Organizations:

Want the full details? Check the links at the bottom for complete explanations.”

World Taekwondo (WT)

• Founded on May 28, 1973, originally as the World Taekwondo Federation, at Kukkiwon with 35 founding members. As of now, it includes 213 national associations worldwide,recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1980, and Taekwondo officially became an Olympic sport at the 2000 Sydney Games.Wikipedia
  Renamed in 2017 to avoid ambiguous acronyms (“WTF”), now “World Taekwondo".

   In the years following the Korean War, there were efforts to unify these different schools        and create a single, unified Korean martial art. This led to the formation of the Korea             Taekwondo Association (KTA) in 1959, and in 1973, the World Taekwondo Federation   (now World Taekwondo) was established in Seoul to promote the sport internationally.          This new organization was created after a political split with the International Taekwon-Do   Federation (ITF). In 2017, the organization officially changed its name to World                        Taekwondo (WT) to avoid the negative connotations of its old acronym. 

     World Taekwondo's most significant role is its governance of taekwondo in the Olympic         Games. The organization worked tirelessly to get taekwondo recognized as an Olympic           sport, a journey that began with its recognition by the International Olympic Committee        (IOC) in 1980.

• Demonstration Sport: Taekwondo was first featured as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and again at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

• Official Medal Sport: Its success as a demonstration sport led to its inclusion as an official medal sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Since then, taekwondo has remained a core sport in the Olympic program.

Organized into five continental unions:

Organized into five continental unions:

1)African Taekwondo Union – 53 nations
2)Asian Taekwondo Union – 44 nations
3)European Taekwondo Union – 52 nations
4)Oceania Taekwondo Union – 19 nations
5)Pan American Taekwondo Union – 45 nations

International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) 

• Founded in 1966 by Gen. Choi Hong Hi after he left Korea, and set up in Vienna.

ITF Taekwon-Do is a more traditional style of Korean martial art practiced under the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), founded by Choi Hong Hi in 1966, focusing on patterns, self-defense, and power over the sport-oriented style of World Taekwondo (WT). The ITF promotes the growth of Taekwon-Do through events, seminars, and competitions, offering benefits like improved fitness, balance, coordination, and flexibility through the practice of its powerful forms and techniques.

Key aspects of ITF Taekwondo:

• Founder:
  Choi Hong Hi founded the International Taekwon-Do Federation on March 22, 1966, in Seoul, South Korea. 

• Focus:
  Unlike the more sport-focused World Taekwondo (WT), which is used in the Olympics, ITF Taekwon-Do is more traditional. It emphasizes the performance of powerful patterns (forms), powerful kicks, and comprehensive self-defense training. 

• Benefits:
  Practicing ITF Taekwon-Do offers numerous fitness and athletic benefits, including improved muscular strength, muscle tone, stamina, balance, and eye-hand-foot coordination. 

• Promotional Body:
  The ITF was established to promote and encourage the development of the Korean martial art of Taekwon-Do globally. 

• Activities:
  The organization hosts international events and seminars, such as the World Championship and various regional training sessions. 

• Organization:
  The ITF has a global presence with affiliated organizations worldwide, promoting the art of Taekwon-Do. 

Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA)

The Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) is a foundational organization in the history of modern taekwondo. Established in 1959, the KTA's primary mission was to unify the various martial arts schools, known as kwans, that had emerged in Korea after World War II. 

This unification was a significant step toward creating a standardized national martial art. The KTA's influence grew throughout the 1960s, as it played a key role in developing a cohesive curriculum and promoting taekwondo globally through demonstration tours. ✈️ However, its history has also been marked by internal political friction, most notably the schism in 1966 when General Choi Hong-hi, one of its founders, broke away to form the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). 

-Despite this division, the KTA continued its work, and in the early 1970s, it created Kukkiwon (the World Taekwondo Headquarters) and the World Taekwondo (WT, formerly the World Taekwondo Federation). Today, the KTA operates under the Korea Sports Council and is closely aligned with both Kukkiwon and WT, serving as the official governing body for taekwondo in South Korea and continuing to promote the martial art as a national sport. 

