Tag: sports

YouTube Interview with Master Muleta

By Michael Muleta

On April 9, 2020

In News

YouTube Interview with Master Muleta

In April 2020 Master Michael Muleta was interviewed by Sabum Andrew McKay from the YouTube Martial Arts Show.

The 2-part interview covered a vast array of Taekwondo-Do topics from:

The formation of Taekwon-Do
Master Muleta’s beginnings in Taekwon-DO
General Choi Hong Hi’s influence
Master Muleta’s International involvement
Arnold Classic Taekwon-Do World Championships
The Influence of MMA on traditional martial arts
Taekwon-Do symbolism in belts, uniforms etc.
The future of martial arts

To Subscribe to the Martial Arts Show click here

Michael Muleta is an 8th Degree Black Belt Master Instructor, as well as A Class International Umpire. Master Muleta currently holds the official post of under Secretary General of the International Taekwon-Do Federation.

He is the Founding President of United ITF Taekwon-Do Australia Inc, with 30 years of ITF experience at the highest level as a competitor, coach, umpire and administrator.

Michael has with an extensive Taekwon-Do and education background. His informative seminars are some of the most highly regarded domestically and internationally.

See the video promoting Master Muleta’s school, Thoroughbred Taekwon-Do

Watch the National Body promo video – United ITF Taekwon-Do Australia

Global Fitness Institute Personal Training promo video

Global Fitness Institute First Aid courses promo

&lt;span class=”mce_SELRES_start” style=”width: 0px; line-height: 0; overflow: hidden; display: inline-block;” data-mce-type=”bookmark”&gt;&lt;/span&gt;

USA Arnold Sports Festival with Master Muleta

By Michael Muleta

On March 8, 2020

In News

USA Arnold Sports Festival with Master Muleta

Master Michael Muleta is currently at the USA Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio as part of the Arnold Team, promoting the upcoming Arnold Classic Taekwondo World Championships.

The martial arts event at the USA Arnold Sports Festival is huge with over 20 rings and multiple martial arts.

We are pleased to announce we now have some confirmed USA participation in Melbourne for the World Championships.

There is only 1 week remaining to register

Registration Links Here

Each year, thousands of bodybuilders, martial artists, and fitness enthusiasts from around the world converge upon Columbus, Ohio for a weekend exposition bearing the name of bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Arnold Sports Festival began in Columbus as the Arnold Classic in 1989. Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the most famous body builders in the world during the 1970s and 1980s.He created the Arnold Classic to showcase bodybuilding. The Arnold Classic has evolved into one of the premiere bodybuilding events in the world. This competition continues to take place at the Columbus Convention Center.

Over the years, Schwarzenegger has added other events. The Arnold Classic continues to crown a male bodybuilder as its winner, but now Ms. International, a woman’s bodybuilding event, also takes place, as well as the Arnold Fitness Training Seminar, the Fitness International Competition, the Arnold Cheerleading and Dance Team Championships, the Arnold Strongest Man Competition, the World Powerlifting Organization World Championship, the Arnold Fitness Fashion Show, the Arnold Classic Armwrestling Challenge, the World Record Bench Press Challenge, the Arnold World Gracie Submission Championships, and the Arnold Traditional Karate World Cup Championship, among other events.

With the addition of other competitions to the Arnold Classic, the combined event became known as the Arnold Fitness Expo in 1993. It is now named the USA Arnold Sports Festival.

In 2005, more than ten thousand athletes participated in the various competitions, competing for more than 400,000 dollars in prize money. Seventy-five thousand people attended the Arnold Fitness Expo. Six hundred vendors also sold their wares at the show.

Arnold Kids Classic Taekwondo

By Michael Muleta

On December 11, 2019

In News, upcoming events

Arnold Kids Classic Taekwondo

The Arnold Kids Classic Taekwondo will run on Sunday 22nd March, 2020 as part of the Arnold Sports Festival Australia.

This event has been added after consultation with some instructors, who were reluctant to put their juniors and novices in an event billed as ‘World Championships’. It also requires families of those competing in the Arnold Kids Classic Taekwondo, to only attend the one day (Sunday).

The event is open to all Children under 14 yrs of age.

We particularly encourage all beginners, colour belts (black belts welcome also) to enter the Arnold Kids Classic Taekwondo.

As with most competitions, competitors will be matched according to a closest fit policy (age, rank, weight – if sparring)

Competitors Register Here

Coaches Register (Click here)

Umpires register (Click here)

**There will be NO HEAD CONTACT in Sparring in the Arnold Kids Classic Taekwondo**

Arnold Kids Classic Events

WT Style:

Sparring (individual), Poomsae (individual), Poomsae team (3-5 persons)

ITF style:

Sparring (individual), Patterns (individual), Patterns team (3-5 persons)

Note: this event is seperate from the Arnold Classic Taekwondo World Championships

Of course, any person wishing to enter both competitions, may do so – however both registration forms need to be submitted seperately.

