ITF Belgium

13/12/2025

20/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

Competitor Power :

HEIDI BEWA
Age: 16
Profession / Studies: Fifth year of secondary school at Institut Notre-Dame in Namur

My parents were both passionate athletes in their youth. My father practiced several sports, including karate, football, and Taekwon-Do. My mother did athletics and gymnastics. They always shared their dedication and love for sports with me and my siblings.

When I was about 3.5 years old, my parents enrolled my brothers and sisters in Taekwon-Do. Only two of them continued, but seeing their medals and photos inspired me to start as well. I began Taekwon-Do at the age of 6 at Club Bushido in Jambes.

I constantly strive to improve my techniques by attending seminars and training regularly. Whenever I get the chance, I also help teach at the club, to pass on what I’ve learned and help others correct small mistakes and improve.

I’m very inspired by Master Johann De Silva. I often take notes from the exercises he shares on Instagram and try them out in my own training. I also look up to Master Stephen Tapilatu and Sabum Katya Solovey. They’re huge sources of motivation for me.

20/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

Competitor Sparring / Special Techniques :

KILAN VERBRAEKEN
Age: 18
Profession / Studies: Studying Physical Education and Recreational Sports at HOGENT

I started Taekwon-Do in May 2014 at the Ge-Baek club in Lokeren, and I’ve now been training there for 11 years. Over the years, I’ve competed in many championships, both nationally and internationally. This will be my second European Championship. Last year, I competed in sparring and special techniques, and this year I’ll be competing in the same disciplines again.

I hope to take part in many more international championships in the future, like the World Championships and the World Cup. One of my ambitions is to become a coach myself and help new members start their own Taekwon-Do journey.

My biggest inspirations in Taekwon-Do?
My coach, Master Annick Van Driessche, who has been training and supporting me for the past 11 years … both on and off the mat. I also look up to Sabum Colin Adolfs, who has been European and World Champion multiple times in both sparring and special techniques.

20/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

Competitor Sparring / Pattern :

LARA CAPA
Age: 15
Profession / Studies: Student at Edugo De Toren

I started Taekwon-Do when I was 5 years old at Taekwon-Do Club Gent, inspired by my cousin and nephew who introduced me to the sport.

One of my biggest dreams is to become European or World Champion in both pattern and sparring.

My biggest role models are my coaches, Sabum Koen and Sabum Amber, as well as the national trainers. I really admire how they motivate young people every single day to bring out the best in themselves.

20/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

Competitor Sparring :

VLADIMIR KIM
Age: 34
Profession / Studies: Financial Advisor

I started Taekwon-Do when I was 7 years old, training at home in the living room with my father, who is also a black belt in ITF Taekwon-Do.

My goal is to put Belgium and the Belgian competitors back on the map and proudly raise the Belgian flag on the sparring podium.

We have many great examples here in Belgium, but for me personally, my biggest inspirations are Master Virginia and Sabum Andreea. They’ve proven in the past that Belgium can compete at a world-class level, and I want to continue that legacy.

20/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

Competitor Power :

CÉDRIK BAERT
Age: 16
Profession / Studies: 4th year secondary school, Science track – OLVI Pius X, Zele

I started Taekwon-Do in May 2015 at Ge-Baek in Lokeren. Before that, I did movement classes in Zele, but had to stop when I started primary school. My mom learned about Taekwon-Do through a colleague, Marijke De Kimpe, whose daughter Bo was already training. I tried a few classes and really enjoyed it. I was a bit shy in the beginning, but once I made friends, I felt completely at home in the club.

Right now, my focus is on power breaking. I want to gain lots of experience, travel to different championships, and enjoy every moment of it. And who knows maybe one day I’ll even beat Boosabum Hans Van Lierde. I competed in power for the first time at the 2024 Belgian Championships and became Junior Belgian Champion. Now, I’ve even been selected for the European Championships. The power bug definitely got me!

GrandMaster Frank and Master Annick have been my biggest role models since the very beginning. The way they live for Taekwon-Do truly inspires me. I even dream of one day becoming a 9th degree, just like GrandMaster Frank.

I also really look up to Sabum Esther and Sabum Hans Rombaut. Sabum Esther was the one who made Taekwon-Do fun for me, and Sabum Hans taught me how to persevere.
Right now, Boosabum Hans Van Lierde is also a huge inspiration. I hope I can keep learning from him for a long time.

And then there’s Kilan … one of my closest friends in the dojang. I really look up to him, too.

