In an exclusive interview with TravelsDubai, Grand Master Jun Lee – 9th Dan, Kukkiwon Speaker, President of the Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation (GTTF), and Founder of Black Belt World – discusses his mission to preserve the traditional roots of Taekwondo.
Established in 2023, the GTTF seeks to preserve the art’s original values – discipline, philosophy, and real-world self-defence – alongside its modern Olympic form.
“Taekwondo is more than kicks and medals – it is a way of life,” Lee stated, emphasising that the GTTF is not meant to compete with Olympic Taekwondo but to “complement it by bringing back what’s being lost.”
With members in over 160 countries and 15 US states, the GTTF is quickly expanding. “By November 2025, we aim to reach 193 countries – matching the United Nations,” Lee said. The organisation is preparing for a synchronised global “Kick-A-Thon” on 16 May 2025, and its largest-ever Annual Summit in November, expected to host over 750 attendees.
Lee also revealed reforms to the prestigious 9th Dan promotion, which will now be conducted exclusively at the Summit. “A 9th Dan is not just a rank – it’s a legacy,” he noted. Candidates must now demonstrate mastery through breaking, poomsae, sparring, self-defence, or research contributions.
GTTF training centres on four pillars – poomsae, sparring, practical self-defence, and breaking – supported by a moral code called the Ten Student Commitments. “We don’t just build martial artists – we build better human beings,” Lee affirmed.
Calling on practitioners worldwide, he concluded: “Let us protect Taekwondo’s legacy together, and keep the flame of tradition burning bright for generations to come.”