Open Letter from Master Robert J. Howard VIII Degree to all RITA Members re. ITF situation.

Dear Members,

Just some words to re-assure you about the current situation after the sad death of our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi.

As quite often happens after such a momentous event, rival groups rush in and declare themselves as the "official" ITF or the "official" AETF. Former colleagues of many years appear to act totally illogically and to make decisions that they themselves would have considered very strange in former times. The groups that spring up in times like these remain very close and secretive. They include only the people who have the same views as themselves. They do not contact or discuss their point of view with former colleagues. They, in effect, break-away from the previous order of things but strangely enough, consider themselves to still be the official ITF or the official AETF. Drunk with power they then typically "expel" all dissenters from their point of view. Very democratic!

However, as always, the true TaeKwon-Doist follows the wishes of the Founder and is not led astray by ego or desire to seize power. None of the self-styled “ITF” groups can deny that they are confounding and ignoring the last wishes of our Founder for their own particular vested interests.

Always remember that the RITA is the only official ITF group in Ireland with a flawless pedigree stretching back over thirty two years from our own Masters and Seniors through Grandmaster Rhee Ki Ha to our Founder, General Choi. We have never wavered or strayed from the true TaeKwon-Do path.

Some of our former TaeKwon-Do brothers and sisters have broken-away in the past, come back and are now straying again. Despite the lessons of the past, they are being deluded into thinking they are members of the original ITF by the political comings and goings of the various groups who used the death of our Founder to set themselves up as the so-called leaders of the ITF and AETF. Fancy words and pretty web-sites have led them astray as indeed they were led astray some twenty years ago by other self styled leaders who have long since departed. Unfortunately, many of their own students will probably follow them down this dubious path away from the philosophy and teachings of our Founder, General Choi.

In summary, a lot of political activity has taken place since the passing of General Choi. Vested interests have set themselves up as so-called official ITF and AETF. However, the original ITF and AETF are following the last wishes of General Choi who named Mr. Chang Ung as his successor.

As a member of the RITA you are a member of the original ITF as formed by General Choi on 22nd March 1966. Nobody can challenge that fact!

When all the political fuss is over and the dust settles down I can assure you that as a member of the RITA, you will still be following the one true TaeKwon-Do path as laid down by our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi.

Master Robert Howard 8th Degree Black Belt
Director of the ITF
President RITA
President of the National Governing Body for the ITF in Ireland