20/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

Competitor Sparring / Pattern / Power :

HELIN CAPA
Age: 17
Profession / Studies: Student at Benedictuspoort

I started Taekwon-Do when I was 6 years old, and I’ve been training ever since at Taekwon-Do Club Gent. From a young age, I’ve taken part in many competitions both in Belgium and abroad. Last year, I competed in pattern at the European Championships in Poland. I had just earned my black belt in October 2023, and by April, I was already on the EK mats. It was a short time, but I learned a lot.

I want to continue competing internationally and aim for both European and World Championships. This year, I’m competing in three disciplines: pattern, sparring, and power breaking. My goal is to keep growing in all three and become better each time, so that one day I can stand on the podium with a gold medal.

My biggest inspirations are my national coaches. They have so much experience and are doing everything they can to help me become a champion.

20/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

Competitor Sparring / Pattern :

ALTAN RINCHINOV
Age: 20
Profession / Studies: Student

I started Taekwon-Do when I was around 10 or 11 years old at Taekwon-Do Club Gent.

My goal is to gain as much international experience as possible and become a champion. In the future, I’d also love to be involved as a referee.

First and foremost, my biggest role models are my coaches, Sabum Koen and Sabum Amber. I also really look up to my training partners, Rune and Max because they’ve been there with me since the very beginning of my Taekwon-Do journey. And of course, I admire everyone involved in ITF Taekwon-Do.

20/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

Coach Pattern :

ANDREEA MUSCA
Age: 33
Profession / Studies: Chief Inspector of Police at the Vilvoorde-Machelen Police Zone

I started practicing Taekwon-Do when I was just 4 years old in Baia Mare, Romania, at the GI-DO club. That was 29 years ago already! After moving to Belgium, I trained at Hwarang Steenokkerzeel and later at ITF Brussels.

My ambition is to continue competing at a high international level for a few more years, with my biggest dream being to become a World Champion.

Master Virginia Dionisi is my mentor and the person I look up to the most.

As a coach, I expect the selected athletes to give everything on the mat, to become the best version of themselves. I want to see progress, and I want to see grinta—that fighting spirit. That’s what matters most to me.

Coach Special Technique :

Unfortunately, Sabum Wim won’t be able to attend the 2025 European Championships, but over the past few months, he has been actively coaching and supporting the selected athletes in their preparation.

WIM VERMEIR
Age: 44
Profession / Studies: Full-time painter

I first discovered Taekwon-Do by chance at a neighborhood event in Lokeren, where I saw a demo that immediately sparked my interest. In September 1995, just shy of 15 years old, I began training in ITF Taekwon-Do at the Ge-Baek club in Lokeren.

I still have the drive to compete now and then, for as long as I can. And of course, I’m passionate about passing on my knowledge and experience to the next generation.

Before I started with ITF Taekwon-Do, my childhood heroes were none other than Jean-Claude Van Damme and Bruce Lee. But once I began training—and especially after my first European Championship—my biggest inspiration became (then Sabum, now Master) Jaroslaw Suska, who continues to inspire me to this day.

Head coach and Team manager :

NICOLAS TAYLOR
Age : 42
Profession / Education: IT delivery and test manager

I began my Taekwon-Do journey at the age of 30 in Ottignies, training at Samjok-O under Sabum Benito. This club later merged with my current club, Hwarang Taekwon-Do. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of participating in various international events, including winter camps in Poland, summer camps in Ukraine, and competitions, including outside Europe such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. My involvement with the national team evolved from competitor to assistant coach, eventually leading to my current roles as head coach and team manager.

I am committed to continuous self-improvement, working with a personal coach for strength and conditioning, as well as a mental coach, to enhance both my physical capabilities and mental resilience.
Having transitioned from practitioner to coach, I aim to further develop my coaching skills (following a certification as Coach Developper but also as a Coach)

There are several individuals who have profoundly influenced and inspired me over the years : Master Oleg and Sabum Katya Solovey, Master Thierry Meyour, Sabum Mira Sjovall, Sabum Sally Gleaves, Master Jurek Jedut, Boosabum Ursa Terdin.
These individuals have inspired me in many ways — through their friendship, the depth of their technical knowledge and their ability to clearly and generously share it, their resilience, their coaching expertise, and the thoughtful advice they’ve offered along the way.

