ITF/USTF TAEKWON-DO

REGION X

Region Director: Mr. Pete Thibado, VI Dan

Pete Thibado, A-5-75, was born on April 2, 1959, in Wheatridge, Colorado, and grew up in Menomonie, Wisconsin. He relocated to Leadville, Colorado and was employed as a miner at the Climax Mine. His Taekwon-Do training began in 1978 at the 6th Street Gym in Leadville. He traveled to Broomfield, Colorado to train with his instructor, Master Sereff. He also trained with Master Lang at CU in Boulder and with Mr. Hinman, at Foothills. Each summer, Master Winegar instructed a week-long seminar at the Colorado Mountain College. This training provided Mr. Thibado with a strong foundation of basic Taekwon-Do, but foremost, a sense of loyalty. Pete Thibado tested for first dan in 1981 and for second dan in 1984 in Denver. He moved to Florida and started a Taekwon-Do school, which took years of perseverance to build enrollment. In 1987, he tested for third dan at Dr. Youstra's camp in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Thibado was appointed Co-Director of the State of Florida for the United States Taekwon-Do Federation in 1990. The first time that he had the pleasure of training with General Choi Hong Hi, was at the 23rd ITF Instructor Course and Summer Camp in 1990, where he tested for 4th Dan and received High Test Score. He attended Sereff Taekwon-Do Summer Camp again in June, 1991. In November of 1991, he attended the 35th ITF Instructor Course in Miami, Florida, with General Choi Hong Hi, and attained International Instructor status, certificate number 615. Mr. Thibado was appointed USTF Region 10 Director in April of 1993, which includes that states of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. He makes frequent visits to instruct seminars, conduct black belts tests, and to officiate in the USTF sanctioned tournament circuit which he has instituted in Region 10. He attended the ITF Instructor Seminar in Denver, Colorado, in March of 1993 with General Choi Hong Hi, and Sereff Taekwon-Do World Camp that summer. In November of 1993, he hosted the USTF Instructor Course in Crystal River, taught by Master Winegar. He was also present at General Choi's 68th ITF Instructor Course in Odessa, Texas in February, 1994. Pete Thibado was married to his wife, Sylvia, 4th dan, in February of 1994 and together they hosted the USTF 20th Anniversary TaeKwon-Do Cruise, with special guest, Master Sereff. At the 1994 World Championships in Malaysia, he attended the Referee Seminar with General Choi and accomplished his ITF Class A Umpire Certification, number 569, and officiated as center referee for team sparring.

Mr. Thibado was tested for 5th Dan in Crystal River, Florida in December of 1994, with Master Sereff, Master Lang, and Master Winegar presiding on the test board. In February, 1995, he participated in the 90th ITF Instructor Course taught by General Choi Hong Hi in Santa Barbara, California. That summer he attended Sereff TaeKwon-Do World Camp in Colorado. In November of 1995, Mr. Thibado, Mrs. Thibado, and eighteen of his Florida and Region 10 students traveled to North American Championships in Ottawa, Canada, where he officiated, coached, and brought home nine gold medals, seven silver, and five bronze. Mr. Thibado was in attendance at the ITF World Conference and Seminar held in Toronto in April of 1996. He also achieved his USTF Class A Referee Certification later that month. He and his students were present at Master Sereffs Inaugural ITF Instructor Course in Miami, Florida, in June of 1996. At this course, his student, Joe Grey, whom he had instructed since white belt, received high test score at his fourth dan test. Also at this event, Sylvia Thibado was appointed to the position of Region 9 Director for the USTF. Pete Thibados local school is in Crystal River, Florida. He has been personally responsible for over 150 black belts being promoted from first through 4th dan and has been instrumental in the growth of more than fifteen USTF/ITF schools, including Citrus County, Clearwater, Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Region 10. With his loyalty to his instructor, Master Sereff, and with the assistance of his wife and dedicated directors and students, Mr. Thibado will continue to promote USTF/ITF TaeKwon-Do in the southeast United States.