Frequently Asked Questions
MARTIAL ARTS 101
There are numerous styles of martial arts, and the list grows as hybrid martial arts are newly created and as archaic martial arts are rediscovered and brought back into mainstream practice. However to simplify, martial arts are categorized into two main categories, striking and grappling. All martial arts have some levels of both striking and grappling, but most lean towards one or the other. For example, although “wrestling” an opponent to the ground is not allowed in the sport of boxing, boxers are taught to defensively “clinch” and tie up their opponents and wait for the referee to break them if they are tired or if they find themselves in trouble during a punching exchange. Clinching is considered a grappling technique. Striking techniques involve learning how to use the various parts of the body to effectively strike the opponent or assailant to neutralize the threat, incapacitate them from harming us. Grappling involves of gripping or seizing the opponent with the hands, arms, and legs to manipulate their balance and position to neutralize and/or incapacitate their threat and/or to give a superior vantage striking position.
Just as you are never too old to learn, you are never too old to begin martial arts. It is important however that you find the right school that offers the correct program that will cater to your specific needs. Most adults simply want to train in martial arts to learn self-defense, while at the same time improve their physical fitness, mental focus and spiritual health. Although walking or going to the gym are excellent ways to stay fit, these type of activities are not everyone’s “cup of tea”. It is important that you find an exercise that is enjoyable to partake in. Endorphins play an important role in our mental health and overall sense of well-being. Although exercising is one way of releasing endorphins, the effect is greater if you enjoy the type of exercise that you are doing. Partaking in activities you enjoy such as listening to music, eating delicious foods, and laughter also help release endorphins. Walking can be considered boring to some people, and is also weather dependent. You cannot go out for a nice walk in the park if it is raining, or if it is too hot and humid, which unfortunately describes the majority of South Florida weather. If you do not have a good training partner you might find the lack of motivation to stick with your exercise program. It is also important to note that if the weight training movements are not done correctly, it can cause you more harm than good.
Martial arts has the advantage of being a fun group activity. Training in a group with others can help you find the motivation you need to exercise longer periods. It is important to note that although training occurs in a group setting, everyone exercises at the pace they are comfortable with. The curriculum changes as you advance in rank, so you will not find the training to be redundant. Best of all you progress in rank at the pace that you are comfortable with. At USA Tae Kwon Do School, we encourage each other with positive reinforcement and teach students to work with each other to maximize productivity and motivation.
Taekwondo is a traditional Korean marital art that was developed for the commoner to learn self-defense and later developed into child-friendly martial art with the importance of having proper morals and values. It has very specific and technical strikes of both hand and foot. There are belt levels to record and keep track of the progress made by the student. The “belt system” also helps to motivate students to work towards their next belt which is a short term goal, and keep them on the path of their long term goal of being a black belt. The masters and instructors of taekwondo heavily emphasize on children developing proper discipline. At USA Tae Kwon Do School, we teach our young students that discipline is “Doing the right thing, all the time.”
Kickboxing is a modern martial art that was created to serve as a middle ground competition event for various traditional martial artists of different disciplines. Karate, kung-fu, boxing, taekwondo all have their own specific rules and competed only within their own martial art community. When the question of which martial art was the best arose, practitioners of different martial arts gathered and created middle ground rules that was acceptable to them and was closely similar to the rules of their own martial art. Kickboxing lacks in teaching and instilling discipline when compared to taekwondo. This can be explained with the rationale that kickboxing was developed for adult marital artists that should already have proper discipline and therefore there is no need to emphasize for its development. Because of this, taekwondo would be the ideal martial arts for a child or beginner.
Taekwondo and karate are similar in some ways and quite different in other aspects. To summarize the biggest difference comes in their point of origin and in the difference of their rules and organization as a sport.
Taekwondo is a Korean striking martial art and it is an Official Olympic Sport. Taekwondo is known for its flashy and dynamic kicks. Although there are many different organizations of taekwondo, it is mainly governed and regulated by the World Taekwondo and the Kukkiwon which has helped it to become the first traditional striking martial art that allows kicking to become an official Olympic Sport. Olympic taekwondo is a full contact sport. Punches to the head are not permitted, however kicks to head are allowed. Punches to the body are awarded one point, kicks to the body are awarded two points, and kicks to the head are awarded three points. If a turning kick lands, then a bonus of two extra points are awarded. A turning kick to the body will equate to a total of four points and a turning kick to the head will equate to a total of five points. Only World Taekwondo and Kukkiwon are recognized as the official governing bodies of taekwondo in Korea.