Coach Power / Competitor Power :

HANS VAN LIERDE
Age: 51
Profession / Education : Manager at VPK Packaging

I’ve been involved in martial arts since childhood—starting with jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and karate. But the real switch to ITF Taekwon-Do came thanks to my daughter. I was 37 when we started training together in Lede at the Won-Hyo club. Since then, I’ve been training for about 10 years now at the Ge-Baek club in Lokeren.

As the national power breaking coach, my goal is to share my knowledge and experience with others as effectively as possible.
As a competitor, I always aim to deliver the best performance I can, within my own capabilities.

Of course, I have great admiration for my Masters and GrandMaster, but just as much for those who dedicate themselves to the TUIC, PR Committee, Adapted Program, and so on.
When it comes to my own discipline, power breaking, I have enormous respect for Finland’s multiple-time European Champion, Kalle Kivioja. The ease with which he breaks is truly admirable.

Expectations as a coach?
Short-term:
We currently have three promising juniors in power breaking. I’m really looking forward to working with them toward a strong and successful result at the European Championships.

Long-term:
I want to keep building a solid power breaking team. It would be amazing if, one day, we could have a power breaking team in every division.

Coach Sparring :

KOEN HOERÉE

Age: 40
Profession / Education : Volunteer at Voluit

I started Taekwon-Do in 1996 at the club Tornado Kick, under the guidance of Jan & Stefaan De Ridder. After a year, the club merged into Chon-Ji. Later, one of their students, Benny, started a new club in Sint-Niklaas.
, Tornado, where I continued training until Stefaan took over and renamed it Koryo.
In 2005, I started my own club in Ghent.

Due to the medical condition fibromyalgia, I haven’t been able to stay active as a practitioner for very long. But my passion remains: teaching children, building their self-confidence, helping them set goals, and strengthening them emotionally especially for the moments when life gets tough.

As for my inspirations:
In the past, Master Stephen Tapilatu truly inspired me.
Stefaan still amazes me with his depth of knowledge.
Master Eddy is a perfect example of what it means to live Taekwon-Do. He’s always learning, and you’d think he wouldn’t harm a fly.
And Sayhun Gauthier… I always enjoy hearing him speak about the Do.

Within the team, my ambition is to help improve sparring in Belgium and to share and develop a certain philosophy around sparring.

18/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian Delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH

Umpire :

MASTER EDDY VAN DAMME
Age: 58
Profession / Education: Expert by Experience (Autism)

Master Eddy Van Damme began practicing ITF Taekwon-Do in 1991 under the guidance of GrandMaster Frank Vanberghen. Over the years, he has diligently built his path within the world of ITF Taekwon-Do through dedicated training, teaching, giving demonstrations, mastering and closely following umpire regulations, and continuously expanding his knowledge.

For his promotion to 7th degree, he authored a highly recommended thesis: “Opportunities in ITF Taekwon-Do for People with Autism”, which highlights the positive impact of ITF Taekwon-Do for individuals with special needs, particularly those with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Current Roles:
- ITF Belgium : Chairman of the Umpire, Tournament & IT Committee
- ITF Belgium : Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee
- ITF Belgium : Member of the Dan Grading Committee
- ITF Belgium : External Consultant, Inclusion Committee
- Ge-Bark Lokeren : Instructor

IT-assistant :

BOOSABUM SOPHIE ARDENOY
Age: 54
Profession / Education: IT Specialist

Boosabum Sophie Ardenoy began her ITF Taekwon-Do journey at the age of 38. A mother of four and a full-time professional, she finds in Taekwon-Do not just a sport, but a passion and a way of life … something she is eager to share with her students.

Current Roles:
- ITF Belgium : Member of the Umpire, Tournament & IT Committee
- ITF Belgium : Member of the Public Relations Committee
- ITF Belgium : External Consultant, Inclusion Committee
- ITF Vlaanderen eV VZW : Vice-President
- Ge-Baek Lokeren : Instructor

Sophie’s greatest inspirations are GrandMaster Frank Vanberghen and Master Annick Van Driessche. She also holds deep admiration and respect for everyone who lives and promotes the Do of ITF Taekwon-Do.

