Difference Between WTF and ATA TKD Organizations

**svt2026** · Posted On: 4/11/2008 9:51am

Ok another question is Kukkiewon the governing body for WTF or the other way around. Or is Kukkiewon the headquarters for WTF.

**Art** · Posted On: 4/11/2008 10:48am

Neither, they work together in a partnership. Kukkiwon is the world TKD headquarters and they are responsible for the "art" side of TKD. That is developing instructors and issuing dan certification. I believe they are now also partly responsible for helping officials.

WTF is the sport governing side and member of the IOC. They are responsible for the sanctioning of competitions, rules/regulations development and implementation and officials training.

That's a very simplistic definition but in a nut shell that's what they do.

**Miguksaram** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 1:40pm

Originally Posted by Omega the Merciless

Who you calling a moron?

ATA
American Taekwondo Association.
TKD=Taekwondo.

It's in there name.

You may not consider it taekwondo but they do. If they called themselves AKA for American Karate Association (not to be fooled with the American Kickboxing Academy) we would be in the karate section having equally as much fun making fun of krotty.

I'd take a good look in the mirror before calling anybody a moron.

Uhhh...I'm actually the Director of the American Karate Association. :karated:

No really I am. :) It was started by Ernest Lieb back in 1964.

**Miguksaram** · Posted On: 4/25/2008 1:50pm

Originally Posted by svt2026

Ok another question is Kukkiewon the governing body for WTF or the other way around. Or is Kukkiewon the headquarters for WTF.

The governingn body for TKD, for America is USAT, for Korea it is KTA. Each country will have its own governing body. KKW, as already stated is HQ for TKD, where the people under that system will be registered as black belts. Similar to the Kodokan in Judo. You will often hear the term Kuki-Taekwondo. This indicates that the practitioner practices a basic set curriculum in accordance to the KKW.

**ElHombre** · Posted On: 5/08/2008 7:40am

Originally Posted by TKDfan

[...]You are right that certifications must be submitted by 4th Dan and up and the certifying instructor must be higher in rank by at least 1 Dan than the Aplicant.
[...]

Could you please post a link to where you´ve found this.

http://www.kukkiwon.or.kr/english/ex...n08.jsp?div=01
Article 6 clearly states that you should be the holder of > 6 Dan together with 2 other >6 Dan to examine someone to 1-5 Dan.

I´m well aware of the fact that it´s quite common for 4th Dan holders around the globe to examine as high as 3 Dan. I´m just curious...