Markku P
Blue Belt
(My latest Taekwondo blog )
This is one question I get every month from all over the world. Now, you must understand that my main style is WTF-Taekwondo but I have been training ITF style too. I also have many friends in the ITF side. Now, I speak from a European perspective and you have to understand that we dont have many other styles to if I compare how it is in the USA.
So what should you choose?
So, first you should look at the experience and level of education of the schools instructors, and remember, even if the teacher has a black belt, thats not a sign that he is a good teacher. Then, you should know what the motivation is for you and your child in your training. If its a competition, then I recommend WTF-Taekwondo. The reason is very simple. WTF-style competitions are far more advanced and superior because of its Olympic status. This means that there will be more opportunities for competitions and many countries also invest more money in their competition organisations.
With the ITF-Taekwondo, it is a little easier to become successful (because they have less fighters and money) but you cant go to the Olympics. Even if you are with the WTF, it will be very hard to achieve that level. Also, many countries dont invest any money in to ITF-Taekwondo so it is important to check how things are in your country.
In Sweden the situation is very simple. If you like to compete at the highest level and perhaps, in the future, in the Olympic Games, then your only choice is WTF.
But what about if you are not interested in competitions? Then the question is a little harder. In the past, I have felt that ITF-Taekwondo has helped better with the so called traditional Taekwondo but my view has changed in the last few years because many WTF-Taekwondo instructors have been focusing more on the traditional style of training too. Perhaps I would go with ITF for this. So, my advice? Go and check the training and talk with the students and the instructors. Then make up your mind.
The problem I see with ITF Taekwondo is that they have so many federations and everyone claims that they are teaching original Taekwondo. The future of ITF taekwondo as I see it is a little dark. I believe that there will be more independent groups and more fights to come (mostly about money and power).
The WTF-Taekwondo problem is that perhaps some schools are focusing only on the competitions and that might bring some problems in the future. But the future belongs with the WTF-Taekwondo. The ITF Taekwondo started its decline when its founder, general Choi, died.
OK, I will continue with this subject in the future. Of course, just remember that it is because of my background that I am more for the WTF-taekwondo.
Yours,
Master Markku Parviainen
This is one question I get every month from all over the world. Now, you must understand that my main style is WTF-Taekwondo but I have been training ITF style too. I also have many friends in the ITF side. Now, I speak from a European perspective and you have to understand that we dont have many other styles to if I compare how it is in the USA.
So what should you choose?
So, first you should look at the experience and level of education of the schools instructors, and remember, even if the teacher has a black belt, thats not a sign that he is a good teacher. Then, you should know what the motivation is for you and your child in your training. If its a competition, then I recommend WTF-Taekwondo. The reason is very simple. WTF-style competitions are far more advanced and superior because of its Olympic status. This means that there will be more opportunities for competitions and many countries also invest more money in their competition organisations.
With the ITF-Taekwondo, it is a little easier to become successful (because they have less fighters and money) but you cant go to the Olympics. Even if you are with the WTF, it will be very hard to achieve that level. Also, many countries dont invest any money in to ITF-Taekwondo so it is important to check how things are in your country.
In Sweden the situation is very simple. If you like to compete at the highest level and perhaps, in the future, in the Olympic Games, then your only choice is WTF.
But what about if you are not interested in competitions? Then the question is a little harder. In the past, I have felt that ITF-Taekwondo has helped better with the so called traditional Taekwondo but my view has changed in the last few years because many WTF-Taekwondo instructors have been focusing more on the traditional style of training too. Perhaps I would go with ITF for this. So, my advice? Go and check the training and talk with the students and the instructors. Then make up your mind.
The problem I see with ITF Taekwondo is that they have so many federations and everyone claims that they are teaching original Taekwondo. The future of ITF taekwondo as I see it is a little dark. I believe that there will be more independent groups and more fights to come (mostly about money and power).
The WTF-Taekwondo problem is that perhaps some schools are focusing only on the competitions and that might bring some problems in the future. But the future belongs with the WTF-Taekwondo. The ITF Taekwondo started its decline when its founder, general Choi, died.
OK, I will continue with this subject in the future. Of course, just remember that it is because of my background that I am more for the WTF-taekwondo.
Yours,
Master Markku Parviainen