Mr Ghilan Rageb introduced the WTF-style Taekwondo in 1986. Regular training used to take place in the Tigne’ area at Sliema. Korean Master Choi Chang Yeul came to Malta bringing technical as well as administrative guidance to the local athletes and officials.

His coaching was conducted at the Birzebbuga Taekwondo Club, which remained the only Taekwondo Club for the years that followed. Since then, the association has been called the Malta Taekwondo Federation.

In August of 1994 a new national federal statute was adopted. New clubs were then formed and the Federation joined the World Taekwondo Federation, The European Taekwondo Union and the Malta Olympic Committee in 1995.

Since then the MTF has, on various occasions, taken part in championships, seminars and events organised by the ETU. It has also benefited from regular visits of ETU technical director Master Seo Myung Soo (9th Dan) who has regularly conducted Dan grading examinations.

The MTF started to make good use of the technical expertise of Master Kytu Dang who used to visit Malta once a year. During the last years the MTF focused a lot on the competitive level of the local athletes and has participated in various championships.

Taekwondo was one of the sport disciplines for the GSSE 2005 held in Andorra and for which event Master John Webster had been engaged to train the local athletes together with the national coach Brian Saliba.

During 2005 the MTF participated in a British Open where four out of five athletes managed to win gold in their respective category.

In May 2006, Ian Caruana achieved gold in one of the most prestigious Open Championships that were held in Holland. During the last month the MTF has established contacts with Sicily and Mr. Vito Marino will be helping to coach the local athletes.

The objectives of the MTF are those of propagating, standardising and developing Taekwondo in Malta both as a self-defence Martial Art as well as a competitive sport. It also seeks to ensure that the practice of the art involves physical conditioning as well as personality development based on principles such as courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and an indomitable spirit.

Those interested to join in one of the clubs may contact the MTF on 99868789 or write to [email protected] For more information one may log on www.mtf.org.mt