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Current
Status WTF vs ITF
WTF
(World Taekwondo Federation)
WTF has its own share of problems with internal politics of rules and
regulations being challenged. The most recent one being the dobok code
for Olympic entries, unless it is sanctioned by the WTF, one can not wear
the dobok. Then the politics between WTF decision makers and the USTU(United
States Taekwon Union) the American chapter of WTF decision makers has
not been smooth at times. And oftentimes the hierarchy of TKD instructors(good
lineage, so-so lineage, dubious lineage, up to date practitioners) and
their students vs. others is always at stake during national competition
or elimination tournaments for the Olympics. But it is very well structured
organization for the promoting TKD as the Korean Olympic Sport with constantly
touring national demonstration teams with the best of the best TKD performers(eg.
Korean Tigers demonstration Team).
WTF is constantly innovating new ideas and developing(mostly kicking)
techniques. The WTF style kicks are evolving for quicker split-second
movements. It now has put TKD into a serious national sport in Korea such
that there are now TKD majors in college. WTF now harbors the new
TKD and has incorporated movements from other arts such as judo, yoo-sool,
hapkido and other
non-Korean martial arts. It is not uncommon to see 26 year old 6th
degree TKD BB with two or even three BBs in other styles(hapkido, kum-do,
hwarangdo, etc) in Korea. They are also skilled in weapons such as nunchaks,
bong,(staff), dan bong,(short sticks), and other weapons. But the
strong emphasis is always and will be the on the competition aspect of
sparring only.
No breaking nor forms competitions. The breaking in WTF demonstration
teams are only for the purposes of demonstration by a separate team. i.e.
WTF stylists in demonstration are not the ones that actively compete in
sparring tournaments.
ITF are obligated to do all three: Breaking, sparring, and forms.
WTF emphasizes mainly on sparring. WTF tourneys seldom do forms.
The most common criticism WTF gets nowadays is the quelling of overall
growth of TKD. This comes from most instructors who has been teaching
TKD since the 1950 s and 1960 s. Pre-WTF TKD allowed different styles
of TKD to compete with new techniques and innovations that taught each
other. But with one central governing body, all innovations have been
quelled. Specifically, if TKD was left to compete by different TKD styles,
a better TKD would have come out of it analogous market growth and diversification
in capitalism vs. communism.
ITF (International Taekwon-do Federation)
ITF, with its massive fallout of elite Korean instructors has now recouped
itself with European and some excellent American, and Canadian instructors.
But it still lags behind the former glory. It also is now attempting to
link up with the WTF and reconcile the differences so they
can both be recognized or have a compromising joint agreement for styles.
But the strongly organized WTF sanctioned by the Olympics, is unwilling
to give in to such a merger. ITF has its chapters in the U. S. under USTF(US
Taekwondo Federation) and KATU(Korean American Taekwondo Union). The organization
is friendly, i.e. less bureaucratic, but has far less members than the
WTF s USTU. General Choi still does tours and special seminars in Europe
and the U. S. The North Korean TKD, Europe, and former communist bloc
countries have become good technicians and are slowly evolving ITF style
TKD. IMHO, there are distinctly two parts to the ITF now. One that Gen.
Choi controls and the splinter groups. ITF is trying to revive the
somewhat fragmented and removed groups. But the numerous splintered groups
coming together is going to be a challenge.
ITF-KATU/USTF have adapted new names such as using the term tul instead
of hyung and a new tul called Ju-che (actually replacement of Ko
Dang pattern) in praise of the late Kim IL Sung s self-reliance policy
of North Korea ( Ju Che is self-sufficiency ). Regardless
of political tones, it is a beautiful form which I believe is the only
form in hard style MA that has a move that extends a leg in a fixed high
side kick position and rotates the extended leg in the direction of the
heel-in a slow motion by pivoting on the standing leg and hooks after
it has reached almost a complete circle.
Again as mentioned before, ITF still adheres to the traditional TKD arts
training. ITF concentrates in all aspects: Basic moves, breaking, patterns,
step-sparring, and full contact sparring. WTF concentrates in the area
of full contact sparring-primarily in kicking techniques for quick delivery.
Experienced TKD BB s of rank of 4th degree and above who have done both
WTF/ITF, privately contend that WTF is relatively faster in kicks than
ITF and has more technical kicks. But the ITF kicks do have
power. In forms, they also claim ITF forms carry the art aspect.
Trying to assess which is better, WTF or ITF? is trying to
compare who is a better ball player in a different ball games. All good
players in their respective sport, golf, volley ball, basket ball, baseball,
tennis, etc. are
good. The quality of TKD instruction is up to the individual WTF/ITF
instructor and the student.
Another strong criticism of both the WTF & ITF governing body is the
discordance of trying to control too much of a local politics worldwide
and the fact the central governing body is only interested in collecting
certificate fees.
Other numerous organizations have been created with various combinations
of three or four words usually starting with the letters W, I, US, KA,
A, U, G, in the first standing for World, International, US, Korean-American,
American, Universal, United, Global, etc
T in the second for TKD & A, C, F, U standing for Alliance/Association,
Committee, Conference,
Federation, Union, etc.
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