Taekwondo

If by "stages," you are referring to the levels of progress in learning, they are generally divided in three parts (student, Instructor, & Master), which are each subdivided into three parts:

1. '''student'''

A. Beginner

B. Intermediate

C. Advanced (includes high grade color belt & all levels of Black Belt)

2. '''Instructor''' (teacher of students)

A. Assistant Instructor

B. Instructor

C. Senior Instructor (aka: head or chief Instructor)

3. '''Master''' (teacher of teachers)

A. Junior or Associate Master

B. Master

C. Grandmaster

Although a practitioner of Taekwondo is considered a "student" for their entire life, the color belt level is designed to lay the foundation, and prepare the student for a life time of learning which begins at the Black Belt level.

The color belts are divided into "geup" (grades). The belt colors are a visible representation of the progress of a student. The novice begins at the white belt level, which is called "mu geup" (no grade), or sometimes referred to as "sip geup" (10th grade). Students at this level are taught the very basics of customs, courtesies, and classroom procedures. They learn simple exercises for health, strengthening, and stretching for flexibility and agility. White belts are introduced to basic posture, breathing, stances, and some of the initial blocks, punches and kicks. After a student has shown a grasp of the basics, they are tested at an official promotion test, and graded by Senior Instructors or Masters.

The first promotion is to "Gu geup" (9th grade), usually represented by a yellow belt. The grades progress in decreasing number (9th, 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, & 1st grade) with each belt getting gradually darker in color. Each level of promotion brings about more challenging exercises, techniques and strategies.

Students typically learn a pattern of prearranged movements known as Poomsae (also tul or hyung), where the soloist demonstrates simulated defensive and offensive counter strikes against imaginary opponents. These patterns, also called "forms," are designed to provide unique conditioning exercise that can be practiced alone, outside of class. They also help develop mind/body coordination, and reflexive responses to real-life attacks.

Other skills taught at increasingly more advanced levels include one-step sparring as a pre-arranged attack and defense with a partner, hoshinsul and hapkido tactics for close-quarter fighting, yudo skills for ground-fighting defense, free-sparring for both sport and self defense applications, and board breaking to challenge proper technique, and demonstrate the devastating power of Taekwondo.

Once a student has gained sufficient understanding, and ability to perform the basics (about 3 to 5 years), they are tested for the 1st Degree of the Black Belt (Il Dan). This is where the culmination of basic knowledge comes together, and they are drilled on the many philosophies, strategies, and tactics of unarmed combat. At this level, Master Instructors may introduce any kind of challenging skills that apply to current, real-life self defense scenarios, including defense against multiple attackers in a variety of environmental conditions, and against any type of conceivable weapon an attacker might use. As the Black Belt student's knowledge, understanding, and skills increase, the levels of rank are tested from 1st Degree to 9th Degree after require time between tests has elapsed for maturity and full development.

Throughout the entire education of the student, the most important feature of Taekwondo is a balance. Maintaining an ideal balance in everything. In training, there is a balance of mind, body, and spirit. The student is skillfully guided by an experienced and qualified instructor to keep them on track. The character development which teaches proper attitude, respect, courtesy, and a set of morals and ethics to guide the student in daily life are all an integral part of Taekwondo training, and must never be neglected by student or teacher.

Taekwondo originated and was named in Seoul, South Korea, but Taekwondo schools and organizations exist in North Korea today.

Many of the roots that influenced the development of modern Taekwondo have their origins in the entire peninsula of Korea between the 1st century BC, and the later part of the 19th century AD, prior to the Japanese occupation of Korea, and before the split of North and South Korea. Back then, Korea was one country, and the citizens were one people sharing a single culture.

After WWII, a political struggle resulted in some political leaders choosing to side with the communist influences of China, with others choosing a democratic system of government. This led to the Korean war (1950 - 53), which was halted with a cease-fire agreement, and a heavily guarded zone was established at the 38th parallel separating the Communist North Korea from the Republic of South Korea.

Taekwondo was named as the official Martial Art of Korea on April 11, 1955 in Seoul, South Korea. The first organization unifying the various Kwans (schools), the Korea Taekwondo Association (KTA) was established in Seoul in 1961, and the national academy, the Kukkiwon, serving as the World Taekwondo Headquarters was completed in 1972 in Seoul, South Korea. The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) was established in 1973, and serves as the sport governing body, and the International Federation for Olympic Taekwondo.

