The ITF's main functions include coordinating and approving tournaments and seminars, setting standards for teaching (patterns, sparring, destruction), collaborating with affiliated member organizations, and providing services members in regard to rank and certifications.
After Choi's death in 2002, there was controversy around the election of his successor that led to multiple organizations claiming the ITF mantle.
Patterns, or tul (틀) in Korean, originally called hyeong (형), form an important aspect of training in taekwon-do. They are equivalent to the kata in karate. The majority of the patterns (except Yul-Gok, Ul-Ji and Tong-Il) start with a defensive move, which emphasizes taekwon-do's defensive nature. All of the patterns start and end at the same location. This ensures that the practitioners' stances are the correct length, width, and in the proper direction. Additionally, students are taught to understand the purpose of each movement and recognize how each motion connects to theories of power.[5]
There are 24 patterns in the official ITF syllabus; this is symbolic of the 24 hours in a day. One additional pattern, Ko-Dang (or Go-Dang), was retired/replaced by Juche in 1986 by General Choi Hong Hi. The names of these patterns typically refer either to events in Korean history or to important people in Korean history. Elements of the patterns may also be historical references, such as the number of moves, the diagram, the way the pattern ends, and so on.
Patterns (tul) are performed in accordance with "The Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do" in 15 volumes written by General Choi Hong Hi, the latest edition being from 1999 (later editions have been published, but the 1999 editions were the last General Choi Hong Hi was directly involved with). This comprehensive work contains 15 volumes with volumes 8 to 15 dedicated to the 24 patterns and containing descriptions of the pattern movements as well as pictures showing possible applications of some of the movements. There is also the book entitled "The Korean Art of Self Defense" (the 1999 edition, the latest used by ITF under Chang Ung), also known as the Condensed Encyclopedia, written by General Choi Hong Hi. This is a single condensed encyclopedia of approximately 770 pages with a section dedicated to the 24 original patterns.
There are also three fundamental exercises, named Saju Jirugi (Four Direction Punch), Saju Makgi (Four Direction Block) and Saju Tulgi (Four Direction Thrust). Saju Jirugi and Saju Makgi are basic defence exercises taught to beginners of the martial art. Saju Tulgi is less well known and is generally taught to 2nd Kup students just prior to Hwa-Rang. Saju Tulgi is not presented in the Condensed Encyclopedia but is present in the 15 Volume Encyclopedia (see: Volume 10, page 122).[6]
The 24 patterns in taekwon-do ITF are:
Number
Hangeul
Romanized
Movements
Rank
1
천지
Chon-Ji
19
9th gup
2
단군
Dan-Gun
21
8th gup
3
도산
Do-San
24
7th gup
4
원효
Won-Hyo
28
6th gup
5
율곡
Yul-Gok
38
5th gup
6
중근
Joong-Gun
32
4th gup
7
퇴계
Toi-Gye
37
3rd gup
8
화랑
Hwa-Rang
29
2nd gup
9
충무
Choong-Moo
30
1st gup
10
광개
Kwang-Gae
39
1st dan
11
포은
Po-Eun
36
1st dan
12
계백
Gae-Baek
44
1st dan
13
의암
Eui-Am
45
2nd dan
14
충장
Choong-Jang
52
2nd dan
15
주체
Juche
45
2nd dan
16
삼일
Sam-Il
33
3rd dan
17
유신
Yoo-Sin
68
3rd dan
18
최영
Choi-Yong
46
3rd dan
19
연개
Yeon-Gae
49
4th dan
20
을지
Ul-Ji
42
4th dan
21
문무
Moon-Moo
61
4th dan
22
서산
Seo-San
72
5th dan
23
세종
Se-Jong
24
5th dan
24
통일
Tong-Il
56
6th dan
The retired pattern in taekwon-do ITF is
Kodang (고당) (39 movements)
Woo-Nam (우남) (42 movements)
Sparring
Common styles of ITF point sparring equipment
The International Taekwon-Do Federation's sparring rules are:
The scoring system (by ITF chaired by Prof. Ri Yong Son, based in Vienna)[8] is:
One (1) point will be awarded for:
Hand attack directed to the head or body.
Two (2) points will be awarded for:
Foot attack directed to the body.
Three (3) points will be awarded for:
Kick to the head.
The competition area is typically a 10×10 meter square in international championships.
Competitors do not wear the hogu (although they are required to wear approved foot and hand protection equipment, as well as head guards). This scoring system varies between the different ITF organisations.
A continuous point system is utilized in ITF competition, where the fighters are allowed to continue after scoring a technique. Full-force blows are not allowed, and knockouts result in a disqualification of the attacker; although these rules vary between ITF organizations. At the end of two minutes (or some other specified time) the competitor with more scoring techniques wins.
Fouls in ITF sparring include heavy contact, attacking a fallen opponent, leg sweeping, holding/grabbing, intentional attack to a target other than allowed (for example below the belt, attacks to the back).[9]
ITF competitions also feature performances of patterns, breaking, and 'special techniques' (where competitors perform prescribed board breaks at great heights).
