World Taekwondo (WT) and the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) are two distinct organizations governing the practice and competition of Taekwondo, each with its own set of rules and regulations.

1. *World Taekwondo (WT)*:
– Formerly known as the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), it changed its name in 2017 to better reflect its global presence and inclusivity.
– WT is the international governing body for Olympic-style Taekwondo, which emphasizes sport competition.
– The rules and regulations established by WT govern the conduct of Taekwondo competitions at various levels, including national championships, international events, and the Olympic Games.
– WT competitions primarily focus on the use of electronic scoring systems, which register valid kicks and punches based on criteria such as impact force, location, and technique.
– WT competitions include sparring (kyorugi) and poomsae (forms) events, with specific rules governing scoring, penalties, protective gear, and competition formats.
– The rules are periodically updated by WT to address evolving trends, techniques, and safety considerations in Taekwondo competition.

2. *International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF)*:
– Founded by General Choi Hong Hi in 1966, the ITF is another major international organization governing the practice of Taekwondo.
– The ITF promotes a different style of Taekwondo, often referred to as “traditional” or “Chang Hon-style” Taekwondo, which places greater emphasis on patterns (forms) and self-defense techniques.
– ITF competitions typically include patterns, sparring, power breaking, and specialty techniques such as flying kicks.
– Unlike WT, which uses electronic scoring systems for sparring competitions, ITF sparring competitions rely on judges who score points based on the execution of techniques and control demonstrated by competitors.
– The ITF has its own set of rules and regulations governing competition conduct, scoring criteria, protective equipment, and other aspects of Taekwondo competition.

While both WT and ITF promote the practice and development of Taekwondo on an international scale, their rules, philosophies, and approaches to training and competition differ to some extent. Nonetheless, efforts have been made in recent years to promote unity and collaboration between the two organizations, recognizing the shared heritage and global impact of Taekwondo as a martial art.