St. Mark’s annual “Team Challenge” will take place on Sunday 16th October 2011 in St. Mark’s Community School. Tallaght, Dublin 24. This fun event has Team competitions in Patterns, Sparring, Breaking, Special Technique, Self Defence and obstacle course for Little Tigers, Juniors and Seniors.
For more information on the divisions please download theApplication Form.
Congratulations to Ms. Keane on her order of merit for her outstanding contributions to the International Taekwon-Do Federation.
Senior master Robert J. Howard, was promoted to Taekwon-Do Grandmaster, 9th degree black belt, at the 17th ITF World Championships in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Grandmaster Howard received his new rank (Sasung, Korean for Grandmaster) from the president of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), Professor Chang Ung, at the 17th World Championships. The RITA’s president has just returned from the North Korean capital city and his family and students throughout Ireland are already celebrating the fantastic news. He is the first European to be promoted by the Professor Chang Ung and the ITF and, according to the ITF’s website (www.itftkd.org), makes him the 8th worldwide. Also promoted in North Korea to the coveted rank of Grandmaster was Senior Master Phap Lu (Canada), SM Hwang (ITF and Czech technical director), SM Kim (Technical director to Bulgaria).
On his promotion Grandmaster Howard said ”I’m so honoured to be promoted to Grandmaster by the ITF. When I started in Taekwon-Do back in the sixties I never thought I’d be still training today, and still with my original instructor First Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha. Perseverance is one of General Choi’s five tenets and I’ve always tried to live by them.’
Grand Master Howard is the highest ranking Taekwon-Do practitioner in Ireland. He is renowned for his loyalty to both his instructor, First Grandmaster Rhee Hi Ha, and the founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi. He is a true martial artist and teaches Taekwon-Do in the spirit in which Gen Choi intended.
He started his martial arts training in 1966 and was one of the first Irish men to achieve the rank of black belt in 1971, (the other two were Mr Liam Dandy (now Master) and Mr Frank Mathews). He was one of the driving forces in the promotion of Taekwon-Do in Ireland. Through his instructor, First Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha, he has a direct lineage to the founder of Taekwon-Do, Gen Choi Hong Hi. Indeed many of today’s students of Taekwon-Do in Ireland can trace their roots back to Gen Choi Hong Hi, via GM Rhee and GM Howard. In 1995 he became the first Irish man to be promoted to Master (7th Degree).
Over his years of teaching Taekwon-Do, Grandmaster Howard has trained thousands of students and produced hundreds of black belts (including Master and Senior Masters). He has trained many international competitors and World Champions.
Since the early 70s he has been travelling the world training in Taekwon-Do and umpiring in European and World Championships. He is very well respected both in Ireland and internationally and has many Taekwon-Do friends around the world.
In 1994 he retired from umpiring internationally but as the president of the association he continues to represent Ireland at European and World congresses.
In 1995 he was promoted to 7th degree, making him the first Irish man (and third European) to achieve the title of Sahyung (Korean for Master).
Grand Master Howard still trains and teaches. He travels throughout Ireland, giving seminars and classes and continues to be an inspiration to his students. He is also the senior examiner at the RITA black belt gradings. GM Howard teaches at the Cabra Parkside community centre, Dublin 7 (www.masterhoward.com). The promotion will make the RITA’s 40th anniversary in 2012 even more special.
Photo by Mark Nixon (http://marknixon.com/)
St Marks Taekwon-Do School will be the venue for the National ITF Black Belt Seminar Conducted by Senior Master Phelan 8th Degree ITF Master.
The seminar will take place on Sunday 11th September 2011 from 10.00am – 4.00pm with a cost of €60.00 per person. Application forms & fees to be returned to the National Secretary on or before the closing date Monday 5th September 2011. Cheques/PO payable to the RITA please
The RITA would like to wish Krzysztof Misiewicz from Galway the best of luck at the World Championships in DPR Korea. Mr Misiewicz will be Ireland’s sole competitor and will hope to repeat his success at the European Championships earlier this year when he won Bronze for +85kg Sparring.
Representing Ireland as Umpires will be Senior Master Francis Barrett 8th Degree, Master John Jacob 7th Degree and Mr Floyd Keane 6th Degree. They will be accompanied by RITA President Senior Master Robert Howard 8th Degree and National Coach Mr Stephen Doyle 6th Degree.
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Date: Saturday 22nd January 2011
Venue: Tallaght Leisure Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Times:
09.00 Doors Open
09.10 Umpires Meeting
09.30 – 13.30 Junior Tournament
14.15 Official Line Up
14.15 – 18.00 Senior Tournament
16.00 – 18.00 Senior Black Belt Tournament
Entry Fees: 9th Kup Members (Juniors) €10.00
9th Kup Members (Seniors) €15.00
Junior Members €20.00
Senior Members €25.00
Family Rate: Reduce by €5 for every other member of a family. (Example: Family with 1 Adult and 2 Juniors, €25+€20+€20=€65 – Family rate (€10) = €55 )
Download Application 
Download Info Pack
Download Tournament Divisions
Download Poster 
St.Mark’s Taekwon-Do School celebrated 28 years of General Choi’s Taekwon-Do by hosting thier Annual Team Challenge today in St.Mark’s Taekwon-Do School.
Our school entered one team, Team Extreme, and managed to come second in sparring, first in power – with a flawless performance by Ciaran, Adam and Kevin – second in the obstacle course and second in the self defence routine.
For the first time in the history of this event, we also won best senior team. Having narrowly lost out to Stillorgan last year, this year we managed to share the honours with Team of Three from Carrick on Suir.
Congratulations to the members of the AIB Taekwon-do School who took part in a recent grading under Ms. Valerie Keane 6th Degree & Ms Debra Manning 4th Degree from St. Marks Taekwon-do School. 4 members from AIB Taekwon-do School were promoted.
This marked a special occasion for one particular member Nicolas Gellon, who received an award for his performance at his first grading.
St. Marks Taekwon-Do School will be hosting the annual RITA “ITF Senior Masters Pattern & Power Seminar” conducted by Senior Master Howard and Senior Master Phelan 8th Degree ITF Senior Masters.
The event will take place from 10:30 - 4:00pm in St. Marks, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on Sunday 23rd May 2010. All registered RITA members from 10th kup (Junior & Senior) are able to attend. The Seminar is an excellent opportunity to train with Ireland’s three senior masters.
Over 16s: €45.00
Under 16s: €35.00
Closing date for application is Monday 17th May.
Click here for application
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ongratulations to the RITA’s newest Master, Master John Jacob from Ursuline Taekwon-Do School, Waterford. Master Jacob was promoted to 7th Degree Black Belt at a recent grading in Glasgow under Grand Master Ki Ha Rhee.
During the grading he was asked to perform an number of patterns, two on to one sparring and a breaking demonstration in front of Grand Master Rhee.
From everyone in the RITA we would like to say well done on this momentous achievement!