ITF & WTF - Taekwon Do

BoB_BoT

ITF (Internatiol Taekwon-Do Association)
&
WTF (World Taekwon-Do Federation) (not what the f*ck )

I've noticed this mentioned in a one or two other posts reguarding Martial Arts Schools. My main question is what are the differences? I've done some searching on google to come up with the idea that the WTF focus on sparing/sporting end of taekwon-do as compared to the ITF who focus on both main aspects of the art. Is that true, i've also seen mentioned that the WTF have developed their own patterns since it's formation as compared to the origional style patters. So any thoughts, differences noticed and comments feel free to post

Repli

I have done both styles for about 4 years and I've found the main differences are in the sparring..
ITF: You're allowed punch/kick in the head
WTF: You're not allowed punch in the head (only kick)
This can be confusing when you're doing both styles because you get deducted points in WTF for punching the head..

WTF focuses a lot more on competition-style TKD (mainly sparring, because WTF style is used in olympic TKD), while ITF focuses equally on sparring/breaking/patterns.. also you'll find the sparring in WTF much more extreme..

A word on the patterns.. in WTF you only do 8 patterns altogether.. but in ITF you do a new 1 for each grade.. with black belts doing 3 for each dan..

Any more questions feel free to ask

dubhthach

there's also the fact that ITF style is supposedly semi-contact as oppose to full-contact in WTF (hence body shield) having sparred ITF style for a number of years all i can say is "semi-contact" my arse

dudara

ITF is more focussed on traditional TKD, with more patterns, technique etc, and the emphasis is on semi-free sparring.

WTF is olympic-TKD, has heavier sparring, and you'll see WTF fighters wearing body armour.

I agree with the previous poster, while ITF is supposed to be semi-free sparring (ie tap the oponent, not belt), I've had two blood noses in bouts, so it's not that semi-free. It's at the judges discretion. But most judges will step in if the sparring is getting too heavy.

BoB_BoT

"ITF is more focussed on traditional TKD, with more patterns, technique etc, and the emphasis is on semi-free sparring.

WTF is olympic-TKD, has heavier sparring, and you'll see WTF fighters wearing body armour.

I agree with the previous poster, while ITF is supposed to be semi-free sparring (ie tap the oponent, not belt), I've had two blood noses in bouts, so it's not that semi-free. It's at the judges discretion. But most judges will step in if the sparring is getting too heavy."


hehe yeah, ah sure what can ya do, i've seen this happen at torunies "the bloody nose thing" funny thing is, if you don't stop your nose from bleeding in 1 min (iirc) you have to forfit

but if you're going to spar, it's a risk you take, *** you're not going to expect your opponent to take it easy on you, especially if they're trying to ware you out/beat you , so sometimes they use a little more force than they're supposed to, but it kinda becomes hard to control when you're going all out trying to get points.

body armour eh? this i have to see

GuanYin

Two be honest, outside of school (where its taught) most koreans I know practice a moderate style integrating the two.

dubhthach

There's an image of 2 wtf fighters wearing body shield, other then that they tend to only wear a helmet, no feet or hand pads like in ITF-style.

I know Catherine Sheridan (cabin fever fame) she started off ITF-style but has now switched fully to WTF, brillant fighter. she use to run the college club here in NUIG

BoB_BoT

cool. thanks for the pic. for some reason i had the image of fighters wearing kevlar vests lol

i've being playing too many games hehe

dubhthach

yeah can say that again well given the speed and strength some of them kick kevlar could come in handy

Musashi

I've fought in ITF tournaments where only gumshield,groin guard and head shield were compulsory.Contact was allowed to the degree the fighters were able for.Older and highr grades allowed more than Pee Wee members.I have seen guys kicked unconcious, but if the kick was delivered by a member moving back wards and his opponnent ran into it,it's a clean score.
Also, depending on your instructor either style can be very effective as self defense.Some prefer more sports oriented styles,others want to learn the whole art and style. More patterns and in some cases breaking are done in ITF style clubs,but this is not to say that there are not WTF members very into pattern competition.