I was hoping to make it to the tournament this weekend Nov 20 in Toronto but due to my ankle surgery I won't be able to make it. Have no fear though, as the treasurer for the ICTF of Canada, Ms. Preisinger will be working the ICTF of Canada information booth . She will be there to meet instructors and answer any questions they have about the national federation. Unlike other organizations, the ICTF does not make it mandatory for its members to join national governing bodies (NGB'S). Due to bad experiences in the past with NGB's many instructors are hesitant to join the ICTF of Canada. We have information booths at events so that our members can be informed of the benefits of belonging to an NGB; benefits that range from advice on school programs to advertising and marketing ideas, to free insurance,financial assistance for instructor training, student funding, and international competition.

Any ICTF instructors that will be at the Ontario Provincials should make a point of talking to Ms. Preisinger so that they fully understand why they should be a member of ICTF of Canada. In fact, any non-ICTF instructors in the area would be wise to drop by the booth and find out why they too should join our NGB.

The past week has been a busy one on e-mail and the phone.  Numerous black belts have contacted myself and others in the executive to suggest ideas for the betterment of our organization.  The many conversations I and others had during the Provincials have produced many new great ideas.  These ideas probably would n't have happened if we had just attended the tournament to compete.  We were there for that of course, but we also were looking to discuss issues and work together to improve our organization.  Some of these ideas may not ever work but there are a few that will for sure.  More importantly, we were working together for the group.  Since we are all in the group, that means we were working for ourselves as well.  That's how an organization gets better!

The Alberta Provincial Championships seemed to show that the ICTF is thriving in Western Canada.  The event started at 9:30 am (on time) and ended with the doors closing at 7:00 pm.  8 rings in two gyms were constant through out the day.  With over 500 competitors at this tournament, it was enjoyable pandamonium, like martial art tournaments always are.  What wasn't readily apparent was the close friendships that existed between the black belts, the instructors and the colour belt students.  You had to look close to see that the sparring was not being done in any sort of aggressive way.  All clubs met in friendly competition and each ring ended with all competitors joking and laughing together. 
The instructors all mixed together continually through out the day.  Even the new members felt right at home and quickly made friends with others.  The 3 new black belts to our Federation that attended this event all commented how they felt like they were always a part of this group and were not new to the ICTF.
Master Cariati, Master Doerksen and myself mingled easily with the numerous black belts discussing many different issues and topics through out the day.  All in all an excellent tournament as usual.

It seems to me that all current Taekwon-do organizations that exist today have a few people at the top, usually high ranking masters, that reap huge benefits while the general membership, and certainly all the colour belts, really get nothing. I love the saying "Actions speak louder than words". We at the ICTF do not need to convince people to join our organization promising great rewards and benefits, we just give great rewards and benefits! I could list numerous items of support that have occured over the last several years, but why dwell on the past. The ICTF's latest support of its members (not high ranking masters) is the fifty grants of $500.00 each that will be given to competitors at the Western Championships to enable them to attend the international event in October 2011 (Toronto). That's twenty five thousand dollars! Black belts, red belts and blue belts will most certainly obtain some of these grants. We may even be able to send green or yellow belts. Read these words carefully and then listen to the sound of our action.

Taekwon,
Master Craig Stanley
President, ICTF