Two of the most important Taekwon-Do organizations, World Taekwon-Do (WT) and the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) are taking more steps toward cooperation, including integration of their events. For most students, this news will not have any noticeable impact. We will still work to perfect our patterns, to improve our sparring, to push ourselves to have greater speed, strength, and understanding. We still study the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do and base our practice from what Gen. Choi detailed there.
However, the increasing cooperation of WT and ITF may pave the way towards opening more international competitions — including Olympic events — for more students of Taekwon-Do. One of my favorite aspects of training has been pushing myself in tournaments, and I hope that this agreement provides more chances for Taekwon-Do students to face off in ring, pushing each other to excel.
I also hope it can be an example of promoting the spirit of mutual concessions and greater cooperation between people with differing ideas — not only in organizing martial arts tournaments, but in the world.