YORKTON – Kees Taekwondo was first established in Saskatchewan in 1973 and are celebrating their 50th year in Canada.
In 1973 Grandmaster Kee S. Ha, of Saskatoon, brought the World Taekwondo style to Regina. He transferred the Kees Taekwondo School (Dojang) to Saskatoon from where the branch schools expanded throughout western Canada.
To inaugurate the occasion and in keeping with their tag line “Tradition Powers Innovation”, a Kees Leadership and Instructor Symposium including a Gala dinner was scheduled for Vancouver on Aug. 9 to 11.
There was participation from 95 Instructors and Junior leaders from among the Kees Taekwondo Dojangs in Western Canada. Kees Taekwondo has developed a unique instructor certification program that educates and standardizes Kees programs. This is part of the high-quality benchmark and professionalism that is experienced no matter at which Kees Taekwondo dojang you attend classes.
The three-day workshop had many specialized course modules such as Self Defense applications, weapons, LTAD FUNdamentals, Poomsae competition, stretching, Instructor class management, history, dojang protocols, and Kees Student Creed.
The Kees leaders and junior instructors had a great opportunity to meet and ask questions of the Kees founder, Grandmaster Kee S. Ha, and in addition the long-time higher Dan instructors. Their historic depth of knowledge gave the attendees a chance to ask questions about the Kees tradition and understand the future opportunities.
Among the higher Black Belt Dans in attendance and part of the education delivery were: two 9th Dans, four 7th Dans, three 6th Dans, and five 5th Dans.
Yorkton’s Master Matthew Bodnaryk delivered a hands-on module on young children instruction and motivation. Master Susanne Mitchell had a classroom session on the topic of Competitive Poomsae and familiarization with the judge’s grading used by international referees at events up to the Pan Am Games.
Many of the participants were evaluated and certified to their next leadership and instructor levels.
Autumn Bodnaryk received her Kees National Instructor certification. Other Junior leader and instructor participants from Kees Yorkton were: Drune Rugland, Ethan Larsen, Alexander Oryshack, E.J. Schoenrock, and Emily Fang
The Gala Dinner was the culminating activity held at the Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel seeing over 300 attendees that have been positively directly affected by Kees Taekwondo.
There was some presentations and recognition of the many contributors over the last half century. Of special importance was the recognition of the contribution of the women of Kees. The group of 11, that had all been with Kees for 30 years or more, were introduced to the attendees and recognized for their critical contribution to Kees development and promotion.
Grandmaster Kee S. Ha’s passion and vision for Taekwondo has produced this great organization that is poised to be an important contributor to youth and future leader development for the next 50 years.
