I C G -International Coalition for Good Health and Good Friends

02/25/2026

Thank you!
Since sharing the GTTF Kyorugi scoring system and the Poomsae judging video two weeks ago, inquiries about the 1st Global Championships to be held in Manila have been rapidly increasing worldwide. Because the system preserves the essence of Taekwondo while not straying far from the existing rules, it has received tremendous support and enthusiasm from many competitors and Taekwondo leaders around the world.
Our efforts are serving as a catalyst within the global Taekwondo community—bringing stimulation, encouraging diversity, and playing a role like salt that adds value and vitality.
Even Taekwondo organizations in Korea, the birthplace of Taekwondo, have expressed high praise for the GTTF Kyorugi scoring system and have indicated that they will send their teams to participate in the first Global Championships. To register, please visit us at www.tkdgttf.com

02/06/2026

What Is Do (道)?
As we practice Taekwondo, and as we move through the unfolding seasons of life, have we ever truly engaged in a deep and sustained contemplation of Do? We speak fluently about technique, forms, discipline, promotion, and achievement, yet how often do we reflect on the Do that quietly permeates and gives meaning to all of these practices? Have we ever encountered a teacher who spoke of Do not as a concept to be explained, but as a way of being to be lived?
For much of my life, I have been drawn to this question. Within the dojang, in moments of struggle and stillness, and amid the ordinary rhythms of daily living, I have asked repeatedly: What is Do? Even now, I continue to walk in pursuit of it. Yet the more one approaches Do, the less it allows itself to be confined by definition. Rather than becoming clearer, its horizon expands—vast and boundless, like the cosmos—revealing depth without end.
I questioned my teacher often, sometimes with insistence, seeking to grasp the essence of Do. Where does it exist? How does one align one’s life with it? His responses were always simple, almost elusive in their brevity:
“Be sincere in your daily life. Do is not far away.”
At the time, such words felt incomplete. I desired structure, explanation, and certainty. I wanted Do to be something one could clearly point to, measure, or articulate. Yet as time passed and life itself became my greater teacher, those few words began to resonate more deeply. I came to understand that Do does not dwell in distant ideals or extraordinary moments of enlightenment. It resides in the ordinary—within daily discipline, mindful action, restraint of ego, and respect for others.
In Eastern philosophy, Do is not a destination but a continuous process of alignment. It is the harmony between action and intention, between the self and the world. To live in accordance with Do is not to escape life, but to enter it fully, with awareness and responsibility. In this sense, every bow, every repetition, every moment of patience or perseverance becomes an expression of Do.
My teacher has now departed from my side. Only in his absence did I begin to understand that his silence and simplicity were themselves profound instruction. Do cannot be handed down as a formula, nor captured fully in words. It must be embodied. The role of the teacher, then, is not to explain Do, but to illuminate the path so that the student may walk it alone.
Even today, I continue to ask: What is Do? Holding this question without demanding a final answer, I return again to the discipline of everyday life. Perhaps this quiet return—again and again—is itself the truest practice of Do.

02/04/2026

**Now Open for Registration**
The **2026 Global Taekwondo Championships**, drawing participants from more than 100 countries, is a world-class Taekwondo festival offering **affordable registration fees and free spectator admission**, ensuring an accessible and welcoming experience for all.
Open to athletes of **all ages and belt levels**, not only elite black belts, this international event invites you to test your skills against practitioners from around the globe and gain unforgettable competitive experience. Even first-time competitors can expect a professionally run tournament designed to create a positive and rewarding atmosphere.
Competitions include **Poomsae(Form), Kyorugi(Sparring), and Demonstration Teams**.
Poomsae features individual and team events with Traditional (WT/Kukkiwon and ITF) and Freestyle divisions.
Sparring is offered in **Elite** and **Festival** categories, with team matches conducted in GTTF’s signature **Tag Match** format.
Demonstration Team events showcase groups of ten or more athletes in eight-minute performances highlighting technique, teamwork, and creativity.
Open to participants **regardless of style or organization**, the GTTF Global Championships is a major international tournament celebrating Taekwondo’s tradition, philosophy, and global community.
Full details and registration information are available at:
**[www.tkdgttf.com]

