TKD Power

TKD Power is an ITF Taekwon-Do group based in the United Kingdom.

Rationale

TKD Power is a co-operative group of instructors that have agreed to work with each other to further and promote both TKD Power and their individual organisations - without interfering with each other's day to day operation. Membership is completely free to interested organisations that are prepared to support TKD Power as a collective organisation, subject to the agreement of all the other members.

Formation

It was founded by 1997 European Champion, Antony Panteli. Panteli is currently a 5th Degree black belt, registered with the British Taekwondo Council, and the International Taekwon-Do Federation.

TKD Power was founded in 2003 in order to facilitate the transition of the then members into independent membership of the International Taekwon-Do Federation.

Affiliation

TKD Power originally affiliated with ITF-C under the administration of Master Choi Jung Hwa, son of the late founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi. Despite an excellent relationship with Master Choi personally, the group eventually left the Canada based group due to what it believed to be a lack of general professionalism, honesty and integrity of its senior members.

In September 2006, TKD Power joined the ITF group based in Vienna, under the administration of Master Trân Triêu Quân. This group is generally recognised as the legitimate ITF and Master Trân the only truly democratically elected President of the ITF.

Current members

Current Members of the group include:
* The Panteli Taekwon-Do Academy (Chief Instructor: Mr. A. Panteli)
* Maudlin TKD (Chief Instructor: Mr. A. Maudlin)
* NC-TKD (Chief Instructor: Mr. N. Crellin)
* The Southern Taekwon-Do Academy (Chief Instructor: Mr. M. Southern)
* TKD Force (Chief Instructor: Mr. B. Fakhouri)
* TKD Elite (Chief Instructor: Miss. R. Mugridge)
* Canterbury Christ Church Taekwon-Do Society (Chief Instructor: Mr. G. Avenall)
* Learn-TKD.com (Chief Instructor: Mr. Paul Adams)
* Thirkettle TKD (Chief Instructor: Mr. W. Thirkettle)

Tournaments and Championships

In such a short time the group has consistently achieved world ranking tournament success, with five members selected to represent England at the historic ITF World Championships, inSouth Korea, November 2004, and Panteli selected to coach the England National Boys Team.

The group returned from Korea having achieved and incredible tally of World Championship medals including a fantastic Gold medal from Niki Florides, a Silver for Nicholas Panteli, and Bronze for Hannah Thirkettle.

Mr. Panteli also led the Junior Boys Team to Sparring Gold, becoming the only coach ever with the distinction of leading an English ITF Team to a World Championships Gold Medal. In 2005, William Thirkettle has already been selected to represent England at the ITF World Junior Championship in Geelong, Australia (September 2006).

TKD Power also represented the UK at the first ever ITF Intercontinental Cup - Europe versus the Americas, held during the 7th ITF Panamerican Championships (2005). Of the five man squad that represented the whole of Europe, two positions were filled by TKD Power members Nicholas Panteli, and Bachir Fakhouri. Nicholas was also selected, by senior coach of ITF Europe, Don Dalton, to Captain the team. A real honour for Nicholas and the group.

At the same event in October 2005, Antony Panteli attended and completed the first 'new style' assessed ITF Umpires Course, delivered by ITF Tournaments and Umpires Committee Chairman, Master Nestor Galarraga. Antony, was awarded with a special award by Master Galarraga in respect of his umpiring contribution to the Panamerican Championships.

Success on the International arena continued throughout 2006 with Nicholas Panteli once again selected to Captain the ITF European Squad joined again by fellow TKD Power member Bachir Fakhouri to compete for the second ITF Intercontinental Cup, this time in Lagos, Nigeria, against the ITF Africa team. On this occasion Europe were triumphant, and, returning home with the Intercontinental Championship Belt. European and World Championship success followed with TKD Power junior instructor, William Thirkettle who won gold medals at both events, respectively in June and September. Nicholas, Bachir and William receive full sponsorship from the Panteli Taekwon-Do Academy to compete in these events, thank to the generosity and support of the general membership.

Seminal Year

2005 proved to be a seminal year for TKD Power. In this year the group expanded to over 10 locations firmly establishing itself as a primary provider of martial arts education in the South East of England. Brothers Antony and Nicholas Panteli were both approved for, and tested comprehensively for, promotion to 5th Dan Blackbelt, by the promotions committee of the ITF and the group was admitted to independent membership of the British Taekwon-Do Council.

Unique Ethos

The group is unique amongst Martial Arts organisations in the UK because it has a teaching and learning committee consisting entirely of professional educators, who are also martial artists. The group boasts instructors who are lecturers in higher education institutions, state registered teachers in British secondary and primary schools, and state registered experts in pre-school education. This has allowed the group to formulate its own unique syllabus based on contemporary teaching and learning strategies and initiatives, in conjunction with traditional concepts of Taekwon-Do tuition.

See also

* International Taekwondo Federation

External links

* [http://www.tkdpower.com ITF Taekwon-Do Power]
* [http://www.learn-tkd.com Learn TKD.Com Schools]