PHOTO: From left: Master Patrick L. Thimangu, Mr. Shawn Williams and Mr. Thomas R. Parsons attending a lecture at the 80th Kukkiwon Taekwondo International Master Instructor Course held in Chicago, on Nov. 18-21, 2021.
Thimangu Earns Prestigious Taekwondo Certification
Patrick L. Thimangu recently attained 2nd Class Taekwondo Poom/Dan Promotion Test Examiner certification from the Kukkiwon. The South Korean quasi government organization also known as the World Taekwondo Headquarters is based in Seoul.
Poom belt is a Korean term for taekwondo blackbelts – the highest belt rank for taekwondo practitioners – who are under 15, while dan belt is a term used to designate blackbelts aged 15 and up. Kukkiwon test examiners conduct and supervise blackbelt tests. There are currently only 938 taekwondo master instructors in the world holding Thimangu’s examiner rank, according to the latest data from the Kukkiwon.
Thimangu’s certification comes as the Kukkiwon makes global efforts to improve taekwondo practices by requiring uniform and high level standardized testing for blackbelts. The organization issues blackbelt certification, oversees the training of international masters and conducts research and development on the popular Kukkiwon style taekwondo.
Thimangu earned his new rank following participation in the 36th Taekwondo Poom-Dan Test Examiner Course conducted by the Kukkiwon on Nov.16-19 in Chicago. Nearly 50 taekwondo masters from around the world attended the 24-hour event and took written and practical tests to qualify for certification. Thimangu was one of five course attendees awarded a special citation by the Kukkiwon for “outstanding performance among the trainees.”
“It was very humbling and a great honor to be recognized for good performance among my peers, many of whom hold much higher taekwondo rank than I and traveled from distant countries,” Thimangu said. “It’s now even more gratifying to learn that I passed the tough tests at the examiner course to qualify for certification.”
The test examiner course immediately preceded the 80th International Taekwondo Master Instructor Course, a grueling 40-hour training seminar held over four days on November 18-21. Arch Taekwondo members and Thimangu’s students Thomas R. Parsons and Shawn Williams participated in that course.
Parsons and Williams took the instructor course to advance their skills and secure eligibility to be certified as Kukkiwon 3rd Class International Master Instructors when they attain 4th degree Kukkiwon blackbelt certification. Williams, who is also the owner and chief instructor of Tectonic Taekwondo in Festus, Mo., was seeking more knowledge about running a taekwondo school.
Thimangu, a 6th degree blackbelt, also took the instructor course to refresh his skills. He is already certified as a 2nd Class International Taekwondo Master Instructor, a designation held by only 477 taekwondo teachers outside Korea, Kukkiwon current data shows
“It’s very nice to see our members develop skills and learn from Kukkiwon teachers, who are the best im the world,” Thimangu said. “Not only do those students raise their own standards and gain international certification, but they generally help improve the standards of the whole dojang by being good role models.”
Grandmaster Jae Yoon Ahn, a 9th degree blackbelt and three-time World Taekwondo World Poomsae Championships gold medalist was among the highly ranked teachers instructing at the Kukkiwon 36th Taekwondo Poom -Dan Examiner Course and the Kukkiwon 80th International Master Instructor Course. Grandmaster Yun Ung Suk, president of the Kukkiwon’s World Taekwondo Academy and Grandmaster Kang Jaewon, general manager of the WTA, were also in attendance.
The Kukkiwon courses in November were hosted by the World Taekwondo Masters Union (WTMU) a taekwondo organization based in Chicago and led by Grandmaster Ki Hong Kim.
For more information about Arch Taekwondo and taekwondo classes please contact the school at kick@archtkd.com or call (314) 533-4999.