About the ITA
The Irish Taekwon-Do Association (ITA) is the national association for ITF Taekwon-Do in Ireland. The ITA is part of the Irish Martial Arts Commission (IMAC), the Sport Ireland recognised national governing body for martial arts in Ireland. This gives ITA instructors, members and clubs access to coach education, safeguarding guidance, anti-doping and a host of other benefits only available to IMAC members.
Made up of over 100 clubs nationwide and as the largest Taekwon-Do association in Ireland, ITA membership provides a seal of quality for instructors and students alike. ITA instructors complete Taekwon-Do specific Sport Coaching Ireland recognised coach education courses, are first aid trained, have adequate insurance cover in place and abide by the IMAC policies in relation to safeguarding.
The ITA runs a number of events for its members including three national tournaments, two blackbelt gradings, technical seminars and a national summer camp as well as a coach education courses and umpire training workshops.
COMPETITIONS
On a competitive front, the Irish Taekwon-Do team has seen unprecedented success over the past number of years. Highlights of this success include the 2017 World Championships which the ITA hosted in Citywest, Dublin where the Irish team ranked as number one country in ITF Taekwon-Do.
DEMOCRATIC ORGANISATION
As a fully democratic organisation, individual members and instructors have significant influence on the direction of the ITA. Every 5 years the membership meet to form a strategic plan and set the aims and objectives of the association over the coming years. On a day-to-day basis, the ITA is governed by the board of directors. This 9-person board is elected by instructors at the annual general meeting and helps to implement the aims of the strategic plan as set out by the membership.
In addition to the board of directors, the ITA has specific committees and officers to help promote various areas key to the continued success of the association. These include committee and officers to oversee: tournaments, technical development, business development, expansion, inclusion, coach education and anti-doping.
AN INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION
The ITA has made Ireland a destination for Taekwon-Do practitioners from around the world, hosting a number of ITF events such as international umpire courses, international instructor courses, the first ever ITF international coaching conference held in Ireland in 2019 as well as the 2017 ITF World Championships which was contested by over 1000 black belts from 62 countries.
The ITA will play host to the 2026 ITF World Cup.
The ITA leads the way in Irish Taekwon-Do, continuously striving to raise standards, improve tournaments and continue to promote the success of our national team on a world level As a modern, open and democratic organisation, the ITA continues to grow and evolve.