ITA Affiliation Information |
|
ITA Affiliation Information |
|
|
Thank you for inquiring about membership in the ITA
(International Tae Kwon Do Association™). The following information
has been compiled to answer many of your questions about the ITA and to
help explain ITA affiliation procedures and how membership in the
Association can benefit individuals, instructors, and
dojangs (schools).
You shall find, with this information, our on-line catalogs containing
DVD videos,
books,
and other
training aids to help you with your studies and rank advancement in
Tae Kwon Do as well as other Korean martial arts.
If you have any further
questions after reading the affiliation information please feel free to
contact ITA International Headquarters for additional information.
|
|
|
|
On July 9, 1974 Grand Master James S. Benko founded the
International Tae Kwon Do Association™. The ITA is one of the most respected governing
bodies of Tae Kwon Do in the world. Grand Master Benko is one of the
highest ranked non-asians recognized
throughout the world.
The ITA has developed a vast DVD video collection,
of training presentations,
and an extensive and one-of-a-kind book collection.
The presentations and programs are designed to help ITA members increase their knowledge
and abilities, as they prepare to advance through the ranks. The training
aids can also be used to prepare individuals to advance in rank in other
areas such as Korean Swordsmanship and Korean weapons.
The ITA offers official rank certification in Tae Kwon Do, as well as
instructor and dojang (school) certification. Once registered with the
ITA, instructors will be able to test their students through the ITA
to insure their ranks are registered and recognized. ALL ITA certificates
are sent directly from International Headquarters. NO ITA instructor may
issue certificates or cards in the name of the ITA.
Those who are dedicated to practicing and teaching Tae Kwon Do can, perhaps
for the first time, finally be able to take pride in the organization
they belong to. The ITA is a safe haven to those who wish to practice
Tae Kwon Do without having to concern themselves with power struggles
amongst organization instructors.
|
|
|
|
Other Organizations
In 1972, Choi Hong Hi went into exile in Canada after he was in support of the North Korean government over the South Korean government. The South Korean government formed the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in 1973, in 1974 Grand Master Benko founded the International TaeKwon-Do Association in order to distance his organization from the politics which were fragmenting Tae Kwon Do. Many Tae Kwon Do organizations have placed heavy emphasis on the "sport" aspect of Tae Kwon Do and have neglected many other important aspects of the "total Art". Though the ITA encourages its members to attend tournaments if they so desire, the ITA focuses on the total development of each individual through teaching the complete Art of Tae Kwon Do to each member. The ITA teaches the history, traditions, and philosophy of Tae Kwon Do while also teaching the Art of practical self-defense.
|
|
|
|
To become an ITA Member submit the following:
in U.S. Funds, made payable to ITA. Mail in your application, fee, and copy of your certificate of rank. For faster processing send a Postal Money Order. Once you are accepted and your application is processed, you shall receive your ITA Certificate of Rank and your ITA Rank and Identification Card. If you are teaching, you must register your school and students with the ITA. See How Do I Register My School And Students?.
|
|
|
|
And Register My School And Students? If you are teaching Tae Kwon Do and wish to join the ITA you
must register yourself as an individual, and as a Head Instructor,
your school, and students with the ITA at the same time. You must
hold the rank of at least 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and have a minimum of
5 students in order to apply for Head Instructor certification. To Register Yourself,
School, and Students with the ITA submit the following:
To register your School and Students Online, use the following Online Forms:
To register your School and Students By Mail, use the following Forms:
in U.S. Funds, made payable to ITA. Once you are accepted and your applications processed, you shall receive the following: your ITA Certificate of Rank, your Rank and Identification Card, your Head Instructor Certificate, your School Membership Certificate, a Certificate of Rank and a Rank and Identification Card for each of your students, A Copy of the ITA Constitution and By-Laws, A Schedule of ITA Fees, and Applications for Promotion, for when you test your students. The ITA Constitution and By-Laws explains in detail the ITA's policies and procedures for Registering Students, Testing Students, Submitting Applications for Promotion, Rank Requirements, Uniform Dress Code, and much more. It is the Instructor's guide on how to run your school within the guidelines of the ITA.
|
|
|
|
Must I Have A Building To Be An Instructor? No. In order to register your School or Club and become an ITA Head Instructor, you must have at least 5 students (not including yourself). You do not have to have a "full-time" commercial school. Many instructors teach at community centers, YMCA's, church halls, sports centers, and even in their homes or backyards. It is not as important "where" you teach, as it is the "quality" of "what" you teach. The true spirit of Tae Kwon Do can be taught in one's backyard or home with only a few students, or in a full-time commercial school with hundreds of students. All you need is the ability and willingness to share your knowledge of Tae Kwon Do with others.
|
|
|
|
To help insure ITA members are learning correct History, Terminology, Vital
Points, Dojang Class Etiquette, and other necessary information,
Grand Master Benko has written the
Tae Kwon Do Official Student Manual.