02/03/2026

01/31/2026

Why Do Taekwondo Examiners Wear Suits Instead of Doboks?
For more than half a century of practicing Taekwondo, one question has quietly stayed with me.
Why is it that, during Taekwondo examinations, examiners sit on the judging panel wearing business suits instead of doboks?
Yes, it looks neat. It looks formal, even elegant.
But I cannot help asking: what does a suit truly have to do with Taekwondo?
This may be a personal view, but I have never found it convincing that a Taekwondo examiner, seated before students, should be wearing a suit and tie. When we look at historical photographs from karate, we occasionally see examiners dressed in suits during grading examinations. Korea, of course, endured Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, and many of the early pioneers who laid the foundation for modern Taekwondo had trained in karate in Japan.
These pioneers made sincere efforts to revive Korean martial traditions and to move away from karate, shaping what would eventually become Taekwondo. Yet I often wonder whether the custom of wearing suits during examinations is one aspect of Japanese karate culture that was accepted without much question—and has simply continued to this day.
Wearing a suit during a Taekwondo examination brings practical complications as well. Formal attire requires formal shoes, and those shoes are then worn onto the mats. This alone raises questions. More importantly, I have repeatedly asked myself whether this is truly the image a master should present in front of students.
I am Korean, and when I attend examinations in Korea, the expectation is almost always the same: not a dobok, but a suit. Should this be accepted unquestioningly, simply because it has become tradition? I have found myself shaking my head at this practice more times than I can count.
This is why I have continued to raise this question—and why I have made every effort to wear a dobok during Taekwondo examinations whenever possible. Except on rare occasions, such as special examinations where I was invited and felt obliged to conform alongside other Korean masters, I have consistently maintained that examiners should wear doboks.
To sit on the judging panel in a freshly washed, neatly pressed dobok—this, to me, reflects the true essence of a Taekwondo master.
This belief may be mine alone.
But it is a question worth asking, and asking again:
Why, in Taekwondo examinations, do examiners wear suits instead of doboks?

