International Traditional Karate Federation
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The International Traditional Karate Federation (or ITKF; known in Japanese as Kokusai Dentō Karate Renmei ) is the international governing body for Traditional Karate. ITKF follow the teachings of shotokan's founder, Gichin Funakoshi. This organisation was founded by Hidetaka Nishiyama.
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[edit] History
ITKF is the direct successor of the International Amateur Karate Federation (IAKF), which was established on September 27, 1974 at a constitutional meeting in New York City. This meeting was attended by the world’s national Karate federation representatives.
Six years before, in 1968, there had been growing worldwide interest for the formation of an international Karate federation that would also oversee the presentation of international competitions. At that time, in response to this increasingly worldwide interest, the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF), now the ITKF member from the United States, organized the World Invitational Karate-Do Tournament which was held at two sites, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. and Mexico City, Mexico. The AAKF invited the team representatives from Asia, Europe, North and South America. It was this international tournament held in 1968 which was to be later recognized as the first truly world-scale competition. In addition, it was at this time that the participating international delegations met and agreed to form an international Karate organization. The date of the agreement was November 3, 1968. It was this agreement and the representatives involved that were to later form the basis for the formal constitutional formation of the IAKF in 1974.
The IAKF moved with deliberate and diligent purpose, as in 1975, when it mounted its First World Karate-Do Championship in Los Angeles, California. This tournament was followed in succession by World Karate-Do Championships in 1977 in Tokyo, Japan, 1980 in Bremen, West Germany and 1983 in Cairo, Egypt. The IAKF also moved to strengthen and revitalize the growth of the Traditional Karate sport on a continental level. This was done through IAKF Continental Organizations in Africa, Asia-Oceania, Europe and Pan America which mounted their own continental championships.
So as to more clearly differentiate and identify its exclusive and separate jurisdiction over the sport of Traditional Karate, the IAKF officially changed its name in May, 1986 to the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF). [1]
[edit] ITKF Officials and Instructors
| Instructor | Rank | Position | Country | Headquarters' official site |
| Hidetaka Nishiyama | 10th Dan | Chairman | U.S.A. | ITKF |
| Dr. Vladimir Yorga | 8th Dan | Vice President | Serbia | ETKF, STKS |
| J. Michael Crowe | ' | General Secretary | U.S.A. | ' |
| Aiko Torii | ' | Treasurer | U.S.A. | ' |
| Rick Jorgensen | 7th Dan | Director | Canada | CTKF |
| Rajeev Sinha | 5th Dan | Director | India | TKFI |
| Sabeth Mukhsin | 8th Dan | Director | Indonesia | FKTI |
| Luciano Puricelli | 6th Dan | Director | Italy | FIKTA |
| Nobuhiro Tsurume | 7th Dan | Director | Japan | JTKF |
| Dr. Wlodzimierz Kwiecinski | 7th Dan | Director | Poland | TKFP |
| Kenneth Taylor | 5th Dan | Director | U.K. | UKTKF |
[edit] Technical Qualifications
Dan Ranking
ITKF officially recognizes Eligible Style Organization (ESO) rankings which have standards that match ITKF technical standards. ITKF recognizes each ESO ranking as an official rank.
Ranking Examiner
ITKF recognizes Ranking Examiners who have completed the necessary ITKF course and examination and each respective style organization’s recommended examiners. Examiners are ranked as Class A, B or C.
Judge
ITKF qualified judges serve at all official ITKF competitions. Judges must complete the required course and successfully pass the examination. There are two categories for Judges: Kumite and Kata. Each category has three classes: A, B or C.
Certified Coach
ITKF issues certificates for Certified Coaches, which require completion of the necessary course and examination.
Certified Instructor
ITKF issues certificates for Certified Instructors, which require completion of the necessary training course. [2]
[edit] ITKF Summer Camp
The ITKF runs an annual retreat for Karate training held in San Diego, California. Karate students come from all over the world to train. Guest Instructors, often outside of the ITKF are invited to teach classes. Exams for black belt, examiner certification and judge certification are offered.
