To understand certification and the role the ITBA plays, it’s first important to explore the nature of belt rank and how certification supports that structure.

At the earliest stages of the taekwondo journey, color belt rank is primarily about being able to demonstrate a specific set of fundamental techniques and attitudes. Certification helps by establishing that the curriculum being taught is sufficient. However, in the end, the final responsibility for evaluating each student’s level of competence is placed on the individual instructor.

At the ITBA, we believe that the taekwondo ecosystem is well developed when it comes to color belt certification. There is a strong supply of instructors capable of administering color belt level testing across all of the various taekwondo styles.

Achieving black belt rank also requires a demonstration of technique and attitude, although the knowledge base required to effectively teach and evaluate these skills becomes harder to find. This is particularly true across the more traditional styles where variety has been embraced over standardization.

The ITBA plays an active role here, where we provide advanced training and related certification to instructors and master instructors.

When the title of master becomes appropriate, the nature of both rank and certification changes meaningfully. At these levels, it is our strong view that the title of master (or grandmaster) represent advanced teaching titles and are not indicative of an individual’s physical technique. What becomes important at this stage is the ability to effectively teach others and grow taekwondo itself.

Our approach to certification continues to evolve at a regional level. If you are interested in learning more about how the ITBA can help yourself or your organization, please schedule a call with one of our officers to explore what we can do for you.