Ukrainian Taekwon-Do has been built by generations of masters, coaches and athletes. From the first groups of enthusiasts to victories on the world stage, our movement grew through people who studied, opened training halls, taught students and passed on their commitment to the art. The Taekwon-Do Federation M.F.T. of Ukraine continues this shared Ukrainian tradition.
Ihor and Vladyslav Semeinikov preserved an important part of its early history in their project “Pages from the History of Ukrainian ITF Taekwon-Do.” Their collection brings names, events and results back into the story of how our community developed year by year.
The Ukrainian part of this story began before the international divisions, in the early 1980s. The first classes and personal meetings with instructors gradually led to clubs, federations and a national team.
1980–1983: Luis Carvajal’s Kharkiv school
By 1980, Luis Carvajal, a student from the Dominican Republic at Kharkiv State University, was teaching local athletes Taekwon-Do. People with experience in karate and other martial arts joined his groups. They were drawn to the speed, free-flowing sparring, varied kicks and detailed analysis of movement. His students included Valerii Sokol, Leontii Pak, Volodymyr Dubtsov, Vitalii Olin and Oleksii Povelytsia — future Ukrainian coaches.
Training took place at the university sports complex, Sarzhyn Yar, Lisopark and other locations in Kharkiv. When restrictions on martial arts affected the groups, students continued practising outdoors and in small indoor spaces.
1983: students carry their teacher’s work forward
Volodymyr Dubtsov began with a small training group of his own. Volodymyr Synenko introduced him to Carvajal’s teaching, and he progressed from the second group to the first. He was gradually entrusted with teaching young students. Before leaving, Carvajal handed him responsibility for continuing the group’s training. Personal study was becoming responsibility for another generation.
Carvajal returned home after completing his studies in 1983. His students preserved the teaching materials, continued training and opened groups of their own. The experience of the first Kharkiv centre spread through personal connections and coaching.
1983–1987: the Luhansk school takes shape
Viktor Blekh studied in Kharkiv in 1979–1985 and began teaching in 1983. His work laid the foundation for Taekwon-Do in the Luhansk region. By 1987, his group had around 50 students; 15 of its leading athletes travelled to technical seminars with their coach. A network of centres learning from one another was developing before a wider formal organisation existed.
1988: a path to systematic instruction
In 1988 a Taekwon-Do commission was established within the Soviet Association of Oriental Martial Arts. Demonstrations by Korean masters, joint training and instructor education followed. Ukrainian groups gained wider access to the ITF’s international technical tradition and regular grading opportunities.