The International Olympic Committee recognized the
So, what is the real difference between the two? The main difference between ITF and WTF Taekwondo is that ITF serves as an institution where students may learn the art of Taekwondo and WT (formerly WTF) is a Taekwondo governing body that focuses on rules and regulations of Taekwondo competitions.
A Kukikwon certificate is widely regarded as the most prestigious of all the Black Belt certificates within the art of Taekwondo. The World Taekwondo Federation, which is the international governing body for Taekwondo, requires that all those who wish to compete at international level be Kukkiwon certified.
World Taekwondo, called the World Taekwondo Federation until June 2017, is an international federation governing the sport of taekwondo and is a member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).
www.kukkiwon.or.kr/ Kukkiwon (Korean: 국기원; Hanja: 國技院), also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, is where the official taekwondo governing organization was established by the South Korean government.
Both WTF and ITF refer to the two main governing bodies for Taekwondo. Both of these styles of Taekwondo have their origins in Korean martial arts and are very similar but the focus of WTF is for sport and the focus for ITF is for self defence. WTF is the Taekwondo style used in the Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee recognized the WTF and taekwondo sparring in 1980. For this reason, Kukkiwon-style taekwondo is sometimes referred to as Sport-style taekwondo, Olympic-style taekwondo, or WTF-style taekwondo, though technically the style itself is defined by the Kukkiwon, not the WTF.
Taekwondo includes many techniques – such as blocking, dodging and footwork – for defending or evading the attacks permitted within the sport's rules. These techniques can be effective in defending yourself if you're caught in the chaos of a street fight, but they were not designed that way.
The three most common taekwondo forms are four-direction punch, four-direction block, and four-direction thrust.
In taekwondo competitions -such like in the Olympics – punches are allowed to be thrown but not to the face. Again, fighters don't use punches much because landing one to the body only give you one point, where kicks can give you several.
In order for a Master to be recognized as a Master Test Examiner (Judge) they must reach the rank of 4th Dan as certified by the Kukkiwon, be at least twenty-one years of age, and have taken and passed the Master's Test Examiners course given by the Kukkiwon in Korea or once a year in the United States.
Black belt levels (called Dan's – there are nine) take many years to earn, for example to grade from 1st Dan (beginner level black belt) to 4th Dan (master level) takes the average student up to ten years. Upon achieving black belt each level is known as a “Dan” for adults and “Poom” for children.
While enrolled in their Black Belt Program, students will still earn their White Belt, Yellow Belt, and Green Belt Certifications while progressing through their Black Belt Program. Their certifications are fully accredited by The Council for Six Sigma Certification and never expire.
ITF Taekwondo ranking system has 10 ranks, ranging from 10th kyu (white belt) to 1st dan (black belt). WTF Taekwondo has 11 ranks where belt colors are: white (11th kyu), yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, blue and black, brown, brown and black, red, red and black, and black (1st dan).
For most taekwondo federations and associations, Weapons Training is not a formal part of the curriculum. Many individual schools, however, will incorporate some weapons training into their syllabus. ATA Taekwondo schools, for example, often incorporate weapons training.
The WTF runs the sport in the Olympics and until now, taekwondo athletes were only allowed to fight in their own federation's tournaments. Under a new agreement, athletes registered with the WTF and ITF are free to compete in the other federation's events.
In many traditional TaeKwon-Do organizations instructors holding 1st to 3rd dan are called Boosabum (Assistant Instructor), those holding 4th to 6th Dan are called Sabum (Instructor), those holding 7th to 8th dan are called Sahyun (Master), and those holding 9th dan are called Saseong (Grandmaster).
Tae Kwon Do (3-5 Years)
Black belts in Tae Kwon Do are achieved in degrees, with the practitioner able to earn the first-degree black belt within three to five years. Some schools stipulate a minimum of four to five years of training before a student can earn a black belt, while others do not.
Penalties and prohibited acts
The only penalty in taekwondo is a gam-jeom. A gam-jeom is declared when an athlete punches to the face, or punches or kicks below the waist. Also not allowed is attacking an opponent with the knee or the head.
Taekwondo Classes Burn Massive Calories
As your taekwondo workouts introduce more HIIT training into your fitness regimen, you will burn more calories in less time. This is the primary reason so many people lose weight after signing up for taekwondo classes.
Taekwondo training provides a full-body workout where teens and adults improve endurance, strength, and flexibility. If you've been stuck on a fitness plateau or are finding your old exercise routine uninspired, martial arts classes may be just the thing to get you motivated and excited to workout.
Fees All applicants will be charged a flat testing fee of $250.00. AAU or Kukkiwon certification fees will be in addition.
In Kukkiwon Taekwondo, there are five tenets that all students strive to uphold: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit.
In Kukkiwon/WT Taekwondo: 1st – 3rd dan are considered “trained students” who may serve as assistant instructors (kyo sah nim) 4th – 6th dan are considered to be instructors/masters (sah bum nim) 7th – 9th dan are considered to be grand masters (kwan jang nim)