British Taekwondo | |
Membership: | 11,000 |
Headquarters: | Manchester |
Formation: | 1982 |
Website: | http://www.britishtaekwondo.org.uk |
British Taekwondo Limited, operating as British Taekwondo is the National Governing Body for World Taekwondo in Great Britain. It is a member of, and recognised by, World Taekwondo, the international governing body for taekwondo as recognised by the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. British Taekwondo is also a member of the British Olympic Association (BOA), the British Paralympic Association (BPA) and the European Taekwondo Union (ETU).
Established in 1982 its functions include responsibility for the selection of National Teams to compete at International and Olympic level.[1] [2] [3]
A second body founded in 2002, Sport Taekwondo UK Ltd operating as GB Taewkondo is responsible, with the support of its parent body, British Taekwondo, for the management of the elite competitive taekwondo and para taekwondo programs in Great Britain, and the hosting in Great Britain of elite level competitive taekwondo events.[4] [5]
Advancing through the belts is by a system of gradings. Gradings are typically held in 3–4 month cycles at regional training centres across the UK. Black belt promotion tests are held three time per year at venue around the UK. Grading systems will typically consist of line work, patterns, theory, and sparring. Students can typically advance through the belts at a rate of 1 Kup every 3 months.
BTCB uses the following system of Belt Gradings:
BTCB (WTF Style) uses the Poomsae style of teaching Taekwondo.
GB Taekwondo holds the mandate for selecting National Team players and Olympic Team players in the UK. Since Taekwondo's inception at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, The UK has fielded several players into Olympic tournaments, such as Steve Jennings, Paul Green, Sarah Stevenson, Aaron Cook and Michael Harvey. To date, five medals have been won (Sarah Stevenson – Bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jade Jones – Gold at the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics as well as, Lutalo Muhammad – Bronze & Silver at the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio Olympics).