Following on from the huge success of the inaugural inclusive patterns section at the ITA Irish Cup in November, the Irish Taekwon-Do Association (ITA) opened their 2023 competition season with the Munster Open in the SETU Arena Waterford. Just under 1,000 members from all over Ireland together with overseas visitors from Scotland and England took part in the 2-day event on February 11th and 12th.
On Saturday members took part in the inclusive patterns section with outstanding performances on display. Some of the members were taking part in their first national competition and with the encouragement and support of their coaches they completed the pattern of their choice against another colour belt member.
The Taekwon-Do members with extra needs had been busily preparing for the inclusive patterns section over the last number of months and have been attending training classes in their clubs being put through their paces and working hard practising their pattern routines with their coaches and with the support of their families.
These events take a lot of planning and organizing and with the help and support of the ITA and inclusion committee members of Master Pat Barry and Miss Helen Goodson Finglas are putting in a lot of time and hard work to continually develop Taekwon-Do For All in their clubs and the national association.
Further events are being planned and developed for the ITA’s Dublin Open and Irish Cup later this year, and we hope to see more members taking part and showcasing their Taekwon-Do skills on competition days.
