México
ITF
El Taekwon-Do ITF en México tiene una presencia sostenida desde los años 70, con múltiples organizaciones que preservan el legado del General Choi Hong Hi. Aunque sin la visibilidad olímpica de la rama WT, el ITF mexicano ha demostrado su potencial internacional: en el Open Mundial ITF de Glasgow 2022 (Escocia), México conquistó 29 medallas y quedó 4° en el medallero general — un resultado histórico para cualquier delegación latinoamericana en el circuito ITF. La fragmentación institucional es el principal desafío: coexisten al menos tres organizaciones ITF de alcance nacional.
Origins
The origins of ITF in Mexico
Choi Hong Hi's martial art takes root in mid-sized cities
Taekwon-Do ITF arrived in Mexico during the same era when the martial art was spreading throughout Latin America, driven by the demonstration tours of General Choi Hong Hi and his ambassadors. While Mexico's first TKD academy (Moo Duk Kwan, 1969) was associated with the branch that would later become WT, the ITF developed its own network of academies and organisations during the 1970s and 1980s.
Mexico, due to its market size and strategic geographic position, was one of the countries where the ITF took deepest root outside the capital cities. In many mid-sized cities — San Luis Potosí, Chihuahua, Jalisco — the ITF today has a stronger presence than the WT.
“In Mexico, the ITF is not the WT's shadow — it is a parallel practice with its own identity.”
Institutional
ITF organisations in Mexico — three umbrellas, one art
The post-Choi fragmentation reflected on the Mexican map
Unlike the WT branch — which has a single federation recognised by the Mexican Olympic Committee (FEMEXTKD) — the Mexican ITF is fragmented across several organisations, reflecting the global schism following General Choi's death in 2002. The Federación Nacional de Taekwon-Do México Gral. Choi (FENATM) is affiliated with ITF-Vienna (itftkd.sport), based in Nezahualcóyotl, State of Mexico, and led by Gen. Ramiro Rodríguez Rojas (@itfmexicooficial).
The Consejo Mexicano de Taekwón-Do ITF (consejomexicanoitf.com.mx), led by Antonio Jiménez Perales, is the organisation that headed the delegation to Glasgow 2022 with 29 medals and that in 2019 produced the first Mexican senior ITF gold. There also coexists the Federación Mexicana de Artistas Marciales de la Original ITF, A.C., chaired by Rafael Álvarez.
“Three ITF organisations in Mexico — same discipline, different international umbrellas.”
International
Glasgow 2022 — 29 medals, 4th in the world
The peak moment of Mexican ITF on the global stage
The high point of Mexican ITF came in November 2022 at the ITF World Open in Glasgow, Scotland. The Mexican team — primarily made up of athletes from San Luis Potosí, Chihuahua and Jalisco — claimed 10 golds, 10 silvers and 9 bronzes (29 medals in total), finishing 4th in the overall medal table.
It was a remarkable achievement because the athletes and coaches mostly funded their travel costs out of their own pockets, with support from the private sector. Earlier, in 2019, Erik Omar Rodríguez Estrada had won the first Mexican gold in the history of the senior ITF circuit. In Glasgow 2022, athletes such as Jahel Nava and Óscar Gallegos featured on the podium.
“Glasgow 2022 — 29 medals, 4th in the world. Mexican ITF TKD exists and competes at the highest level.”
Technique
ITF technique and philosophy in Mexico
24 Tul, Sine Wave and Matsogi — the DNA of Mexican ITF
Mexican Taekwon-Do ITF practises the 24 Chang Hon Tul — the patterns designed by General Choi Hong Hi, each representing a hero or concept from Korean history and philosophy. The technical signature is the Sine Wave: the body rises and falls naturally with each technique, generating power from body mechanics, unlike WT TKD which keeps a more static base.
In Matsogi (ITF sparring) head punches are allowed — a practice forbidden in Olympic WT. The ITF dobok has a crossed or open collar, not the WT's V-neck. ITF academies coexist with WT academies in most states.
Taekwondo en México
- ›Primer mexicano oro en el circuito ITF sénior (2019, Glasgow)
- ›Entrenador del equipo de Glasgow 2022 (29 medallas, 4° mundial)
- ›Consejo Mexicano de Taekwón-Do ITF
- ›Lideró delegación de 29 medallas en Glasgow 2022
- ›Impulsó la participación con fondos propios de los atletas
- ›Consejo Mexicano de Taekwón-Do ITF — consejomexicanoitf.com.mx
- ›Preside la FENATM — única organización mexicana afiliada a ITF-Viena
- ›Sede: Nezahualcóyotl, Estado de México
- ›@itfmexicooficial / @ITFmexicooficialFENATM
Sigue explorando
La historia del Taekwondo continúa en cada dojang, en cada clase, en cada estudiante.