Taekwon-Do Heroes goes International
Speciaal vanwege het internationale karakter van het onderwerp is dit stuk – eenmalig – in het Engels geschreven.
Today, the Taekwon-Do Heroes are a well-known phenomenon in the Dutch ITF Taekwon-Do scene. We are proud to say such a great initiative flourished within our federation of ITF Taekwon-Do schools, I.T.F. Nederland, and that we could play a modest part in bringing both initiators together.
The most recent development is that the Taekwon-Do Heroes are expanding outside of The Netherlands. Boosabums Randy Brouwer (Taekwon-Do In NAE Do KWAN) and Vincent Vrijsen (Taekwon-Do Team Vrijsen) have been working with children with disabilities for a while now in their dojangs. The name “Taekwon-Do Heroes” originally came from Boosabum Randy and took off when the two Boosabums joined forces. We interviewed both gentlemen about their foreign endeavors.
1) The “Heroes Family” is expanding abroad: what does that entail?
There was some interest in the “Heroes brand” from abroad. All of them people who – just like us – were already working with people with disabilities, and were looking for a common denominator to represent what they were doing. So why not all use the same logo?
Of course we thought things through and we established a set of requirements a Heroes instructor has to meet.
2) How did the international interest come about?
We were contacted directly through our Facebook page (Taekwon-Do Heroes) and were asked permission to use the logo. And that’s how it all started. Now Denmark (President of ITF Denmark, Thomas Kortegaard Brandt and Ann Laursen) has joined the Heroes family and there are more dojangs from all over the world on the verge of conducting their classes as “Heroes”!
3) Can we expect an “International Heroes Course” in the near future?
Everybody who knows us, knows we’re not the characters for grand courses and such. We did discuss it though, but due to the diversity of our target audience – there are a LOT of specific needs to attend to – it’s near impossible to set up a comprehensive Heroes Course. The most valuable skill a Heroes instructor must have, and nurture, is the ability to recognize those needs, pay sincere attention to the children, and work with them. A good heart goes a long way!
4) Where will the Heroes be in 10 years?
We have no idea. Foremost, let’s just take it step by step and let all those who want to – within the broad range of their abilities – practice our beautiful martial art.
If you’re looking for more information, please check out or website www.taekwondo-heroes.com or our Facebook page Taekwon-Do Heroes!
