History

    The International Traditional Karate Federation (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).


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Last Updated: 06.23.2007
International Traditional Karate Federation
The International Governing Body of Traditional Karate
International Traditional Karate Federation
About ITKF:
History
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E-mail: office@itkf.org