20 years of Krakowskie Centrum Taekwon-do

This year our club celebrates its 20th birthday! Over the course of two decades, we have become one of the largest martial arts clubs in Krakow and a leading taekwon-do centre in Poland. Twenty-five club students have earned black belts, while our competitors have won several hundred medals at the Polish, European and World Championships.

The club’s history dates back to 1990, when a young instructor, Piotr Grzanka (Adamski), opened taekwon-do sections in Kurdwanów and Nowa Huta operating under the MKS Podgórze banner. After six years, the decision to establish his own club matured in Coach Adamski’s mind. Thus, on 4 September 1996, on his initiative, Krakowskie Centrum Taekwon-do GTF was founded and joined the Polish Taekwon-do Union GTF.

From that time, the club’s activities intensified. Competitors began taking part in regular sporting competitions, started regularly sitting examinations for student grades and, eventually, master grades. In 2000, Coach Piotr Adamski withdrew from taekwon-do to devote himself to professional work. The club was taken over by three of his students, all black belt holders: Mikołaj Kotowicz, Maciej Michalik and Marcin Migas.

In the meantime, new groups were established in Wieliczka and Krowodrza, and later in Olsza. For the first time, groups for children were formed, and summer and later winter taekwon-do camps began to be organised. The number of participants in classes quickly exceeded 100. In 2001, the club organised the Polish Taekwon-do Championships in Krakow for the first time. In 2003, KCT hosted an exceptional tournament—the Team Polish Championships were held in the underground chambers of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The annual St. Nicholas Taekwon-do Tournament for younger competitors was initiated.

In 2005, in Cardiff, Wales, Marcin Migas won the first medal—a bronze—at the TI World Championships in black-belt sparring. Two years later, he decided to abandon his instructing career.

The second half of the 2000s brought further development for the club. The branch in Olsza was merged with the branch on Dywizjonu 303. For some time, branches operated in Stoki, Ruczaj, Biały Kościół, Skawina, Zelczyna and Czułów. The club also launched Małe Smoki groups—the first martial arts classes in Krakow dedicated to preschool children.

Recent years have brought another leap in KCT’s development. The club hosted the European Taekwon-do Championships and two editions of the Polish Championships at its premises. More of the club’s students joined the coaching staff. Further competitors won World Championship medals. The club became a leading taekwon-do centre in Poland.

In 2016, two separate organisations split off from the club—on Adam Wargal’s initiative, the Institute for Sports Development was established, while Maciej Michalik’s idea led to the creation of the Wieliczka-Gdów Prime School of Combat. At the same time, further groups were opened in Krakow.

Currently, approximately 280 people train at KCT branches in Kurdwanów, os. Albertyńskie, os. Na Stoku, Wola Justowska, Kozłówka, Skotniki, Jugowice, Tyniec and Łagiewniki. Another 100 are children practising taekwon-do in non-public preschools. Classes are taught by 11 instructors. The entire undertaking is managed by the Board, chaired by President Mikołaj Kotowicz, who holds the 5th dan master rank.