… an unlikely thing for a mugger to utter, but that’s exactly what he told police while being arrested. The Italian thief made the mistake of stealing a handbag from a group of South Korean tourists who were skilled in Taekwondo.

» Read the full story

This official new WTF video promotes Taekwondo as an Olympic sport. Short videos such as this can easily be added (embedded) to a school’s website to generate more interest in Taekwondo.

» Video link

If you’ve ever searched for “Taekwondo sparring rules” or anything similar, you know the results are dissapointing at best. Part of the problem is that rules change often, and there are several country- and league-specific versions.

TKDrules.com is a handy new microsite that hosts current WTF Taekwondo kyorugi and poomsae rules. The real benefit is that it’s easily accessible by cell phones with browsers, so you can review the rules while on the move or at a competition.

» TKDrules.com

The team that was chosen at the World Cup Team Trials held in Laval are now ready to fight in Azerbaijan from June 11 – 14. Not all countries are represented at the World Cup, as only 23 male and 23 female teams are chosen. Canada qualified to send a full contingent of ten athletes:

With these strong players…

Five Taekwondo athletes will represent Canada at the 2009 Universiade. Similar to the Olympics in many ways, the Games are held every two years and allow student athletes a chance to compete internationally. This year’s event run from July 1 to July 12 in Belgrade, Serbia. Athletes will stay in a 14-building athlete village, newly-built for the games.

Taekwondo events include sparring, individual poomsae, mixed (one male, one female) poomsae, and team (three person) poomsae.

»…

» Junior A results (Taekwondo Canada)

» Junior B results (Taekwondo Canada)

» Junior C results (Taekwondo Canada)

» Event photos

Vancouver was warm and sunny for the 2009 National Taekwondo Championships on May second and third. It was the first national event to adopt some of the new WTF sparring rules, including an 8 by 8 meter ring, 2-point spinning kicks, and 3-point head kicks.

Sebastien Michaud delivers a front leg attack that leaves his opponent staggering.	Bernard Lorde scores a 2-point back kick
Woo-Jin Kwack takes a running jump kick in welter preliminaries.	Jerome Cabanatan makes a double kick attack in featherweight.
Jocelyn Addison attacks relentlessly in the final moments of the fly semifinal.

Kelsie Burns has competed both nationally and internationally for years, but she’ll be representing Canada in a very different way when she arrives in Kandahar later this week. The 19 year old from Ontario started Taekwondo when she was five, and it will take more than a war to stop her now:

“My sergeant is more than willing to train with me,” says Kelsie. “He does it for my own good because he knows if I don’t do taekwondo every once in a while I get a little snappy.”

Kelsie is keeping her eye to the future with impressive goals: to place…

Five Canadians were recognized on April 10 for their dedication and accomplishments in Taekwondo. The 2009 Taekwondo Hall of Fame award ceremony was held in New Jersey, and attended by over 700 inductees and spectators.

As pictured above (left to right), award recipients were:

Master Julio Vasquez

Grandmaster Chong Soo Lee

Master Karine Sergerie

Master Darrel Henegan

Master Evangelos Ligeros (not pictured)