In March 2027, ITF Radix is going back to the roots. Join us in Seoul for a unique journey into Korean martial arts, history, culture, and the stories behind our Taekwon-Do patterns. Train Hapkido and Taekyun, explore Korean body culture with Sanko Lewis, visit historical sites, and experience Seoul together. This is more than a trip to Korea. It is a journey into the roots of the art we practice.

When life becomes busy with school, work, and other responsibilities, training is often the first thing people remove from their schedule. Grand Master Henrik Hunstad challenges that habit, arguing that stressful periods may be exactly when physical activity is most important. Through the concept of Shimshin, the unity of mind and body, he explains why consistent training supports mental health, resilience, focus, and balance. Training does not always need to be harder or longer; sometimes, maintaining continuity is what matters most.

Thirty years after founding Haram Taekwon-Do Club in 1996, Roy Rolstad returned to where it all began. This time, he came back to teach NTN Instructor Course 6 and celebrate three decades of Taekwon-Do, friendship, development, and new generations carrying the club forward.

ITF Radix is heading to the Netherlands! Join Master Robert Boer at the 3rd Invictus Camp 2026 for a weekend of Taekwon-Do, sparring, tul, self defense, and a dedicated Radix mini course in beautiful Zeeland.

What if making mistakes is one of the most important parts of learning martial arts? From fighters who hesitate to attack, to pattern performers afraid of losing balance, young athletes adapting to growing bodies, and instructors experimenting with new ways to teach, fear of failure can restrict development. Drawing on decades of teaching experience and research into learning, error management and psychological safety, Roy Rolstad explores why we should give our students, and ourselves, permission to fail, adjust and try again.

What if the biggest mistake in martial arts isn’t confusing sport with self defense, but confusing play with seriousness? From the sandbox to the dojang, play is how we develop timing, judgment, adaptability, and emotional control. In this article, Roy Rolstad explores why sparring is the most important form of play, why there are always rules, and why the ability to play may be the very skill that prepares us best for life’s most serious moments.

Belts were never meant to be the destination. They are milestones that recognize progress, responsibility, and character. This article explores the history of the martial arts belt system and why true mastery begins after the next promotion. Article by Grand Master Henrik Hunstad

In his writings, General Choi Hong Hi described Ho Sin Sul as consisting of three main components: releasing motion, attacking motion, and breaking motion. Over the years, many schools have focused heavily on memorized routines and predetermined responses. Yet a closer look at General Choi’s original framework reveals something much broader. Ho Sin Sul is a progressive system that develops a practitioner’s ability to escape, counter, adapt, and ultimately apply Taekwon-Do under realistic conditions. In this article, we explore these three components and what they can teach us about modern self defense training today.

Twenty years ago, Roy Rolstad, Frode Steindal, and Jørgen Botnan spent four days filming 48 Ho Sin Sul techniques for NTN Taekwon-Do. Looking back today, Roy reflects on how the project became more than a technical archive. It became an early expression of the principles that would later shape ITF Radix, including timing, balance, breathing, realism, and the understanding that self defense is about far more than memorized techniques.

What happens when light contact is no longer light? In this reflection, Roy Rolstad looks at the differences between ITF rule sets and why clarity in contact level is essential. From coaching culture to athlete development, this is about trust, consistency, and keeping the premise of the sport intact.

In martial arts training many students search for the perfect technique. But in real situations technique alone is never enough. Drawing on more than two decades of experience teaching physical use of force in the Norwegian correctional system, Roy Rolstad explores why strategic thinking and tactical understanding must guide every technical decision. Through the ITF Radix lens, this article explains how context, environment, and intent shape the way techniques are applied in Taekwon-Do, self defense, and real world conflict.

ITF Radix will be presented at TKDMeetUp 2026 in Poland, organized by Sabum Łukasz Grygiel. This unique gathering brings together experienced Taekwon-Do practitioners from across Europe for several days of training, discussion, and exploration of the deeper dimensions of the art. During the event, Roy Rolstad will share insights from the ITF Radix project and demonstrate how Taekwon-Do patterns can be explored as practical tools for real world self defense and personal combat.

We’re proud to present ITF Radix System at Martial Arts All Styles (MAAS) on February 28 & March 1, 2026, a dynamic gathering where practitioners from diverse martial arts come together to train, learn, and grow. At MAAS, ITF Radix will offer a practical and engaging exploration of Taekwon-Do patterns as functional tools for real combat and self-defense.

On February 14th, 2026, forty ITF Taekwon-Do practitioners from Åndalsnes, Molde, Hustadvika, Haram, Harøy, Ålesund, and Volda gathered in Isfjorden for a dynamic ITF Radix seminar. Led by Master Robert Boer and Roy Rolstad, the day explored the hidden fighting applications within the patterns, from releasing techniques and clinch strategies to takedowns, hubut drills, and sonmuk sul. The energy, curiosity and shared community spirit made this seminar a memorable and practical celebration of Taekwon-Do in action.

In martial arts, rank isn’t about titles or status, it’s about humility, responsibility, and service. “The higher the rank, the lower the nose” captures the core principle that effective leadership requires self-control, respect, and ethical conduct. Without ego control, even the most skilled instructor can harm an organization. True leaders inspire through respect, integrity, and example.

On Saturday, 7 February 2026, Sahyun Robert Boer will lead a 3.5-hour ITF Radix training session in Elburg focused on practical self-defense applications rooted in ITF Taekwon-Do patterns. This workshop offers a unique chance to explore pattern-based combat skills and deepen your understanding of Taekwon-Do’s tactical foundations.

In February 2026, ITF Denmark welcomes practitioners to an extended black belt and national training seminar in Horsens with Master Robert Boer from the Netherlands. With a strong focus on sparring and practical self defence, and sessions for both black belts and color belts, this weekend promises high level training, technical development, and inspiration for all dedicated Taekwon Do students.

In Taekwon-Do gradings, we often assess physical skill, high kicks, fast movement, board breaks, but true mastery goes beyond performance. When we ask thoughtful, open-ended questions at gradings, we transform tests into meaningful learning moments. Reflective dialogue invites students to understand why they train, how the Five Tenets truly shape their character, and where their journey is headed. By encouraging self-awareness and honest reflection, instructors help practitioners become technically stronger, mentally resilient, ethically grounded, and self-directed. Better questions lead to deeper understanding, and deeper understanding builds better Black Belts.

National Taekwon-Do Norway hosts Instructor Course 6. Self Defence on March 14–15, 2026, at Tromsø Taekwon-Do Club. Led by Roy Rolstad, the course focuses on practical Taekwon-Do self defence, tactical decision making, stress management, and realistic pattern-based application, built on ITF Radix principles.

Roy Rolstad reflects on presenting the ITF Radix project at the 4th ITF Elite Stage and Competition in La Nucía Spain. An inspiring start to 2026 focused on patterns application learning and people.