FINNISH ITF TAEKWON-DO FEDERATION Annual Report 2016 2016 Annual Report 495 athletes from 28 countries competed PREFACE on a high level in the well-organized competition. The Finals Gala was For ITF Taekwon-Do Finland, the year broadcast on national television by the 2016 was a year of growth and amazing Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle. EUROS. During the year, one new member club joined the federation: The year 2016 was also prolific for University of Eastern Finland Taekwon- Finland on the international competition Do Joensuu. Thus, the total number of front, with several Finnish competitors clubs under the federation grew to a reaching the podium in the European record high, 30. The amount of licenses Championships. A large number of sold was also great: approximately 1,300 competitor also took part in ITF World people practiced Taekwon-Do under the Cup in Budapest in October. federation. Several events were organized throughout In 2016, the federation continued to grow the country in 2016, but without a systematically according to the plan question the main event of the year was devised earlier. The federation also the European Championship held in implemented a new equality plan which Tampere at the end of April. also increases the government support for ITF Taekwon-Do Finland. 2016 Annual Report Statistics 66% TOTAL LICENSE INCREASE IN SIX YEARS. 42% INCREASE IN MEMBER CLUBS IN SIX YEARS. 2016 Annual Report JANUARY Sparring Seminar Rovaniemi, January 9-10 Arctic Taekwon-Do club, also called “Santa Claus’s team” by themselves, organized a sparring seminar in Rovaniemi on January 9-10. The main instructor of the seminar was Antti Rintanen, 2nd Degree, a long- time national team member with several national championship titles. 2016 Annual Report Level-C Coaching Course February Tampere, February 27-28 Finnish National Championships The level-C coaching course organized Oulu, February 6-7 by ITF Taekwon-Do Finland was held in Tampere on the 27th and 28th of The main national competition of the year February. The course was taught by the for ITF Taekwon-Do Finland, the Finnish instruction director of the federation, National Championships for black belts Mikko Allinniemi, 6th degree, with the and the HelmiCup competition for colour assistance of physician Anja Kärki, 3rd belts, took place in early February. The Degree. Mr. Allinniemi talked about the competition was hosted by Taekwon-Do basics of teaching Taekwon-Do classes, Akatemia in Oulu. A total of 203 the role of instructor and giving competitors from all over Finland took commands. The course also handled the part in this two-day event. teaching of Do, following the guidelines of the ITF. 2016 Annual Report March Legends' Seminar: Jaroslaw Suska Finland vs Sweden sparring Tampere, March 5-6 competition Tampere, March 19 The international club Black Eagle Taekwon-Do in Tampere organized the The national teams of Finland and traditional Legends Seminar in March Sweden met in Tampere on March 19th with Jaroslaw Suska as the instructor. The for a day of friendly sparring seminar was full of kicking and sparring competition in preparation for the drills. According to participants, the European Championships. seminar was very intense but also very rewarding. Approximately 100 participants from Finland and Russia took part in the seminar. 2016 Annual Report April & In total, 495 competitors from 28 countries participated in the championships held in Tampere in the May southern part of Finland. Counting the umpires, supporters and coaches, the European Taekwon-Do Championships - total amount of participants in the Tampere, April 28 - May 1 Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre was around one thousand. According to ITF Taekwon-Do Finland had the honour the estimates, in addition to the group of of hosting the European Taekwon-Do 200 volunteers, around 2,000 people Championships on April 28 - May 1, 2016. watched the championships from the Tampere Taekwon-Do club and Black audience. Eagle Taekwon-Do club took charge of the organizing together with ITF Taekwon-Do From organizational perspective, the Finland, resulting in an amazing event. event went extremely well. Clubs across The event would not have been possible to the country were working for the best organize without the amazing support of Euros held so far. the city of Tampere who provided both financial as well as logistic support. 2016 Annual Report June Taekwon-Do Akatemia Summer Camp The camp was instructed by Mr. Mikko Oulu, June 11-12 Allinniemi, 6th Degree, and Mr. Michael Holler, 6th Degree. Even though the Taekwon-Do Akatemia club organized weather was not in the camp’s favour and their traditional weekend-long summer the outdoor practice session had to be camp in Oulu, with participants from over moved back indoors, all of the almost 100 a dozen locations around Northern participants had a fun time learning and Finland and also some visitors from the practicing Taekwon-Do. southern clubs. 