What is taekwondo?

What is Taekwondo?

In its most simple definition, Taekwondo is a style of Korean martial art focused on kicking and punching and characterized by its weaponless form of self-defense. The international Taekwondo community is very large, with millions of people practicing and studying the art. It is a medal sport in both the Olympics and Paralympics.  In some countries you can study Taekwondo in college like other majors and even receive a Masters Degree or a PhD!

Are there different styles of Taekwondo?

Taekwondo has two styles: ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) & WT (World Taekwondo Federation)

The biggest and most notable difference between the two is that the Olympics feature WT Taekwondo, not ITF.  ITF and WT have different Forms and different rules for Sparring.

What style is taught at Elite Fire Taekwondo?

At EFT we practice WT (World Taekwondo) style, also known as Olympic style.

How many majors does Taekwondo feature?

Both ITF and WT style cover three majors : Forms, Sparring and Demonstration.

What are the most important early behaviors for a successful Taekwondo practice?

When first beginning a study of Taekwondo, it is most important that Instructors are able to provide their Students with the right type of Motivation, and that Students form the proper Commitment to attending class and learning their kicks, punches and forms.

What types of life skills do we learn by practicing Taekwondo?

There are many, but the main ones are: Focus, Confidence, Discipline, Patience, Commitment, Perseverance, Self-Control, Flexibility and Self-Defense.

What ages can participate in Taekwondo?

Anyone who is 3 years old or older can begin their Taekwondo practice.  We have grandparents who are over 70 years old when they begin their study!  We believe Taekwondo is a sport for everyone.

What do the belts worn by students of Taekwondo signify?

Students beginning their Taekwondo practice start with a White belt, and they continue moving through the different belt colors until they reach their final belt color, the Black belt. The first Black belt is also known as a 1st Degree Black belt, or Dan.  The last and final Black belt is the 9th Degree Black Belt.  So, there are a total of 9 Dans or Degrees to the Black belt. 

How long does it generally take a student to earn a 1st Degree Black Belt?

Generally, between 3 to 4 years.

What is the difference between a Black belt and a Black and Red Belt with Dan stripes? 

At Elite Fire Taekwondo, we follow the international guidelines for awarding Black belts to our students; these guidelines state that a student who is 15 or younger is not permitted to test for a Black belt.  Instead, when this student reaches the point in his/her study of Taekwondo when it is time to test for a Black belt, s/he is instead awarded a Poom belt.  After the student reaches the age of 16, their Poom belt can be changed to the corresponding Dan belt without additional testing. 

Not to get too confusing, but there are some Taekwondo schools in the United States that will place a Poom belt directly before a Black belt in the order in which Belts are awarded to students, but at Elite Fire we feel this practice is particularly confusing for one simple reason - when a student under 16  years of age tests for a 1st Degree Black belt, the Kukkiwon certificate they are awarded signals their belt as a Poom belt.  Once a student reaches the age of 16 as explained above, s/he can change to a Black belt.

What is a Kukkiwon Certificate?

A Kukkiwon certificate is an international Taekwondo certificate for athletes who successfully test for their Black belt.  You are not required to apply for a Kukkiwon certificate upon achieving a Black belt, but I always encourage my students to do so.  This certificate is an internationally recognized document which will confirm your Belt and rank, and will be accepted by any Taekwondo school at which you may wish to train anywhere in the world. 

Is there such a thing as a 10th Degree Black belt in Taekwondo?

The highest Black belt degree which can be EARNED is a 9th Degree Black belt.  There is a 10th Degree Black belt, but it is a symbolic Degree ONLY, and is presented to those martial artists who have dedicated their lifetimes to the furtherance of Taekwondo, and who have demonstrated a lifetime of achievement the sport.  It is NOT possible to earn a 10th Degree Black belt - think of it more like a Lifetime Achievement Award than a final Degree for a Belt.

Is Taekwondo hard?

Yes and No! If you do not practice at home, and you only practice Taekwondo when you are in class at Elite Fire, then yes - Taekwondo will be harder for you.  If you practice at home, and put extra effort into your fitness and your skills, Taekwondo will be easier for you.  As I said in my first article, even masters and grandmasters must always keep practicing to perfect the skills they already know, and to learn the new skills.

Now let’s talk about Taekwondo’s three majors:

1.     Form or Poomsae is a set sequence of movements that consists of basic stances, blocks, punches and kicks, arranged in a specific order.  Poomsae, or Form, is meant to look like the student is responding to an imaginary assailant.  There are 17 standard forms in Taekwondo Olympic Style;  for each level of belt testing at Elite Fire Taekwondo, students must do a form (or part of a form).  Taekwondo forms usually feature more use of hands than kicks.  I believe that Taekwondo forms are the best part of Taekwondo - if you learn your form perfectly, it will teach you self-defense.  Some may think learning forms is boring, but once you understand why, when and how the movements form a pattern of self-defense, you’ll begin to understand the beauty and the strength in Forms.

2.     Sparring or Kyorugi, In Sparring, unlike Forms, you use your legs more than your hands to be successful, but success also can come from proper and well timed punches, or by using your hands to block your opponents kicks.  The goal in Sparring is to use your kicks and punches to target “legal” spots on your opponent and earn points for successful execution of each move.  Different point levels are awarded for different types of kicks and punches; that can be a lengthy discussion, though, so we’ll save that for another time.  It is absolutely fine to be a bit intimidated by Sparring when you first try it; but once you learn the techniques and learn “action” and “reaction”, it will become easier. 

3.     Demonstration or Hanmadang is an exciting combination of forms, sparring, board breaking, power board breaking, self-defense , aerobics and even gymnastics.  Athletes can demonstrate individually or as a team.   Like Sparring, Demonstration can be intimidating for beginners, but learning such exciting and exhilarating techniques quickly becomes a lot of fun.  And interacting with your team members while performing a Demonstration is even more fun!

Did I forget anything?  Let me know, I’m always happy to talk Taekwondo with our EFT families!