Taekwondo FAQWill I feel intimidated as a Beginner? Our Taekwondo Academy is very welcoming and non threatening in any way. Everybody in the school was a Beginner at some point and we all remember that part of our lives very warmly. It was the start of our own journey, so you’ll find everyone very encouraging. In our classes there is no contact at all, so there is no need to worry about being punched or kicked or inappropriate exercises that often lead to injuries, like damaged shoulders, back etc. Our sole aim is to share the benefits of Taekwondo not injure or intimidate our students. You’ll find the atmosphere is very comfortable and supportive…and EGO FREE!! What can I expect in my first class? Do I need a uniform to start? You don’t need a uniform to get started. In fact we leave that timing up to you. You can ask us about getting a uniform at anytime that works best for you. We recommend loose fitting training clothes e.g Tracksuit pants & a tee shirt etc. In your first class you will start the warm up with the main group and then as the class progresses you will be under very close supervision with Master Instructor Maria to gently introduce basic techniques and give you the skills you need to participate in the squad in the very near future.
And yes, this is extraordinarily high level supervision. In fact, you’d have to look hard to find a 6th Dan Black Belt Instructor doing this, but that is indicative of the personalised structure of our teaching. Every student in the room will have started with this instruction from Maria.
Taekwondo has been maintaining and developing people’s physical, mental and spiritual health for thousands of years. Taekwondo is a highly developed system. The dynamic and powerful techniques will not only deliver an incredible workout and stress relief but provide a highly effective self defense if needed.
Training in an atmosphere that is ego free, engaging, mutually respectful and having a gender ratio of approximately 50/50, we have seen many, many people not only exceed their expectations but absolutely transform, in areas such as:
What is the history of Taekwondo? Taekwondo is a martial art originating from the days of tribal communities on the Korean Peninsula. It was developed amongst the tribes as a means of preserving their own life and race as well as building both physical and mental strength. What does Taekwondo mean? Literally translated Tae Kwon Do means ‘the way of the fist and foot.’ The most important part of the word is ‘Do’ as this translated means ‘the correct way.’ Learning to kick and punch are only physical attributes. By practicing Do and the principles of Taekwondo, students become overall martial artists both physically and mentally. How is Taekwondo different to Karate and other martial arts? Like Karate practitioners, Taekwondo students perform a lot of upper body techniques like punching, blocking and striking. What distinguishes Taekwondo from other martial arts is its superior kicking techniques. What is the belt system in Taekwondo? There are 10 belts to black belt 1st Dan. Every beginner is known as a white belt, they then have to grade (do a physical examination) What happens when you reach black belt? When you achieve your black belt you automatically become a 1st Dan. To qualify for second Dan you must train hard for a minimum of two years your instructor then decides if you are ready to apply for your 2nd Dan promotion. You may have to wait longer if you have missed training for any reason or if your instructor does not think you are ready. For 3rd Dan you have to train for an additional 3 years after achieving your 2nd Dan, the same rules apply, an additional 4 years for 4th Dan, 5 years training for 5th Dan and so on. When do you reach Master grade? In Taekwondo terms you are technically classed as a master when you reach 5th Dan. In theory by the time you reach this point you should have been training a minimum of 16 years.
Taekwondo FAQ (cont)What does being a Master grade mean? Being a master means that not only should you be technically very good at Taekwondo and teach your students correctly, you should also be educated in the martial arts and in life. Your students may come to you with their problems outside of their training and you as a Master should be able to advise and help them. That is why there is also an age restriction on applying for your Master Grade. What is the terminology for training hall? In Taekwondo the correct Korean terminology for your place of training is called a DOJANG (pron. “dor-jarng”). This is revered as a solemn place where you try and perfect yourself both physically and mentally. How long does it take to achieve black belt? This is almost impossible to answer as it depends on how often the student trains, how hard they train and how quickly they learn. Students who are more dedicated and train hard will obviously achieve their black belt before other less devoted students but to put a time span on it is difficult. What is a Taekwondo uniform called? A Taekwondo uniform is called a DOBOK. It should be white with as fewer logos on as possible. This symbolises purity of mind. |
| What equipment do I need to start Taekwondo?You basically do not need any equipment to start training in Taekwondo. Once you are sure that you wish to continue to train you will need a uniform (dobok).
What order do the belt colours go from white belt to black belt? Everyone who starts Taekwondo is classed as a white belt and from there there are nine steps until black belt. The main colours of the belts may vary slightly from club to club but the main system used in progression from white to black is this: White – Yellow – Blue – Red – Black Even if some clubs are slightly different in their colour system the amount of steps until black belts are always the same. What are coloured belts and black belts called? Coloured belts are known as Gup grades while black belts are known as Dan Grades. There are ten steps to black belt so a white belt is classed as a 10th Gup. For every single belt they then achieve they progress up the ladder to 9th Gup, 8th Gup and so on until they come to their 1st Gup which is a red belt with 3 stripes, the belt before black belt. When they finally achieve their black belt they automatically become a 1st Dan Black Belt and then progress up the Dans until they reach 9th Dan which is the highest you can go. What defines a martial art master? A Master is someone who understands the foundation and principles of the martial arts as well as being physically and technically correct. It is someone who has people skills and care about their students both inside and outside of the Dojang. A true master is someone who gives and asks for nothing in return except respect and loyalty.
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