Hall of Fame

Taekwondo Hall of Fame in Munich 2024

On Friday, August 23, 2024, the Taekwon-Do elite met in Munich in the conference rooms of the Holiday Inn. As President of ITF-Germany and President of the Hall of Fame (Europe), Grandmaster Andreas Granzow spared no effort to bring a special event to Germany.

Special thanks go to GM Gerard Robbins, GM Andreas Granzow and SM Prof. Dr. Björn Wolle, who were committed to organizing this year’s Hall of Fame in Munich.
Further thanks go to Ms. Petra Wolle, Ms. Gabi Rademacher and the Holger Münch family for their tireless administrative and technical efforts.

 

Hall of Fame Head Table:

GM Robert Dunn
GM Bernie Willems
GM Andreas Granzow
GM Gerard Robbins
GM Dr.Suk-Jun Kim
SM Prof Dr Björn Wolle
GM George Somersall
GM Michael Cormack
Master Michael Arndt
SM Burkhard Ladewig
GM Na Zih Shihabi

During the ceremony, the Taekwondo Hall of Fame committee appointed 8 people from ITF-Germany as Grandmaster, Seniormaster and Master:

Grandmaster Bruno Newel (9th Dan)

Grandmaster Bernie Willems (9th Dan)

Grandmaster Seyffetin Eryörük (9th Dan)

Grandmaster Wilfried Peters (9th Dan)

Seniormaster Burkhard Ladewig (8th Dan)

Seniormaster Karip Tercan (8th Dan)

Seniormaster Prof. Dr. Björn Wolle (8th Dan)

Master Wolfgang Dorr (7th Dan)

Further teacher grades were appointed…

Sabum Osman Eryörük, 6th Dan
Sabum Thomas Stürz, 6th Dan
Sabum Holger Münch, 5th Dan
Sabum Uwe Schmitz, 5th Dan
Sabum Dietmar Baumeister, 5. Dan

The ITF-Germany would like to thank the promotion committee:

GM Gerard Robbins (USA)
GM Robert Dunn (USA)
GM Suk, Jun-Kim (Korea)
GM Georg Somersal (USA)
GM Michael Cormack (Canada)
GM Andreas Granzow (Germany)
GM Ruben Ayala (Puerto Rico)
GM Tae, Sun-Kang (Korea)
GM Danny Ortiz (Puerto Rico)
GM Amir Sultani (Afghanistan)
GM Tom Stammer (UK)
GM Ik Jo Kang (USA)
GM NA ZIH SHIHABI (Saudi Arabia)
GM Keith Finch (UK)
GM Svetlana Kana Gvozdić (Croatia)
and more …

The Hall of Fame only honors special people who have distinguished themselves in Taekwon-Do for their sporting achievements, public work or Taekwondo.
The Hall of Fame is elite and is characterized by admission with an induction (certification) and a signet ring. It includes the Taekwondo styles The Hall of Fame awards the following criteria:ITF, WTF, KUKKIWON, KWANS together.

The Hall of Fame awards the following criteria:

– Official Induction
– Special Citation

umantarian Award (Official Induction)

The “Humanitarian Award” recognizes those person who using Taekwondo as a tool devotes an extraordinary amount of their time and energy to the improvement of the human condition, doing so with a mindset of acceptance of every human for plainly just being human while ignoring and abolishing biased social views, prejudice, and racism in the process.

Lifetime Achievement (Official Induction)

The “Lifetime Achievement Award” recognizes the person who primarily more than 25-30 years has contributed to the development, preservation and promotion of Taekwondo in more than one capacity. Those capacities may include but are not limited to being a competitor, coach, trainer, instructor or leader whether elected or appointed. That person does not necessarily have been what is deemed to be a Grandmaster. The person should be one who over the years has demonstrated moral character, and sound judgment.

Pioneer Instructor (Official Induction Or Certificate Of Special Recognition)

The “Pioneer Instructor Award” gives recognition to a person who was the first person of dan level to teach Taekwondo in his/her country or territory. Persons receiving “Pioneer Instructor” designation may also be referred to as “Founder of Taekwondo” or “Father or Taekwondo” in his country or territory. However in cases where it is later learned that there was a previous instructor the initial designee may only refer to himself/herself as “Pioneer”

  1. Nominee was the first person of dan level to teach Taekwondo in his/her country or territory.
  2. Has demonstrated good attitude, moral character and sound judgment on and off of the field of play
  3. Is willing to promote the vision, goals and objectives of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame
  4. Is not currently involved in litigation with any local, national or international Taekwondo related entity.

