BEDFORD — Local business owners and martial arts masters Kenneth and Elizabeth Britt recently returned to Bedford following an intensive month-long training and competition tour across South Korea, bringing home multiple world medals while training under the top grandmasters of the Korean national sport.
The couple, who own Tabula Rasa in Bedford, make an annual trip to South Korea to train directly with world-level masters to bring back top-tier instruction for their local students. This year’s trip proved particularly demanding, featuring an intensive training camp at the Seoul National University of Education amidst extreme heat, alongside participation in three major international tournaments.
Defending World Titles on the International Stage
The highlight of their journey was competing at the World Taekwondo Hanmadang, often referred to as the “Olympics of Taekwondo.” Managed by the Kukkiwon—the global governing body of Taekwondo established in 1972 to standardize training worldwide—the prestigious event requires participants to hold an official Kukkiwon rank. This year’s tournament drew over 4,700 competitors from 61 nations.
Both of the Britts entered the event defending previous world titles:
Kenneth Britt captured a Gold medal in Power Breaking, alongside a Gold medal and a Bronze medal in Poomsae (form patterns).
Elizabeth Britt delivered a strong performance for Team USA amidst a fierce international division, securing a Bronze medal in Poomsae.
In addition to their Kukkiwon credentials, both Kenneth and Elizabeth hold high-ranking certifications as International Masters and International Examiners with the World Taekwondo Jidokwan Federation, the World Taekwondo Chungdokwan Federation, and the World Taekwondo Changmookwan.
Promoting Peace Beyond the Sport
While Taekwondo is integrated into public school curricula across South Korea and practiced widely across the nation, the Britts emphasized that the sport extends far beyond physical combat. The overarching theme across all three tournaments they attended was promoting world peace.
According to the Britts, the core philosophy of Taekwondo centers on five foundational tenets: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Indomitable Spirit—values designed to foster lifelong character, personal growth, and respect for others that complement core moral teachings across global cultures.
“People have the notion that Taekwondo is about being a tough guy or gal, and it truly is the exact opposite,” the couple shared following their return, noting that instilling these values remains the primary goal of their instruction in the Bedford community.
