UTTC - United Traditional Tae Kwon-Do Canada

🏆 Earlier this month at the TKDI World Cup Leaders’ Dinner in Lethbridge, we proudly presented the first-ever UTTC Community Leader Award to Grand Master Darin Gibson. 🥋

This award honours exemplary leadership that strengthens and unites our Tae Kwon‑Do community. Grand Master Gibson has consistently brought together local and regional practitioners, fostered meaningful connections across the broader Lethbridge community, and helped strengthen our global Tae Kwon‑Do family.

Presented by United Traditional Tae Kwon-Do Canada, with support from KidSport, this award celebrates a leader who continues to inspire generations.

Congratulations, Grand Master Gibson! 👏

Historical Photo - Sixteen Grand Masters across federations gather, united, for the 2026 Tae Kwon-Do International World Cup, July 4-5, 2026.

L-R: GM Robert Gill, GM Nathan Doerksen, GM Russ Northrup, GM Menelik Kahil, GM Peter Sanders, GM Cees Keukens, GM Peggy Seely, GM Colin Nonomura, Pioneer GM C.K. Choi, GM Darin Gibson, GM Dave Oliver, GM Phap Lu, GM Kenny Walton, GM Jack Stevens, GM Tom Thurston, GM Peter Claire.

On behalf of all members of UTTC, we would like to extend our deep thanks and appreciation to everyone involved with the 2026 Tae Kwon-Do International World Cup. We were able to host 530+ competitors, 17 Grand Masters including our special guest, Pioneer GM C.K. Choi. We hosted a weigh-in and reception at Nikka Yukko Japanese Garden, two days of intense action at Excite Lethbridge, a TKD Leaders' Dinner with close to 100 participants, live stremaing of 8 rings to more than 13000 unique viewers, posted over 2000 photos to our website for free downloading (which included podium photos of every single division), more spectators than we could count, and an after-party celebration with 250 people. All that in three days! Huge thanks to our sponsors, our media teams, our organizing committee, our amazing officials, our competitors and their supporters, and more than 80 dedicated volunteers who showed up for training, set up, competition, and tear down. Many of the international competitors told us it was the best tournament experience of their lives!

We were also thrilled to help raise just short of $4000 through silent auction, 50-50, and program sales for Lethbridge and Taber Kidsport.

The positive feedback has been overwhelming, and we are deeply touched that so many people enjoyed their experience. I also want to say that we have never been more proud to be members of the Southern Alberta community! From sponsors, to hotels, to cab drivers, restaurants, servers, spectators, friends and family. Your hospitality knocked it out of the park. I had so many people tell me how wonderful everyone in Lethbridge has been during their stay.

Thank you everyone for help turning our dream into a reality!

GM's Darin Gibson and Colin Nonomura

Thank you to every volunteer and official who gave their time, energy, and expertise. You didn’t just help run an event, you helped create an atmosphere worthy of a World Cup. 🏆🌎

Your dedication left its mark on every ring, every competitor, and every guest. We are deeply grateful for the role you played in making the 2026 Tae Kwon-Do International World Cup a success. 🥋❤️

July 5th 2026 Podium Imagery