ITF & WTF talks

[DWx]

Looking at Chang Ung's ITF site, apparently the ITF and WTF have moved forward in their talks and are looking at somehow combining tuls and matsogi. Seems quite interesting as they are now looking at each other's rule sets for tournament sparring and ways of performing techniques.

Would definately mean some big changes on both sides if a merger was to happen. Wonder what would happen to the other two ITFs if a full merger came about..

Any thoughts?

[bushido_man96]

I would love to see what kind of compromise comes out of this deal. I wonder if a new form set would come about, or take this form and that form and create the curriculum. Vere curious, indeed.

[ps1]

My hope is that a merger of that sort would help change some of the rule sets around TKD sparring. Especially the rules used at the Olympic games.

[DWx]

This would be very interesting to see...

For sparring would love to see more hands in Olympic sparring. Also ITF rules allow points for a proper block. If it causes your opponents technique to come off balance then I think you score 1 or 2 points. Would be interesting if they kept this or not.

Also do you think the Kukkiwon would now be responsible for administrating ITF blackbelts and ITF curriculum from now on?

Another thing is the whole history issue. I'm part of Chang Ung's ITF now and they definately play up the part of Gen. Choi in TKD history whilst WTF seem not to mention him at all. ITF go as far to having his picture displayed in classes etc. and nearly all the literature you get like certificates, official ITF documents, books etc. will have something about the General on it. Do you think WTF are going to accept this? From what I've read and the general feeling I get from stuff on the web, WTF really don't like Gen. Choi a lot.

[bushido_man96]

I think that there will be a lot of political roadblocks ahead in this journey. In the books that I read about WTF TKD, I never hear anything about Gen. Choi. The two organizations rarely mention each other.

The blocking concept is kind of cool. Defensive points would add a very interesting angle to fighting in TKD. Heck, WTF sparrers, especially in tournaments of national level, rarely block at all. They never have their hands up.

[DWx]

Definatley loads of politics.

I think ITF mainly wants to try to get some form aspect into the Olmypics (as well as merge the two orgs).. what do you think WTF wants from it?

[bushido_man96]

The problem is, I can't see the WTF gaining a whole lot out of this deal. I think that the ITF stands to gain the most. It would open up more competition for their practitioners, especially at the International level, I think. If they could get forms into the Olympics, then I think that would be kind of cool. I don't know how many spectators would be into watching a forms competition, though.

[IcemanSK]

The problem is, I can't see the WTF gaining a whole lot out of this deal. I think that the ITF stands to gain the most. It would open up more competition for their practitioners, especially at the International level, I think. If they could get forms into the Olympics, then I think that would be kind of cool. I don't know how many spectators would be into watching a forms competition, though.

If they made forms compulsory like they did with figure skating, it would be great for the Olympics & TKD. IMO. Then TKD fighters would actually have to work on forms. They might actually become well-rounded MA-ists indeed of participants in a "sport."

[bushido_man96]

So, would the competitor have to qualify for both forms and sparring? Or do they just qualify for sparring, and then have to compete in forms? Or do you end up with two seperate divisions of competitors, where there may be some overlay?

[DWx]

In ITF I would actually say forms tend to be the more popular. Even at nationals there are far more people entering the forms division than sparring, breaking or sp. technique.

I don't know how many spectators would be into watching a forms competition, though.

I would. I like watching them when they're done well.