Mexico

ITF

ITF Taekwon-Do has maintained a sustained presence in Mexico since the 1970s, with several organizations that preserve General Choi Hong Hi's legacy. Without the Olympic visibility of the WT branch, Mexican ITF has still proven its international potential: at the ITF World Open in Glasgow 2022 (Scotland), Mexico took 29 medals and finished 4th overall — a historic result for any Latin American delegation in the ITF circuit. Institutional fragmentation remains the main challenge: at least three ITF organizations of national scope coexist.

SCROLL

ITF organizations of national scope

medals at the ITF World Open Glasgow 2022

4°

position in overall medal count Glasgow 2022

2019

first senior ITF Mexican gold — Erik Rodríguez

先

1970s – 1990s

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.”

先

先First, pioneer

分

2002 – Hoy

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.”

分

分Division, separation

勝

2019 – 2022

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.”

勝

勝Victory, achievement

藝

Permanente

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.

藝

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