Imphal: The Global Traditional Taekwondo Federation (GTTF), South Korea, on Tuesday awarded a 5th Dan in traditional Taekwondo to former Manipur Speaker and sitting BJP MLA Yumnam Khemchand.
Six Grandmasters in Taekwondo, led by Jun Lee, president of the GTTF, presented the 5th Dan certificate in Seoul, South Korea.
Vice Chairman of the GTTF, Mayong Suk, facilitated Khemchand at her office in Seoul.
The GTTF is the highest authority for traditional Taekwondo, while the World Taekwondo Federation governs the sport form.
Yumnam Khemchand is the first person from India to receive the 5th Dan Black Belt in traditional Taekwondo from the GTTF.
The 5th Dan was awarded following a Taekwondo promotion test conducted in accordance with the federation’s rules and regulations in October 2024. The 62-year-old MLA began his Taekwondo career at the age of 16 before later entering politics.
In Taekwondo, Dan refers to black belt ranks, signifying levels of expertise and seniority. The term literally means “step” or “stage,” with ranks typically going from 1st Dan (Shodan) up to 9th or 10th Dan (Kudan/Judan).
Achieving the first Dan (I Dan) marks the transition from student to trained practitioner, while higher Dan ranks represent increasing knowledge, leadership, and dedication, often accompanied by titles like Master or Grandmaster.
Elected from the prestigious Singjamei assembly constituency in Imphal West district, Yumnam Khemchand served as the Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022.
In 2022, he was appointed Cabinet Minister in the Second Biren Singh ministry, holding the portfolios of Municipal Administration and Housing Development (MAHUD), Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, and Education.
He served in this position until February 2025, when President’s Rule was declared in Manipur.
Yumnam Khemchand Singh is a Bharatiya Janata Party politician from Manipur, elected to the Manipur Legislative Assembly in 2017 and 2022 from the Singjamei constituency as a BJP candidate.
