- Legitimate, recognized ranking and credentials
- Clinics and seminars
- Licensing of coaches and instructors.
- Access to other martial arts disciplines
- Access to Kang Duk Won Certification
- Access to ChangMooKwan Certification
The impetus to form the Central Taekwondo Association (CTA) came from the indifference to American cultural values by many (but not all) of the Korean Taekwondo instructors at that time. In addition, attempts to isolate American practitioners from each other, thus discouraging the possibilities of Americans to collaborate together, sharing their hard gained knowledge was predominant in the 60¹s and 70¹s and we still see signs of it today. As Americans we have an interactive and gregarious culture developed through the interchange of ideas and commingling of cultures. To dictate to Americans where they can learn (or spend their money for) martial arts or what they can do with what they have learned, or that they can have only one “father” (teacher) in the martial defies American cultural norms. We learn from everyone and everywhere and apply what we learn as we see fit. That is the American way.
As both Americans and Martial Artists, we understand that loyalty, honor, and respect for elders and seniors is a basic tenet, but freedom of action and choice is American to the roots of our culture. The American instructors who formed the CTA still keep the principles of respect and support for the original master instructors but understand that loyalty from free people is the strongest type of loyalty and, most importantly, the subject and leader must share equally in responsibility and obligation.
The CTA still works tirelessly for all USA martial arts and Karate and Taekwondo in cooperation with out partner organizations. The CTA membership remains strong and is open to all legitimate and recognized styles of martial arts, and to those that desire to work diligently to upgrade their understanding of the martial arts.
Today, the CTA is directed by Patrick M. Hickey 9th Dan International Kwanmukan who is registered as an 9th Dan Kang Duk Won under founder Great Grandmaster Chull Hee Park and Chang Moo Kwan (8th dan certificate number 145 in 1993 and Master Instructor Certificate number 556 ) under founder Great Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee through George E. Anderson. The Central Taekwondo Association is a recognized Seminary (certificate number #718) under the Chang Moo Kwan from Nam Suk Lee.
Historically, the Central Taekwondo Association (CTA) is one of the oldest federations in the United States. It was envisioned in the 1960’s and formed in the early 1970’s. George Anderson, Larry Lunn, Dan Willis and Bob Chaney, all students of Il Joo Kim of Akron, Ohio, officially formed the CTA in 1971. Formal incorporation was accomplished by George Anderson, Patrick Hickey, and Pamela Hicks (Hickey) in 1974. The original directors remained and officers were elected to run the organization. Of these officers, Woodrow Wilson was the first president and Patrick Hickey general secretary.
Within a few years of its inception the CTA grew large and became a leading organization in the USA. Strategically located and with a truly enlightened leadership of great skill and foresight, it was inevitable that it would become involved with other national martial arts organizations and movements.
One of the first organizations the CTA became involved with was the United States Karate Association (USKA) under the late Grand Master Robert Trias and then CTA Chairman George E. Anderson was appointed the style head of all Taekwondo for the USKA and later Patrick Hickey became the director of the USKA Police Self Defense Institute.
About this same time the CTA became involved in the martial arts movement toward the Olympics, which was spearheaded by the AAU. Involved with the AAU, CTA personnel became instrumental in the formation of a martial arts committee within that body and soon occupied important executive positions in both Taekwondo and Karate. From there it the CTA worked to separate the Martial Arts Committee into separate committees for Taekwondo and Karate. Eventually, the CTA chose to put most of their effort with the Karate Committee because the structure was more open to Americans and had less animosity and more in line with the traditional values. The CTA Team did win the AAU Taekwondo National Championship Team Trophy in 1977 in Berkley, California and had some of the first AAU Karate champions were from the Central Taekwondo Association.
Soon after this, the AAU Taekwondo became the USTF and moved under the USOC umbrella and the new sport of Taekwondo was developed. A few years later The USA Karate Federation was fully formed and also moved into the Olympic family. At this time, the technical section of the CTA became know as the Central Technical Authority and played a strong part in the development of the national and Pan American Olympic Karate efforts.
Throughout the years, CTA has been instrumental in the formation of many organizations of great size and strength in the United States. These include the include International Kwanmukan, The USA Karate Federation, USA Karate Foundation, US Jujitsu Federation. World Kobudokan Federation, Global Martial Arts Federation, International Traditional Bujitsu Development and Research Foundation, International Karate Instructors Institute, The United States Karate Association Police Self Defense Institute, and International Shudokan Association.