Karate is a Japanese striking martial art. After numerous failed attempts, it will finally debut as an Olympic Sport for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee did not initially approve karate because there were numerous styles of karate with each style having different competition rules, and karate lacked a unified well-organized governing body to regulate it. In comparison Taekwondo debuted as a demonstrative sport in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, and later was accepted as an Official Olympic Sport since the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
TAEKWONDO 101
Taekwondo is a Korean traditional martial art and a modern Olympic Sport. Taekwondo was initially created to teach the commoners to defend themselves against invading forces. Taekwondo literally means Tae = foot, Kwon = hand, Do = the way. However it does not translate to “the way of the foot and hand” as it is posted in Wikipedia. Because although “Do” can mean “the way”, the Do used in taekwondo is the same Do as Tao (Dao) a root word found in Taoism (Daoism). The Do in taekwondo means “the way” as in the path or route. The same as in how a person might ask for directions to a certain destination, “What is the way to grandmother’s house?” In taekwondo, the Do specifically means the path of life. Many times in the path of life, we reach a fork in the road where we have to choose between right and wrong. This is where taekwondo distinctly distinguishes itself from other martial arts. Taekwondo is the best martial art for children to learn proper discipline, morals and values.
Taekwondo is beneficial in many ways. It develops the mind, body and soul. Taekwondo helps the mind to focus, and not get distracted. It helps the mind to quickly react and think under pressure. Taekwondo helps the body by developing muscle strength, flexibility, balance, stamina, explosiveness, dexterity, agility, endurance and weight control. Taekwondo helps the soul by teaching students to stay positive at all times and to have indomitable spirit. In Korean it is known as 백(baek) 절(jul) 불(bool) 굴(gool).
백 means 100, 절 means break/fail, 불 means not, 굴 means bend.
백(baek) 절(jul) 불(bool) 굴(gool) means even after failing or getting hurt 100 times, you still don’t give up, your will/spirit does not bend. You do not succumb to defeat. At USA Tae Kwon Do School we heavily emphasize on the importance of developing 백(baek) 절(jul) 불(bool) 굴(gool). Throughout history, greatness is achieved with this type of mentality. The famous inventor Thomas Edison in reference to the numerous tries of inventing the light bulb said, “I have not failed, I just found 10,000 ways it will not work.”
When Korean masters first immigrated to the US, they wrote 태권도 in English the way their names would be written in Korean. In Korean the surname is placed in the front, and it is followed by the given name. Unlike the way the names are spaced when written in English, they are placed next to each other with no spacing when written in Korean. For example, Grand Master Suh, Joong Keun would be written in Korean 서중근, 서(Suh) 중(Joong) 근 (Keun). The word 태권도 is one word, however the Korean masters believed it should be spaced out so initially it was written as Tae Kwon Do. But now the widely accepted way of writing 태권도 is one word taekwondo.
Some still use the old Tae Kwon Do method of spelling while most have adapted the newer taekwondo method. Both are acceptable, but the taekwondo community is leaning more on the newer way of the spelling “taekwondo”.
Courtesy – to be polite, respectful, and kind
Integrity – to do the right thing because it is right, honesty, to be true to yourself
Perseverance – to never give up
Self-Control – to be the master of yourself, to control your emotions and fears
Indomitable Spirit – an unbreakable spirit
BECOMING A STUDENT OF USA TAE KWON DO SCHOOL
Unlike other sports, a beginner of taekwondo is called a student. A student of taekwondo is expected to learn not just the martial art techniques, but the morals and values that would be practiced by an exemplary citizen. Learning taekwondo should be a long term goal. As a student of taekwondo one must continually practice everything they have learned and continue to learn new techniques and information. It is not enough for a taekwondo student to learn, but to master everything they have learned by practicing and further enrich their education of taekwondo. In Korea, one can actually graduate as a major in taekwondo in several colleges and universities.
We can generalize that say that a practitioner of taekwondo learns the importance of having a strong body, mind, and spirit, and the various training methods involved in developing a strong body, mind, and spirit. However, the specific curriculum that is taught varies with the age group and belt level group of the class. Although self-defense techniques would be taught to every student, not all students would learn the same self-defense techniques. The curriculums are designed to target the specific needs of each group. For example: when learning the importance of having proper nutrition, children will learn to eat the proper daily recommended servings of the different food groups and a variety of fruits and vegetables. But generally children would not be told to restrict caloric intake because their bodies need the extra nutrients to help them grow and develop.
For self-defense techniques we would begin with the simplest and effective techniques to defend against the most common types of attacks and situations. We first teach striking offense and striking defense because it is very common for striking to occur during a physical altercation.
The most common part of the body that is used to strike is either with hand or foot. We call this primary striking points. This is because they are the easiest to use and more importantly used in the striking distance that most common and frequent in a self-defense situation. You have a significant advantage in versatility of different areas of the hand and foot to strike with.
