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'. 'Do' is translated as "the way of life, the way of its own way with harmony of nature." 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 THAN HAPKIDO
Taekwondo and Hapkido are both Korean martial arts and have some similar kicking techniques. However Hapkido focuses on more close combat self-defense techniques such as defending against locks and grabs and break falling, whilst Taekwondo is more punching, blocking and kicking techniques. There is however self defense techniques in Taekwondo as well and the two are often combined as they complement each other.
WHAT IS THE BELT SYSTEM AT MASTER'S TAEKWONDO
Depending on your club there are either 9 or 10 belts to black belt 1st Dan. Every beginner is known as a white belt, they then have to grade (do a physical examination) in front of high Dan grades who then decide if the student is good enough to pass. The belt system is generally the same, however some clubs may vary. Students earn their White belt, then Yellow belt, then Green belt, then Blue belt, then Red belt, and lastly Black belt. In between the colored belts, Master's Academy has adopted the black stripe system so students can be ranked as high belt (for example High-Yellow, High-Green, etc). USA Taekwondo officially recognizes White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Red, and Black belts.
WHAT ARE COLORED BELTS AND BLACK BELTS CALLED
Colored belts are known as "Kup" grades while black belts are known as "Dan" Grades. There are nine steps to black belt so a white belt is classed as a 9th Kup. For every single belt they then achieve they progress up the ladder to 8th Kup, 7th Kup and so on until they come to their 1st Kup, which is the belt before black belt. After they receive a recommendation from their teacher they may test for their black belt. When they finally achieve their black belt they automatically become a 1st Dan(degree)
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 will evaluate your skill and will decide 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 and so on...
WHEN DO YOU REACH MASTER GRADE
In Taekwondo terms you are technically classed as a master when you reach 4th Dan. In theory by the time you reach this point you should have been training a minimum of 12 years. However it is very egotistical for someone to demand that they are called Master at this point as very few students can ever be a true master of the martial arts, it is a lifelong process that not many people achieve.
WHAT DOES BEING 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 normally an age restriction on applying for your Master Grade. How can a 14 year old be called a Master? In the same instance it is hard for a young person in general to be classed as a master grade because they do not have eno9:46 AM 4/6/2013ugh life experience behind them. Yet, each student's mentality is totally different and should be judged by the discretion of their instructor when they think the time is right for the student to handle the responsibility.
WHAT IS THE CORRECT TEMINOLOGY FOR "TRAINING HALL"
In Taekwondo the correct Korean terminology for your place of training is called a DOJANG. This should be a served and 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. I would say that even the most dedicated of students should train at least two or three years before being allowed to Dan Grade.
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 symbolizes purity of mind.
HOW POPULAR IS TAEKWONDO AS AN OLYMPIC SPORT
Taekwondo was introduced as a demonstration sport back in Seoul 1988 and again in Barcelona in 1992. Taekwondo became an official Olympic sport in Sydney 2000. Since Taekwondo has been introduced as a full Olympic sport it has grown rapidly and become a lot more recognized in the modern world. The rules of sport Taekwondo are constantly being changed to make the sport safer and more spectators orientated.
WHAT DOES A WHITE BELT MEAN
White belt signifies the beginner, or innocence.