ITF competition sparring rounds are 2 minutes, and, in national and international levels of competition, they hold two rounds each 2 minutes with a one-minute rest in between. Certain rules are no strikes below the belt, no elbow strikes, brawling, no falling down, no going outside of the ring, hit to the groin and knee strike are not allowed. The ring is a 9 metre by 9 metre (8 × 8 metre optional) ring marked by square mats or tape instead of a traditional style kickboxing rings with ropes. It has no sides allowing the fighter to move out of bounds. Whenever a fighter creates an infraction of the rules the centre referee will issue a warning to the fighter who created the infraction. 3 warnings equals a minus point. If a fighter uses excessive contact, he or she will be given a foul, which is an automatic minus point; three fouls in a bout results in disqualification. ITF taekwon-do is fought in continuous point sparring. Four judges score the fights in each of the corners in the square ring. After the fight, a judge votes for which ever fighter has the most points and a winner is declared. In the case of a draw the fighters go to a one-minute overtime round. If there is another draw the fighters go to a sudden death round where the fighter who scores first is declared the winner.
The official rules for ITF sparring competition are available at the ITF website.[10]
Ranks
The ITF ranking system consists of six solid colour belts; white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.[11]
Coloured belt ranks are called in English grades and in Korean geup (급) (often romanized as gup or kup), whereas black belt ranks are called ranks/dan (단):
Grade Level
Description
10th geup
White – Signifies innocence, as that of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge of taekwon-do – 3 months min requirement.
9th geup
White with yellow tip. 3 months min. requirement
8th geup
Yellow – Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the foundation of taekwon-do is being laid – 4 months minimum requirement.
7th geup
Yellow with green tip. 4 months minimum requirement
6th geup
Green – Signifies the plant's growth as taekwon-do skills begin to develop – 4 months minimum requirement.
5th geup
Green with blue tip. 4 months minimum requirement
4th geup
Blue – Signifies the Heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in taekwon-do progresses – 4 months minimum requirement.
3rd geup
Blue with red tip – 5 months minimum requirement
2nd geup
Red – Signifies danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away – 6 months minimum requirement.
1st geup
Red with black tip. 1 year requirement
1st dan
Black – Opposite of white, therefore signifying maturity and proficiency in taekwon-do; also indicates the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear. (must remain at this rank at least one and a half (1½) years). The practitioner is given the title of "Bosabum-nim"
2nd dan
Assistant Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 2 years)
3rd dan
Assistant Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 3 years)
4th dan
International Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 4 years). Minimum age is 21. The practitioner becomes a "Sabum-Nim"
5th dan
Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 5 years)
6th dan
Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 6 years)
7th dan
Master Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 7 years). The practitioner becomes a "Sakhyo-nim". Minimum age is 40
8th dan
Master Instructor (must remain at this rank at least 8 years)
9th dan
Grand Master - "Sasung-nim". Minimum age is 60
The reason for nine black belt degrees is that the number nine is not only the highest of the single-digit numbers, but also is the number of three multiplied by three. In the Orient, three is one of the more esteemed numbers. The Chinese character for 3 is three horizontal lines, one above the other: 三. The bottom line represents earth; the middle line represents mortals; the upper line represents heaven.[12] It was believed that a man who could unite the three realms in himself, would aspire or be reborn into a king; this is shown by the vertical line connecting the realms in the character for king: 王.
Black belt promotion
Up to 7th dan, all ranks require the student to perform a test of all skills and knowledge up to their rank to be promoted. 8th and 9th dan may be awarded with consent of the promotion committee with no physical test required, due to the nature and responsibilities of a master no longer being centered on the physical development. However, if the recipient desires, a demonstration may be performed. 9th degree (being the highest) can only be awarded when the special committee examines and reaches a unanimous consent.
According to an ITF Encyclopedia 4th degree may grade students up to 2nd degree.
A 6th degree International Instructor may grade students up to 3rd degree, while a 7th degree Master may grade students up to 4th degree. An 8th degree Master may grade students up to 6th degree. A 9th degree Grand Master may grade students up to 7th degree. Promotion to 8th degree or above must be done by the ITF's Master Promotion Committee.[13]
History and schism
After the South Korean Government abandoned the ITF, the government established the World Taekwondo Federation to continue the mission of taekwondo's globalization.[14] Once Choi Hong Hi was exiled out of South Korea, he established the new headquarters of the ITF in Vienna, Austria and the organization settled there.[15] In the years that followed, many of the founding masters of the ITF and several other instructors would leave the organization to form their own independent organizations following disagreements with Choi.[16]
Choi subsequently died in June 2002. Disputes over his successor as ITF president lead to splits in the organization. As of 2021 there are two main organizations claiming the ITF mantle. One headed by Ri Yong Son, with offices in Vienna,[17] and another group currently headed by Paul Weiler, headquartered in Lublin, Poland.[18]