WTF and ITF to merge eventually?

buck65 · 12-12-2006 09:05AM #1

Saw this in google groups earlier written by Grandmaster Rhee, quite interesting what do ye all think?
http://groups.google.ie/group/alt.martial-arts.tae-kwon-do?link=li&hl=en

Unpossible · 13-12-2006 10:26AM

Are you sure a grandmaster wrote this? I don't know much about TKD, but from the article it seems that Rhee is trying to make out that prior to the north Korean demonstration ITF TKD was a complete unknown to all the WTF TKD people. Or is he suggesting that the North Koreans are training differently to the non-Korean based ITF schools?
I would like to see these fights, obviously the ITF people were prepared for a full contact fight, otherwise wouldn't it be hard for a semi-contact point fighter to go up against a full contact fighter? Maybe thats all that needs to be fixed: ITF to go full contact.

ColinJennings · 13-12-2006 11:10AM

GM Rhee's email address is not wyrhee..... And besides GM Rhee would hardly use phrases like "WTF honchos" and "Well, duh-uh!"

For GM Rhee's somewhat similar views see: http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/sports/200505/kt2005051817011411640.htm

Unpossible · 13-12-2006 11:19AM

Now thats a much better article colin, thanks.

pma-ire · 13-12-2006 03:45PM

if they are gonna merge it will only be the NK controlled ITF and the WTF! as the current NK ITF president is on the OC of North Korea and has links to the South Korean OC. He is making big moves in that direction. Although this about the only good thing he seems to be credited with??

the other versions of the ITF will stay out of it. so we will still have all the bickering no matter what happens

Quillo · 13-12-2006 05:02PM

If you go to the ITF website news section, they state that the Presidents of the IFT and the WTF have signed an agreement forming a "Co-ordination Committee for the Integration of Taekwon Do"

http://www.internationaltaekwon-dofederation.com/index.php?id=44

gymrabbit · 13-12-2006 07:09PM

that's good to hear.

Black Swan · 14-12-2006 04:34AM

Heard rumours that there was political infighting in ITF? Doubt that WTF/Kukkiwon would be interested in a merger before that was solved. There would also have to be some rule changes. For example, the sparring mat for ITF is 9 x 9 meters (which may have affected their fighting style?), while the mat size for WTF is 12 x 12 meters.

buck65 · 14-12-2006 08:45AM

lads I do actually think that is Rhee speaking, maybe not the same Rhee as in the article as I am sure there are a few Rhee's out there. In Stuart Anslows Rayners Lane website Mr. W Rhee writes a few articles and he lives in New York so hence maybe the slang Americanisms.
Anyway is it not poosible to have a few email addresses?

Unpossible · 14-12-2006 11:24AM

Quillo the english in that link is quite bad, who edits the english pages? Its also a bit un-nerving to read "our beloved Founder", it sounds too close to "our dear leader".

pma-ire wrote:

the other versions of the ITF will stay out of it. so we will still have all the bickering no matter what happens

Even if all the various groups dont join its at least a big step forward.
I cant remember, which group is your school with? Will this effect it?

Actually I'd like to ask all the TKD people here that question, would your school join this new union?

dr.bollocko · 14-12-2006 11:30AM

WTF.... Merging with ITF?
What In The Fück?

Sorry.
Had to do it.

yomchi · 14-12-2006 12:33PM

Actually I'd like to ask all the TKD people here that question, would your school join this new union?

To be honest no.

Of the 3 current ITF's there is only one heading in this direction. That is the one headed by the North Korean Govt official Chang Ung. I think if the ITF merged with the WTF then the ITF would be gone for ever, the WTF is a much much larger organisation with olympic recognition. The ITF's are small fractous groups rife with politics and bickering. Why the WTF would want to take on this burden is beyond me.

ColinJennings · 14-12-2006 01:10PM

I personally don't see the point. One is a sport, the other a martial art. While to some the difference is the nothing, I think that there is more to a Martial Art than just an effective fighting system or a sporting activity. Perhaps some union under which the ITF and WTF will be under is the way forward.

The only benefit is a political one and sadly TKD is an incredibly politicisied martial art. While there are now three ITFs, there is only one WTF, so maybe the fact that the WTF is in talks with the Chang Un ITF lends some credibility to thier claim as the 'official' ITF.

Personally I think it is all pants. ITF is ITF regardless of whether it is ITF-C, ITF-NK or ITF-V. The sooner this fallout is settled the better, but there is far too much at stake and I don't think that anyone other than GM Rhee, GM Serrif and GM Hwang and the likelyhood of them three comming together is slim if any.

gymrabbit · 14-12-2006 01:11PM

ColinJennings wrote:

I personally don't see the point. One is a sport, the other a martial art. While to some the difference is the nothing, I think that there is more to a Martial Art than just an effective fighting system or a sporting activity. Perhaps some union under which the ITF and WTF will be under is the way forward.

bull****

yomchi · 14-12-2006 01:33PM

ColinJennings wrote:

I personally don't see the point. One is a sport, the other a martial art. While to some the difference is the nothing, I think that there is more to a Martial Art than just an effective fighting system or a sporting activity. Perhaps some union under which the ITF and WTF will be under is the way forward.

The only benefit is a political one and sadly TKD is an incredibly politicisied martial art. While there are now three ITFs, there is only one WTF, so maybe the fact that the WTF is in talks with the Chang Un ITF lends some credibility to thier claim as the 'official' ITF.

Personally I think it is all pants. ITF is ITF regardless of whether it is ITF-C, ITF-NK or ITF-V. The sooner this fallout is settled the better, but there is far too much at stake and I don't think that anyone other than GM Rhee, GM Serrif and GM Hwang and the likelyhood of them three comming together is slim if any.

Hi Colin,
Will you be at the OldBawn open in Jan?

ColinJennings · 14-12-2006 06:15PM

I think so. I generally go to all the torunaments.

Tim_Murphy · 15-12-2006 02:31PM

One is a sport, the other a martial art.

Nicely simplistic ITF logic there mate.

gymrabbit · 15-12-2006 02:37PM

sorry twas colin not jon that made that comment i refer to in another thread.

WTF and ITF to merge eventually?

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