What's the scope on the I.T.F?

[koreantiger81]

General Choi, the founder of the I.T.F, recently passed away. Who will govern the I.T.F? How will the organization be affected? Will W.T.F be affected??? What's the scope about General Choi's fight with his son??

 

Does anyone know?

[John G]

Go to http://www.itf-information.com/board/index.cfm?ac=lpo&topicid=5 you will find all the answers there...

[KickChick]

Those are alot of bb topics to read thru in order to extract just what is happening with the future of the ITF.

 

Here is RussellMacLellan (current Pres. of ITF) latest letter ...

 

http://www.itf-generalchoi.com/news/letter_president.htm

 

But what I will do is briefly quote one of the posters there who seemed to have a handle on the current political agenda of the ITF. I hope he doesn't mind me quoting him!

 

Quoting Chris Reid (ITF bb member):

 

"People want the ITF for themselves. The membership of the ITF had sweeping support for Master Choi as the next President; indeed General Choi had publicly stated that his son was the only man for the job. We all had a positive outlook for the future beyond the life of our founder. We were happy...right? Well how did the other people feel who wanted the ITF for themselves, how did they feel when they realized that at 48, Master Choi would likely serve a very long term which would mean their patience would never pay off. Furthermore, Master Choi had already told these people that things would change and they had better shape up, no more special favours, such as being able to obtain an 3rd Dan ITF Certificate for a 12 year old, no more cooking the books, no more wasting ITF money on parties for friends. Things were going to change for these guys and they better get ready to adjust to life as a member and nothing more. They did not like that. These people went on a seek and destroy mission, they would rather see the ITF in splinters if it meant they could control a small part of it. They turned General Choi against his son, they broke rules, manipulated the constitution, overturned a legal election and tried to silence people who tried to speak against their actions by among other things, trying to shut the ITF bb down, forbidding people from associating with others and discrediting those who would not follow them. They abused the trust of their own students by lying to them and convincing them to stand up and defend things they knew to be lies."

 

"They overturned the election out of respect for General Choi. They said General Choi does not want to retire. They said General Choi is the only one who can unify Taekwon-Do and high-level talks were taking place that he must be a part of. General Choi has died. General Choi made a final wish for Chang Ung to be his successor and to carry on his work. Chang Ung accepted and has pursued talks with Kim Un Young, and now this person who I am ashamed to say is a former Canadian politician is politely saying, "you can't do that General Choi". Well Russ, it was fine before what's the problem now. You called us disloyal for refusing to follow General Choi's wishes (or at least what you and your comrades claimed to be his wishes). Are you prepared to now admit you are just as disloyal? We chose to fight for the rights of our members and ensure the Constitution would be upheld and Master Choi would indeed be the next President. Now you seek to try and do the same thing but, Master Choi is conveniently out of the way for you now. Good plan, too bad more time didn't pass so people could forget about what you and your buddies have been saying."

 

"The only legally elected successor is Master Choi Jung Hwa. I will not blame Russell MacLellan, I will not blame Tom MacCallum, Phap Lu or any of the rest of them. They are only human and they crave power and prestige. I blame the members who allow this to happen. I blame the members who support these men and stand up and defend them and their actions. Do you people have no sense of justice? The only legally elected successor is Master Choi Jung Hwa. Everyone in the ITF has two choices. Follow General Choi's wishes no matter what they are, or follow the Constitution and observe Master Choi as the President of the ITF. Get rid of all the power mongers who seek the ITF for themselves. If they get away with it, it's your (ITF members) fault and it will be you, not them that lead to the downfall of the ITF."

 

"It's time to take charge and do the right thing. If you don't like things the way they are, then join the process and change things from within. That's democracy."

[John G]

That is one side of the story; there are many players all with their own agendas.

 

My advice to anyone who studies ITF Taekwon-do is to enjoy your/our martial art and not get to mixed up in the politics.