ITF WTF difference??

[taekwondo-chick]

hay ,
i do ITF taekowndo and have to admit i dont know much about WTF can anyone shed some light on the difference,i know they kick hard and fast!to me it seems like they focus more on sparring and less on patterns?i dont know!

would like to know more!

thanks

[Chapel]

It seems to me at the differences lie in individual schools within both ITF and WTF than between ITF and WTF. The major odd ball of the TKD family is ATA as they have a different set of forms altogether.

[Shinobi_Kokujin]

i wish WTF would change thier sparring rule set to the way ITF is done with the fist strikes to the head.

otherwise from that like chapel said theres not too much difference besides the forms and politics

[TKDaddict]

about the sparring.

WTF= head guard, chest guard, grion guard and shin pads but no foot and hand pads.

ITF= feet and hand pads. grion guard and shin pads. head and chest guard opional.

[complete]

ITF is the organization run by General Hong, who is the founder of Tae Kwon Do.

WTF is the organization recognized by Korean government and by the Olympic committee for the event.

[wmks shogun]

Although Gen. Choi, Hong Hi passed away back in 2001 ( I think) and now the ITF has split into 3 factions, each claiming to be the real, true ITF.

[Chapel]

Originally Posted by wmks shogun

Although Gen. Choi, Hong Hi passed away back in 2001 ( I think) and now the ITF has split into 3 factions, each claiming to be the real, true ITF.

It was right after the American from Texas (name escapes me) won the Olympics, which was in 2000. So 2001 sounds about right.

[hpsuprtdigrry]

wtf is what you see during the olympics. it is also used in the korean military.

itf is the govening body of tae kwon do internationaly

[KickChick]

Originally Posted by taekwondo-chick

hay ,
i do ITF taekowndo and have to admit i dont know much about WTF can anyone shed some light on the difference,i know they kick hard and fast!to me it seems like they focus more on sparring and less on patterns?i dont know!

would like to know more!

thanks

Rather than to get into the politics & differences of the "federations" ... perhaps what you really want to know is how "Chang Hon" the style of ITF is different from "Kukkiwon" the style of WTF.

Aside from the ITF Tuls (or hyungs) & WTF Poomse, and the politics.... the terminology used by each is different as well.

For example the (WTF) round kick is the (ITF) turning kick - (WTF) spin hook kick is a (ITF) reverse turning kick - (WTF) front stance is the (ITF) walking stance...

The ITF incorporates the use of the sine wave motion that also separates the ITF from WTF.



The ITF was formed on March 22nd 1966 by then President & Founder General Choi Hong Hi. Gen. Choi created the patterns, terminology and systems and named it Taekwon-Do on April 11th 1955.

The WTF was formed in 1973 by the South Korean Government, as a rival body to the ITF. They created new patterns, techniques and methods and also called it Taekwondo.

Fair to say that the WTF concentrates on tournament sparring, in particular Olympic style competition whereas the ITF is more holistic, encouraging the development of the student as a complete martial artist focusing heavily on moral culture, discipline, and sound technique ...

[complete]

Good explanation. Thanks.

[JoaNor]

Originally Posted by TKDaddict

about the sparring.

WTF= head guard, chest guard, grion guard and shin pads but no foot and hand pads.

ITF= feet and hand pads. grion guard and shin pads. head and chest guard opional.

Yes, the do use foot and hand(Fist) pads...

[Doneal7]

ITF is harder to get higher grades, worth your time if you care more about learning how to survive.

Basically the main difference is

WTF = Competition
ITF = Self Defense

[JoaNor]

Originally Posted by Hajilee

ITF is harder to get higher grades, worth your time if you care more about learning how to survive.

Basically the main difference is

WTF = Competition
ITF = Self Defense

no not at all... it depends on the school... not on the federation... and its not harder to get higher grades in itf...

[Doneal7]

Like you said depends on the school. Maybe it's because we're the people who are from Choi's sons organization.

[JoaNor]

Originally Posted by Hajilee

Like you said depends on the school. Maybe it's because we're the people who are from Choi's sons organization.

Note: When Choe went to N. Korea, Mr. Kim Jong Il(N. K. Dictator President) became the Leader of ITF(As he own everything in NK)... So Mr. KJI does all he can to make the ITF better than the WTF, although the Kukkiwon(WTF) wants to have equality between them...