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Tae Kwon-Do comes from Korea and was developed by
Major General Choi Hong Hi (9th Degree Black Belt).
Unfortunately the Major passed away a short while
ago in 2002. However, before he died he saw Tae
Kwon-Do reach every corner of the planet, not bad
when you think that Tae Kwon-Do in its present form
was only inaugurated on 11th April 1955, and was
first seen in the UK in 1967. Tae Kwon-Do can
however be traced back many hundreds of years, to
its roots, which come from Taek-Kyon, an unarmed
self defence system seen in Korea around 50BC.
Translated from Korean, "Tae" means -to jump, kick
or smash with the foot, "Kwon" means -a fist, to
punch or destroy with the hand, and "Do" means -art,
way or method. Tae Kwon-Do uses techniques of
unarmed combat for self defence, involving blocking,
evading, punching and kicking using just the hands
and feet to rapidly destroy an opponent. In today's society which is plagued with violence and intimidation it enables the student to posses a fine weapon for defence of themselves and others, when Tae Kwon-Do is wrongly applied it can be a deadly weapon.
As a beginner you will start off as a White Belt and progress through various colours of belt until you reach Black Belt. I have described below the journey that you will take as a coloured belt, what you will be taught, and the ability you can expect to have gained at each level of progression. The time frames mentioned are only a guideline, students progress at their own rate and are never rushed into a grading that they are likely to fail. However, this minimum time is usually adequate, and a hardworking student can earn a Black Belt in just 3+1/2 years. Once you have achieved your black belt you can continue to grade; the levels of black belt are as follows: 1st degree (or Dan) , 2nd degree, 3rd degree, etc., all the way up to 9th degree.
White Belt - This is the grade you start at as a beginner. For your first grading you are taught 2 basic blocks and a punch, which you are asked to perform moving forwards and backwards, as well as in a four directional exercise known as Sajo Jirugi. You will also be taught a kick used to stretch the hamstring muscles (enabling greater flexibility with the legs) and will be asked to perform 10 press-ups to strengthen the arms. 3 months later...
White Belt Yellow Tag - A Tag (or "Stripe") indicates that you are half way between full belts; here it shows that you are half way to earning a yellow belt. Now that you have mastered some of the basics you are introduced to a few variations, as well as 1 new kick and 1 new strike. You are also taught the first pattern in Tae Kwon-Do, testing your ability to string techniques together in a fluid motion. 3 months later...
Yellow Belt - After accomplishing your yellow belt you are taught several new blocks and 1 new kick. For your next grading you will be tested on your ability to string kicks and simple hand techniques together. You will also be taught the 2nd pattern in Tae Kwon-Do, (which is slightly more difficult,) and will be asked to perform a few simple moves against a partner in basic 3 step set sparring. 3 months later...
Yellow Belt Green Tag - Here you are introduced to a couple more complex strikes and blocks, as well as the infamous side kick. Your new pattern combines a greater variety of techniques and will test your rotational ability and balance with its 360° spin after a release move. In 3 step set sparring you will be asked to perform more techniques against a partner, with greater emphasis on your distancing ability. 3 months later...
Green Belt - Again at this grade you will find the blocks and strikes become more complicated, and you will be taught your first spinning kick, the reverse side kick. You will have to master more complicated combinations and will show improved balance with the bending stance in your pattern, which is held on one leg. You will learn the last of the 3 step set sparring, and will start on 3 step semi-free sparring, testing your ability to apply appropriate blocks of your choice to a sequence of known techniques performed by a partner. 3 months later...
Green Belt Blue Tag - Your pattern consists of a much greater variety of moves than in any previous pattern and will introduce you to your first jump, testing your control and balance. At your grading you will be asked for the first time to perform patterns from previous grades as well as your own, assessing your advancement and understanding of the more technical details of basic moves. Techniques performed in line will come mostly from your grade pattern, but will also include your second spinning kick, the reverse turning kick. In semi-free sparring you will be expected to choose appropriate block for an unknown sequence of basic kicks performed by a partner. You will also advance to 2 step set sparring, more complicated and effective than the 3 step set sparring, teaching you useful attack and defence combinations and testing your distancing ability further. For the first time you will also be asked to perform semi-contact (light contact) free sparring with a variety of partners, wearing of course a complete set of padded sparring equipment for safety. 3 months later...