01/23/2026

[Must the Taekwondo Dobok (uniform) Be a V-Neck Pullover?]
Today, many Taekwondo practitioners take it for granted that the V-neck pullover uniform is the traditional—and even the only legitimate—Taekwondo dobok. Yet this assumption deserves closer examination, both historically and culturally.
The V-neck Taekwondo uniform, as we know it today, emerged in the late 1960s and became widespread in the 1970s with the establishment of the World Taekwondo Federation (WT, formerly WTF). Its adoption coincided with Taekwondo’s transformation into an international sport, particularly one centered on sparring (kyorugi). In this context, the V-neck pullover was not an ancient tradition, but rather a practical solution shaped by a specific era and a specific competitive need.
As Taekwondo evolved with a strong emphasis on sparring, the uniform evolved accordingly—prioritizing stability, safety, and freedom of movement for athletes. In fact, the sparring uniform has continued to change over time, and in recent years has undergone yet another major transformation due to electronic scoring systems, protective equipment, and updated competition rules.
This leads us to a fundamental question:
If the sparring uniform continues to evolve, must all Taekwondo practitioners—regardless of age, purpose, or discipline—continue to wear the same V-neck pullover design?
At some point, the V-neck pullover dobok came to be regarded—almost by default—as the official and definitive Taekwondo uniform. However, a dobok is not merely athletic attire. It is a symbol of practice, discipline, and the values Taekwondo seeks to cultivate.
Many practitioners believe that wearing the uniform itself is part of training. Caring for one’s dobok reflects self-discipline, respect, and personal integrity—core principles of Taekwondo. Yet the pullover design presents practical and cultural challenges. When drenched in sweat, it is not easy to remove gracefully. In an era where training environments and practitioner demographics have diversified significantly, one must ask whether this structure truly serves everyone.
Taekwondo is not merely a combat sport; it is a martial art that aspires to dignity and refinement. Can we truly say that the manner in which one puts on or removes the uniform has no relationship to that dignity? Is there really no difference in composure, modesty, and decorum between a pullover garment and an open-front jacket style?
Moreover, modern textile technology and garment design have advanced dramatically. We are no longer limited by the constraints of the past. An open-jacket dobok can now be designed to remain secure, functional, and suitable for dynamic movement, without sacrificing performance.
This discussion also invites a broader cultural reflection. Historically, Korean traditional clothing is based on an open-jacket structure, as seen in the hanbok. Koreans have long been known as the “people of white clothing,” a cultural identity rooted in simplicity, purity, and restraint. The white Taekwondo uniform itself reflects this heritage.
If Taekwondo is meant to represent Korean culture on the global stage, should its uniform not also reconsider forms that are more distinctly Korean, rather than relying exclusively on a V-neck pullover design that emerged from modern sporting needs?
At this point, several important questions deserve serious consideration:
• Should the Taekwondo uniform be an open-jacket style, or must it remain a V-neck pullover?
• Should different disciplines—such as sparring, poomsae, and demonstrations—have different uniforms?
• Or must Taekwondo continue to insist on a single, uniform design for all practitioners?
These questions are particularly relevant today, as the Taekwondo population has become far more diverse than it was 50 years ago. Beyond children and adolescents, adults in their 20s to 40s, including a growing number of women, now enter dojangs for a wide variety of reasons—fitness, self-cultivation, cultural interest, and personal growth. In this context, it is worth asking whether requiring all practitioners to wear the same white pants and pullover top remains the most thoughtful choice.
Perhaps it is time to move beyond the rigid assumption that “the Taekwondo uniform must be a V-neck pullover.” Instead, we should explore possibilities that:
• respect history and tradition,
• uphold the dignity and values of Taekwondo practitioners,
• and respond thoughtfully to contemporary practice and a diversified community.
Raising these questions does not weaken Taekwondo’s identity.
On the contrary, it may be the very process through which Taekwondo rediscovers and redefines its true identity for the future.

01/16/2026

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE 1ST GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE 3RD GLOBAL SUMMIT!
GTTF was born on the shores of Panama, took root in Korea—the birthplace of Taekwondo—and now begins its global voyage to the world.
As the next milestone of this journey, we are proud to officially announce that the 1st GTTF Global Championship and the 3rd GTTF Global Summit will be held in Manila, Philippines, from June 24 to 30, 2026.
Through this historic gathering, GTTF aims to serve as a catalyst for the global Taekwondo community—reviving Traditional Taekwondo, restoring the true spirit of the Sabum-nim, and advancing the pursuit of the “Do”, the heart and soul of Taekwondo. This movement continues to grow stronger with the support of an ever-expanding global network of practitioners and partners.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the GTTF Philippines Organizing Committee, led by Chairman Jennifer Baltasar, for their tireless dedication and unwavering commitment in preparing this landmark event. Their passion and leadership are helping turn GTTF’s global vision into reality.

