ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) vs. WTF (World Taekwondo Federation): What's the Difference?
Generally speaking, ITF is considered as more self defense oriented, while WTF is more focused on the competitive aspect of the sport. In ITF there is a stronger focus on the different forms and the correct application of the theory of power through breaking techniques. It is believed that the exercising of breaking techniques helps the individual focus on generating and applying the correct amount of power on the right spot.
WTF is more oriented towards resistance training as WTF practitioners have to be able to engage and resist in competitive battles. Speed of execution, endurance and power are sometimes subordinate to precision (at least as compared to breaking techniques). In some aspects one could say that WTF and ITF Taekwon-Do differ in the same way as Kyokushin and Shotokan karate, respectively (even if there are many more different Karate systems than there are different Taekwon-Do systems).
In WTF Taekwon-Do there is a greater emphasis on kicking as compared to the punching/kicking ratio in ITF. It is sometimes said that ITF is much more strict on its curriculum and that ITF schools are more homogenous in terms of both quality and curriculum than WTF Taekwon-Do schools.
The two Taekwon-Do systems are named solely after their respective organizations, the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) and the World Taekwon-Do Federation (WTF). While ITF is both the parent organization and the body that sets technical standards and practices (as well as rank criteria), on the WTF side dan rank (black belt degree) promotion and certification is regulated by the Kukkiwon. The WTF only governs the competition aspects of Taekwon-Do as the international representative body with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Contrary to the ITF it represents member nations, not schools (kwans). It does not issue dan ranks or black belt certifications. So, on the ITF side one body governs all aspects of the sport, while on the WTF side there are two separate bodies. Some therefore say it would be more correct to refer to ITF Taekwon-Do and Kukkiwon Taekwon-Do (instead of WTF Taekwon-Do), as there are no WTF-students or WTF-schools, only WTF member-states. However, the terms ITF Taekwon-Do and WTF Taekwon-Do have become so common that they are generally accepted by most Taekwon-Do practitioners.
Taekwon-Do competition typically involves sparring, breaking, patterns, and self-defense (ho sin sul). However, in Olympic Taekwon-Do competition, only sparring is contested; and in Olympic sparring WTF competition rules are used.
Under WTF (World Taekwon-Do Federation) and Olympic rules, sparring is a full-contact event and takes place between two competitors in an area measuring 10 meters square. Each match consists of three semi-continuous rounds of contact with rest between rounds. 14-17 and 18 and over black belt fighters fight in 2-minute rounds with a one minute break. Points are awarded for permitted, accurate, and powerful techniques to the legal scoring areas; light contact to a scoring area does not score any points.
The ITF sparring rules are similar, but full force strikes are not allowed and will result in deduction of points. Knock out is not allowed either. Hand attacks to the head are allowed; kicks to the body gives two point and kicks to the head give three; the competition area is slightly smaller (9 meters square instead of 10 meters); and competitors do not wear the hogu used in Olympic-style sparring (although they are required to wear approved foot and hand protection equipment). A continuous point system is utilized in ITF competition, where the fighters are allowed to continue after scoring a technique. At the end of 2 minutes (or specified time) the competitor with the most scoring techniques wins.
(from http://www.fullcontactmartialarts.org/taekwondo.html)
WTF is more oriented towards resistance training as WTF practitioners have to be able to engage and resist in competitive battles. Speed of execution, endurance and power are sometimes subordinate to precision (at least as compared to breaking techniques). In some aspects one could say that WTF and ITF Taekwon-Do differ in the same way as Kyokushin and Shotokan karate, respectively (even if there are many more different Karate systems than there are different Taekwon-Do systems).
In WTF Taekwon-Do there is a greater emphasis on kicking as compared to the punching/kicking ratio in ITF. It is sometimes said that ITF is much more strict on its curriculum and that ITF schools are more homogenous in terms of both quality and curriculum than WTF Taekwon-Do schools.
The two Taekwon-Do systems are named solely after their respective organizations, the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) and the World Taekwon-Do Federation (WTF). While ITF is both the parent organization and the body that sets technical standards and practices (as well as rank criteria), on the WTF side dan rank (black belt degree) promotion and certification is regulated by the Kukkiwon. The WTF only governs the competition aspects of Taekwon-Do as the international representative body with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Contrary to the ITF it represents member nations, not schools (kwans). It does not issue dan ranks or black belt certifications. So, on the ITF side one body governs all aspects of the sport, while on the WTF side there are two separate bodies. Some therefore say it would be more correct to refer to ITF Taekwon-Do and Kukkiwon Taekwon-Do (instead of WTF Taekwon-Do), as there are no WTF-students or WTF-schools, only WTF member-states. However, the terms ITF Taekwon-Do and WTF Taekwon-Do have become so common that they are generally accepted by most Taekwon-Do practitioners.
Taekwon-Do competition typically involves sparring, breaking, patterns, and self-defense (ho sin sul). However, in Olympic Taekwon-Do competition, only sparring is contested; and in Olympic sparring WTF competition rules are used.
Under WTF (World Taekwon-Do Federation) and Olympic rules, sparring is a full-contact event and takes place between two competitors in an area measuring 10 meters square. Each match consists of three semi-continuous rounds of contact with rest between rounds. 14-17 and 18 and over black belt fighters fight in 2-minute rounds with a one minute break. Points are awarded for permitted, accurate, and powerful techniques to the legal scoring areas; light contact to a scoring area does not score any points.
The ITF sparring rules are similar, but full force strikes are not allowed and will result in deduction of points. Knock out is not allowed either. Hand attacks to the head are allowed; kicks to the body gives two point and kicks to the head give three; the competition area is slightly smaller (9 meters square instead of 10 meters); and competitors do not wear the hogu used in Olympic-style sparring (although they are required to wear approved foot and hand protection equipment). A continuous point system is utilized in ITF competition, where the fighters are allowed to continue after scoring a technique. At the end of 2 minutes (or specified time) the competitor with the most scoring techniques wins.
(from http://www.fullcontactmartialarts.org/taekwondo.html)