Kukkiwon:

Despite this division, the KTA continued its work, and in the early 1970s, it created Kukkiwon (the World Taekwondo Headquarters) and the World Taekwondo (WT, formerly the World Taekwondo Federation). Today, the KTA operates under the Korea Sports Council and is closely aligned with both Kukkiwon and WT, serving as the official governing body for taekwondo in South Korea and continuing to promote the martial art as a national sport. 

Its primary mission is to promote taekwondo as a national Korean sport and cultural heritage, and it is responsible for establishing and maintaining the worldwide standards for taekwondo's curriculum, including poomsae (forms) and dan (black belt) rankings.

Kukkiwon also oversees the certification of taekwondo masters and instructors globally, ensuring a consistent level of quality in teaching. By hosting events like the World Taekwondo Hanmadang, Kukkiwon brings practitioners from around the world together, fostering a sense of community and contributing to taekwondo's growth as both a martial art and a cultural phenomenon. 

Original Kwans (Schools) – The Roots of Modern TKD

Back right after WWII, Korea saw the rise of several kwans (schools) that formed the foundation of Taekwondo:

The Five Original Kwans (mid-1940s):

1. Song Moo Kwan – Founded 1944 by Byung Jik Ro. Known as the “Founder of Modern Taekwondo.”Wikipedia
   
   

2. Chung Do Kwan
   
   

3. Jidokwan – Founded March 3, 1946, by Sang Sup Chun. Still active in Korea, working closely with Kukkiwon/WT.Wikipedia
   
   

4. Chang Moo Kwan – Founded 1946 by Ro Byung Jick.Engage Martial Arts
   
   

5. Moo Duk Kwan – Founded November 9, 1945, by Hwang Kee. Initially taught Tang Soo Do, later Soo Bahk Do.Wikipedia

Additional Kwans post-Korean War (1954–1956):

• Han Moo Kwan (1954)
  
  

• Oh Do Kwan (1955)
  
  

• Kang Duk Won (1956)
  
  

• Jung Do Kwan (1956)
  
  

From there, other important lineages and organizations emerged:

• Jhoon Rhee Style – Founded 1957 by Jhoon Rhee in the U.S.
  
  

• American Taekwondo Association (ATA) – Founded 1969 by Haeng Ung Lee; today, over 300,000 members and more than 2,000 schools in 21+ countries.WikipediaATA Martial Arts - Songahm Taekwondo
  
  

• World Moo Duk Kwan, CMKTF, World Song Moo Kwan Association, US Chung Do Kwan, Rhee International, and more emerged in the 1960s and '70s.

Origins & Early Kwans:
Taekwondo’s modern structure began with five main kwans (schools) in Korea during the mid-1940s—Song Moo Kwan (1944), Chung Do Kwan, Jidokwan (1946), Chang Moo Kwan (1946), and Moo Duk Kwan (1945). These established the martial art’s foundation. After the Korean War, new kwans like Oh Do Kwan, Han Moo Kwan, Kang Duk Won, and Jung Do Kwan emerged, reflecting a dynamic evolution.Wikipedia+2Wikipedia+2

2. Expansion into Global Organizations:
In 1957, Jhoon Rhee initiated a U.S.-based style; by 1966, ITF was established by Gen. Choi. The ATA followed in 1969, rapidly growing into a massive organization with schools across multiple continents.fitaboutyou.com+1WikipediaATA Martial Arts - Songahm TaekwondoTaekwondo Preschool

3. Formation of Official Governing Bodies:
To unify TKD globally, the KTA was formed around 1959–1961, aligning domestic standards. In 1973, Kukkiwon and WT (then WTF) were established to standardize grading and promote TKD as an Olympic sport. WT now represents 213 countries and has driven the sport’s global expansion.Taekwondo PreschoolWikipedia+1

4. Today’s Landscape:
Taekwondo is practiced in 200+ countries, with 80–200 million practitioners worldwide. WT leads with 213 member nations, while ATA counts 300,000 members, and Kukkiwon has certified over 9.6 million black belts. ITF remains active but fragmented across various organizations.GitnuxMitaekwondoWTO HQReddit+2Reddit+2WikipediaATA Martial Arts - Songahm Taekwondo

Dresses Of different Organizations: