Dear NCTA Members,

Thank you for your support of the National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships!  I am pleased to announce that at latest count we have a record setting 600 competitors attending these championships.  Congratulations to everyone for making this an historic event!

Some important announcements regarding this weekend:

No Athlete Registration Necessary Before Weigh-ins

Athletes who require weigh-ins may proceed directly to weigh-ins without stopping at registration first!  Athletes must bring a photo ID with them to weigh-ins.  If they weigh in at their target weight, they will receive a weigh-in card that they can take to registration, where they must again show their photo ID to to receive their credential and verify their paperwork.  If athletes are missing any paperwork (citizenship, student eligibility), they should be sure to use the "troubleshooting" line.

Temporary Access to Competition Floor on Saturday Morning for Black Belt Athletes

For black belts competitors who wish to watch the competition on Saturday morning before black belt registration starts, they may pick up a temporary credential at colored belt registration on Friday from 4-10 pm, or Saturday between 8-9 am. 

Event Parking

There will be event parking available on Saturday and Sunday at the MIT West Garage, which is directly across from the Johnson Athletic Center entrance at 120 Vassar St, Cambridge, MA  02139.  Parking at the MIT West Garage will cost $5 per day.  Also, there is metered parking along Vassar St. and Massachusetts Ave near the entrance to the Johnson Athletic Center.  This metered parking will be free on Saturday evening and all day on Sunday. 

For the Friday night events at the Cambridge Hyatt, there is paid parking available at the Cambridge Hyatt.  There is metered and free parking along Vassar St. in the vicinity immediately around the hotel.

Qualifying for USAT Senior Nationals in Poomsae

According to the USAT selection procedures, all colored belt poomsae competitors will automatically qualify for USAT nationals in their corresponding division.  For black belt competitors, the top 4 finishers in each of the Poomsae Team Trials divisions only will qualify for USAT Nationals.  

Color Belt Sparring Division Reminders

Just a reminder that color belt sparring will be scored using the judges controllers only, thus color belt competitors do not require Daedo electronic foot protectors.  White, yellow green and blue belt competitors will compete under USAT junior safety rules, and are not required to wear Taekwondo gloves.  Red belts will compete under full adult rules and must wear Taekwondo gloves. Taekwondo gloves will be available for purchase on-site, along with other martial arts equipment and tournament T-shirts, though our tournament sponsor, Rhingo Martial Arts Supply.

Best regards,

Best,Dan ChuangDirector, 2012 NCTA Championships (http://ncta-nationals.org)
Vice President, National Collegiate Taekwondo Association (http://ncta-usa.com)
Director, Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (http://ectc-online.org)
Head Instructor, MIT Sport Taekwondo Club (http://web.mit.edu/taekwondo)

Dear NCTA Athletes and Coaches,

Just a few reminders as the National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships (http://ncta-nationals.org) on April 7-8, 2012 in Cambridge, MA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology draws near:Early Registration Ends Tomorrow, March 31The Hangastar early registration deadline is March 31, 2012.  Please be sure to register before then - the late registration fees are quite expensive!  You can register at: https://www.usat.hangastar.com/login.aspx.

Daedo Electronic Socks

There will be a limited selection of Daedo electronic foot protectors available on site to purchase at the tournament.  However, it is best if your black belt sparring athletes purchase their electronic foot protectors ahead of time.  Collegiate athletes may purchase them athttp://truescore116.corecommerce.com/E-Sparring-Equipment/E-Foot-Gear-p24.html.  Please be sure to choose a shipping option that will arrive before the tournament date.
Location of Events on Friday, April 6

The poomsae seminar, referee meetings, and NCTA General Assembly will take place on the 16th floor of the host hotel, the Cambridge Hyatt Regency, at 575 Memorial Dr., Cambridge, MA 02139.  

Coach and athlete registration, plus colored belt weigh-ins on Friday will be on the 1st floor of the the Johnson Athletic Center at 120 Vassar St., Cambridge, MA.  It is about a 7 minute walk from the Hyatt hotel to the Johnson Athletic Center.

