As 2025 comes to a close, we reflect with pride on a year defined by strategic progress, growth, and excellence across the International Taekwon-Do Federation.
The year also brought a moment of reflection for our global Taekwon-Do family. In January 2025, we sadly lost Honorable Grand Master Tom MacCallum, who served as Secretary General of the ITF under the founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi. While we mourn his passing, we honour his lifelong dedication and the enduring legacy he leaves within our federation.
This year marked the 70th anniversary of Taekwon-Do, commemorated through a global 24-hour online event on April 11 that connected hundreds of participants worldwide in an inspiring exchange. 24 different sessions, presented by ITF members from all over the world, and each session starting with one of the 24 patterns invited our global community to discussions and interactions like never before. And all sessions were and published on our YouTube channel for everyone to watch and get inspired. This milestone reaffirmed our dedication to safeguarding and promoting the founder’s legacy and the core values that define our art.
Significant advances were achieved in governance and organizational development. The Board refined key regulations and convened strategic meetings that brought together committee chairs and regional development teams to strengthen global coordination, enhance instructor pathways, and reinforce inclusive development across all continents.
October saw the highly successful 2025 ITF World Championships in Poreč, with more than 1,450 competitors from 57 countries participating across all traditional disciplines. Whether you watched, coached, cheered, or trained in solidarity from home, this event showcased the true spirit of Taekwon-Do: skill, respect, discipline and unity. The General Assembly, educational workshops, and the first official World Record Event further enriched this hallmark event with innovation, inclusion, and renewed commitment to excellence.
The year also saw continued investment in education and accessibility, including the first combined Umpire and Adapted Taekwon-Do Umpire Course, setting a benchmark for inclusivity and technical development. And we established a webinar series “Taekwon-Do for Everyone” that had already four live sessions with hundreds of participants. Connecting our members and providing them with the tools to grow and transmit the legacy of our founder to the next generation is and will be one of the core tasks of the ITF.
As we conclude this memorable year, we extend our sincere appreciation to all instructors, practitioners, officials, and volunteers who contributed to the federation’s achievements. We look forward to 2026 with confidence, unity, and a shared commitment to the continued evolution of Taekwon-Do.
GM Paul Weiler
ITF President
AIITA Closes the Year with Four Major ITF Taekwon-Do State Championships
