I cherish these times with my son. When I perform Tae Kwon Do patterns with Tyler, it’s as if I am back in the dojo again mixing it up with the guys. We are each other’s inspiration for achieving our goals. I am a happier man and a better father, thanks to Tyler and Tae Kwon Do.
Tae Kwon Do Forever By Mohamed Riad Ibrahim Mohammed I was born in Cairo, Riad Ibrahim Egypt, on October 26, 1955. After high school, I entered Cairo University, School of Agriculture. I started playing Tae Kwon Do in 1975 and I participated in the first National Championship in 1976, just after earning my red belt. I love martial arts very much and every weekend I go to the movies to see a martial arts film. I earned my first black belt in 1978 and started teaching TKD at Cairo University after graduation. I became a referee in 1980 and the Egyptian Taekwondo Federation chose me to be the Chairman of the Referee Committee in 1988. This position had me taking care of championships and teaching new referees. In 1989, I
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became an international referee. I began officiating in many international events, and in 1999, I officiated in the World TKD Championship in Canada and was Center Referee in the final match on the first day. Also in 1999, I fulfilled a dream when I was finally able to visit Korea and see the Kukkiwon because I participated in the referee course for the Sydney Olympic Games. I succeeded and I became an Olympic referee, officiating in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. I became one of the 24 best referees all over the world. That same year, I earned my Doctorate in Food Science, School of Agriculture. In 2002, I became an international coach by participating in the international instructor course. In 2003, I earned my sixthdan black belt. For the second time, the WTF chose me to officiate in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Also in 2004, I started practicing poomsae with the national team of Egypt as a player and became an international poomsae referee in 2008. Soon I started teaching poomsae in a club. I made a computer program for poomsae refereeing and we use it in our local championship and also in international events. My program is used in the U.S., Germany and Japan. In 2009, I traveled to Saudi Arabia to work to develop the Saudi Federation and support TKD there. By the end of 2009, I returned back to Cairo and earned my seventh-dan. I also became a member of the belt exams committee in the Egyptian Taekwondo