Global Open Champs Event Report
The 4th Global Open champs held in Melbourne over the King’s Birthday long weekend was a huge success.
Hosted and organized by United ITF Taekwon-Do Australia, 24 schools took part from across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
Events in the Global Open Champs included both ITF and WT Sparring, ITF Team Sparring, ITF & WT Team Patterns/Poomsae, and Special Needs categories.
Outstanding clubs were White Tigers Taekwondo (Melbourne, Vic) in the WT events, and Titan Martial Arts (Newcastle, NSW) in the ITF events.
The unique format of the Global Open Champs has been successfully run by event organizer Master Michael Muleta, for more than a decade, allowing both ITF and WT participants to compete in both events.
Students from Fusion Martial Arts, Macleod Taekwondo and Geelong Taekwondo participated in both formats.
We encourage participants to try their hand at both formats to build an appreciation for each variation of our martial art, and break down the stigma and politics that widely exists between styles.
United ITF Taekwon-Do Australia National Tournament Director, Justin Chin, did a wonderful job overseeing the ITF events, while Master James Heenan and his team did a wonderful job in the WT events.
The evening after the event featured the 6th ITF Hall of Fame Awards, and on the following day an ITF-sanctioned Masterclass was conducted by Master Muleta. The seminar featured instructors and students from all across Australia.
Thank you to all clubs who participated, the great team of volunteer officials and in particular those who travelled from afar and overseas.
Next year’s 5th Global Open Champs is pencilled in for Melbourne on the Labour Day long weekend, commencing 8th March, 2025