There are two types of hand attacks, closed hand and open hand. Closed hand is when you strike with your hands closed. Open hand is when you strike with an open hand. We will discuss the differences in application and also the pros and cons between open hand and closed hand techniques at a later article.
The punch is the most common hand attack. A punch is considered a closed hand technique because the hand is closed into a fist when punching. When using a punch to strike one must be careful to strike with the knuckles located at the base of the finger which is known as the 1st or major knuckle of the index and middle finger. And most importantly, the fist must be closed or formed properly with the thumb tucked on the outside and under the rolled up fingers. The main impact point should be the primary knuckles of the index and middle finger for it is very possible to injure or even break ones hand with improper punching technique.
Even from the basic punch, there are various types of punches and depending on the angle, chambering, release, and snap of the punch given different names. Jab, straight/cross, hook, uppercut, overhand are some examples of this type of punch. But you also have hammer fist (striking with the bottom of a close handed fist) and back fist.
Examples of open hand techniques are knife hand, palm strike, one finger eye jab, spear hand, and various types of other hand strikes where you strike with the 2nd / minor knuckles or fingers. These type of techniques should be used for self-defense only by advanced martial artist. A one finger eye jab is highly effective in incapacitating an attacker by impeding their visual sight. However one is also prone to hurting themselves if done incorrectly, and it would require great accuracy of a skilled martial artists to land on target.
Secondary parts are the elbow, knee, and shin. Examples are elbow strikes, knee strike, and kicking with the shin. Tertiary parts are shoulder, head, and wrist. Examples of these techniques is shoulder ram, head butts, and ox jaw strike. After the essential basics are learned students will be introduced to a fully comprehensive self-defense course that will cover a wider array of self defense situations.
Tuition at USA Tae Kwon Do School varies by the program. It is highly recommended to first start with a trial course before signing up for a regular program. This way the student has an opportunity to “test the waters” to see if USA Tae Kwon Do School is the right martial art school for them. It also allows the instructors ample time to evaluate the student so that they can recommend the proper program for them. After the trial program is completed and the student chooses to continue their training at USA Tae Kwon Do School, a program director will recommended the program(s) that fit best for the student.
No. Prior martial arts experience is not needed to take classes at USA Tae Kwon Do School. However we welcome all students that have prior martial arts experience as well.
That depends on the students specific goals that a student wants to achieve and also the level of the student. Does the student wish to achieve a goal within a specified time allotment? For example, if the student wants to obtain a certain rank, or lose a certain amount of weight in a specific time period, then the program director will plan the proper training regimen to accomplish the specific goal within the allotted time. If there are no time constraints to achieve a goal, beginner students are required to attend at least two classes per week, and recommended to take 3-4 classes per week. Students in intermediate levels and advanced levels take 3-5 classes a week and train 3-10+ hours per week.
Beginner students should prepare for class by being dressed in their appropriate uniform which should be neat and clean. Jewelry, wrist watches, chewing gum are refrained from class since it can cause harm to the student or others during training. Long hair should be tied back to prevent from obscuring the student’s sight during training. Students should clear their minds of any distractions and be ready to give their best in class. Students should reflect on the goals they want to achieve before the class so that they can stay on track of reaching their goals.
The amount of students per class differ by the time of the class and level of the class. The evening classes will usually have more students than the afternoon classes. However at USA Tae Kwon Do School, we believe in maintaining the proper student to teacher ratio for our classes. Classes intended for beginners and young children will have lowest student to teacher ratio since this group requires greater amount of supervision during the training sessions. For our Little Tigers (ages 4-6) we place a class cap of 10 students per class, and on average each class has 6 or fewer students. For beginner classes, the class cap is 15 students with the average class at 12 students.
No, you will not be the only beginner in your class. White, yellow, and orange belts are considered beginner level. Our classes are grouped by level, so there will be other students of beginner belt levels in the class you attend.
Our instructors are dedicated and committed in helping the students reach their goals. Therefore it is vital that you discuss the goals you desire to achieve with the program director. Once they have all the pertinent information, they will recommend the best program for you to reach your goals.
At USA Tae Kwon Do School, we have martial art classes for children and adults. USA Tae Kwon Do School also offers family classes for parents that wish to train with their children in the same class time.
We offer programs with and without a contract. It is absolutely understandable for a student to be weary of being locked into a long-term contract, and that is the exact reason why we recommend you start with a two week trial program first. At USA Tae Kwon Do School, one of the main priorities of our mission is to provide quality martial arts classes conducted in a positive learning environment. Therefore we require that all potential future students try out our school and be evaluated so that they meet our minimum requirements before they enroll. For beginners we recommend short term programs of 6 months or less. Advanced students are offered the choice of selecting both short term and long term programs. However, students will find better monthly tuition rates with a regular program versus month to month tuition.