Note: Coaches who have registered for the Arnold Classic Taekwondo World Championships are not required to register twice. However, any person not registered as a coach WILL NOT gain access to the competition area.

Spectator Passes include access to both events on the Sunday

Purchase Spectator Ticlets Here

Remember: All spectators under 15 years are admitted FREE of Charge

Vic Champs a huge success

By Michael Muleta

On July 31, 2019

In News

Vic Champs Success

The United ITF Open Vic Champs, recently held in Caroline Springs, and hosted by Thoroughbred Taekwon-Do, was a huge success.

It featured participants of all ages and levels from across Victoria, South Australia, Canberra and Queensland.

Events included Sparring and Patterns, in both ITF and WT, as well as Team patterns, Self Defense and Creative Breaking.

The event was organized by United ITF President, Master Michael Muleta and overseen by National Tournament Director, Justin Chin.

To promote inclusiveness we also incorporated a junior development event with our friends from several WT schools, who were using it as preparation for the upcoming Arnold Classic Taekwondo World Championships.

Another exciting element of the event was the running of the World’s First Bottle Cap Challenge competition.

Thank you to everyone who came along, particularly those who travelled far and wide, to make the event such a success. We appreciate the very positive feedback on our efforts to keep the tournament format fresh, engaging and innovative.

A big thank you to our referees and judges who worked with the utmost professionalism and efficiency. Last but not least, appreciation for our first aid providers and additional volunteers.

The entire event was streamed live by MySportLive, with the invaluable support of Anytime Fitness Caroline Springs.

For those who missed it, even those who took part, you can watch it all again. View Video below:

It can also be viewed on our homepage

Lindy Crouch Australia’s Golden Girl

By Michael Muleta

On August 14, 2018

In News

Lindy Crouch Australia’s Golden Girl

Lindy Joy Crouch is Australia’s new Golden Girl of ITF Taekwon-Do. She won 2 Gold medals at the International Taekwon-Do Federation’s Special Needs World Championships in Argentina.

Lindy was Australia’s first down syndrome athlete to compete at the ITF World Championships, in the first fully fledged ITF Special Needs international event.

She won Gold in the Adult individual yellow belt patterns, and also in the Mixed abilities event. Lindy teamed up with Joshua Zdybel to perform self defense against weapon attacks and an unarmed assailant.

It was an incredible performance in front of a massive, and parochial, Argentinian crowd in Buenos Aires’ huge Tecnopolis complex. The event included 5 days of competition, with typical running times from 10am – 6pm.

Lindy was part of a 15 strong Australian squad, which also included 2 Special Needs athletes. The other, Master Lee Hermansson, of Broken Hill, took out a Silver medal in the patterns.

Lindy’s training regime

She trains twice weekly at Geelong Taekwon-Do, under the guidance of 5th Degree instructor Phillip Zdybel. Mr Zdybel also acted as Head Coach of the National team, as well as competing himself.

He describes Lindy as a ‘very spirited young lady who show a lot of determination along the way and put in the extra work attending regular pool sessions’ in addition to regular training.

Despite her special needs, Lindy trains in the regular class and does all the same drills and conditioning as the black belts. This was evident in her performance in Argentina.

The Geelong school is a member of the Australian National Body, United ITF Taekwon-Do Australia Inc.

President, Master Michael Muleta, said it was a fantastic result for Lindy and the Australian Team. He also noted how the Taekwon-Do special needs section had grown since it’s inception in 2016.

So much so, that the National Organization now has a Special Needs Committee to further develop the program domestically.

We would like to thank the State Government of Victoria and Barwon Sport Academy.

Lindy now has her eyes firmly set on the 2020 ITF World Championships in Russia, where she hopes to return as a high colour belt.

Check out the event photo gallery

Website sponsored by – Global Fitness Institute

Aussie Pride on show in Argentina

By Michael Muleta

On August 14, 2018

In Blogs, News

Aussie Pride on show in Argentina

Well done to all who represented Australia at the recent ITF World Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It is one of the toughest cauldrons of ITF competition with a packed stadium full of latino pride and agression. On the mats, we were super proud of the way the Aussie team showed their true spirit and had a red hot crack.

Fair to say all competitors performed very well, and most at or close to their best performance at this level of competition.

Five long days of competition tested the concentration and endurance of our athletes, but they all gave a good account of themselves.

