Whatever has caused it, Taekwondo has seen a phenominal growth rate in popularity in Nigeria; nearly every private school in every major city of Nigeria has taken up taekwondo as one of the school sports. Potential champions are emerging out of universities and polytech institutes. Armed and para-military services have employed athletes in this sport. State sports councils have taken to paying athletes to play for them. The growth has been so prolific and so fast the Federation running into problems.

Many top stars are retiring from the sport leaving a gaping hole in numbers of qualified instructors; they need to fill in the positions with new talent. The Federation has a funding problem in building enough facilities to meet the demands of the growing interest. They need to manage data for long-term planning; before now there was little need for a database of active players and practitioners.

The Federation plans to register all officials and players, their qualifications, and ensure they receive adequate insurance. They plan to update coaching and referee education to ensure all meet adequate International standards.

George Ashiru is working hard to solve the multitude of growing problems while maintaining the growing national enthusiasm and support.

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‘Taekwondo Is Seeking, Sifting Tomorrow’s Champions Today’ – The Guardian Nigeria

Overlooked for the London 2012 Olympics and suffering defeat at the 2013 opening-rounds of the Taekwondo World Championship in Puebla, Mexico, US contestant Aaron Cook finally won the gold at Mexico’s Pan American Open in Queretaro.

After defeating Javier Quesada of Costa Rica 12-3 Cook says he’s “Blessed to be awarded best fighter.”

With points totalling 122.91, he has earned enough to win an invitation to the inaugural World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series in Manchester. Winners of the December 13-15 Grand Prix earning 80 points could win an invitation to the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

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Cook claims taekwondo gold in Mexico – BBC Sport

She joins the ranks of current ambassadors double Olympic fencing champion Katrina Aznavourian of Russia, two-time wushu world champion Daria Tarasova, French jujitsu world champion Vincent Parisi and 92-year-old International Kendo Federation President Yoshimitsu Takeyasu.

The role of each of these ambassadors is to promote his or her own sport and to promote martial arts in general during the run of the Games.

Stevenson began her martial arts career after becoming junior world champion in 2012. She went on to compete at four-time European champion, and has complete four Olympics. She was chosen to read the Athlete Oath at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic in London. Since her retirement from the sport in April she has made it her goal to pass on her experience to younger people.

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Former taekwondo world champion Stevenson becomes World Combat Games … – Insidethegames.biz

The championship was jointly sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and LG Electronics Ltd. Seeing the talent of the Nigerian comtestants, Choi saw no reason why Nigeria shouldn’t excel at the next Olympics.

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2016 Olympics: Korea To Assist Nigeria With An International Coach Taekwondo – Daily Times Nigeria

Master Mendez specializes in Olympic training for taekwondo. He has developed several USA National Champions, US Open Taekwondo Champions, as well as Junior and Senior USA National Team Members. Names include Griffin Beland of Storrs, Jalen Junious of South Windsor, Ceana Rodriguez of New Britain and Daria Torrenti of Orange, CT. 

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South Windsor Instructor Named USA Taekwondo National Team Coach – Patch.com

For some students taekwondo teaches more than self-defense, it teaches self-confidence.

“I didn’t have the courage to defend myself,” said Justin Ramiriz a 12-year-old Kingsbridge resident, recalling a time, less than a year-and-half ago, when he was bullied in school. He now walks the street with confidence and traces his courage to the day he signed up for taekwondo training.

“Everybody can see that it is rough, but it is also one of the prettiest sports I have ever seen,” said Justin’s teacher, Rajput, “The moves are so fast. They are like a beautiful dance.”

Taekwondo students progress through degrees of skills beginning with white belt and climbing to multiple degrees of black belt. Of all the martial arts the Olympics only acknowledge judo and taekwondo.

Compared to other martial arts taekwondo emphasizes kicking. which are allowed to both the upper body and face. However, kicks below the belt, sweeping kicks, and grabbing your opponent are not allowed. Punches are allowed only to the upper body.