Taekwondo has since spread to most countries around the world, including North Korea, and each country has member National Associations recognized by the WTF, and teams that compete in international competitions, world championships, and the summer Olympic Games.

The question of who is the "best" is a matter of opinion. There are many qualities of a student or master of Taekwondo that could be used to decide who you "think" is the best, but answers to this type of question are likely to be based more on a personal relationship a student has with a particular individual, or organization where the natural inclination would be to name your own Master or Grandmaster.

There have been many knowledgeable, highly skilled and talented Masters in Taekwondo throughout the years. Many are no longer living, and even more are being created with each generation. It would be more appropriate to note their particular skills, character traits, lifetime achievements, and their contributions to Taekwondo, but not to single one out as a fabricated "best." Any genuine Taekwondo Master would decline such a designation.

(Supervisor's note: Since there are likely to be many personal opinions to this question, let us place those on the "Discussion" page for this question. Naming individuals here will be removed and placed in the Discussion area where members can state why they agree or disagree with those named.)

Karate and taekwondo are still popular today for the same reasons that other sports are still popular today. They are a lot of fun.

Like gymnastics and fencins, karate and taekwondo were originally developed as a way for soldiers to fight on the battlefield. Rifles and tanks have rendered most such skills almost obsolete (but not entirely). Soldiers still use martial arts as away to train their bodies to be prepared for hand to hand combat.

As a sport, karate and taekwondo are impressive to watch.

A place where you practice Taekwondo is called a Dojang 도장 (pronounced "doe - jahng). It can be defined as a "gym" or "hall of the way," and applies to the practice room, as well as the building itself.

Taekwondo first became a medal sport at the 2000 Games in Sydney after having been a demonstration sport at the 1988 Games in Seoul and the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

Taekwondo made its Olympic debut in 1988 at the Seoul, Korea Games (appropriately enough). It continued as a demonstration sport at 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain. Taekwondo was not part of the 1996 Atlanta Games. The International Olympic Committee voted against inclusion of demonstrations sports. Taekwondo became a medal sport at the 2000 Sydney, Australia Games. It continued as an Olympic sport in 2004 at the Athens, Greece Games and in 2008 at the Beijiing, China Games.

Following several controversial scoring decisions and upsets and the very unsportsmanlike behavior of the athlete from Cuba, there was fear that taekwondo would be cut from the roster in 2012, but taekwondo has been confirmed as an Olympic sport for the 2012 Games in London and also for the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

[Note: While debates can rage on with personal opinions, these are best served on the discussion page for this question.]

The answer to this question might be expressed in personal opinions by many students of various skill levels in a variety of Martial Art systems. Nevertheless, the facts can be supported by scientific testing, however there has been no conclusive, scientific tests that verify which kick is the most "powerful", but an experienced Master will know what results come from each kick. The question can be misleading since "power" deals more with the science of physics where power is the rate of work done, or force applied as energy is transferred over a distance in a specific amount of time. In other words, fast kicks might have power, but could lack in the total force penetrating the target. The important factor is not so much the "power" of the kick as it is the maximum total force generated.

Some kicks increase their applied force through rapid acceleration in a short time. This results in a greater impact, and extensive visible damage to a target. However, all kicks are either linear or circular, and use one of three hip positions: Front, Side, or Back. For example, a front kick can be thrust on a straight line into the mid-section while using a front hip position (kicker's abdomen facing the target). A crescent kick also uses a front hip position, but travels on a circular path. The side kick follows a linear path with the hips facing to the side. The roundhouse kick and hook kick also uses the side hip position, but they both travel on a circular path.

While the circular kicks can deliver a great deal of force through rapid acceleration, and a somewhat pendulum like pivot with added extension or retraction of the knee joint, the applied force is not supported by the bone structure which considerably reduces the amount of reaction force capable of returning into the target. This can cut the potential total force nearly in half.

The side kick is the only kick (regardless of which Martial Art system employs it), that uses the most sound geometric shape and structure of the human anatomy to reinforce the applied force. The side kick can be applied numerous ways, and some are more suited for taking advantage of the rapid acceleration, mechanics of the muscles and joints, and the reinforced locking of the body which is supported by the rear foot securely planted on the floor.