Members of the CTA also wrote the first constitution of the Pan American Union of Karatedo Organizations (now Pan America Karate Organization.) The CTA hosted the First World Technical Congress of the World Union of Karate-do Organizations (now World Karate Federation), under the designation of the Central Technical Authority of the USA Karate Federation.
As both Americans and Martial Artists, we understand that loyalty, honor, and respect for elders and seniors is a basic tenet, but freedom of action and choice is American to the roots of our culture. The American instructors who formed the CTA still keep the principles of respect and support for the original master instructors but understand that loyalty from free people is the strongest type of loyalty and, most importantly, the subject and leader must share equally in responsibility and obligation.
The CTA still works tirelessly for all USA martial arts and Karate and Taekwondo in cooperation with out partner organizations. The CTA membership remains strong and is open to all legitimate and recognized styles of martial arts, and to those that desire to work diligently to upgrade their understanding of the martial arts.
Today, the CTA is directed by Patrick M. Hickey 9th Dan International Kwanmukan who is registered as an 9th Dan Kang Duk Won under founder Great Grandmaster Chull Hee Park and Chang Moo Kwan (8th dan certificate number 145 in 1993 and Master Instructor Certificate number 556 ) under founder Great Grandmaster Nam Suk Lee through George E. Anderson. The Central Taekwondo Association is a recognized Seminary (certificate number #718) under the Chang Moo Kwan from Nam Suk Lee.
Historically, the Central Taekwondo Association (CTA) is one of the oldest federations in the United States. It was envisioned in the 1960’s and formed in the early 1970’s. George Anderson, Larry Lunn, Dan Willis and Bob Chaney, all students of Il Joo Kim of Akron, Ohio, officially formed the CTA in 1971. Formal incorporation was accomplished by George Anderson, Patrick Hickey, and Pamela Hicks (Hickey) in 1974. The original directors remained and officers were elected to run the organization. Of these officers, Woodrow Wilson was the first president and Patrick Hickey general secretary.
Within a few years of its inception the CTA grew large and became a leading organization in the USA. Strategically located and with a truly enlightened leadership of great skill and foresight, it was inevitable that it would become involved with other national martial arts organizations and movements.
One of the first organizations the CTA became involved with was the United States Karate Association (USKA) under the late Grand Master Robert Trias and then CTA Chairman George E. Anderson was appointed the style head of all Taekwondo for the USKA and later Patrick Hickey became the director of the USKA Police Self Defense Institute.
About this same time the CTA became involved in the martial arts movement toward the Olympics, which was spearheaded by the AAU. Involved with the AAU, CTA personnel became instrumental in the formation of a martial arts committee within that body and soon occupied important executive positions in both Taekwondo and Karate. From there it the CTA worked to separate the Martial Arts Committee into separate committees for Taekwondo and Karate. Eventually, the CTA chose to put most of their effort with the Karate Committee because the structure was more open to Americans and had less animosity and more in line with the traditional values. The CTA Team did win the AAU Taekwondo National Championship Team Trophy in 1977 in Berkley, California and had some of the first AAU Karate champions were from the Central Taekwondo Association.
Soon after this, the AAU Taekwondo became the USTF and moved under the USOC umbrella and the new sport of Taekwondo was developed. A few years later The USA Karate Federation was fully formed and also moved into the Olympic family. At this time, the technical section of the CTA became know as the Central Technical Authority and played a strong part in the development of the national and Pan American Olympic Karate efforts.
Throughout the years, CTA has been instrumental in the formation of many organizations of great size and strength in the United States. These include the include International Kwanmukan, The USA Karate Federation, USA Karate Foundation, US Jujitsu Federation. World Kobudokan Federation, Global Martial Arts Federation, International Traditional Bujitsu Development and Research Foundation, International Karate Instructors Institute, The United States Karate Association Police Self Defense Institute, and International Shudokan Association.
Members of the CTA also wrote the first constitution of the Pan American Union of Karatedo Organizations (now Pan America Karate Organization.) The CTA hosted the First World Technical Congress of the World Union of Karate-do Organizations (now World Karate Federation), under the designation of the Central Technical Authority of the USA Karate Federation.