TKD70 and the Future of Patterns — My Reflections from Session 12
By Roy Rolstad, ITF Radix Co-Founder
This year marks 70 years since the birth of Taekwon-Do, a martial art that has shaped my life and the lives of millions around the world. As part of the global celebration, I was honored to be invited as a speaker at the TKD70 Conference, where I presented Session 12: From Patterns to Practice – The ITF Radix Approach.
If you missed it, the full session is now available to watch on YouTube here:
The Message I Wanted to Share
In this session, I explored how we at ITF Radix are working to bridge tradition and evolution. Patterns, or tuls, are the backbone of ITF Taekwon-Do, but if we stop at memorizing movements, we miss the point. The original purpose behind these patterns was to teach how to fight. Our mission with ITF Radix is to reconnect these sequences with their combative roots, without losing their elegance, structure, or cultural value.
We talked about:
How to extract real-life fighting applications from traditional patterns
The concept of “closed” vs. “open” skills
Why sparring is essential for developing timing, distance, improvisation, and stress control
How to keep the art alive by letting it evolve through experience, not just theory
Why It Matters
Instructors and students alike often ask me: Is there a risk in modernizing the patterns? My answer is always the same, not if you know what you’re preserving. At ITF Radix, we’re not rewriting the book. We’re opening it, reading it deeply, and using what’s inside to become more effective martial artists.
Our goal is to honor the brilliance of General Choi’s original system by understanding it, not by blindly repeating it.
Watch and Join the Conversation
This short session is packed with ideas, applications, and examples that I hope will inspire you, whether you’re a lifelong black belt or just beginning your journey. I invite you to check it out, share it with your dojang, and let me know what it sparks in your own training.
🎥 Click here to watch the session on YouTube
See you on the mat.
– Roy
About the Author:
Roy Rolstad is a 6th Degree Black Belt in ITF Taekwon-Do, co-founder of ITF Radix, and a lifelong martial artist dedicated to the practical application of pattern knowledge. When he’s not teaching seminars across Europe, he trains in Oslo and works with tactical training for correctional officers.
Some screenshots from the YouTube video
