Congratulations!
Congratulations to Master Cathy Downey on being promoted to the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt (Master level) by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). This gives Master Cathy Downey the distinction of becoming the first “female” Master from Newfoundland and Labrador and one of only three female Masters in Canada. She successfully passed her 7th Dan test during the World Championship in Dublin, Ireland. The testing panel consisted of Grandmaster Marano (Argentina) and Grandmaster Lan (Germany), both 9th Degree Black Belts and members of the ITF Taekwon-Do technical committee. The test included patterns, sparring, step-sparring, self-defense, breaking, and theory. She also had to submit a thesis for her 7th Dan, which is entitled, “Women in Taekwon-Do”. Master Cathy Downey is the wife of Master Scott Downey (8th Degree Black Belt). Both are owners of Downey’s Taekwon-Do and have been teaching Taekwon-Do in St. John’s and Mt. Pearl for over 25 years. Together they have taught over 2,000 students and have promoted over 300 students to Black Belt. Their most famous program is the Little Dragons program for children age 4-7 which teaches students about the importance of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. Both Master Cathy Downey and her husband are retired from competition but they are heavily involved in World Championship and World Cup events as Umpires (officials). They recently officiated at the World Championship in Dublin, Ireland and are looking forward to officiating at the World Cup in 2018 in Sydney, Australia. As a result of Master Cathy Downey’s achievement her and her husband, Master Scott Downey, have the distinction of becoming the first “husband and wife” ITF Taekwon-Do Masters in Canada. They personify the saying, “A couple that kicks together sticks together”. Congratulations from your family, friends and Taekwon-Do students and assistant instructors.