Question 046: ITF/WTF

 

All these changes have split Taekwondo into two major factions; sport Taekwondo (controlled by WTF affiliated organizations) and traditional Taekwondo (controlled by ITF affiliated organizations). Each faction has its good and bad points. Similar to college affiliation where people tend to support and have close ties to the college they first attended, which type of Taekwondo you support depends mainly on which one you were first affiliated.

There are probably hundreds of Taekwondo organizations in the world, most small in size. Students happily train with these organizations for their entire lives. Some instructors do not belong to any organization and yet they teach good Taekwondo, produce quality black belts, and their students are very satisfied.
Organizations are not necessary for good Taekwondo. Organizations may say they exist to benefit the art and the students, but at some point, they all exist only to benefit themselves. When this happens, disgruntled black belts split off from the organizations and form their own organizations. Then, at some point, these organizations become power hungry, causing black belts to split off and form their own organizations. Etc. Etc.

As a student of Taekwondo, you should find a school in an organization that you like and fits your goals, or even a school you like that does not belong to an organization, and devote your time and effort toward training in Taekwondo with the school and supporting the school, and not worry about the power struggles between organizations. Let the power hunger, egotists worry about their organizations; just be happy and enjoy Taekwondo.