About TKDWA

HISTORY

Taekwondo Western Australia members have a long history in the development of Taekwondo in Western Australia. Two of our founding Members were the late Mr Sok Pong Kim and Mr Shin Boo Kim who established clubs in the 1970's in Perth and Bunbury, from these first established clubs Taekwondo was spread throughout the State by the early 1980's.

By 1982 Western Australia had its first National team member, representing Australia at the 1982 Asian Championships. In 1984 Western Australia was represented by five members on the 13 man National team to the 84 Asian Championships in the Philippines, being one coach and four players, well and truly cementing Western Australia as a force in Australian Taekwondo. The West Australians won a Silver and Bronze medal at this prestigious competition.

In 1985 Western Australia had its first member win selection to a World Championships, followed in 1986 with three members to the World Cup and four members to the 86 Asian Championships were Western Australians won Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals.

In 1987 Western Australia was again represented at the World Championships by three members, followed in 1988 by five members at the Asian championships with Western Australian Athletes winning a Silver and Bronze medal. 1988 also saw the first West Australian Taekwondo player participate in the Olympics.

1989 saw Western Australians at the World Championships and the World Invitational Championships winning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at this Championship.

Western Australia continued its success with Four athletes selected in the national team to the 1990 Asian Championships In Taiwan.

 Western Australia continued its success throughout the 90's with highlights being a West Australian the first Australian to win a medal at a European International open in 1992 with a Bronze at the Dutch International Open, 1993 Western Australian's the first Australian's to win medals at a Pan American International Open, with two Gold Medals at the US International Open.

This opened the flood gates to success for Western Australia with athletes going on to win numerous medals on numerous occasions at such competitions as the Spanish International Open, German International Open, Singapore Invitational, Malaysian Invitational, Stuttgart International Open, International Olympic Committee Cup, Choson International Cup, Canadian International Open, British International Open, US International Open, Mexican International Open, Dutch International Open and Commonwealth Championships. In fact Taekwondo Western Australia hosted the 1998 Commonwealth Championships with its athletes winning a plethora of medals.

In the late 90's Western Australia had the honour of having one of its Coaches appointed as Head Coach and Olympic Coaching Director for Australia from 1987 - end 2000. During this time many Western Australians were part of the Olympic Athlete Programme for Taekwondo.

 2000 was a highlight for Western Australia with two Western Australians selected to the 2000 Olympics with an Athlete chosen and a coach chosen as the 2000 Olympic Head Coach. Australia went on to win a Gold and Silver medal at the 2000 Olympics and place 2nd overall in the nation’s standings at the Taekwondo Competition.

From 2001-2004 Western Australia continued its competition success with athletes winning medals at World Championships, Asian Championships, Korean International Open, World Taekwondo Festival, Dutch International Open, Croatian International Open, Thailand Invitational and Malaysian Open. In 2003 Western Australia had the honour of one of our members elected as the inaugural president of the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union. 2003 saw the first Western Australian Taekwondo athlete win a medal at the World University Games.

In 2004 Western Australia was again represented at the Olympics with a Western Australian competing at the 2004 Games in Athens.

The success continued in 2005 with international medal continuing to be won at numerous World class events. 2005 also saw one of our members appointed as the chairman and chief referee of the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union Referee Board.

Western Australia's success continued to grow in 2006, with a Western Australian the first Australian to win a Gold Medal at a World Cup and the first Western Australian Referee, Mr Kim Seng, to Win best sparring referee award at a World Cup.

 

Western Australia also had the honour of one of its members, Mrs Carmela Hartnett, winning a bronze medal at the 1st World Poomsae (forms) Championships in Korea. 2006 also saw Western Australian athletes win Gold and Silver Medals at the Oceania Championships and Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the Commonwealth Championships.

Western Australia continued its success with another officiating honour in 2007. The first Western Australian Referee, Mr Shin Boo Kim, Wins best poomsae referee award at WTF's 2nd World Poomsae Championships.

2007 has seen Western Australian Athletes chosen into national teams for World and Asian Championships.

2008 Australian Team contesting World Junior Championships, Izmir, Turkey. May 7-11

WA members Jasmine Klumpp, Graeme Hartnett (Coach), Catherine Dawson, Brodie Sciberras, Chad Cross.