On a personal note

[AdamTKD]

Can I just blatantly self congratulate myself and state that I got my WTF TKD Green Belt on sunday.

With this in mind I hope everyone has a very merry christmas and a happy new year, I know I shall.

Adam.

[BadgerFu57]

how is WTF? I have done some ITF and didn't like it. A guy in my BJJ class is a BB in WTF and he says it's very effective and a lot more realistic than ITF. I thought about trying some classes because I am looking for a second art to supplement BJJ.

[eXcessiveForce]

WTF is no more effective than ITF. generally it is a bit less effective because of the now overwhelming sport application due to the olympics using that system for competition.

WTF was what caused the only time I ever quit martial arts.

[BadgerFu57]

so what are the differences?

from what i can gather....

WTF = Full-contact sparring
ITF = Limited contact sparring

WTF = Lack of good katas (poomse)
ITF = Better developed kata

[Damian Mavis]

WTF is not more effective than ITF heh. It totally has to do with the school you train at regardless of federation ALTHOUGH, due to WTF's size it has far far more sport oriented schools that do nothing but learn a glorified game of tag with the feet. However one of the most dangerous TKD men I know comes from WTF and he is proof to me that it really depends on the school. ITF is more traditional (usually) and focuses more on street defence (again usually) but there are plenty of Mc Dojangs in ITF too.

Main differences:

ITF spars with kicks and punches to the torso AND head (much like western kickboxing) It is freestyle meaning there is a time limit and you try to win within the allotted time with no stopping unless someone goes down or out of the ring. ITF wears hand and feet protection.

WTF spars pretty much the same however no punching to the head so they look a little funny from ITF's perspective when they hug when they jam close instead of punching eachothers lights out. WTF wears chest protectors and helmets and sometimes shin and instep guards.

Saying WTF is full contact and ITF is not is silly, I see very few solid hits at WTF tourny's, much like ITF (people are getting hit... it just doesnt seem to hard)... at both types people do get knocked out, broken noses and broken ribs, it's just rare depending on what level of competition you go to. I'm talking at black belt level, not sure what goes on at colour belt level anymore.

WTF thinks ITF is crap and vice versa. I train both and know it's all propaganda. It truly depends on the school you train at.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[BadgerFu57]

What should I look for in a good TKD school?

At my BJJ school the instructor is laid back, we do 30 minutes of technique, 30 minutes of rolling, and then there is about 30 minutes left to make up for warm-ups, cool-downs, questions, etc etc. I like that. I have also trained at a place that was "hard-core", very formal, very strict, and I think personally I learn better in a laid-back environment.

I know at a TKD place one of my friends goes to, the instructor gets physical with the students, pushing them and such..... While I don't mind being formal and strict if I am learning, isn't that a little too far?

Basically, can anyone give me a heads-up on good and bad instructors or things to look for?

[William Eriepa]

know at a TKD place one of my friends goes to, the instructor gets physical with the students, pushing them and such..... While I don't mind being formal and strict if I am learning, isn't that a little too far?

You wanna cry? . The guys proberly seeing if his students has the nads to push/hit back. It's a physical art, so get physical, physical.

[bvermillion]

Ata

I would reccommend finding a good instructor in the American Taekwondo Association. I have heard there are alot of not so good instructors in the ATA, but if you find a good one he will usually supplement alot of other stuff into the curriculm:we do alot of ground work, weapons training, clinch work, and practical self defense at our school. I do know that all ATA schools do weapons as far as the practical self defense and grappling and clinch fighting I dont know. EXCESSIVE FORCE has been involved with the ATA alot longer then I have you might want to ask him. I hope I have helped you.

[gregimotis]

By the way, congratulations

[Szczepankiewicz]

ITF vs. WTF


That's like saying the Green Power Ranger is more deadly than the White Power Ranger...

[bvermillion]

ITF vs. WTF


That's like saying the Green Power Ranger is more deadly than the White Power Ranger...

you have it all wrong of course the blue power ranger is the best.

[Damian Mavis]

Spanky get back in your cage!

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[AdamTKD]

Can I just blatantly self congratulate myself and state that I got my WTF TKD Green Belt on sunday.

With this in mind I hope everyone has a very merry christmas and a happy new year, I know I shall.

Adam.

Doesn't anyone wish each other Merry Christmas round here?
I post this and it turns into a WTF vs ITF Debate.......JEEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!