The Way of Young Masters
The Estonian Taekwondo Association organised the international martial arts festival "The Way of Young Masters" from 2001 to 2010.
The festival is a spectacular event with all the elements of a modern show, where high-level sporting mastery is combined with a colourful programme.
The festival gave different martial arts schools the opportunity to present different sides of their martial art: to show patterns, hand-to-hand fighting technique, acrobatic performances and breaking of objects.
A tradition of the festival is the participation of dance groups representing different styles, from folklore to modern dance.
Participants of the festival in different years included the world's best Taekwondo masters from Korea, students of Shaolin monks, world-famous Wushu adepts led by Eleonora Volokontseva, Capoeira masters from Brazil, professional boxers, the Moscow Fire Circus and many other performers.
The name of the festival contains the word "master", which is connected not only with physical but also with spiritual maturity. To become a master one has to set out on the path of becoming a harmonious personality.
2010
On 27 November the last "The Way of Young Masters" festival took place in Maardu. This time the event was held as part of the Estonian Championships. Besides Estonia, Latvia took part in the festival. Masters of Wushu, Aikido Aikikai, Taekwondo and Real Aikido demonstrated their skills.
2009
On 5 December the traditional martial arts festival "The Way of Young Masters" took place at the Viedemann sports complex in Haapsalu. For the first time this event was held outside Tallinn. Masters of Historical Fencing, Aikido, Muay Thai, Sport Chanbara, Taekwondo and Real Aikido demonstrated their skills.
2008
On 1 November a festival took place at the Kalev Sports Hall, attended by masters from Estonia, England, Belarus, Lithuania and Latvia. Masters of Wushu, Sambo, Sport Chanbara, Taekwondo, Aikido, Real Aikido, Kyokushinkai Karate, Muay Thai and Kudo demonstrated their skills.
2007
On 20 October 2007 the festival was held as part of the European Taekwondo Championships (ITF) at the Saku Suurhall. Both events were combined into one unique event with about 1000 participants. Demonstrations by Taekwondo masters (including Korean masters who came to Tallinn specially and did a tour of demonstrations across Estonia) and by specialists in other martial arts (Aikido, Kudo, Sport Chanbara, Kickboxing and others) were the most spectacular and effective part of the programme. The Fire Circus from Moscow made the festive opening of the event unforgettable.
2005
On 22 October the fifth "The Way of Young Masters" festival took place at the Saku Suurhall. Guests from Korea were present. In 2005 the guest of honour of the festival was Professor Chang Ung, President of the International Martial Arts Games Committee (IMGC), President of the International Taekwon-do Federation (ITF) and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The programme included Taekwondo, Karate Daido-Juku, Capoeira, Real Aikido and Ju-Jutsu.
2004
On 16 October a festival took place at the Kalev Sports Hall with masters of Karate Daido-Juku, Kickboxing, Capoeira, Real Aikido, Niat-Nam, Muay Thai, Wushu and Taekwondo.
2003
On 18 October the third "The Way of Young Masters" festival took place at the Kalev Sports Hall. This time the Kalev Sports Hall could hardly hold the approximately 3000 spectators. For the first time performers from Korea were present. In addition, masters of Taekwondo, Wushu, Real Aikido, Niat-Nam, Karate, Capoeira and Daido-Juku performed.
2002
On 12 October the international eastern martial arts festival "The Way of Young Masters" took place at the Kalev Sports Hall in Tallinn, with eastern martial arts clubs from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Masters of Taekwondo, Aikido, Wushu, Hapkido, Niat-Nam, Fencing, Capoeira, Karate Daido-Juku and Lao Muey Kobra took part.
2001
On 17 November the festival took place for the first time at the Kalev Sports Hall. About 300 young athletes and dancers from Tallinn, Tartu, Tapa and other regions of Estonia gathered under one roof. The martial arts represented were Taekwondo, Wushu, Aikido, Kickboxing, Capoeira, Karate Daido-Juku and Fencing. Participants came from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.