10/24/2024

What is traditional Taekwondo?
The definition of traditional Taekwondo is not complicated. It means overcoming oneself and becoming one with body and mind through the thousands of repeated Taekwondo skills with proper attitude and mental discipline. Traditional Taekwondo training involves using one’s hands and feet without weapons to learn defensive and offensive techniques. When a traditional Taekwondo practitioner enters the dojang, they wear a dobok and practice barefoot. The traditional Taekwondo training hall is called a dojang and the walls are hung with the flag of the country to which it belongs and the flag of the country where Taekwondo was born. The organization's flag implies the identity of the dojang, such as the philosophy and the curriculum of Taekwondo training.
Traditional Taekwondo practitioners bow before getting on the training floor and bow again when getting off the floor. The traditional Taekwondo program comprises five subjects: Poomsae, Gyeorugi, Hosinsool, Gyeokpa, and Moral or Virtue. At the end of class, students kneel on the floor, recite the Ten Students Commitments, and pay tribute to the flags and the teachings of the master. For traditional martial artists, dojang is a sacred place to hone one's body and mind. Therefore, when a traditional Taekwondo practitioner enters the dojang, he/she is expected to give all attention to the training, not allowing the mind to drift away.
Traditional Taekwondo practitioners use traditional Taekwondo terms. For example, they call Grandmaster “SaBu-nim”, Master “SaBum-nim”, Instructor “Jogyo-nim”, and students “Jaeja”. On the other hand, in sports Taekwondo, Masters/Grandmasters are referred to as coach and students as athletes.
Traditional Taekwondo training emphasizes educational value. We create and operate a system for grade students to do well in school and teach other students to become indispensable people in this society through a healthy mind and body gained from traditional Taekwondo practice. The characteristics of traditional Taekwondo are activities that have physical, mental, social, and self-defense values, and have the essence of martial arts education that emphasizes mental and moral values through mind and body training rather than winning in sport Taekwondo competitions. In other words, it emphasizes a valuable way of life that is not shameful as being human in the name of traditional Taekwondo as the right path that martial artists should follow.
Its characteristics can be divided into five types. The first of which is the strict Master System. Originally, the words, attitudes, and rules were very strict and developed from a relationship between disciples who were taught by a Taekwondo master who guarded the dojang through a strict Master's System, and then became the traditional Taekwondo of today. Secondly, as mentioned above, there were no weapons. The characteristic of traditional Taekwondo is that it does not use weapons but trains using hands and feet and bare body for defense and attack. The third is balance and harmony. Traditional Taekwondo practice seeks physical balance and mental harmony. The fourth is mental strengthening. The emphasis on moral discipline and mental strength in the traditional Taekwondo training process is a major feature. Social values are the fifth. Traditional Taekwondo training emphasizes courtesy, respect, humility, patience, concentration, self-denial, and self-discipline, and teaches the spirit of law-abiding and social responsibility. As such, traditional Taekwondo exists in various forms and has its own characteristics and philosophies.
In conclusion, traditional Taekwondo training is a means of discovering and growing oneself by refining one's body and mind, and by communicating with one's inner self, experiencing beyond one's physical limitations, and elevating one's character, knowledge, and morality to a higher level, which eventually leads to self-perfection. The purpose of this is to establish the self of the individual correctly and to educate people with true and pure love through traditional Taekwondo.
By SaBu-nim Jun Lee, 9th Dan

09/18/2024

태권도가 변질되고 있습니다. 태권도는 전통 무도로 거듭나야 한다는 생각입니다. 그러이유로, 전세계에서 영향력있는 외국인 중진 태권도 학자/지도자들이 하던일 잠시 뒤로 하고 자비를 들여 방한합니다. 무도태권도에 대해 각자의 생각을 말할 것입니다. 무도태권도의 계승발전을 논할 것입니다. 무도태권도가 인류의 삶에 어떤 영향을 미쳐야 하는가로 머리를 맞댈 것입니다. 참석하는 외국 태권도인들에겐 뜻깊고 가슴 뭉클한 이벤트입니다. 한국에 계신 태권도 학자/지도자들은 아니 일반인들은 어떤반응을 보일지 궁금합니다. 소가 닭보듯 할 수 있다는 생각이 스치고 지나갑니다만... 그래도 저희들은 앞만보고 가겠습니다. 무도 태권도로 널리 인간을 이롭게 하는데 앞장서겠습니다. 자리가 비좁을수도 있습니다. 그러나 관심있는 분들께서 연락주시면 그만한 자리 마련해놓겠습니다.