U.S. Traditional Taekwondo Federation

The AJA is now the US Traditional Taekwondo Federation. Please note that this is the ONLY page authorized by the USTTF.

Introducing The USTTF Author: Bret Gordon

Pic of my father Grandmaster William Sirbaugh from his service.

Hae Jang Bret Gordon with instructors at our Southern Headquarters in Florida, Hannah Hunt and Shannon Gordon

Effective March 15, 2022 - The American Jidokwan Association will be officially removing the Taegeuk series as authorized substitutes for the Palgwe poomsae as gup required forms under our Taekwondo division. For those who don't know, the Palgwe series are the original poomsae developed by the KTA as part of the Taekwondo unification movement and as such were the official forms of original Jidokwan Taekwondo.

We understand some of our member schools are also Kukkiwon affiliated, and as such you may continue teaching the Taegeuks to your students but they must also learn the Palgwe series in order to obtain Jidokwan Dan rank through the AJA. The link below may used as reference of these forms.

Palgwe Poomsaes 1-8 Yang Tae Kwon Do Palgwe Poomsaes 1-8 Yang

Today marks the 76th Anniversary of the founding of Jidokwan 🎉 Originally called Yun Moo Kwan, Jidokwan is one of the original 9 kwans of Korean Karate that would eventually form the art of Taekwondo 🥋 Picture below is from the official celebration held in Korea!

Please join me in congratulating our President Master Bret M. Gordon on his promotion to the rank of 6th Degree Black Belt (Yuk Dan) in the art of American Jidokwan Taekwondo. He has also earned the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt (Oh-Dan) in the Art of Hanki Yusul. I am proud to see the progression in you and youre students. Keep up the hard work sir.

~Steven W. Hatfield Kwan Jang

Jidokwan dojang in In-Chun City in 1968 🇰🇷

There is a large misconception about the relation of Kukkiwon to the various Kwans. The purpose of the Kukkiwon was to serve as a national Dan registry and establish minimum standards for all Taekwondoin set by the Korean government. Even the name simply means "National Gym." The Kwans, like Jidokwan, still operate independently and have their own requirements above and beyond the baseline set by Kukkiwon. The Kwans are where authentic Taekwondo can be found...

Throwback Thursday - Hae Jang Bret Gordon's 1st Poom Exam. Taekwondo is more than just kicking. It has always been a complete self defense art with locks and throws too. That's exactly how we teach it...