Literary Excellence Award (Certificate Of Special Recognition)

Special Recognition give to those who have written books or magazine articles which have significantly educated the taekwondo community (history, etc)

Excellence In Leadership (Official Induction Or Certificate Of Special Recognition)

One who has been appointed or elected to a leadership position in his/her organization and has served in that capacity for several years. The person should be one who has consistently demonstrated good moral character and sound judgment and over those years has contributed significantly to the stability and growth of the organization

Outstanding Referee (Certificate Of Special Recognition Or Official Induction)

One who over the years has demonstrated excellence as a referee and in doing so gained the admiration and respect of his/her peers and organization

COACH OF THE YEAR (Official Induction or Certificate of Special Recognition)

The “Coach of the Year Award” gives recognition to a male of female Taekwondo coach who has led team(s) or players to victory during past or recent years in major national or international competition. The person making the nomination should utilize an objective or verifiable data source for the acquisition of the candidate’s record as a successful coach such as official records, internet based queries, and/or printed trade related publications. If internet based query is the primary component of acquisition, the person making the selection should also verify the competitive record by interviews with other reliable sources who have personal knowledge of the athlete’s record. The person forwarding the nomination should be objective and consider other candidates with whom he or she has not been personally involved.

  1. Has an exemplary record of coaching the team or player in to a first place victory(s) in recognized national or international events during recent years of competition.
  2. Has demonstrated good attitude, moral character and sound judgment on and off of the field of play
  3. Is willing to promote the vision, goals and objectives of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame
  4. Is not currently involved in litigation with any local, national or international Taekwondo related entity.

Pioneer Competitor (Official Induction Or Certificate Of Special Recognition)

The “Pioneer Competitor Award” gives recognition to a male of female Taekwondo athlete who has successfully competed at the black belt level in a recognized amateur or professional regional, national or international competition during the earliest years of competition in his or her country. The person making the nomination should utilize an objective or verifiable data source for the acquisition of the candidate’s competitive record such as official records, internet based queries, and/or printed trade related publications. If Internet based query is the primary component of acquisition, the person making the selection should also verify the competitive record by interviews with other reliable sources who have personal knowledge of the athlete’s record. While the person forwarding the nomination may also be the coach of the athlete that person should be objective and consider other candidates with whom he or she has not been personally involved.

  1. Has won a first, second or third place award in a recognized regional, national or international event during the earliest years of competition in his/her country.
  2. Has demonstrated good attitude, moral character and sound judgment on and off of the field of play
  3. Is willing to promote the vision, goals and objectives of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame
  4. Is not currently involved in litigation with any local, national or international Taekwondo related entity.
  5. Competition must have been at the black belt level in the forms or fighting category. While the “Pioneer Competitor” category has usually been relegated to sparring, the award could also be presented in the forms category which is also referred to as poomsae, patterns or tuls Other categories may be considered such as power or technical breaking.

Competitor Of The Year (Certificate Of Special Recognition)

The “Competitor of the Year Award” gives recognition to a male of female Taekwondo athlete who has successfully competed in an international competition over the past 1 to 5 years. The person making the nomination should utilize an objective or verifiable data source for the acquisition of the candidate’s competitive record such as official records, internet based queries, and/or printed trade related publications. If internet based query is the primary component of acquisition, the person making the selection should also verify the competitive record by interviews with other reliable sources who have personal knowledge of the athlete’s record. While the person forwarding the nomination may also be the coach of the athlete that person should be objective and consider other candidates with whom he or she has not been personally involved.

  1. Has won a first, second or third place award in a major international or Olympic competition or consistently been a member of one’s national team over several years.
  2. Has shown what would generally be considered outstanding or extraordinary skill competing in a “spectacular” fashion in only one recent international or Olympic competition.
  3. Has demonstrated good attitude, moral character and sound judgment on and off of the field of play
  4. Is willing to promote the vision, goals and objectives of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame
  5. Is not currently involved in litigation with any local, national or international Taekwondo related entity

Competition must have been at the black belt level in the forms or fighting category. While the “Competitor of the Year” category has usually been

Youth Excellence Award (Certificate Of Special Recognition Only)

While diligently practicing the martial art of Taekwondo that person (whose current age is between 13-17) must have maintained an above average scholastic record and demonstrated, leadership ability, uncommon maturity, self-discipline inside and outside of the dojang, as well as demonstrate personality traits characteristic of an ideal role model. Consideration of the award to persons whose age is lower than 13 is at the discretion of the Taekwondo Hall of Fame.