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT TAEKWONDO
At USA Tae Kwon Do School we teach our taekwondo students the importance of respect and courtesy. In the Asian culture, bowing to each other is a sign of mutual respect and a common form of greeting similar to that of shaking hands seen in western culture. To keep the traditions of taekwondo, students are taught to bow to the flags, instructors, and to each other. Bowing is the gesture of showing respect and should be done with correct posture and form. Students are also taught the importance of maintaining proper standing and sitting posture, and the proper method of introducing themselves and shaking hands to give a positive impression of themselves.
Although our classes are designed for ages 5 and up, students under five that demonstrate the capability of meeting the demands of the curriculum will be permitted to enroll.
New belts are earned when a student properly displays that they have adequately learned the required curriculum of their current belt level at a belt promotion exam also referred to as a Belt Test. The Belt Tests are given in a group setting, and open for the public to spectate. Before a student can register for a Belt Test, they must meet the prerequisites of their belt level. The instructors will screen the students during class time and award student with tips when the prerequisites have been met. Different color tips are assigned to each prerequisite so that students can keep track of the progress that they have made. Students will be tested on the very same prerequisites they have accomplished during class at the Belt Test. This ensures that the students have the highest probability of passing their Belt Test. The main purpose of the Belt Test is to test the student’s ability to perform under pressure and help them overcome any fears and apprehension associated with public speaking and/or performing in public.
The time to earn a black belt is determined by the frequency and time duration a student trains per week and their affinity and ability of learning taekwondo. Students that train consistently and stick to the recommended training regimen will achieve their black belt in two to three years. But the most important aspect of earning a black belt is having perseverance and indomitable spirit. We have a saying at USA Tae Kwon Do School, “A black belt is a white belt that never gave up.”
Students can learn to spar at white belt level. Sparring simply means to interact and react to various movements of a training partner. At USA Tae Kwon Do School we start our students with Beginner’s Sparring Class which is an introduction class for sparring that focuses on developing the basic fundamental skills of sparring. This class is not only aimed at students with no sparring experience, but for advanced sparring students as well since it is important to constantly improve and develop the basic skills of sparring such as proper footwork, blocking, rhythm, timing, speed, and control.
The main purpose of sparring is not learning how to fight but to hone one’s skill sets, and improve themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. Students’ physical objectives to achieve through sparring are reflex, hand eye coordination, stamina, speed, strength, and balance.
Students should aim to improve themselves mentally from sparring by developing patience, focus and concentration. Their goal is also to understand the different blocks, attacks, and counters and have the vision to know when to use the proper technique according to the appropriate situation.
Students’ goal of spiritual development through sparring is to develop an indomitable spirit. Indomitable spirit is “a spirit that cannot be defeated.” They should train to become confident in their abilities. One can only achieve this through great diligence and determination, and practice each move numerous times to master them.
The objective of sparring practice should not be to hurt, harm, or defeat your sparring partner. Rather, it should be to help your sparring partner to improve, which ultimately will help you improve. Your sparring partner plays a vital role in your training and is detrimental to your success. Definition of a partner is “a person engaged in the same activity as yourself, and be working together with you towards reaching a common goal”. That is why we use the term “sparring partner” and not “sparring enemy/opponent”.
For maximum growth and development one should train as often and frequent as possible while still being able to fulfill the rest of their daily responsibilities and tasks. For beginners we recommend at least two classes a week and optimally they should take 3-4 classes per week. But one should take caution to not over train as well. Over training can detrimentally affect your development just as much as under-training. Your body and mind need time to rest and recover. Balancing resting time to recover with training time to improve is paramount. The instructors at USA Tae Kwon Do School also highly believe a true martial artist balances their martial art training with the rest of their responsibilities and tasks that they need to take care of in their lives. We have a philosophy of applying everything we learn at the dojang (taekwondo training center) to the outside world, “out of the dojang and into the world.” For example: the same focus, intensity, and discipline used to train in martial arts should be applied to their academic studies and household chores and tasks.
A promotion test is the same as a belt test. Beginners use the term “belt test” since they change to a new belt of different color when they pass the test. Beginners’ ultimate goal is to reach the final color belt, which is the black belt. It is more common for black belts to use the term “promotion test” since they will be promoted to a higher dan, and not change to a different color since they are already black belts.
It is important that you choose an instructor that instills the correct morals and values to your child. One of the main goals of martial arts training is to teach the students to be confident and assertive, but not be aggressive or hostile in nature. When choosing a martial arts school for yourself or your children, get to know the instructors and learn about the school’s values. At USA Tae Kwon Do School, it is extremely important to us that our instructors are not only passionate in teaching martial arts, but enjoy working with children and students of all-ages.