The basic rotation of a front leg, or back leg side kick contains good reinforced position, but is not able to utilize the greatest amount of acceleration and mechanics. The skipping side kick has a better rotation of the hips from the beginning of the kick, and adds the momentum of the body to help reinforce the initial impact. The flying side kick can be equally as forceful with the forward motion of the body to support the kick, however the body is not planted on the ground, thus some initial applied force dissipates.

Probably the most powerful kick able to be delivered by the human body, when all kicks are mastered, is the spinning (or turning) side kick. This kick uses the most ideal hip position, mechanics of combining hip and knee extension simultaneously, the necessary acceleration as the kick progresses, and is the still supported by a firmly planted rear foot for maximum use of the reaction force. Even this kick must be mastered to combine all proper alignment, timing of muscle contractions, targeting, and a forward thrust of the entire body which is supported by the rear foot and floor.

[please see the discussion page for personal experience and opinions of contributors]

Taekwondo is a Korean Martial Art whose techniques come from a variety of sources with the core curriculum being based on former native Korean combative methods of Subak and Tae Kkyeon. Although most of the modern techniques are of recent development, they are influenced by ancient origins, and the entire art is comprised of culture, philosophy, character development and warrior training that dates back to the 1st Century BC.

The key influence on Taekwondo techniques was the tactic of using the legs as the primary weapon, followed by hand strikes, then throws & take-downs, and finally grappling and ground-fighting. Thus, the Korean Tae Kkyeon was the impetus for kicking, which was supplemented by the Japanese Judo which was transformed into Korean "yudo"; Aikido transformed into hapkido; and the hand strikes of Korean Subak, Chinese Tangsudo (Tang So Do), and Japanese Shotokan Karate-do were combined to make Taekwondo a complete and balanced system of self defense.

Taekwondo had its curriculum of techniques and tactics initiated in 1944 with the opening of the Chung Do Kwan, the first official Korean school authorized during the Japanese occupation. The Korean Army training within the Oh Do Kwan (military off-shoot of the Chung Do Kwan), provided another source of influence. The art is still being refined and modified today. The modern establishment of the national Korean Martial Art of Taekwondo started with the naming of the newly unified system on April 11, 1955, and the official establishment of the Korea Taekwondo Association in 1961. With the creation of the Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters), in Seoul, Korea, in 1972, Taekwondo's international curriculum, along with Black Belt and Instructor certification became standardized worldwide.

It should be noted that over the first few decades of Taekwondo's development, several Kwans (family of schools) were created and branched out into organizations, which resulted both major federations, and independent schools that follow their own syllabus, and use a variety techniques, tactics, and strategies that differs in many ways from the origin of Korean Taekwondo, the KTA, and the Kukkiwon.

Exactly what it says - control of yourself.

For example; if you were sparring with a child, you would need self control to ensure you didn't go too hard on them or hurt them.

In Korean Tae Kwon Do, green belt is the third belt after white belt and means that you are of intermediate rank and may progress from solo one-step forms to free sparring.

The green belt represents a student's progress toward black belt. It represents a certain level of skill or a certain set of skills. Each school sets its own curriculum, so two students from different school with a green belt might not know all the same kicks, blocks or forms.

All belt systems are based on the system developed by Kanō Jigorō, the Japanese founder of Judo (and Jujitsu.) Originally, there were six student grades referred to by number. A student would begin at Grade 6 and work up to Grade 1: (6) white, (5) yellow, (4) orange, (3) green, (2) blue, (1) red. Then they would graduate to black belt. The black belts were divided into 9 ranks. A student would begin at Rank 1 and work up to Rank 9. Black belt ranks have been standardized, but student grades have not.

Poetically, the green belt represents a plant growing from the earth as the student's skills develop.

There are a limited number of true 10th Dans in the world. Many of the Japanese styles do not even go that high. They feel that 10th Dan should only be awarded to the originator of the art. The Okinawa karate styles have a single 10th Dan in each style. To meet and train with one is an honor.

The frequency and number of belt tests between white belt and red belt will vary from school to school, but it should be approximately two-and-a-half years. Black belts usually take three years, and red belts are just one or two steps below the black belt.

The knowledge of pressure points in the Martial Art is a serious, and potentially dangerous skill. While the internet is filled with sources of data, void of any personal direction, guidance, or integrity, any responsible expert in this field knows that this kind of information should not be imparted without proper instruction, and safety guidelines. Sometimes, the best information anyone on the internet can offer is not the answer to the question, but where to seek qualified training on a subject that will result in an improved understanding of the art and skill.

