Taekwondo Canada Launches “Champions in Motion” to Advance Para Taekwondo

Taekwondo Canada has launched a new initiative aimed at expanding opportunities for Canadians with a disability to try the sport of Para Taekwondo. The program, titled “Champions in Motion,” reflects the organization’s commitment to inclusivity and the pursuit of high-performance excellence.

Taekwondo Canada’s High Performance Director Allan Wrigley shares how the program aligns with the organization’s values of equality and inclusivity while leveraging the physical and mental health benefits of the sport.

“Participation in Para Taekwondo offers numerous physical and mental health benefits,” Wrigley said. “It promotes physical fitness, agility, and strength while also enhancing mental well-being through discipline, focus, and self-confidence. By developing Para Taekwondo in Canada, we demonstrate our commitment to creating opportunities for everyone to excel.”

The ultimate goal of Champions in Motion is to establish a formal Para Taekwondo Kyorugi program, creating a sustainable pathway for athletes to compete at the World Para Taekwondo Championships, Parapan American Games and future Paralympic Games.

Kyorugi is the sparring discipline of Para Taekwondo that offers a unique high-performance pathway for athletes with limb deficiencies or arm amputations. Since its debut at the World Para Taekwondo Championships in 2009, it has become the primary discipline featured in the Paralympic Games. At the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games, Canada was represented in the Kyorugi event by Para taekwondo athlete Anthony Cappello.

The Champions in Motion initiative also includes plans to expand opportunities in Para Poomsae, a choreographed martial arts discipline, in the future. Currently, there are two Canadian athletes who compete in Para Poomsae at the national level, representing just a fraction of the sport’s potential divisions.

Wrigley noted that while Canada has a smaller population compared to other nations, it has a proud Taekwondo history and a domestic club system that consistently produces elite athletes. However, Taekwondo Canada knows that building a Paralympic Kyorugi program is essential for the sport’s future growth.

“If we want to be recognized as a high-performance Taekwondo nation with a deep talent pool, we need to invest in a Paralympic stream of Kyorugi athletes as well,” Wrigley shared.

Beyond its competitive appeal, Wrigley highlighted Taekwondo’s broader impact beyond the possibility of competing on the international stage and pointed out that it is a lifelong martial art with far-reaching benefits.

 “The sport cultivates discipline, confidence, and sportsmanship, equipping participants with the tools to set goals, manage pressure, and persevere through obstacles,” Wrigley shared. “Recreational Taekwondo teaches self-defense, physical conditioning, mobility, and mental skills like discipline and self-confidence. It’s a martial art that can be practiced over a lifetime, often improving participants’ quality of life and mobility.”

For Canadians interested in joining Champions in Motion, more information is available on Taekwondo Canada’s website, which offers resources, a club finder tool, and an online form to connect with the program.