About us

Taekwon-Do is the Korean art of self defence and the world's most popular martial art. It was first developed by a Korean Army General, Gen. Choi Hong Hi, in the 1950s and 1960s. 'Tae' means to jump or kick with the foot; 'Kwon' means to punch with the hand or fist; and 'Do' means art or way.

Taekwon-Do is also an exciting sport with many spectacular events such as sparring, patterns, power breaking and the high flying special techniques competition. But it is also a martial art suitable for all ages and abilities. 

The ITF have schools in over 190 countries worldwide and our students number well into the millions. There are many Regional, National and International events and opportunities available to all ITF practitioners. You can be assured that the technique learned and progress you achieve in New Zealand is recognised worldwide. In 2015, the New Zealand ITKD Team were awarded 'Best Overall Country', winning the ITF World Championships!

Our programme

Classes are run for everyone from beginning to advanced levels, including special classes for children.

Taekwon-Do was designed for self defence, and there is a strong emphasis on the moral aspects of the art, such as discipline, humility and self control. These non-physical aspects are known as the 'Do'.

Members of International Taekwon-Do are taught aspects of 'Do' as a part of the grading syllabus and are encouraged to live by the tenets of Taekwon-Do, which are: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control and Indomitable Spirit.Taekwon-Do means literally; foot, fist, art. It is the scientific application of movement to achieve highly powerful and practical techniques.

Regular Taekwon-Do training incorporates fundamental movements, patterns, sparring, self-defence and fitness/conditioning. ITKD practices the philosophy and technique laid down by the founder Gen Choi Hong Hi, more commonly known as ITF Taekwon-Do. 

What you need to know

Taekwon-Do is perfect for all ages, all body types, and both men and women. It is a popular activity for families given that all members of the family can practice Taekwon-Do and be challenged as little or as much as they like.

Some people simply want to improve their fitness and self-confidence, others enjoy perfecting their technique, some want to learn to defend themselves and increase their coordination and awareness, some want to compete against others.

Whatever your motivation for starting Taekwon-Do, it is truly beneficial for a multitude of reasons and is likely to impact you from the first lesson, and for the rest of your life.