Athlete Registration and Weigh-Ins on Saturday, April 7

There are 2 registration periods on Saturday.  From 8-9 am, there is registration and weigh-ins for colored belt athletes and coaches who could not register on Friday.  The tournament committee will not hold up any divisions for those who arrive late for this registration period, so please be sure to arrive early, or register on Friday if at all possible.  Black belts may NOT weigh in or pick up credentials during this morning period.

From 2-8 pm, there are registration and weigh-ins for coaches and black belt competitors.

Poomsae Seminar On Friday, April 6 from 1-5 pm
Just a reminder that NCTA Referee Chair Dr. Jun C. Yoon is leading a poomsae seminar on Friday, April 6, 2012 from 1-5 pm that is open to the public.  The fee for the seminar is $30, cash or check made out to "NCTA", and can be paid at the start of the seminar.  The seminar will be held at the Cambridge Hyatt Regency. 

NCTA Club and Institutional Membership Now Online
To register your university or college Taekwondo club as an NCTA institutional member, please go to http://ncta-usa.com/membership/register/ and follow the directions.  You will need to submit a letter of institutional recognition along with your payment.  Institutional membership is required for your club to be considered in the NCTA standings, as well as to vote in the NCTA general assembly.I look forward to seeing you all soon in April!

Best,

Dan Chuang
Director, 2012 NCTA Championships (http://ncta-nationals.org)
Vice President, National Collegiate Taekwondo Association (http://ncta-usa.com)
Director, Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (http://ectc-online.org)
Head Instructor, MIT Sport Taekwondo Club (http://web.mit.edu/taekwondo)

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sport Taekwondo Club is proud to host the 37th National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships on Saturday and Sunday, April 7-8, 2012.  These championships also serve as the team trials for student athletes who are interested in earning a spot on the 2012 US National Collegiate Taekwondo Team, which will compete at the 12th World University Taekwondo Championships in Pocheon, Korea, from May 25-30, 2012.  The 37th National Collegiate Taekwondo Championships will include forms and sparring competition for both color and black belts.

The NCTA Championships will be USAT-sanctioned event and will serve as a qualifier for the 2012 USAT Junior and Senior National Championships. The top three poomsae finalists in any black belt division of the Collegiates as well as the top four sparring finalists in any black belt division of the Collegiates to compete in their corresponding World Class divisions of poomsae or sparring at the Senior Nationals. All color belt participants at the Collegiates will qualify to compete at the 2012 USAT Junior & Senior National Championships, in their corresponding divisions of poomsae or sparring.  Black belt sparring competitors will earn USAT ranking points towards their seeding at USAT nationals.  Colored belt sparring competitors will not earn ranking points at these championships.

Friday Events:
     Hyatt Regency Cambridge
     575 Memorial Drive
     Cambridge, MA  02139

Saturday and Sunday Events:
     Johnson Athletic Center (competition venue)
     Massachusetts Institute of Technology                                
     120 Vassar St.
     Cambridge, MA  02139

Friday, April 6  - Hyatt Regency Cambridge
4:00pm-10:00pm          Coach Check In and Athlete Check In and Weigh In (Colored belts), Located at the Johnson Athletic Center
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM        Open Poomsae Seminar ($30 cash or check made out to NCTA)
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM        Referee Poomsae Training
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM        Referee Meeting 
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM      NCTA General Assembly

Saturday, April 7 -  Johnson Athletic Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology    
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM           Athlete Check In and Weigh In (Color belts)
8:15 AM - 8:45 AM             Coaches' Meeting and Credential Pickup
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM            Referee Meeting
8:30 AM                                 Doors Open for Spectators
9:00 AM                                 Opening Ceremony
9:15 AM                                  Color Belt Division Poomsae (Forms)
After Poomsae Finishes     Color Belt Division Kyorugi (Sparring)
4:00 PM                                  Team Trial Poomsae (Forms)
2:00 PM - 8:00 PM             Coach Check In and Athlete Check In and Weigh In (Black belts)

Sunday, April 8 - Johnson Athletic Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology    
9:00 AM                        Doors Open
10:00 AM                      Opening Ceremony
10:15 AM                       Black Belt Forms Begin
12:00 PM                      Black Belt Sparring Begins 
Spectator Admissions Fee: $10