2016 Annual Report August Tornio Kicking Seminar Tornio, August 6-7 Kicking seminar in Tornio was held on August 6th and 7th. The seminar focused on kicking techniques in different aspects of Taekwon-Do, including basic techniques, pad-kicking drills, sparring drills, power breaking and flying techniques. The seminar was taught by Mr. Michael Holler, 6th Degree, Mr. Jouni Aartola, 4th Degree, and Mr. Joonas Ahokas, 4th Degree. Approximately 40 students took part in the seminar. 2016 Annual Report September National Technical Seminar Sastamala Competition Tampere, September 17-18 Sastamala, September 24 The yearly national technical seminar was The traditional Sastamala Competition, yet again a great success, with attendance already held several years in a row, was of around 40 people. The focus of the held yet again in the Sylvää school sports seminar was on kicking methods and the hall in Sastamala. Over 100 participants usage of targets. No technical aspects were competed in the event, many of them in covered at this time, with plans to cover preparation of the World Cup 2016. them in the first National Instructor Course in January 2017, including all updates from the IIC in Paris. 2016 Annual Report October 6th ITF Taekwon-Do World Cup Black Eagle Open Budapest, Hungary, October 12-16 Pirkkala, October 29 Black Eagle Open held in PIrkkala which 54 competitors from ten different Finnish attracted 149 competitors from all around Taekwon-Do clubs participated in one of the country. the largest ITF Taekwon-Do World Cup competition held so far. With several ITF Taekwon-Do World Cup medals coming back to Finland with the teams, Finland had a reason to be With the approval of ITF Finland, particularly proud with the performances Tampere presented the bid for hosting he of our colour belts, some of them reaching World Cup in 2020. The city of Tampere the podium in more than one competitive pledged to renew its support to the aspect. projects and the organization was entrusted to the two local clubs Black Eagle Taekwon-Do as well as Tampere Taekwon-Do. More info: itfworldcup2020.fi 2016 Annual Report November Annual National Colour Belt Competition and Annual Autumn Taekwon-Do Akatemia 10th Anniversary meeting Seminar Tornio, November 12 Oulu, November 5-6 The annual colour belt competition The tenth anniversary of one of our organized by ITF Taekwon-Do Finland biggest clubs, Taekwon-Do Akatemia, was together with the local club was held in the celebrated with a practice seminar open city of Tornio on the 12th of November. for all ITF Taekwon-Do Finland’s 120 competitors around the country came members. Almost 150 participants from 10 together for a fun day of Taekwon-Do in clubs around the country joined the northern Finland. celebration. The competition-themed During that same weekend, the federation training sessions were conducted by head Autumn meeting was held. New instructor of the club, Mr. Mikko committees were formed as well as new Allinniemi, 6th Degree, together with the board members elected. During that club’s current and former National Team meeting, a presentation of new rules and competitors. bylaws were voted necessary to the implementation of the NTN (Norwegian) model. 2016 Annual Report December Anti-harassment support personnel Pikku Tiikeri Cup course Ylöjärvi, December 3 Ylöjärvi, December 3 Pikku Tiikeri Cup is the annual junior ITF Taekwon-Do Finland has made an competition held in Ylöjärvi at the end of equality plan for its members, and as per each autumn season. Children assembled in the plan, the federation organized a course the Ylöjärvi Sports Hall on the 3th of for its member clubs on dealing with November, 2016, to compete in good spirits. potential harassment cases. ITF Taekwon- All the participants received a golden medal Do Finland wants to ensure safe training as well as a red Santa hat, as Christmas was for all students. Finnish Ministry of fast approaching. Santa Claus himself also Education and Culture demands sports visited this children’s competition. Children federations to work more systematically of different ages and heights competed in for equality in sports. ITF Taekwon-Do their own categories as well as in a drawing Finland is a pioneer, being the first competition. Pikku Tiikeri Cup is an national sports federation in Finland to excellent opportunity for juniors to start have educated anti-harassment support their competition career and offers a feeling personnel in clubs around the country. of success in competition for everyone. 2016 Annual Report Report Text: Master Meyour, Minna Minkkinen, Henri Savilampi and Milla Kakko Pictures: Suomen ITF Taekwon-Do, Taekwon-Do Center, Arctic Taekwon-Do, Michael Holler, Jyväskylän Taekwon-Do, Tiia Saarinen Suomen ITF-Taekwon-Do ry tkdfinland Suomen ITF Taekwon-Do www.taekwon-do.fi .