Over 3,000 practitioners made history in Ethiopia with Grand Master Dalton
On August 30th, 2025, the city of Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, witnessed a historic moment for Taekwon-Do: more than 3,000 students gathered at the Dire Dawa International Stadium to attend a massive seminar led by Grand Master Don Dalton.
The event, organized for ITFU members from the Eastern region, set a new benchmark in African Taekwon-Do history.
Despite facing a serious health issue with his eyes (detached retina), Grand Master Dalton honored his commitment and successfully conducted the seminar, showing unwavering spirit and devotion to Ethiopia’s Taekwon-Do community.
Unfortunately, the scheduled seminar in Addis Ababa (August 30 – September 1) for Northern, Western, and Central members had to be canceled due to this medical condition. The organization sincerely apologized to all members affected by the cancellation.
Nevertheless, the impact was extraordinary: bringing together thousands of practitioners in Dire Dawa stands as a milestone achievement, underscoring ITFU’s rapid growth in Ethiopia.
Master Hassen, President of ITFU Africa, emphasized:
“Our original goal was to reach 10,000 members across Ethiopia. While we faced challenges, we have truly made history in Dire Dawa. Grand Master Dalton has promised to return in January 2026 to continue this mission. Today, a new chapter in Africa’s Taekwon-Do history begins.”
