The ITF Self-Defence Project took an important step forward on 24 October 2026, when its first pilot seminar was held in Lingfield, Surrey, just south of London, England.
The seminar attracted a full house, with Grand Masters and other senior Taekwon-Do practitioners attending. The event provided a valuable opportunity to introduce and test the project’s developing educational approach in practice.
The seminar opened with a welcome message from ITF President GM Paul Weiler who emphasised the importance of self-defence (hosinsul) and its fundamental role in Taekwon-Do. Hosinsul is not merely one component of Taekwon-Do; it is a central purpose that gives meaning and direction to the art and lies at the very heart of its philosophy and practice.
More Than Self-Defence Techniques
The pilot seminar was a great success, with enthusiastic participation, lively discussions, and encouraging initial feedback. The positive atmosphere and strong engagement throughout the day demonstrated the interest in developing self-defence education within the ITF community.
The ITF Self-Defence Project aims to strengthen self-defence as an integral part of ITF Taekwon-Do education. Rather than creating a separate self-defence system or simply compiling a collection of standardised techniques, the project focuses on helping instructors and Masters make better use of the knowledge, principles, and methods already present within Taekwon-Do. And itis also an opportunity to bring the international ITF community together to share knowledge, exchange experiences and learn from one another.
Empowering Instructors, Strengthening Taekwon-Do
A central objective of the project is to support those who teach Taekwon-Do. It is designed to provide instructors with practical educational tools, new perspectives, and teaching methods that help them develop their expertise and integrate self-defence more naturally into their regular Taekwon-Do classes.
At the same time, the project seeks to develop a broader understanding of personal safety and self-defence, including situational awareness, conflict recognition and prevention, communication and de-escalation, stress and fear management, decision-making under pressure, the legal principles governing self-defence, and the responsible use of physical skills.
Effective self-defence involves not only physical techniques but an understanding of situations, human behaviour and the ability to make appropriate decisions, often under considerable pressure. The project also emphasises the ethical and moral principles of Taekwon-Do, ensuring that self-defence education remains closely connected to the values and philosophy of the art.
The pilot seminar provided an opportunity to explore these principles through practical training, discussion and shared experiences – exploring Taekwon-Do as an effective and value based Martial Art.
An Important Step Towards Future Development
The feedback collected during and after the pilot seminar will help the ITF Self-Defence Development Team further develop its educational framework, teaching materials, and the development of the planned two-day international self-defence course. The objective is to create practical and adaptable educational tools that instructors can use to develop their own teaching and make self-defence a meaningful part of Taekwon-Do training at every level.
Recognising the international nature of ITF Taekwon-Do, the educational framework must also be adaptable to different countries, cultures, training environments, and individual needs. The project aims to support instructors at different stages of their teaching careers, from those just beginning to teach to highly experienced instructors and Masters.
Thank You from the Team!
The sincere thank you to all 50 participants for their enthusiasm, positive energy and happy faces, commitment and valuable contributions throughout the pilot seminar. The project team was honoured by the presence of GMs Donato Nardizzi and Kim Anderson, as well as our distinguished guest Gordon Slater (9th Degree). Thank you for taking the time to observe the seminar, provide feedback, and show your interest in and support for the project.
Special thanks to England’s White Tigers, Master Michael Simmonds (7th Degree), and everyone who contributed to organising the seminar. Your efforts, support and hospitality were greatly appreciated and helped make this first pilot event a success.
ITF Self-Defence Development Team
Master Mikko Allinniemi
Master Russell Dennis
Master Robert Boer
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