ITFU Welcomes Grandmaster Scott Downey to the Technical Committee

ITF Union strengthens its Technical Committee with the appointment of one of the most experienced and respected Grandmasters in the world.

ITF Union is pleased and proud to announce the appointment of Grandmaster Scott Downey to the ITFU Technical Committee. Grandmaster Downey brings with him a wealth of experience, deep technical knowledge, and a lifelong dedication to ITF Taekwon-Do that makes him an outstanding addition to this prestigious body.

He will be joining Grandmaster Don Dalton, ITFU President, and Grandmaster Dacak, ITFU Honorary President, on the Technical Committee — a body responsible for making all final decisions on technical matters and working closely with the Tournament Committee in the standardisation of Patterns for competition purposes.

National leaders are welcome to send any relevant questions to their Continental Presidents, who will in turn discuss with the Technical Committee.

About Grandmaster Scott Downey

Grandmaster Scott Downey is President of the International Taekwon-Do Federation Newfoundland and Labrador (ITFNL) and Technical Director for ITF Union Canada. His journey in Taekwon-Do spans over four decades and is defined by an extraordinary commitment to the art, its founder, and the global ITF community.

A Legacy Born Under General Choi Hong Hi

Grandmaster Downey began his Taekwon-Do training in 1979 under the late Grandmaster Jong Soo Park, a pioneer of Taekwon-Do in Canada. He was personally promoted by General Choi Hong Hi, the legendary founder of Taekwon-Do, for his 6th Degree Black Belt — a distinction that speaks to the depth of his technical mastery.

He attended six International Instructor Courses (IICs) taught by General Choi himself, including the historic first and only Masters Seminar conducted by General Choi in Vienna, Austria, in January 2002. So trusted was Grandmaster Downey that General Choi personally requested him to assist with instruction during three IICs held in Newfoundland, Toronto, and British Columbia.

In a deeply personal tribute to the founder, Grandmaster Downey created the music and lyrics for “The Ode to General Choi” — composed when General Choi conducted the inaugural IIC in St. John’s, Newfoundland in March 2001. He performed the song for General Choi at the IIC banquet, at multiple World Championships and IICs, and at General Choi’s funeral service in Toronto in 2002.

He also had the honour of assisting General Choi with his final contribution to ITF Taekwon-Do before his passing — the project entitled “4-Year University Taekwon-Do Master Plan” — and still holds General Choi’s hand-written notes from that collaboration.

Teaching, Competing & Judging at the Highest Level

Grandmaster Downey began teaching in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada in 1990 and continues to teach to this day, alongside his wife, Master Cathy Downey, 8th Dan. Together they have travelled the world as UMPIRE A Level Referees, officiating at six World Championships held in Canada, Italy, Spain, Germany, Argentina and Ireland.

Academic Excellence & Promotion to 9th Dan

As part of his promotion to 9th Degree Black Belt on June 30th, 2022, Grandmaster Downey wrote a thesis entitled “Sport Psychology for the ITF Taekwon-Do Athlete”. The promotion committee included the late Honourable Grandmaster Thomas MacCallum and the chairperson of the ITF Technical Committee, Grandmaster Marano.

Registered Psychologist

Beyond Taekwon-Do, Grandmaster Downey is a Registered Psychologist with over 30 years of clinical experience. He currently works full-time for Lifemark Health Group — a network of over 300 rehabilitation clinics across Canada — and maintains his own private practice, Scott Downey Psychology Services, specialising in the assessment and diagnosis of ADHD and Specific Learning Disorders.