International Taekwon-Do Federation

Patterns, or teul (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 starts 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.^[9]

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 Elements of the patterns may also be historical references, such as the number of moves, the diagram, the way the pattern ends, and so on.^[10]

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).^[11]

Summarize Fact Check

The International Taekwon-Do Federation's sparring rules are:

• Hand attacks to the head are allowed.^[12]
• The ITF scoring system is:
• One (1) point will be awarded for:
  • Hand attack directed to the head or body.
• Two (2) points will be awarded for:
  • Kick 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 organizations.

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 the person with the most points 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).^[13]

ITF competitions also feature performances of patterns, power 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 an 8x8 meter 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 center 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 corner referees score the fights in each of the corners in the square ring. After the fight, each corner referee 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. In the sudden death round, there is no time limit. Some matches are quick with a few seconds, and some go on for 10 minutes!

The official rules for ITF sparring competition are available at the ITF website.^[14]

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The ITF ranking system consists of six solid colour belts; white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.^[15]

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):

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.^[16] 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 8th dan, all ranks require the student to perform a test of all skills and knowledge up to their rank to be promoted. 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 dan (being the highest) can only be awarded when the special committee examines and reaches a unanimous consent.

According to the ITF Encyclopedia, 4th dan may grade students up to 1st dan. 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 & 9th dan must be done by the ITF's Master Promotion Committee.^[17]

After the South Korean Government abandoned the ITF, the government established the World Taekwondo Federation to continue the mission of taekwondo's globalization.^[18] 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.^[19] In the years that followed, many of the founding masters of the ITF and several other instructors left the organization to form their own independent organizations following disagreements with Choi.^[20]

Post-2002 organizational divisions

After the death of General Choi Hong Hi in June 2002, the International Taekwon-Do Federation experienced a succession dispute. Different groups of members recognized different successors to the presidency, leading to the formation of separate organizations that each claimed continuity with the ITF founded by Choi.^{[citation needed]}

One group recognized Chang Ung as president and remained associated with the Vienna-based ITF structure. This organization was later led by Ri Yong Son. It lists the ITF headquarters at Draugasse 3 in Vienna, Austria, and describes the headquarters as established in 1985 by Choi Hong Hi.^[21]

A second group rejected Chang Ung's succession and elected Trần Triệu Quân as president at a members' congress.

This organization was later led by Pablo Trajtenberg and, from 2019, by Paul Weiler. It subsequently operated independently, with its main administrative office associated with Lublin, Poland,^[22] and its legal address listed in Lausanne, Switzerland.^[23]

A third group supported Choi Jung Hwa, the son of Choi Hong Hi, who had previously been presented by some members as a successor. Choi Jung Hwa's organization was originally based in Toronto, Canada.^{[citation needed]} Its administration later listed a contact address in London, England.^[24]

The resulting organizations operate independently, with their own leadership structures, member associations, championships, and administrative arrangements. Each claims to preserve the teachings and legacy of Choi Hong Hi.

• Choi Hong Hi
• Ki Ha Rhee
• Choi Jung Hwa
• Trân Triêu Quân