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Taekwondo students learn more than martial arts – The Riverdale Press

He already has two silver medals and one bronze from past Nationals. Brandishing the union flag Muhammad looks forward to December’s inaugural World Taekwondo Grand Prix and qualifying for Rio 2016.

Muhammad said, “I have never won a national senior title and this is a chance to change all that.”

“I like to keep busy and fight as often as I can so the nationals is a great opportunity to do just that. All I am doing now is looking forward and my main focus is the World Taekwondo Grand Prix so I want to be at my best.”

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Taekwondo – Muhammad bidding for first national taekwondo title – Yahoo! Eurosport UK

One joy in his life that helped him overcome his depression is his 12-year-old daughter Jade whom he signed up for taekwondo. Seeing her work so hard inspired him to join as well.

Jade and gained her red belt. Brown belt Rob is well on his way to obtaining his black belt.  He works hard on his upper body strength and has learned to kick by standing on his hands. “I can do 100 handstand press-ups with my foot up against the wall and my hands on the floor in a full handstand position.”

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Amputee Rob fights to be Taekwondo ace – Daily Star

However, Ms. Jones was devastated for missing out on the World Championships in Mexico last July. Speaking about her back Ms. Jones said, “It started before the Worlds but I obviously had to train with it and just get through the sessions really. Now is a good time to get it fixed.”

She hopes to compete in the Grand Prix events beginning this December and to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero.

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Jade Jones: Olympic taekwondo champion suffers back injury – BBC South East Wales

“But the result is acceptable. After all I began training for the National Games just one month ago, I am far from my top form,” she added.

Another surprise loss came from silver medalist Hou Yuzhuo from last year’s London Olympics. She was defeated by Shao Fenfen in the last quarter final round.

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Olympic taekwondo medalists crash out at China’s National Games – People’s Daily Online

“This appointment has allowed Rwanda taekwondo to become a potential leader in the game for Africa both from a competition and technical perspective. I say potential because it is an opportunity we in Rwanda must take full advantage of before the results we are seeking will come to pass,” says Koonce.

Koonce wants to unite Zone V, which is comprised of Burundi, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. After the 2013 Taekwondo championships held in Mexico July 15-21, Rwanda ranked highest in its region, 6th in Africa, and among the top 40 in the world.

They are now bidding to hold the Ambassador’s Cup next month, National Championships in October, and the Africa Taekwondo Championships in November.

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Koonce Appointed On African Taekwondo Body – AllAfrica.com

Tae Kwon Do, for example, teach young people to respect themselves and those around them. It is the art of “hand and foot” that teaches many life skills like self-discipline and hard work.

A rigorous and regular regine can even help break a shy person out of his shell.

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Build your child’s confidence with Tae Kwon Do lessons – Brampton Guardian

One silver and two bronze medals were won by the athletes. The silver winner received a cash prize of Rs. 10,000, and the bronze winners received Rs. 5,000 each.

Each athlete honored was between 7 and 10 years old.

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Winners of International Taekwondo Championship honoured – Himalayan Times

A second degree Black Belt with seven state and four district titles, Srinivasan spent most of last year traveling and competing in Taekwondo.

Martial arts skills seems to run in the family as his little sister Arushi is a
Brown Belt in Taekwondo and has a state and two district titles.

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Arnav Srinivasan Named Taekwondo ‘World Champion’ – India West

Kim won the World Taekwondo Championships in 2001 and 2003 lightweight class. She now works for the Korean Olympic Committee. Dawson received a bronze medal in mogul skiiing at the 2006 Winder Olympics in Turin.

The couple only started dating last winter.

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Korean national ski coach Tony Dawson to marry former taekwondo champion – Sports Features Communications

Johari Jemphasized that sports play an important role in building a strong rapport and promoting harmony among the foreign and national athletes. He also hopes the event will  attract the attention of young Malaysians and Sarawakians towards martial arts and sports.

“Take your time to immerse yourself in the culture of Kuching and Sarawak and enjoy what we have to offer in terms of biodiversity,” he said.

