Why all the stress between ITF & WTF Taekwondo?

Answer 1

because the WTF is the superior, original, technically advanced, skillfully proficient organization for both students and instructors. And the ITF is inferior garbage.
Only Instructors that were taught by instructors from WTF schools that studied in Korea or at the very least were certified in Soeul, South Korea have truly legitimate kicking skills.
I am a 1st dan BB from St. Louis MO. I learned from Grand Master Y.C. Rho owner of the World Martial Arts Academy. I won a gold medal in the MO state TKD tournament and when ever I or others from my school spar against ITF schools, they are not skilled enough in the art and sport of TKD to fight someone who has learned and grown up in the WTF system. During the forms part of the competition, our students are more technically proficient than ITF schools and win all the medals.

Answer 2

As a practicer who has both experience in ITF and WTF system, I am not going to compare these 2 system and I am trying to be as natural as I can.

The reason that these two federations are always stressing is due to the long history of both ITF and WTF, and many political influences from the Korean governments. There were many arguments on how Taekwondo is being developed. Many believes that Taekwondo was an art developed by General Choi Hong Hi, who had combine the ancient Korean martial arts and Shodokan karate to form the modern art which had later called Taekwondo. During his time living in his home country, Korea, General Choi had passed this modern art to many students including the army. In one occasion, he travelled to the North Korea and this event had made him disliked by the South Korean government. General Choi then moved to Toronto, Canada, and that's where ITF - International Taekwondo Federation was born, and General Choi was continuing teaching many people the art of TKD. Since then, the name of Taekwondo had became more popular, and more and more people start practicing it. Soon the South Korean government recognized the popularity of this martial art which developed by a Korean, they had to do something to let people know that is a Korean martial art, therefore they form WTF - World Taekwondo Federation. Because the government's involvement, WTF soon became more popular and well known by people than ITF.

At the initial forming of WTF, everything in the system was pretty much adapted from the original form which taught by General Choi, including the patterns and techniques. Later on, WTF wanted to distinguish themselves from ITF, therefore they came up their own patterns and rules. I still remember the time that we had to relearn all the patterns because the federation had made new patterns for all the WTF practicer.

I am not going to say which system is better, they both have their unique elements. I just want to bring out a brief history of the 2 federation and hope to explain to new practicer why there are more than one system, and the reason that they are not getting along. The story of both federations is actually much longer, and a lot of dirty politic had been involve in this separation the art.

Answer 3

Knowledge in martial arts actually means self-knowledge. A martial artist has to take responsibility for himself and accept the consequences of his own doing. The understanding of JKD is through personal feeling from movement to movement in the mirror of the relationship and not through a process of isolation. To be is to be related. To isolate is death. To me, ultimately, martial arts means honestly expressing yourself. Now, it is very difficult to do. It has always been very easy for me to put on a show and be cocky, and be flooded with a cocky feeling and feel pretty cool and all that. I can make all kinds of phoney things. Blinded by it. Or I can show some really fancy movement. But to experience oneself honestly, not lying to oneself, and to express myself honestly, now that is very hard to do.