Following the Statement dated 1st March 2022, the Board of Directors of the International Taekwon-Do Federation discussed thoroughly, during a long meeting on March 6th, 2022, mainly dedicated to the situation in Ukraine and with deep concerns issued the following resolution:
International Women´s Day
I would like to write my opinion. General Choi, he fought for the South Korean Army, in Korea war, but after the end of this war, he tried to find piece with them and finally he had succeed. In these years, after Korea war, the planet was in 2 sidew. Capitalist side and Communist side. General Choi, never saw he would prefer, which side will support. He did it, because TAE KWON-DO is for all the people whose would like to learn or to teach it.
As i know, all thw years of his life, whn 2 wountries was in war, he never took a position to support the one country and left the other country. That’s why TAEKWON-DO is over politics, religious and nations. That’s why it’s everywhere and being IIC to any country.
So, i think ITF must not take a place in the present war between Russia Vs Ukraine. One day, the war will finish, but the words and the actions will be there to make problems to us.
TAEKWON-DO must be over, even happen a World war. Because all the wars one day will finish and the life will go on. ITF will help to rebuild a new society if stay out of these. In different position, ITF will make problems to themselves. Thank you for your time.
Quoted directly from “Taekwon-do: The Art of Self Defence” by General Choi:
“Taekwon-do is not bellicose or provocative, in that it should never be used for attack. It should only be used as a weapon for self-defence, or to defend the justice or weak.”
Russia and Belarus’s actions in Ukraine are in direct opposition to General Choi’s teachings. It is terrible that good students must be barred from competition because of the actions of their governments, but it is NOTHING compared to the suffering caused by war. I strongly suggest those students address their concerns to their respective governments.