IUTF VICE CHAIRPERSON
| Mr. Riordan has been practicing Tae Kwon-Do since 1985 and was the first student of Mr. Dalton (along with Mr. Jason Moriarty). He has served as Vice Chairperson since the formation of the IUTF in 1994 and has been a critical component in all areas of the association since that time. According to him, "The Irish United Taekwon Do Federation is like a family. We have strived to create a special atmosphere within our group and I can say that our success in this endevour is one of the main reasons for building such a wonderful federation. There is a special bonding with all our black belts and amazingly this crosses over between clubs and creates one large interconnected whole. In the most simple terms, we care for each other. It is vital that we maintain this relationship. That is the key to our future success." |
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1986 - 1990: Tournament wins include; A.I.T.A Junior Open sparring
and patterns - U.C.C Open sparring and patterns (twice) - Graded to
1st degree black belt under Mr Norman Creedon. Assistant instructor
at Mr Dalton's South-West Taekwon-do Club (Tralee). Fought on T.F.I
Senior team. 1991 - 1995: Opened Listowel Taekwon-do Club - Attended five
day International Instructor seminar taught by General Choi Hong Hi,
9th Dan - Opened Ballyduff Taekwon-do Club - Promoted to 2nd Degree
black belt under Mr Norman Creedon - Hosted 1st Annual Kerry Open
(now Munster Open) in Listowel - Opened Cahirciveen Taekwon-do Club
- First group of students graded to black belt (10 in total) - Founding
member of Irish United Taekwon-do Federation - Undertook position
of Vice-Chairperson and National Youth Team Coach - Began five year
reign as National Senior Team Captain - Attended seminar under Master
Kwang Sung Hwang - Became full time Taekwon-do Instructor - Won National
Championships sparring and patterns - 'Best of the Best' sparring
and patterns - National Championships (team event) - Promoted to 3rd
degree black belt under Mr Frank Murphy. 1996 - 2000: Attended seminar under Master Park Jung Tae -Tournament
wins include National Championships sparring (twice) and patterns
(three times) - G.S.T Open sparring (twice)and patterns (twice) -
I.U.T.F versus G.T.I England - 'Best of the Best' sparring (twice)
and patterns (twice) - I.U.T.F versus Wales - A.I.M.A.A. Open World
Championships - Opened Newcastle West Taekwon-do Club - Selected as
National Junior Team coach- Opened Abbeyfeale Taekwon-do Club - Formulated
I.U.T.F Referee/Umpire course -Promoted to 4th degree black belt under
Mr David Oliver - Coached Irish Junior team to numerous international
team wins including both boys and girls teams in the Open World Taekwon
Do Championships in Holland, 2000. 2001 - 2003: Won 'Best of the Best' Championship - Bronze Medallist at the W.K.A World Championships in Vienna, Austria - Received award from I.U.T.F Chairperson Mr Don Dalton, in recognition of services towards the development of the I.U.T.F - Attended seminar under Master Choi Jung Hwa and Grandmaster Kong Young Il. P 2004- Present day: Promoted to 5th Degree Black Belt by Master Trevor Nicholl's 7th Dan. Mr Riordan's most senior student Mr Ruairi Buckley is promoted to 4th degree black belt by Master Trevor Nicholl's. Attended International instructor courses under ITF president Cho in Belgium, the USA and Ireland. Completed two ITF Umpire/Referee Courses. Wins one gold and three bronze medals in the ITF European Championships in Germany. |
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