The manual provides students and instructors with the information necessary
to learn Tae Kwon Do properly. The Tae Kwon Do Student Manual is moderately priced
so members can afford to purchase a copy.
To further help insure you are learning and/or teaching Tae Kwon Do
properly, the ITA has created one of the world's largest collections of Tae Kwon Do
DVD videos, and books,
. Instructors are
encouraged to collect the
hyung
If you feel you are weak in a certain area of your training, such
as
kwan jyel sul
|
|
|
|
Advance In Rank? Once you are an ITA Certified Head Instructor, you will be granted authority
to test your students through the ITA, up to one grade below your current rank. (Examples: An ITA 1st Degree Black Belt Head Instructor may test his/her
students up to 1st Gup Red Belt. An ITA 2nd Degree Black Belt Head Instructor may test his/her students up to 1st Degree Black Belt, etc.).
All 4th Degree Black Belt promotions or higher must be approved by the President prior to the test being given. All students must be registered
ITA members in good standing in order to test.
ITA members may travel to ITA International Headquarters to take their promotional examination. If an ITA school is closer than International Headquarters and the Head Instructor of that school is high enough in rank, he/she may test you. The third option is to enter the ITA External Testing Program and test via video and written examination.
|
|
|
|
Under special conditions ITA members who hold the rank of 1st Gup or above may test by submitting the promotion requirements by video and written examination. Once you are a registered ITA member you may request to be admitted to the External Testing Program. Once admitted into the program you will be able to test via video and written examination.
This program is available only to ITA members who, due to financial
obligations, or because they live a great distance from the testing
location, are unable to attend an examination at a registered ITA school.
Those interested in this type of program should complete the "Mail In"
External Testing Program Application For
Admission and any other necessary forms as stated on the application.
|
|
|
|
The ITA has standardized Testing Procedures and Rank
Promotion Requirements.
Instructors in many other organizations are constantly confused by what
they must teach for each rank. The ITA Constitution and By-Laws contains
the Rank Promotion Requirements for every rank from 10th Gup White Belt up
to and including 3rd Degree Black Belt. Requirements for 4th Degree Black
Belt promotions or above are provided, to ITA Head Instructors or ITA
members testing for these ranks through the External Testing Program.
The standardization of Rank Promotion Requirements helps insure consistency in what each student learns, what the instructors are to teach at each level, and maintains the high standards of the ITA. Though the "types" of techniques to be taught are outlined, specific techniques are up to school Head Instructors. The standardization of Testing Procedures insures members that promotional examinations are conducted in a uniformed manner.
|
|
|
|
Practiced Within The ITA?
There is no need for concern if you currently do not teach the ITA Tae Kwon Do forms. You
and your students can make a gradual transition to the forms. ITA
DVD videos and
books, produced
and written by Grand Master Benko, are extremely useful in helping you learn and comprehend
the forms correctly. You will also find detailed information regarding the
patterns on our web site (click here).
Tae Kwon Do Patterns: Books 
The ITA teaches the original twenty-four patterns of the
Chang-Hun
|
|
|
|
If you are tired of politics infecting Tae Kwon Do, if you don't want constant changes and
contradictions in the patterns you have labored so hard to learn, and if you want to join an
organization which offers strong leadership, stability and unity, then the ITA is the organization
for you.
Since 1974 the ITA has been a leader in Tae Kwon Do. Under the ITA's guidance you and your students can continue learning, training and advancing in rank, without having to concern yourself with politics and petty bickering amongst instructors. The ITA's strong central leadership insures that the standards, quality and integrity of Tae Kwon Do are maintained at all levels. If you are truly serious about dedicating yourself to teaching Tae Kwon Do, now is the time to begin. It's time you and your students received the recognition you deserve. Individuals should complete and submit the Individual Application For Membership. Instructors should also submit a Head Instructor Application and a School Membership Application along with the Fees as indicated on the forms. You can become an Instructor in one of the most respected Tae Kwon Do organizations in the World. Take the first step toward becoming a member of the ITA Family. Register Today!
|
|
|
|
The International Tae Kwon Do Association™ offers its members the following benefits:
All rights reserved. |
The International Tae Kwon Do Association™ is an organization consisting of
Individuals, Instructors, and Masters, dedicated to the education, and
unification of those who wish to learn, teach, and advance in rank in
Tae Kwon Do. The ITA is a non-political Tae Kwon Do organization.
All too often organizations become involved in martial arts politics.
This only causes confusion, disunity, and fragmentation amongst practitioners.
The ITA is a "non-political" organization focusing on the Art and
not on the political games played by so many of organizations. Maintaining
the integrity of the Art and upholding the traditions of the Art of Traditional Chang-Hun
Tae Kwon Do is what the ITA and its members are all about. 
(pattern) videos and books, as
these are the most important part of any promotional examination.