18/04/2025

Presenting the Belgian delegation at the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

Officials :

GRANDMASTER FRANK VANBERGHEN
Age: 72
Profession / Education: Retired Federal Police Commissioner

GrandMaster Frank Vanberghen began his Taekwon-Do journey in 1977 in Germany, where he was living at the time for work. Although he had practiced Shotokan Karate from a young age in Belgium, he couldn’t find a karate club in Germany. Instead, he discovered ITF Taekwon-Do, which had become more widespread there, and decided to fully dedicate himself to this martial art.
In 1989, during a seminar led by General Choi Hong Hi – the founder of ITF Taekwon-Do – Frank Vanberghen, then a fresh 4th dan and preparing to return to Belgium, received a special request from the General … to establish an ITF federation in Belgium. He accepted the challenge, and so the foundations of ITF Taekwon-Do in Belgium were laid.
In 2018, he achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Belgian to be awarded the highest possible rank within ITF Taekwon-Do … 9th degree black belt, earning him the title GrandMaster. To this day, he remains the only Belgian to have reached this prestigious rank.

Even after retiring as a Federal Police Commissioner, GrandMaster Vanberghen remains highly active within the Taekwon-Do community, both nationally and internationally.
His current roles include:
ITF: Chairman Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee
AETF: Chairman Revisory Commission
AETF: Chairman Disciplinary Committee
ITF Belgium: Chairman Dangrading Committee
ITF Belgium: Technical Director
ITF Belgium: Member of the Disciplinary Committee

His major inspirations within ITF Taekwon-Do are General Choi Hong Hi, GrandMaster Marano, and GrandMaster Lan.

MASTER ANNICK VAN DRIESSCHE
Age: 49
Profession / Education: Financial and Logistics Consultant, Lokeren Police Department

Master Annick Van Driessche began her ITF Taekwon-Do journey on January 26, 1994, at the Ge-Baek club in Lokeren. To this day, she remains actively involved as the head instructor of the club. Over the years, she has been a dedicated presence within ITF Taekwon-Do as a competitor, referee, and so much more.
She is a woman with tremendous passion, and everyone who knows her can attest to her strong sense of justice and fairness in everything she does.

At present, she focuses primarily on the following roles:
ITF: Vice-President Executive Committee
AETF: Chairman Women’s Committee
ITF Belgium: President
ITF Belgium: Member Dangrading Committee
ITF Vlaanderen eV VZW: President
Ge-Baek Lokeren : Head instructor

Her major inspirations within ITF Taekwon-Do are first and foremost, GrandMaster Frank. In addition, two great women within our ITF: GrandMaster Azucena Zorzon and GrandMaster Christa Wintzer. The late GrandMaster Sheena Sutherland, who passed away a few years ago, was also one of her role models.

MASTER VIRGINIA DIONISI

Master Virginia started training in Taekwon-Do in 1982, in Posadas, Argentina, with her two brothers Marcelo and Fernando at the school of Master Carlos Mendez and GrandMaster Javier Dacak. In 1989 she was the first woman to obtain a black belt in the state of Misiones.
In 1991 she was invited to take part in the demostrations performed by the Korean Taekwon-Do Team that were held in Buenos Aires (Gran Rex Theater) and Posadas (Teatro Espanol).
She moved to Belgium in 1999. She met General Choi Hong Hi (founder of Taekwon-Do) several times, and tested with him for IV Degree in 2000. As a competitor, Master Virginia won several national and international competitions, being European Champion (Poland 2008) and World Champion (Argentina 2009), where she also obtained a Bronze medal and tied for best competitor.
Master Virginia Dionisi has been awarded for her outstanding performances in 2008, 2009 and 2010 by the Brussels Town Hall at the Champions Reception, held at the Hall of Fame at Roi Baudouin Stadium.
Several current and former students of Master Virginia are or were members of the Belgian and Argentinean Teams, obtaining outstanding results at European & World Cups and Championships. She has also coached Mr. Lylian Doulay from France for many years.
In addition, Master Virginia is a lawyer specialized in business law. She currently works as Legal Consultant for multinational groups. She likes water sports (being an advanced open water diver), classical and modern dance.

Her current roles within ITF :
- ITF : Member Technical and Instruction Committee
- AETF : Vice-President

16/04/2025

Only a few days until the start of the European Championships 2025 in Sarajevo, BIH.

The selected Belgian team trained very hard over the past few months to give their best from 24.04 till 27.04

Competitors:
* Altan Rinchinov: pattern & sparring
* Lara Capa: pattern & sparring
* Helin Capa: pattern, sparring & power breaking
* Kilan Verbraeken: sparring & special techniques
* Vladimir Kim: sparring
* Heidi Bewa: power breaking
* Cédrik Baert: power breaking
* Hans Van Lierde: power breaking

Coaches: Nicolas Taylor, Andreea Musca, Koen Hoerée, Hans Van Lierde and Wim Vermeir.

And we must not forget the supporters either !!!