and command process.  Patterns were shortened to allow a quick turnaround of duties and responsibilities.

The fine pattern observation detail was not a main factor of the weekend course, but rather get umpires familiar with the due process of managing the software and controlling the athletes.  The fine detail in pattern performance and scoring will be the subject of Course Two (2) that will be held later in the year.

After a short tea & coffee break, everyone came together again to ask questions, gain clarification from both Master Wallace and Master Dunbar on aspects of the Pattern competition and application of coloured-belt (level 1) scoring.  The groups then broke off for the last time in pattern to practise the level 1,2 & 3 scoring which will be used for all future Junior, Senior and Advanced Senior black belt categories.  

The course moved on to the sparring competition in the afternoon, starting with a presentation to the group of the SET controller procedures in sparring mode.  Master Wallace gave the floor away to Master Dunbar to continue with sparring operations assisted by Mrs Jacqui Wallace demonstrating the centre referees duties and responsibilities and the critical interaction between match activities and the SET controller.

Master Dunbar continued to lead the group through the correct hand signals and procedures, as well as timeframes in which warnings and fouls should be issued.  The principles of scoring were addressed in addition to the non -specified anomalies that can happen during a match and the implications they have on when a warning or foul should be applied or a point added or retracted.

The groups broke then out into their rings to work their way through their selected categories.

Stage two in sparring was about extending the match through an extra round plus determining the final match winner through first point.  Master Wallace gave the final presentation of the day on how the SET controller manages this aspect of the scoring panel and Master Dunbar gave invaluable practical advice at this stage of the match that concerned the Centre Referee and Corners Umpires.

The participants again took on each role in turn, with many seizing the opportunity for some mischievous sparring & coaching tactics, that the centre referees were able convert into practising controlling match energies and behaviours not just inside the mat area.

The course ended with some questions and clarification points from the participants on the ITF rules, as well as the new ITFS competition rules in place for the 2020 championships. 

The course stopped at 16:30 to allow time for the official photo, and some closing words from both Master’s Wallace and Dunbar, and a footnote from Master McKenna, President of ITF England who travelled from Newcastle to take part.  

We could not close this account without mentioning another special thanks to the IT team of Chris Forbes I, Craig Rennie I, who everyone know now and Peter Hepburn I for the serious investment of their time and in some instances hardware, that allowed the development of the SET systems to be implemented to the level it has been in such a short space of time for the benefit of all the Scottish athletes, coaches and umpires.

Mrs. McIlvaney, on behalf of ITF Scotland and the participants, thanked both Masters for the time they had taken in preparing and delivering the course to such a high standard. ITFS Scotland look forward to seeing all our course participants applying the procedures and processes in real time and will get the opportunity very soon at the 2020 ITFS Championships 29^thFebruary / 1^st March at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility, Motherwell, Scotland.

Thank you everyone for your support and enthusiasm.  

One Team, One Goal

PARTICIPANTS

A full gallery of images from the course can be found on our Facebook Page here.

We are pleased to announce ITF Scotland’s National Team Coaching appointments for 2020 / 2021.

Congratulations to all, and we wish you all success in your new posts!

Team Management:  

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National Coaches: