RULES AND MANNERS FOR TAE KWON DO TRAINING

Tae Kwon Do is the cultivation of mental discipline and physical practice through the development of a healthy mind and body.  Without this discipline, learning the martial art has no value.  Your basic mental attitude is of the utmost importance.

The following rules are required for study:

1. When entering and leaving the Tae Kwon Do School, a respectful bow to the Instructors should be made.  When entering the practice area at any time, or when leaving, a salute to the flat (right hand on your heart) is made.
2. Uniforms are to be cleaned and orderly at all times.
3. Personal cleanliness.
4. A serious demeanor in class is necessary.  Avoid talking, laughing, and joking.  Concentration is of the utmost importance.
5. Respect is shown at all times toward the instructor.  Students must show respect for each other.
6. In addressing an instructor or a Black Belt, always address the person respectfully.  If the instructor or a Black Belt addresses a student, the student will respond: “Yes Sir” or “Yes Ma’am”
7. No smoking is allowed in the school.
8. Acknowledgement must be obtained from the instructor when coming to the class late or when leaving early.  If you must use the restroom during class, simply bow to the instructor and ask for permission to leave.
9. Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, food and chewing gum are not allowed in the school without permission.
10.  During class, control is necessary.  Therefore, loss of temper should be avoided.
11.  Refrain from idle chatter in the dressing room.
12.  Wearing street shoes or socks in class is prohibited.  Appropriate Tae Kwon Do shoes are permitted.
13.  Students must help keep the Do-Jang (Tae Kwon Do School) clean.
14.  NO inappropriate language will be tolerated.
15.  No children are allowed to use the weights or the equipment due to safety regulations.
16.  Children must wait in the Do-Jang (School) until a parent arrives for pick-up.

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GUIDELINES, PRINCIPLES, AND TENETS

Mr. Gayon and Dr. Gayon’s 9 Guidelines to Success in Tae Kwon Do

1. Always do your best.

2. Always be proud.

3. Always be honest.

4. Always be sincere.

5. Always be patient.

6. Always be humble.

7. Always be diligent.

8. Always be happy.

9. Always use self-control.

The Principle of Tae Kwon Do Training at Illinois Tae Kwon Do Center

1. Loyalty to our country and school.

2. Love and respect to parents.

3. Obey all instructors.

4. Be faithful and honest to your friends.

5. Never defend yourself without cause.

6. Never give up.  Persevere to finish what you start.

7. Always support and care for your Tae Kwon Do School.

Theory of Power

1. Speed

2. Reaction Force

3. Breath Control

4. Conception

5. Balance

Tenets of Tae Kwon Do

1. Courtesy

2. Integrity

3. Perseverance

4. Self-Control

5. Indomitable Spirit

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THE TENETS OF TAE KWON DO

The tenets of Tae Kwon Do should serve as a guide for all serious students of the art.

1. COURTESY

Tae Kwon Do students should attempt to practice the following elements of etiquette.

1. To promote the spirit of mutual concession.

2. To refrain from passing judgment on other people’s behavior

3. To be polite to one another.

4. To encourage the sense of justice.

5. To distinguish the instructor from the student and senior from junior.

2. INTEGRITY

In Tae Kwon Do, the word integrity assumes a looser definition that the one usually presented in Webster’s dictionary.  One must be able to define right and wrong, and have the conscience, if wrong, to feel guilt.  Listed are some examples, where integrity is lacking:

1. The instructor who misrepresents himself and his art by presenting improper techniques to his students because of a lack of knowledge or apathy.

2. The student who misrepresents himself by “fixing” breaking materials before demonstrations.

3. The instructor who camouflages bad techniques with luxurious training halls and false flattery to his students.

4. The student who requests rank from an instructor, or attempts to purchase it.

5. The student who gains rank for ego purposes or the feeling of power.

6. The instructor that teaches and promotes his art for materialistic gains.

3. PERSEVERANCE

There is an old Oriental saying, “Patience leads to virtue or merit.  One can make a peaceful home by being patient for 100 times.”  Certainly, happiness and prosperity are most likely brought to the patient person.  To achieve something, whether it is a higher degree or the perfection of a technique, one must meet his goal then constantly persevere.  Robert Bruce learned his lesson of perseverance from the persistent efforts of a lowly spider.  It was this perseverance and tenacity that finally enabled him to free Scotland in the fourteenth century.  One of the most important secrets of becoming a leader in Tae Kwon Do is to overcome every difficulty by perseverance.

4. SELF-CONTROL

This tenet is extremely important inside and outside the dojang, whether conducting oneself in free sparring or in one’s personal affairs.  A loss of self-control in free sparring can prove disastrous to both the student and opponent.  An inability to live and work within one’s capability or sphere is also a lack of self-control.

5. INDOMITABLE SPIRIT

“Here lie 300, who did their duty”, a simple epitaph for one of the greatest acts of courage known to mankind. Although facing the superior forces of Xerxes, Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at Thermopylas showed the world the meaning of indomitable spirit. It is shown when a courageous person and his principles are pitted against overwhelming odds. A serious student of Tae Kwon Do will, at all times, be modest and honest. If confronted with injustice, he will deal with the belligerent without any fear or hesitation at all with indomitable spirit, regardless of whomever or however many the number is.

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MEANING OF BELT COLORS

        

WHITE	Signifies innocence, as that of a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Tae Kwon Do.
YELLOW	Signifies Earth, from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the Tae Kwon Do foundation is being laid.
GREEN	Signifies the plant growth as the Tae Kwon Do skill begins to develop.
BLUE	Signifies the Heaven toward which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Tae Kwon Do progresses.
RED	Signifies danger, conditioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away.
BLACK	Opposite of white, signifies maturity and proficiency in Tae Kwon Do. Also indicates the wearer’s imperviousness to darkness and fear.

 

TYPE OF BELT	RANK	MINIMUM TRAINING REQUIREMENTS	PROMOTIONAL TESTING IS NOT ONLY NECESSARY TO OBTAIN NEW RANK AND BELT COLOR, BUT ALSO ENABLES YOUR RANK TO BE RECOGNIZED BY ALL THOSE IN THE TAE KWON DO FIELD, AND ENSURES YOUR CERTIFICATION OF THE NEW RANK BY THE W.T.E.   Promotional tests are offered to all students who have fulfilled the requirements, every two months at Illinois Tae Kwon Do Center
WHITE	10TH GUP	> 2 WEEKS
YELLOW STRIPE	9TH GUP	> 2 MONTHS
YELLOW	8TH GUP	> 2 MONTHS
GREEN STRIPE	7TH GUP	> 2 MONTHS
GREEN	6TH GUP	> 2 MONTHS
BLUE STRIPE	5TH GUP	> 2 MONTHS
BLUE	4TH GUP	> 4 MONTHS
RED STRIPE	3RD GUP	> 4 MONTHS
RED	2ND GUP	> 4 MONTHS
BLACK STRIPE	1ST GUP	2 MONTHS
RECOMMENDED BLACK	RB	> 6 MONTHS
1ST DAN BLACK
2ND DAN BLACK		> 2 YEARS
3RD DAN BLACK		> 3 YEARS
4TH DAN BLACK		> 4 YEARS
5TH DAN BLACK		> 5 YEARS

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TAE KWON DO TERMINOLOGY

COMMANDS

    Cha Ryut – ATTENTION

            Kyung Nea – BOW

            Jhoom Bee – READY

            Shi Jak – START

            Ko Mahn – STOP

            Be Ro – RETURN TO ORDER

            Shuh – AT EASE

 

TERMS

            Kwan Jan Nim – GRAND MASTER

            Sah Bum Nim – INSTRUCTOR

            Do Jang – SCHOOL OR GYM

            Do Bod – UNIFORM

            Poomse – FORM

            Ki Hap – YELL

 

KICKS

Ap Chaggi	FRONT KICK
Dol Lyo Chaggi	ROUND HOUSE KICK
Yup Chaggi	SIDE KICK
Dwee Chaggi	BACK SIDE KICK
Hueoh Rhiggi	SPINNING HOOK KICK
Chi Go Chaggi	AX KICK

                 

NUMBERS

            Ha Na – ONE                                     Il  - FIRST

            Dul – TWO                                         Yee - SECOND

            Set – THREE                                     Sahm - THIRD

            Net – FOUR                                       Sah - FOURTH

            Da Sot – FIVE                                    Oh - FIFTH

            Yo Sot – SIX                                     Yuk - SIXTH

            Il Gup – SEVEN                                 Chil - SEVENTH

            Yo Dul – EIGHT                                 Pahl - EIGHTH

            Ah Hop – NINE                                   Goo - NINTH

            Yuhl – TEN                                        Sip - TENTH

            Yuhl Hana – ELEVEN

            Yuhl Dul – TWELVE

            Yuhl Set – THIRTEEN

            Yuhl Net – FOURTEEN

            Yuhl Da Sot – FIFTEEN

            Yuhl Yo Sot – SIXTEEN

            Yuhl Il Gup – SEVENTEEN

            Yuhl Yo Dul – EIGHTEEN

            Yuhl Ah Hope – NINETEEN

            Soo Mul - TWENTY

           

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TRADITIONAL TAE KWON DO FORMS

CHON-JI means literally “the Heaven on Earth”. It is, in the Orient, interpreted as the creation of the world or the beginning of human history, therefore, it is the initial pattern played by the beginner. This pattern consists of two similar parts – one to represent the Heaven and the other the Earth (19 Movements)

DAN-GUN  is named after the holy Dan-Gun, the legendary founder of Korea in the year 2333 B.C. (21 movements)

DO-SAN is the pseudonym of the patriot Chang-Ho (1887-1935) who devoted his entire life to furthering the education of Korea and its independent movement. (24 Movements)

WON-YO  was a noted monk who introduced Buddhism, to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 A.D. (28 Movements)

YUL-GOK is the pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar YI L (1556-1584) nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea”. The 30 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on the 38 latitude and the diagram represents “Scholar.”

JOONG-GUN is named after the patriot An Joong-Gun who assassinated Hiro Bumi Ito, the first Japanese governor-general of Korea, known as the man who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr. An’s age when he was executed at Lui-Shung prison. (1910)(32 Movements)

TOI-GYE is the penname of the scholar Yi Hwang (16 A.D.) an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on the 37th latitude, the diagram represents “Scholar.” (37 Movements)

HWA-RANG is named after the Hwa-Rang youth groups which originated in the Silla Dynasty about 1350 years ago.  This group eventually became the actual driving force for the unification of the three kingdoms of Korea.  (29 Movements)

CHOONG-MOO    was the given name of the great Admiral Yi-Sun-Sin of the Yi Dynasty.  He was reputed to have invented the first armored battleship (kobukson) which was the precursor of the present day submarine in 1592 A.D.  The reason why this pattern ends up with a left hand attack is to symbolize his regrettable death having no chance to show his unrestrained potentiality, checked by the forced reservation of his loyalty to the king.  (30 Movements)

GWAND-GAE   is picked after the famous Gwang-Gae-To-Wang, the 19th king of the Koguryo Dynasty, who regained all the lost territories including the greater part of Manchuria. The diagram represents the expansion and recovery of lost territory. The 39 movements refer to his reign for 39 years. (39 Movements)

          

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WORLD TAE KWON DO FEDERATION FORMS

TAE GEUK IL JANG This concept which is pure ‘um’ .  It is the creative force associated with Heaven and Light.  (18 movements)

TAE GEUK YE JANG This is a concept of Joy.  Of a spiritually uplifting nature- but not aggressive, it is serene and gentle.  (18 movements)

TAE GEUK SAM JANG   This means Fire and Sun, so the movements of this form must emulate the qualities of fire – that of a flickering energy, of unpredictable pace and styling, and of quiet followed by great excitement of great passion – but continually moving, burning. (20 movements)

TAE GEUK SAH JANG  Symbolizes Thunder, suggesting courage in the face of danger, as the element of fear and trembling occasionally enters our lives.  This form expresses fear and trembling in the only way that virtue can – as a passing thunderstorm which nourishes the soul.  Virtue, therefore, defines fear as courage.  (20 movements)

TAE GEUK OH JANG Symbolizes Wind – sometimes gentle – sometimes forceful – yielding and penetrating, soothing and destructive, invisible yet manifesting – interplay of  ‘Um’ and ‘Yang’ taking place.  (20 movements)

TAE GEUK YUK JANG Means Water, and the characteristics of constancy and flow.  It is to be recognized as a type of confidence – to be able to meet difficulties and hardships in life and overcome them, as long as one retains the qualities of acceptance, flow and natural integrity.  (23 movements)

TAE GEUK CHIL JANG This means ‘Top Stop’, suggesting the wisdom of knowing where and when to stop.  This form interprets gan (symbolized by the image of a mountain) as the principle of stability.  The Tiger Stance, in which most of your body weight is settled on the back leg, expresses this peculiar stability which also contains ambition (25 movements)

TAE GEUK PAL JANG   Concept of pure ‘Yang’.  Opposite of keon, Tae Geuk’s first form, it symbolizes the yielding Earth, which provides the substance and the limitations through which keon passes, providing the substance into which the heavenly light and energy of keon enters to produce physical forms.  (24 movements)

          

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BLACK BELT WTF FORMS

KORYO Name of Korean dynasty dated between 918 and 1302, from which the country Korea derived its name, which also implies the origination of a national character and identity.  This form represents the cultivation of a strong conviction, and an unyielding spirit.  (30 movements)

KEUMGANG Keumgang means Hardness.  The name has two connotations applicable to Tae Kwon Do.  One is poetic and the other is spiritual.  Korean people have named their most beautiful mountain “Keumgang-san” and the hardest substance (the diamond) they have called “Keumgang-seok”.  These dual qualities of hardness and beauty are therefore associated with the name.  (27 movements)

TAEBAEK Taebaek was the name of a region of Korea where according to legend, Korean nation was founded more than 4,300 years ago.  This region is now Mount Baekdoo, but the word “tieback” still identifies the source of Korea and the majesty of Mount Baekdoo, and so it is associated with Light (this being the source of life) and Sanctity (because the mountain is close to perfection).  This form is named Taebaek because it was meant to portray these abstract qualities.  (26 movements)

PYONG WON Means the “Vast Moorland”, symbolizing the basis of human life, and mother of will of development.  Teaches the meaning of peace and harmony.  (25 movements)

SIP JIN Represents the Sip Jang Sand = “the 10 Longest Living Things”: sun, mountains,  trees, herb of external youth, tortoises, canes, and deer.  Sip Jin symbolizes them and applies them in its movements.  (31 movements)

JI TAE Means the “earth” is the place to find peace for our lives.  It symbolizes desire coming out of the earth.  Ji Tae poomse is composed of movements showing aspects of man’s desire to live and his struggle for life.  (28 movements)

CHEON GWON Represents and symbolizes the “sky”.  The heaven, or sky, is the origin of our lives, and people have admired it since the beginning.  (27 movements)

HAN SOO Represents “water” that creates life and allows growth.  The water cannot be cut nor stopped.  The Han Soo poomse is composed of techniques of the adaptability and strength.  (27 movements)

IL YO Is the essence of the motion conceived by Wo-Hyo the high priest of Buddhism during the Silla dynasty.  Il Yo means that the mind and body are one, and there is one, and only one, principle that governs them.  The ultimate completion of the art can be reached only after combining and unifying point, line, and circle are the same, and they are one.  Learning and practicing each different move separately achieves perfection of those techniques. (23 movements)

 

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THE KOREAN FLAG            

The Korean flag symbolizes much of the thought, philosophy, and mysticism of the Orient.  The symbol, and sometimes the flag itself, is called the “Tae Geug”. 

Depicted on the flag is a circle, divided equally and cloaked in perfect balance. The upper section (red) represents the Yang, and the lower (blue) represents the Um, ancient symbols of the Universe.  The two opposites express the Dualism of the cosmos; fire and water, day and night, dark and light, construction and destruction, masculine and feminine, active and passive, heat and cold, plus and minus, and so on.

The central thought in the Tae Geug indicates that while there is a constant movement within the sphere of infinity, there are also balance and harmony.  As a simple example, kindness and cruelty may be taken into consideration.  If parents are kind to a child, it is good, but they may spoil and weaken him and thus lead him to become a vicious man and a source of disgrace to his ancestors.

Three bars at each corner also carry the idea of opposition and balance.  The three unbroken lines stand for heaven, the opposite three broken lines represent the earth.  At the lower left hand of the flag are two lines with a broken line between.  This symbolizes fire.   The opposite is the symbol for water.

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HISTORY OF TAE KWON DO

            Tae Kwon Do is a 1300 year old ancient martial art which originated in Korea.  Literally translated, “TAE” means to kick or smash with the foot, “KWON” means to punch with the fist with destructive power, and “DO” means art or method.

            It was developed as a way of self-discipline, as well as a way of life for the Korean people.  Its practice has been passed from Master to student down through the generations, in secret during the Japanese occupation, and changed to conform to our present day society. The basic principles being taught today are the same as were practiced by the 6^th century founder of the art.  Those tenants are COURTESY, INTEGRITY, PERSEVERANCE, SELF-CONTROL, AND INDOMITABLE SPIRIT.  Tae Kwon Do is not associated with any particular religion, but has been a significant part of the traditional culture of Korea.  Through the discipline of Tae Kwon Do, the student builds confidence, a sense of self-esteem, and learns to treat others with courtesy and respect.

            The history of Tae Kwon Do is an essential link to the full understanding of the Korean martial art.  Over 1350 years ago, Korea was divided into three kingdoms: Silla, Loguro, and Baek Je.  Silla, the smallest of these kingdoms was constantly under invasion and harassment by its two more powerful northern and western neighbors.  To offset these invasions, the Hwa Rang-Do, an elite officer corps, was formed.  This warrior corps, in addition to the ordinary training in spear, bow, sword, and hook, also trained themselves by practicing mental and physical discipline, and various forms of hand and foot fighting.  To harden their bodies, they climbed rugged mountains, swam turbulent rivers in the coldest months, and drove themselves unmercifully to prepare for the task of defending their homeland.

 

            To guide themselves and give purpose to their knighthood, they incorporated a five point code of conduct which states:

1. Be loyal to your king

2. Be obedient to your parents.

3. Be honorable to your friends.

4. Never retreat in a battle.

5. Make a just kill.

These young warriors, many as young as 14 or 15 years old, became known and respected around the land for their courage and skill in battle, attaining feats of valor, which in turn led Silla to rise and unite.  From their victories, the Korean peninsula soon was united for the first time in history

Soo Bak was the original primitive art of hand fighting utilized during the period of the Hwa Rang-Do, while postures resembling Taek Kyon and Jujitso were also practiced.  After these warriors molded it to a combative art, and instilled the morals, ethics and principles of the Hwa Rang-Do it soon became an art known as Soo Bak-Gi.  Much historical documentation indicates that some of these forms of fighting may eventually have been exported to Japan and Korea, but soon after, the dynasties acquired an anti-military posture.  Though this began a period of civil enlightenment, anything dealing with the military was debased.  The final blow came with the Japanese occupation (1909- 1945) when it was forbidden to practice any of the martial arts, although Taek Kyon was secretly practiced by some dedicated students.

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HISTORY OF TAE KWON DO (PART 2)

            With the liberation of Korea in 1945, a new military was created, the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.  A young Second Lieutenant named Choi Hong HI, who had recently been released from a Japanese POW camp, began teaching his martial arts to some of his soldiers.  The rest, of course, is history resulting in what is today known throughout the world as Tae Kwon Do. 

            In 1955, the name Tae Kwon Do was chosen as the new name of the national martial art by a board of instructors, historians, and other prominent persons.  So, after 1350 years from a small officer corps, to now being practiced in over 60 countries with millions of students, Tae Kwon Do has reached its potential, as it has no equal in power, technique, or mental conditioning.  Tae Kwon Do forms part of the basic curriculum in most Korean grade schools, high schools, colleges, and military training institutions.  It is both the Korean National Martial Art and the National Sport of Korea.

            Today, Tae Kwon Do is taught as a very effective means of self-defense, stressing 70% foot techniques and 30% hand techniques.  Its training combines total body and mind involvement, hence it is unsurpassed in developing a complete mentally and physically fit body.  Specific benefits experienced by all practitioners include: weight control; muscle tone, coordination, bodily control, healthful exercise, self defense, poise and grace, self-confidence, discipline, respect, endurance, relaxation, maturity, and inner space.  Great advances have been made in recent years in Tae Kwon Do training for the physically handicapped.  By developing whatever physical skills they have, it builds self-confidence, self-respect, and a sense of well-being in these special people.

            Tae Kwon Do has rapidly grown to become the most popular style of Martial Arts throughout the world, particularly here in the United States, where it was first introduced in the early 1960’s.  On May 28, 1973 the World Tae Kwon Do Federation established its official headquarters in Seoul, Korea.  There are now 112 member countries.  Here in the United States under the authority of the United States Tae Kwon Do Union, it is the only martial art group “A” member of the United States Olympic Committee.

            Tae Kwon Do was an official demonstration sport in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, and again was an official demonstration sport at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. 

            Tae Kwon Do was finally an official, full-fledge permanent medal sport in the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, Australia.

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