ITF Taekwon-Do

WHAT IS ITF TAEKWON-DO?

Is ITF Taekwon-Do a style?

The ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) is the international governing body associated with Gen. Choi Hong Hi’s Taekwon-Do style. Usually, when you ask what type of Taekwon-Do members of this organization perform, they answer “ITF.”​ So, ITF is not a style; it is an organization that runs parallel with a particular style.

Original Taekwon-Do

ITF style Taekwondo is the original Taekwon-Do created by its founding father, General Choi Hong Hi (1918-2002). General Choi named his new martial art “Taekwon-Do” on 11 April 1955. He spread his martial art through the South Korean military, which gave Taekwon-Do its rapid growth in the early years.​

International Taekwon-Do Federation

On 22 March 1966, General Choi founded the first international governing body for Taekwon-Do, the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). He thus enabled his martial art to implement a set curriculum and keep standards on an international level. At this time, Gen. Choi travelled with his demonstration team of superhumans to spread and promote his martial art. Taekwon-Do associations opened and affiliated with the ITF in just about every country in the world.​

Other World Taekwon-Do Bodies

Due to various political events and fallings out, in 1973, his rivals formed another international body. It was named the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). It has since renamed itself World Taekwondo (WT) (2017) due to negative connotations associated with the acronym. The patterns, techniques, traditional sparring, and competition sparring systems were all changed to the point where they no longer resembled Gen. Choi’s Taekwon-Do. Since then, all types of martial arts have cropped up, calling themselves Taekwondo. Gen. Choi never acknowledged any other style of Taekwon-Do. They may have borrowed the name, but not the technique.​

Body, Mind and Soul

Original Taekwon-Do (ITF) has solid military roots. Its training regimen is excellent for the body, mind, and soul. Its effectiveness for self-defence is unprecedented. There is also a significant sporting aspect to this martial art for those who are that way inclined.​

ITF Taekwon-Do Now

Today, Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa, son of the founder of Taekwon-Do, leads the ITF into the future.

“HERE I LEAVE TAEKWON-DO FOR MANKIND AS A TRACE OF A MAN OF THE LATE 20TH CENTURY. THE 24 PATTERNS REPRESENT 24 HOURS A DAY OR ALL MY LIFE.“

– GEN. CHOI HONG HI

Gen. Choi Hong Hi devoted his life to the development and spread of Taekwon-Do throughout the world.

Due to his efforts, Taekwon-Do can be found in just about every country in the world. He believed that everyone should be able to train, regardless of religious, political and social ideologies.

“I shall build a more peaceful world”

Since Gen. Choi’s passing in 2002, Grand Master (GM) Choi Jung Hwa has led the ITF into the future as its president.

GM Choi Jung Hwa is the son of Gen. Choi Hong Hi. He is also sometimes referred to as the son of Taekwon-Do, or brother to Taekwon-Do. From an early age, Gen.Choi groomed him to lead Taekwon-Do. Under his father’s watchful eye, he ate, slept and breathed Taekwon-Do. He travelled everywhere with his father, assisting, demonstrating and promoting Taekwon-Do around the world.

Today he continues, as his father did before him, spreading, educating and preserving the true spirit of Taekwon-Do. He is the torch-bearer and carrier of Gen. Choi’s legacy.