The nature of sports is that it’s not always enough to get a medal, but we are proud to say we did come home with some.

Special Congratulations, of course, goes to our medal winners

Lindy Crouch (2 x Gold Medals)
Jodi Stanton (2 x Silver Medals)
Lee Hermansson (1 x Silver Medal)
Sasha Robertson (1 x Bronze Medal)
Jackson Riordan (1 x Bronze Medal)

Well done to the coaches Phill Zdybel, Bronnie Keating and Rob Riordan. Your hard work and encouragement in preparing the athletes for their bouts was fantastic.

Thank you to all supporters and parents who came along to cheer on our team.

Check out the Photo Gallery

Well done to Master Neil Cliff and Master Noel Keating, on representing Australia as Umpires.

To round out a very succesful campaign, Master Keating was awarded a Medal of Merit from the ITF for service.

In other big news, Master Michael Muleta was appointed under Secretary General of the International Taekwon-Do Federation at the ITF Congress. (see article)

For all those who did not attend on this occasion, there is always next time.

The next ITF World Championships will be held in Moscow, Russia in 2020.

As per ITF Rules, the INO is charged with co-ordination and management of the national team, from selection trials to team registration, including apparel. From a coaching point of view, we naturally invite coaches from all representative parties.

We will make further announcements regarding squad formation, development camps, coaching and selection trials at the appropriate time.

Affiliations to the INO for 2018 are now open for new and renewing schools.

Affiliate to the ITF National Body

Success for Taekwondo at Arnold Sports Festival

By Michael Muleta

On April 1, 2018

In News

Success for Taekwondo at Arnold Sports Festival

Taekwondo was a huge success the Arnold Sports Festival Australia from March 16th – 18th, 2018.

Over 180 participants from across Australia and New Zealand took part in the seminars and championships over the 3 days.

Among those who attended included former Olympians, past and current World Champions, Taekwondo Hall of Famers and many Masters. A high quality collection of people under the one roof, along with all he future budding stars and first timers.

Seminars

Friday kicked off with Sparring seminars in ITF and WTF styles of Taekwondo, followed by Taekwondo for Self Defense, then an ITF Patterns session.

Masters Rua Kaiou, Noel Keating, Neil Cliff and Phill Zdybel conducted the sessions which were enjoyed by all who took part.

Day 1

Day 1 of the Taekwondo championships on Saturday featured ITF Sparring and Patterns for both individuals and teams.

Participants came from:

New Zealand,
Perth,
Broome,
Ballina,
Hobart,
Sydney,
Adelaide,
Mildura,
Gippsland,
Mount Gambier and
Geelong,
metropolitan Melbourne.

The day ran like clockwork with some high quality performances and top level officiating. It all made for some very exciting contests and fair results.

Day 2

Day 2 was exciting with the Sunday including a visit from Arnold Schwarzenegger and his official entourage. They enjoyed a demonstration of all the martial arts on show including Taekwondo. Arnold was very impressed, he gave an inspiring speech to all participants at the end of the demo.

The competition component kicked off after Arnold’s visit and featured WTF Sparring, Poomsae and Teams Poomsae, along with Self Defense.

There were some very good performances from the large contingent of predominantly children who took part.

Thank you to all competitors who took part and those who came along and helped out as seminar instructors, officials and volunteers.

Special thanks to Master Noel Keating and Master Neil cliff for assisting with the running of the Saturday Championships. Thanks also to Master Murat Eryurek who assisted with the co-ordination of the Sunday events. Thank you also for the hard work of Kathryn Marmara-Stewart for her assistance over the 3 days.

Thank you also to event Sponsor Global Fitness Institute in donating medals, logistics and admin support.-

– Master Michael Muleta, Arnold Sports Festival Taekwondo Organizer

FULL RESULTS

Tournament Results 18 Arnold

Master Michael Muleta running Arnold Classic Martial Arts

By Michael Muleta

On March 7, 2017

In News, Uncategorized

Master Michael Muleta running Arnold Classic Martial Arts

Master Michael Muleta was recently appointed to oversee the Arnold Classic Australia Martial Arts Festival from March 17th – 19th, 2017 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center.

Under his direction, Master Michael Muleta will co-ordinate over 11 rings of action across 3 days, including ITF Taekwondo, WTF Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Kyokushin Karate, Fencing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

There will be something for all martial arts enthusiasts to come along and participate, or as a spectator, in addition to all the other attractions of Australia’s most renowned fitness expo.

Check out all the sports on show as part of the multi-sports festival here.

For those looking to take part in the Taekwondo event, registrations are closing soon.