Grandmaster Brown achieves Kukkiwon certified 8th Dan, effective September 19, 2024

Announcement: September 27, 2024

Grandmaster Thomas R. Brown traveled to the Kukkiwon in Seoul, Korea this past July to test for his 8th Dan in Taekwondo. He was informed that effective September 19, 2024 he is a certified 8th Dan.

The Kukkiwon is the governing organization for World Taekwondo or Olympic style Taekwondo. A Kukkiwon certification is recognized internationally and is considered the highest Dan level certification available. Kukkiwon 8th and 9th Dan examinations are only held at the Kukkiwon Headquarters in Korea. To be eligible to test for 8th Dan, the candidates must be a certified 7th Dan for a minimum of 8 years, provide a thesis on a specific topic in taekwondo, provide their curriculum vitae of their life’s achievements, and demonstrate certain techniques in front of a panel of judges.

There are nine dan levels in Kukkiwon Taekwondo. Counting all levels there are 11,877,259 certified dans worldwide. To put Grandmaster Brown’s accomplishment into perspective, there are only 2,462 Kukkiwon Certified 8th Dans in the world, 306 of which reside in the US (1596 reside in Korea the birthplace of Taekwondo). The numbers provided above are from theKukkiwon as of September 26, 2024.

Grandmaster Brown’s journey to 8th Dan started November 22, 2013 when he was certified as a 7th Dan. His journey was delayed by the Covid outbreak, but as he tells his students, onceyou set a goal continue on the path that helps you obtain it.

It is time for Grandmaster Brown to set a new goal, obtaining his 9th Dan. The earliest time that he would be eligible to test for this certification is in nine years. This is a Kukkiwon requirement. Where will you be nine years from now? Grandmaster Brown will continue his training and teaching to make this goal a reality also.

For further information about Kukkiwon Certification, Taekwondo or Grandmaster Brown, feel free to contact us at MAIBTaekwondo.com or by phone at (413) 528 - 9560.