Blue Belt - When you have reached this grade you will be considered a senior colour belt (as apposed to a junior colour belt), and will need to show an increased advancement not only in technical ability but also speed and power. You pattern is more complex with more detailed combinations, including changes into new and obscure stances which need particular emphasis, and your second release move which challenges your natural instinct to pull away when grabbed. You will also learn your first posture movement, performed in slow motion. Like your last grading, you will be asked to perform patterns for previous grades as well, to test your advancement in these. You will also be asked to perform the last of the 2 step sparring, consisting of more complicated combinations; and advanced level 3 step semi-free sparring, where you will need to perform appropriate blocks quickly and powerfully against a sequence of unknown attack techniques from both hands and feet. This will teach you to read your opponent's moves better, helping you also in your free sparring; which again you will also have to perform. 6 months later...
Blue Belt Red Tag - Yet more emphasis will be placed on the speed and power of the application of your techniques at this level, helping you to reach a stage of practical ability in self-defence. Still the technical details of each movement will also increase, but it is important that once you understand the moves and can perform them well technically you learn to reduce conscious thought processes and rely more on muscle memory; this will result in greater speed and flow. Your pattern contains a greater assortment of moves and combinations, including your second jump (predictably more difficult than your first at Blue Tag) and your second posture movement. At your grading you will again be asked to perform free sparring and semi-free sparring at advanced level, testing your improvement in reading your opponents movements quickly and responding with an appropriate block, performed block swiftly and powerfully, and an effective counter attack. You will also move onto 1 step sparring basic level, where you have the chance to choose your own block and sequence of counter attacks to a single punch. This is designed to help a student learn the effective action of finishing off an opponent with controlled movements in rapid motion. 6 months later...
Red Belt - Red Belts are generally the most dangerous of students, this is because they have a lot of power but not enough control of it. This is not a reason to go lightly though, as at this grade you will be expected to look more closely at the concepts of power; where it is created, how it is created it, how to maximise it and minimise energy wasted. Your pattern is relatively simple, but this allows for a lot more power to be applied to the moves, making it quite an impressive performance piece if done correctly. It also contains your third release move, a pull-push release. A lot of attention should be paid to detail, especially the target areas for the techniques, as even a powerful technique will lose most of its effectiveness if misplaced even by an inch. The techniques you will perform in line will consist of some interesting combinations of blocks, strikes and kicks, mostly originating from patterns; it will also contain jumping kicks, including one jumping spinning kick. These are incredibly hard to perform well at first, but hard work and a determined attitude will pay off. At your grading you can expect to be pretty exhausted, as they can ask you to perform any of the patterns and set sparring that you have learnt in the past, as well as semi-free sparring and free sparring. It will probably be your first true test of endurance. 6 months later...
Red Belt Black Tag - Here it is vital that you learn to demonstrate control of your techniques without any loss of any power. Good attitude is more important than ever; you need to remain calm and in control of your emotions as well as your body, you must not lose your temper or panic if you make a mistake, you must remain composed at all times and show enthusiasm and determination even when exhausted. Your pattern is complicated and requires precise footwork. It contains your first flying kick and a difficult jumping 360° spin; it is important that you can perform both of these gracefully whilst easily maintaining your balance. Your 1 step sparring needs to show an advancement as you settle on your preferred style of self-defence, and the moves you choose must be sharp, powerful and practical. You must also be able to perform confidently all of the patterns you have ever learnt, all of the 3 step, 2 step and semi-free sparring you have ever done, as they could test you on any of it. Every aspect of your grading must have adequate and consistent power. It won't be an easy grading, that's for sure, but that Black Belt's worth it! 6 months later...
1st Degree Black Belt!
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© Copyright 2007 Emersons Green TKD Website Designed By LD Newman & F Watson Last Updated: 4th October 2008 |
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