The International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) is an international Taekwon-Do organization founded on March 22, 1966, by General Choi Hong Hi (Korean: 최홍희) in Seoul, South Korea. The ITF was founded to promote and encourage the growth of the Korean martial art of Taekwon-Do.

​

The ITF's main functions include coordinating and approving tournaments and seminars, setting standards for teaching (patterns, sparring, destruction), collaborating with affiliated member organizations, and providing services to members in regard to rank and certifications.

​

After the South Korean Government abandoned the ITF, the government established the World Taekwondo Federation to continue the mission of taekwondo's globalization. Once General Choi Hong Hi (최홍희) was exiled out of South Korea, he established the new headquarters of the ITF in Vienna, Austria and the organization settled there. In the years that followed, many of the founding masters of the ITF and several other instructors would leave the organization to form their own independent organizations, following political differences with Choi Hong Hi.

​

In 2001, the ITF Congress voted for Choi Hong Hi as president for four years of the six-year term, then for his son Choi Jung Hwa to serve as president for the remaining two years. This was overturned (whether legally or illegally is disputed) by General Choi, causing a rift between himself and his son. Choi Jung Hwa split away from his father and created another organization, which Choi Jung Hwa claimed to be the true ITF. While the majority of the ITF at the time stayed with General Choi, many others decided to follow Choi Jung Hwa. General Choi subsequently died in June 2002, having never reconciled with his son. On his deathbed in June 2002, General Choi said that he wanted Chang Ung, a North Korean IOC member, to take over as president. An Extraordinary Congress of the ITF was called with Chang Ung declared as the new president.

​

As of 2021, there are many ITF groups. This group was created based on Taekwon-Do's founder's principles. We have modified the format to eliminate politics. Although National Governing Bodies do exist, they do so as part of the whole rather than a separate organization. The ITF Headquarters has complete oversight.

​

Currently, there are no national directors. In the past, these positions could have been used to prevent some people from registering. Therefore we removed the position and now allow all school owners to deal directly with the headquarters regardless of their rank. School owners now have the choice to work with who they prefer or manage independently.

​

The Traditional ITF is currently managed by two senior members, Grand Master Jeffrey Hollins of the USA who acts as Secretary-General, and Senior Grand Master Dafyd Haase, who is the current president. This brings a wealth of knowledge including the system prior to the sine wave added.

​

​