Find a certified teacher in your area who has this knowledge, and get personal instructions to avoid potential serious injury through misuses, or misunderstanding.

Over 2,000 studios in US. and there are over 30,000 compations for tae kwon do alone in the US.

Probably as a result of the promotion of Far Eastern martial Arts in the West.

Throughout a period that spanned roughly the late '70s to the mid '90s, interest grew in Western society regarding the martial arts that were practiced in the Far Eastern countries such as Korea, China, and Japan. This was promoted by some of the martial arts films that came out of the same period and starred the likes of David Carradine, etc.

Karate and Judo had always been a minority martial arts sport that had been persued in Western countries ever since Victorian times, but US popular culture accelerated the level of interest in martial arts via film and TV shows. People who were not particularly physically strong suddenly realised that they could defend themselves by the use of Oriental martial arts if they found themselves to be bullied, threatened or abused, and the enthusiasm for the technique found itself a new following in Western society.

Taekwondo can be important for so many reasons! Self Defense is one of the main reasons people take Taekwondo. I love Taekwondo because its pure fun! It can help your memory and stamina. It also helps kids with ADHD calm down a bit. This question is a question that requires alot of opinions.

This depends on the style of karate, but usually the test for yellow belt includes some combination of demonstrating single-step basics (blocks, punches, kicks), one or two basic kata, and some kind of basic board breaking.

Pros: Any good and proper martial arts practice will strengthen the mind and body when taught correctly, and followed diligently. The body will become more flexible and coordinated and a person will better know how and when to defend themselves. Taekwondo is one of the most common martial arts in the US and schools can be found in many towns, which make it very flexible if you are moving around. Genuine Taekwondo utilizes a full curriculum of striking, throwing, and holding, and is not limited to just kicks. However, when the kicks are used, they become the most powerful, and destructive techniques of unarmed combat. In addition, Taekwondo experts are equally effective and deadly with hand strikes, knees, and elbows for close range fighting. The ground-fighting is also not absent in traditional Taekwondo like many people believe. Ground-fighting tactics differ in Taekwondo, and preference is placed on releases, escapes, joint manipulations, and close range striking, but joint locks, holds, and chokes are also part of the curriculum.

Cons: As far as a "con" of Taekwondo, keep in mind that many people have their own opinions, but opinions are not facts. Just because certain individuals who look at Taekwondo from the outside have little to no actual knowledge of the art, or have had bad experiences with poor instruction, and failed to defend themselves effectively with their limited knowledge of Taekwondo, does not mean that Taekwondo itself is flawed. The only real negative thing about Taekwondo is that many people are falsely imitating the art, and opening schools without proper education as certified Black Belts or obtaining special training as Instructors. If a person is studying at a so-called Taekwondo school, but is not learning the throwing, grappling and ground-fighting skills associated with Taekwondo, then they are not learning the complete Taekwondo curriculum. If someone thinks that the greater emphasis on ground fighting in systems like Judo, or Jujutsu is superior to Taekwondo, then their "opinion" is not supported by any sound evidence. Furthermore, the popularity of the sport aspect of Taekwondo (which does not accurately represent the complete Martial Art of Taekwondo) causes some people to experience training that is only geared toward tournament rules. Also, modern family oriented clubs tend to tone down the training for moms, dads, and their kids, which results in the next generation of so-called "Black Belts" thinking they are qualified to teach the art of Taekwondo. None of this is really a negative attribute of Taekwondo itself, but reflects on the image of Taekwondo, and speaks to the deterioration of quality when teaching Taekwondo in '''some''' schools. The fact is that Taekwondo continues to be an effective and formidable Martial Art when taught correctly, and the only "con" is that too many schools do not teach Taekwondo correctly. [note: contributors here who wish to express their "opinions" and personal experiences with their own Taekwondo training limitations should do so on the discussion page]

The taekwondo uniform is very much like the uniforms worn by martial artists studying karate or judo. The most unique thing about the taekwondo uniform is the V-neck. The jacket pulls over the top rather than wrapping around the chest.

People do not usually wear shoes while doing taekwondo.

When sparring, people wear specially designed guards over their head, chest, arms, hands, shins, feet, groin and mouth. The guard that people wear to protect themselves is called a hogo.

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