ITF AUSTRALIA T/AS IL SHIM INTERNATIONAL TAEKWON-DO

Overview

As a 4th Degree International instructor Michael Daher formed the organisation named IL Shim TaeKwon-Do Academy. The first club under the instruction of Michael Daher was in Eastwood where members would flock from as far a Sydney CBD to train.

Training was very different then. Hard, forceful classes were given every night the class was taken. Michael Daher would have the students pulsing through their paces for a full session. Speak to the original members and you will see that spirit, dedication and determination were the main factors which gave the organisation the name it is today. Original members of this academy included Moustapha El-Sheikh, aged 6 years who was one of the youngest students training, George Jeaitani, Mario Moujalli, Greg Ferguson, Ray Tupora and Joe Khamis.

Within a few years the name of IL Shim Taekwon-Do Academy spread to encompass Victoria and and because of the influx of clubs to the academy in 1990 it was changed to IL Shim International Taekwon-Do. This allowed the club to then branch as an international organisation, with clubs in Sri Lanka, Lebanon and United Arab Emirates.

Through dedicated training these members were feared by many of the other ITF clubs in the country and the colours of the tracksuits; black and gold, were the stepping stone to winning gold or silver. Tournaments were the highlight of the club members and they achieved the results to prove it.

In 1990, five members from IL Shim International Taekwon-Do were selected to represent Australia in the first ever national team to compete for world titles. Mario Moujalli, Rachel Younger, Greg Ferguson, Ray Tuporo and Moustapha El-Sheikh travelled to Montreal, Canada to compete for their country. Having returned with valuable experience on the international stage it was only a matter of time until an international medal was achieved by an IL Shim International member.

This medal came in 1993 when Louise Robinson achieved a Sliver medal at the Asia Pacific Championships in Uzbekistan. It was from here the results on an international level started to develop.

Currently, the organisation has now grown to become one of the leading forces in General Choi Hong Hi’s ITF technique in Australia. Clubs named ITF Australia are found in New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Victoria along with clubs affiliated worldwide.

ITF Australia was formed as a trading name in 2000 as a representation of what the club was promoting. While the name “IL Shim” remains in the hearts of those members that began training under this name, ITF Australia is the household name today. Those members that are loyal to the name of “IL Shim” now are sub-clubs under “IL SHIM International Taekwon-Do”.

Determination creates success

President
Master Michael Bou Daher
(8th Degree Black Belt)