I visited an ITF School yesterday

[bushido_man96]

I don't agree that training in both styles can really cause that big of a problem. One of the schools of our association in Minnesota trains the ITF forms. However, they also train to do Olympic style sparring, and the head instructor's oldest son has qualified for the Junior Olympic team. He does know some of the WTF forms as well, and does just fine with them.

In fact, I don't think there is anything written anywhere that states that you can't hold ITF and WTF certification at the same time. As long as you test and do what they require, I think you can get WTF cerification through the Kukkiwon.

[DWx]

Can't remember where I saw it but I read once that an ITF student can try out for an Olympic team if they pay to get certified by the Kukkiwon and show that they are at least a 1st dan standard.

[bushido_man96]

Yeah, because my current instructor, who is not WTF, went to the National Qualifier several years back.

[YoungMan]

As a side note, the WTF is sponsoring an essay contest for black belts that encourages them to write an essay talking about Tae Kwon Do's future (I think-I don't have the article in front of me).

It does say explicitly ITF students are NOT eligible. Hmmmm.

[bushido_man96]

I think you are talking about an essay contest for non-Korean Masters in the ITF. I saw an add for it in TKD Times.

I am sure that not everything between ITF and WTF can be shared. There is just too much bad blood there, I think. However, the competition thing is based soley on being a WTF member, and qualifying at the tournaments.

A guy I competed against while I was in the ATA trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and won the Colorado State Qualifier in his weight bracket. That is one other example I can think of where a student was a member of another organization, and still competed.

[YoungMan]

I'd hate to think that the Kukkiwon would permit double active certification just to have members. My belief is: you cannot have active certification in two competing TKD organizations. You cannot be actively ATA and WTF, or ITF and WTF, just like you cannot be a member of two competing political parties. Kinda defeats the purpose. You must pick one.

[bushido_man96]

But they are not political parties, they are Martial Arts associations. Each has something to offer, and each can make you better. Why close off other branches of learning?

[DWx]

Holding certification in two similar styles of TKD would be like holding belts in two similar styles of karate. I don't see it as that much of a problem.

[YoungMan]

I could see it if you stopped practicing in one style or organization in order to start practicing in another. Many Korean instructors back in the late 60's-early 70's who held ITF certification switched over to the WTF/Kukkiwon.

But I question why there is a need to actively hold both? The saying "If you fail to stand for something you will fall for anything" holds true here. What side of the fence are you on? If you ae Kukkiwon, fine. ATA? Fine. ITF (whatever version), fine. But pick one and be loyal to it. The WTF and ITF are competitors, with a 40 year history of not always good relations. How can you possibly justify being a member of both?

[bushido_man96]

I think you can justify being a member of both by not including yourself in the political dilemas of the two organizations, and just concentrating on your own training.

Aside from that, the two organizations have been meeting, and are working on some things together. I don't know how far along they are, but they have made some strides.