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Johari launches Borneo Cup Taekwondo – The Borneo Post

“Taekwondo is a special sport because it needs a lot of movements and this is associated with healthy exercise. It helps not only improve one’s physical condition but more importantly it also helps in your mental capacity,” said Dr. Susil. “Taekwondo is also about respecting your opponents and being able to read their movements so that you can counter their moves during the competition.”

He also hopes visiting teams will visit tourist attractions such as the Semenggok orang utan sanctuary.

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250 taekwondo athletes from 13 countries in Kuching – The Borneo Post

Their father Dr. Jefferson Callino bet them if they won the event he would buy them each a new car.

Jefferson, the eldest of the two brothers and a student of criminology at the University of Cebo, didn’t really care much for taekwondo when he began at age 12. He loved basketball, and was scared of getting hit. His friends encouraged him to take the sport seriously.

Younger brother James Louie on the other hand fell in love with taekwondo the moment his father introduced the two to the sport when James was 8 years old.

The boys got picked up on the teamby Tony Del Prado, the regional chairman of of the Philippine Taekwondo Association. They had to sacrifice much to train with the team. They spent several weeks in South Korea just training for that event and learned much about the culture.

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Taekwondo brothers win in South Korea – Sun.Star

The benefits are mutual: the college girls receive the needed self-defense techniques, and the boy master intructors get…well that goes without saying. What boy wouldn’t want to train a group of college girls?

But I jest, for the team of martial arts school children also includes some very capable young ladies who want to maintain their fitness. Vinaya Jijo, is the youngest member of the team. She says, “We have performed before the students and teachers to give an orientation to students. They were impressed by our performance and have invited us to take a class for students at the college.”

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Kids teach taekwondo to college girls – Deccan Chronicle

Her pitch left the spectators in awe. She tried to top the opening pitch from a previous game by gymnast star Soo-ji-Shin who had wowed the crowd with her full flip leading into her pitch.

Tae-mi did not disappoint. Her performance made former Cleveland Indians pitcher Chris Seddon smile from the background.

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Taekwondo star throws acrobatic first pitch at baseball game – Daily Mail

From that day on, that same Tae Kwon do instructor, Ravi Kalra, opened up his home to every and any homeless who required shelter. His humanity has provided shelter and food for the mentally challenged, elderly, differently-abled, rape victims, HIV affected, and more. A total of 2584 people have died, some in his arms, and he has himself cremated 2584 people.

However, to add insult to injury, the abandoned people still living in his home, loved and cared for, some for the past five years, have been asked to vacate the premises.

Your donation could help save these people.

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Delhi: Taekwondo trainer’s home open for all those left on streets – IBNLive

Now 40-years-old, McLeod enjoys studying the martial art with his 12-year-old daughter Jade. His depression cost him his livelihood and his marriage, but he had Jade on weekends and automatically went into “Daddy mode.” When he enrolled the two of them in Tae Kwon Do, it literally changed their lives.

Having reached the brown stripe grade he’s only four away from receiving a black belt. But that in itself is cause for victory as McLeod (“Stumpy”) is the first UK amputee to reach the brown stripe grade.

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Taekwondo helps amputee to get over his depression – Swindon Advertiser

In this video gone viral a taekwondo match turns into a dance. The instructor pretends to be at wits end how to get the two combatants to stop dancing and start fighting. The results are hilarious!

Sit back and enjoy the show!

Watch the short video here:

Today’s Viral Video: Taekwondo match turned dance-off – StandardNet

Not just a physical therapy group, Mr. Sharp has worked with these students for many years. The students have formed a special bond with him and each other.

Bryan Maple the father of student BJ says, “”All of the kids in the class … you see them at … tournaments … around the ring, and they’re going, ‘Go BJ; Go Allen,’ you know just rooting each other on…. [T]hey really have formed a special bond with each other.”

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Taekwondo Therapy – WWLP 22News

Tae Kwon Do instructor Santarose can’t always hear his students, and his speech isn’t perfect, but his students love and respect him.

Heading for the Olympics in Bulgaria with the US Team, Santarose plans to give it his all and bring home a gold medal.

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Tae Kwon Do instructor defies odds, gravity