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On the administrative side, I’ve been Technical Director for the Turkish Poomsae National Team since 2005. During that time, the team has twice been European Champions and twice bronze medallists at the World level! Now - do you have any questions you would like me to answer?
Yes! Tell our readers why you happened to take up taekwondo rather than one of the other physical activities practised in your country? KIM DOO MAN: Taekwondo is a very popular sport in Korea and is actually taught as part of the curriculum in schools. In fact, taekwondo is regarded as a way of life in Korea! The status of taekwondo in Korea can be seen through the activity of the The Korean Goverment in establishing the Taekwondo Park. This will be finished in 2013 and the names of all Taekwondo Grandmasters and their work will be recorded there. This will function as a resource for all practitioners. My first teacher was the founder of WTF and he inspired and motivated me to train and excel in taekwondo. Two more masters who contributed in a major way to my early development in taekwondo are Kim Ill Seok and Il Young Gun. Il Young Gun currently lives in America.
Apart from the inspiration provided by your teachers, what did YOU do to contribute to your and your team’s successes? KIM DOO MAN: I attribute any success I may have achieved to a number of things, which include following the right training method, working constantly to develop my techniques, working steadily from grade to grade and
always keeping my mind open to new information. I want to stress that success in taekwondo is built on a firm foundation. This foundation provides the basis for development to an advanced stage. Combination techniques, for example, can only be properly executed when you can properly perform their individual elements. Discipline is essential during training and above all of these, a serious and strong commitment must be made to train. I use the Korean system in my club and for the national team. How much you work at taekwondo and how much you develop by yourself is important. Nowadays I stay in touch with what’s happening in Korea. This is very important and as soon as techniques or rules are modified, I pass those changes on to my
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