www.uta-ni.com /// United Taekwondo Association of Northern Ireland Taekwondo Korean martial arts training, competition, olympic sport.

With WTF Taekwondo Becoming a full Olympic sport in 2000, a lot more emphasis has been placed on competition Taekwondo. Not all students wish to compete, however, all Taekwondo students should have the basic understanding of the skills required, and the rules of competition Taekwondo.

The ability to step smoothly and with speed is of the utmost importance to be able to control the distance between yourself and your opponent. Therefore, competition training involves practicing a lot of techniques. This also enables a student to develop good stamina and improve balance.

Training for competition is different from traditional Taekwondo therefore separate classes are held for these who which to take up the challenge to compete in the sport side of the art.



To be a Taekwondo champion takes extensive training and lots of hard work. Students must be prepared to travel to tournaments whenever possible to gain invaluable competition experience.

For those who would like to be involved in competition Taekwondo but do not wish to compete, there are regular referee courses held within the association.

Players wear a body protector, head guard, groin guard, shin guards, forearm guards and gum shield. Points are scored by either a full contact punch to the body, kick to the body or a kick to the head.

Competition Taekwondo must be seen purely as the sport side of the art and must not be confused with the traditional Taekwondo; it's a completely different concept and must be approached in a totally different mind set.

UTA NI aims to promote Kyorugi competition opportunities to potential players within the UTA NI and to encourage players to enter competition training. Through selection, which will promote healthy competition, the better players training within the NI Squad will then compete at open, national and international competitions.

UTA NI can give elite players the opportunities to be selected and compete for the UK, through BTCB NI regional training sessions and BTCB national training sessions at Loughborough University.

UTA NI elite players who wish compete for Ireland have the opportunity to get selected and do so, this is through a Memorandum of understanding with the ITU.

The UTA NI through the BTCB (NI) is supporting the establishment of the Commonwealth Taekwondo Union which will allow a NI team in its own right to eventually compete at the world's second largest event, the Commonwealth Games.


The benefits for UTA NI players to get involved:
+ An outlet to test their Taekwondo skills.
+ Increased satisfaction and enjoyment of the members involved.
+ Respect and excitement of being in a successful Kyorugi Squad.
+ Opportunities to compete nationally and internationally.

UTA NI players have already had success at national and international level. They have regularly competed in the UK, Ireland and Europe.

UTA NI members have achieved great succes at the highest level in October 06, when they competed in the 3rd Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships in Australia - and representing Northern Ireland at that!

UTA NI Kyorugi coach runs regular Kyorugi training at Carryduff. If you are interested and think you have what it takes to compete, then speak to your club instructor for the session details.

|| Training Schedules

UTA NI Kyorugi Training
Dates: Saturdays
Location: Carryduff, Loughmoss centre.
Times:9am - 11am.
Coach:Bertie Nicholson 2nd Dan, BTCB NI Kyourgi Coach.
Additional Details: All UTA NI / BTCB NI players welcome.

Download the "full WTF competition rules" doc via the Quick Linx

Taekwondo Kyorugi equipment for Training and competitions

Head Guard [click to enlarge]	WTF Body Protector [click to enlarge]	Shin Guards [click to enlarge]
Groin Guard (male) [click to enlarge]	Groin Guard (female) [click to enlarge]	Forearm Guard [click to enlarge]
Sparring Gloves [click to enlarge]	Sparring Socks [click to enlarge]	Mouthguard [click to enlarge]

Follow the Quick Linx to Samdo for all your Taekwondo equipment.

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