Zen Combat Academy’s New Role with the IITA: What It Means for Inclusive Taekwon-Do in the UK

We are proud to announce that Zen Combat Academy has been appointed the UK National Governing Organisation for the International Inclusive Taekwon-Do Association (IITA).

For us, this is more than a title. It is a responsibility to help more people access Taekwon-Do, support the clubs and instructors who teach it, and build meaningful opportunities for students with disabilities and additional needs.

We have seen how much it matters when someone who has struggled to find their place in sport finally walks into a class where they are welcomed and understood. Our work with the IITA gives us a way to take that commitment beyond our own academy in Bideford.

What does our IITA role involve?

As the IITA’s UK National Governing Organisation, Zen Combat Academy will help oversee and develop its activities across England, Scotland and Wales. Our remit includes supporting UK clubs that wish to affiliate with the IITA, helping maintain training and safeguarding standards, and developing opportunities for instructor education, gradings, referee training and competitions.

We want clubs and instructors to have a clear route into the association and the support to teach responsibly. We also want students to have opportunities to develop their skills and take part in events where their needs have been considered from the start.

This appointment relates to our role within the IITA. It does not mean we govern every Taekwon-Do club or organisation in the UK. Our goal is to build a strong, supportive UK network for those who share the IITA’s inclusive approach.

What does inclusion mean in practice?

Inclusion takes more than opening a class and saying everyone is welcome. A student may need instructions delivered differently, more time to learn a movement, an adjustment to an activity or support to feel comfortable in a new environment. Families need to know they can talk openly about what helps.

There is no single way to teach every person with a disability or additional need. We want instructors to listen, adapt and see the individual in front of them. A student’s diagnosis does not tell us everything about their interests, abilities or ambitions.

That approach is central to the work we have been developing at Zen Combat Academy. Since 2021, we have put a growing focus on inclusive training, working with schools and disability centres as well as offering one-to-one support. Our new Sen-kwondo class is another step: a dedicated SEN Taekwon-Do session where children can learn, take part and make progress at a pace that works for them.

Supporting instructors and raising standards

If we want inclusive opportunities to grow, instructors need practical support. Good intentions matter, but so do training, safeguarding and the confidence to adapt a session appropriately.

Through our IITA role, we aim to help clubs develop their instructor education and maintain clear standards. This includes attention to safeguarding, first aid and understanding the different needs students may bring into a class. We also want to share approaches that help instructors communicate effectively and build trust with students and families.

Our own team continues to learn. Several Zen instructors have undertaken Makaton training, and our experience in safeguarding and counselling informs how we support people at the academy. We do not believe any club has finished learning about inclusion. We want to keep improving and help other clubs do the same.

Alongside instructor development, we plan to support gradings and referee education. These are important parts of a student’s journey. Students deserve the chance to work towards goals, demonstrate what they have learned and experience the pride of achievement. Officials, too, need preparation to make sound decisions and help competitions run fairly and respectfully.

Creating opportunities to compete

Competition can be a powerful experience for a student who wants to test their skills. For others, their goal may be to enjoy a weekly class or achieve their next grade. We want both journeys to be valued.

One of our major goals is the first IITA British Open Taekwon-Do Championships for Disabilities, planned for July 2027 at Tarka Leisure Centre in Barnstaple. We hope it will bring clubs and competitors together from across the UK and beyond. It is an opportunity to build an event with inclusion, safeguarding and the experience of competitors and families at its heart.

Looking further ahead, we also aspire to host an IITA World Championships in 2029. These are ambitious plans, and there is a great deal of work to do. We are excited about what they could mean for athletes who deserve more opportunities to take part and be recognised.

What are we trying to achieve?

Our long-term goal is to help build a UK Taekwon-Do community where access and standards grow together. We want to:

• Help more clubs offer thoughtful, well-supported inclusive training.

• Give instructors education and a network they can turn to.

• Create clear opportunities for students to learn, grade and, if they choose, compete.

• Listen to disabled students and families when shaping those opportunities.

• Show that high standards and an individual approach belong together.

We know that progress will come through working with other clubs, instructors, students, families and organisations. Zen Combat Academy cannot do it alone, and we would not want to. The IITA’s UK future should be built by people who care about making Taekwon-Do accessible and worthwhile for everyone involved.

We are honoured to take on this role and ready to put the work behind it. If you are a club, instructor or organisation interested in the IITA in the UK, we would welcome a conversation. And if you are a student or parent wondering whether Taekwon-Do could be for you, please reach out. There should be a place for you to begin.