By SHEANO DORSETT

3rd Dan instructor and National Taekwondo Coach

AS a 2nd Dan Kukkiwon black belt, World Taekwondo certified Level 2 coach, and the national coach for Bahamas Taekwondo, I am thrilled to announce that the Bahamas has officially joined the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation (GTTF), marking a significant milestone in the development of Taekwondo in our country.

This partnership will play a key role in advancing the Bahamas Taekwondo Federation as we strive to build both traditional taekwondo practitioners and world-class athletes.

I recently had the honour of attending the GTTF Think Tank Summit in South Korea, October 6-11.

The summit brought together taekwondo grandmasters, masters and high-level black belts from over 107 countries. 

The event was a gathering of minds and hearts committed to preserving the traditional values of taekwondo while also exploring how to integrate these values into the modern competitive environment.

I was personally invited to the summit by grandmaster Jun Lee, who serves as the head and president of the GTTF and is one of the founding members of the organisation. 

Mr Robert Butler, who has been appointed president of the GTTF Bahamas Branch, was not able to attend the event, but still was able to be part of the General Assembly as it was broadcasted online. 

At the summit, we participated in workshops led by some of the greatest taekwondo grandmasters from Korea, including the legendary grandmaster Dr Lee Kyu Hyung, a pioneer of traditional taekwondo. 

These sessions highlighted the importance of balancing tradition with modern standards, something we intend to incorporate fully into our teaching.

Our vision for the Bahamas Taekwondo Federation is to combine the values of the GTTF with the Olympic standards, enabling us to train both athletes who aspire to international competition and traditional practitioners who focus on the art’s deeper philosophical elements. We are committed to teaching the full breadth of taekwondo, including poomsae (forms), power breaking, self-defence, sparring and Olympic-style sparring. 

Our goal is to reach students of all ages and from all parts of the island, ensuring that everyone benefits from the physical and mental rewards of taekwondo training.

Being part of the GTTF offers a wide range of advantages, particularly in terms of networking. We now have the opportunity to collaborate with instructors and schools from across the globe, giving our students and athletes much-needed exposure to international standards and training methods. This network will allow us to access resources that will support the growth of taekwondo in the Bahamas, whether through educational opportunities or partnerships that strengthen our programme.

As the national coach, I have the privilege of working with a dedicated team of athletes, including Keshaun Dorsett, Bernii Anderson, Treymon Wright, and Devonye Edmond – students I have trained since their early years in taekwondo. Together, we have competed in major tournaments across Miami, Orlando and Panama. 

Additionally, we are cultivating the next generation of Bahamian martial artists with talented cadets like Shiloh Pennerman, Audley Pearson, Dion Higgins, and Antonio Farrington Jr.

The Bahamas Taekwondo Federation has truly benefited from joining the GTTF, World Taekwondo, and Kukkiwon. By aligning ourselves with these organisations, we are better positioned to continue developing taekwondo in The Bahamas. Our students will learn the full spectrum of taekwondo, becoming well-rounded martial artists who can succeed both in traditional practice and international competition.

The GTTF Think Tank Summit was an inspiring experience, reaffirming our commitment to taekwondo’s values of respect, discipline, perseverance, and indomitable spirit. As we return home from South Korea, we are excited to bring these lessons back to The Bahamas and continue building a strong taekwondo community that embraces both tradition and athletic excellence.