Taekwon-Do
A decade ago, I gave up my passion for the above-mentioned martial art for the finer pleasures in life. For example, smoking in town, flicking stuff in retail outlets, loitering in town with my baggy school pants with mambo backpacks danggling at my arse, so on and so forth. Until recently, I have rekindled the flame for what I have abandoned some 10 years ago. The Taekwon-Do which I graduated with a 1st Degree(1 Dan) Black was from a school of International Taekwon-Do Federation or ITF in short. The picture below shows the founder of ITF.
General Choi, Hong Hi
November 9 1918 ~ June 15 2002
I picked up Taekwon-Do when I was a little kid and was very inclined towards ITF's teachings. However, there is another school of Taekwondo known as World Taekwondo Federation. Noticed the difference in spelling? ITF = Taekwon-Do and WTF = Taekwondo. If you think it's no big deal, you're friggin' wrong. ITF has been reckoned as the truest and most ancient form of TKD(I'll use TKD from now on, regardless of Taekwon-Do or Taekwondo). It teaches the orthordox breathing techniques, stances, execution of blows and philosophy whereas the counterpart emphasizes mostly on the speed of kicks. Hence, ITF is known as a form martial art and WTF a sport. What you see in Olympics is WTF and not ITF. The latter originated from North Korea. As political as Seoul vs PyongYang, ITF has not been able to garner support as a socialist country from the rest of the world. But still, we have 50million peeps who practise ITF. Besides the difference in spelling, the styles in fighting as well as the names of kicks and patterns are not congruent as well. Another apparent difference would be the Uniforms worn. ITF calls it Dobok and WTF calls it a Gi. Check out the pictures below.
International Taekwon-Do Federation
World Taekwondo Federation
My passion for TKD has been rekindled due to friends in my current life who hanker TKD. That triggered my fervor to train with them. I spoke to the instructor in Uni some months back, asking for permission to train with them. I do not want to go for WTF(known as STF in Singapore, just change the W for World to S for Singapore) grading, just physical training with the group. He gladly agreed initially. But upon hearing that I am from ITF, his facial expression wore an unwelcoming frown. He started criticising ITF and sang praises of WTF. Demanded that I bring my ITF cert to him in the soonest time possible so that he can convert me to WTF. What did I do? He was heard but not heeded, I bowed to him and took off.
This matter has been at the back of my mind over the past few months. I could understand where he is coming from, as in not allowing me to wear my ITF Dobok to train in his Dojang(training venue). I am very passionate and true to ITF that I cannot imagine giving it up for something which is at best, 2nd best. I spoke to countless people regarding this issue but no one seemed to be able to help. Until I spoke to my dad, the one I look upon the most. My parents are aware of my love for Taekwon-Do(note the spelling) but dad said, "Do What The Romans Do When You're In Rome". At that very instance, I made up my mind to convert my Taekwon-Do cert to whichever Gup(coloured belt level) WTF was gonna demote me to. They will not give me a 1-Dan just like that.
Just last night, Nixon msged me on msn because he saw how troubled my msn msg seemed. It was on this same issue. I told him of my decision to convert and he was appalled. Nixon practises martial arts too. He commented that anyone out there in the puglistic world will know that an ITF cert would be more valuable than WTF. With or without biasness, I had to agree with him on that. He suggested that I start off as a white belter in WTF and work my way up. Because I had no pressure in graduating from WTF and my main objective is to train with my mates, there wouldn't be an issue to start from scratch. And there, he made alot alot of sense! I borrowed his suggestion, further discussed it with muiz and then made it my conclusion. Hahaha!
With all due respect to WTF just like how I honour all other forms of martial arts, I didn't think I had the prerogative to enjoy concessions at all. As in, I know nothing about WTF and if I were to choose to convert my cert and they give me, let's say a Brown belt or a Black Tip, it won't be justified! I'll use ITF's art of fighting for survival in WTF and that is gonna be ultra obvious. Trust me, it's gonna be as obvious as Simon Cowell's "Onions on Strawberry Ice Cream"! That's being unfair to WTF as well. I'll start from scratch at 10th Gup(white belt), work my way up and try to get my 1-Dan(1st Degree Black) if I'm diligent enough. But that's gonna take a possible minimum of 2 years. And in any case I drop out half way, I still retain my ITF Cert!!! I'll fight ITF in ITF, and WTF in WTF. I hold my principles and values strong. Why didn't I think of it before??? It's like super simple can.... but I guess my obstinance myope'd me.
I AM A HAPPY MAN NOW!
It's now almost 3am. Looks like I gotta split. Gonna be in school at 10am to mug with some buddies. Mugged till about 530pm, going to meet the TKD Sir to sign up as a fresh entrant into WTF/STF. Order my Gi thru him and jet off to work!
For those of you who read this entry and didn't quite understand why I had to be such a tough nut? Lemme put it to ya'll in the following ways.
To guys: if you drove a Toyota right from the beginning, you wouldn't wanna change your ride to a Honda(although I must agree dis a better car) innit?
To ladies: If you have followed and owned a collection of Hermes bags, you wouldn't wanna buy Louis Vuitton would you?!!!!!
Thank you. I rest my case.
posted by Candor Monomaniac©™ at 3/29/2006 01:47:00 AM
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