Learning Taekwondo With Wyllie

Confrontation

In our daily lives we deal with confrontation every day. However, we are desensitised to it because what we confront has with the passage of time become trivial eg crossing the road is no longer the ordeal it once was, we no longer look at it as confronting the passing traffic. We know we need to wait for it to pass before we cross the road or wait for traffic lights to change or cross at a pedestrian crossing.

So we come to only regard as confrontations what is, in our stage of life, unexpected. How we deal with this or adapt to the changes defines our lives.

Learning from experience

The problem is, that we learn by experience and experience is a very harsh teacher because we experience the consequences before the lesson is taught. The lesson comes after the result. But what if there was a way we could practice coping with confrontation and even formulating a way of reducing the trauma and control the damage of dealing with the unexpected. That would, generally, give us a huge advantage.

The Comfort zone

This is what Taekwondo tournaments are all about. They are not about winning or loosing because the major opponent is yourself and not whoever you are matched up with. They are to a significant degree a test of your ability to deal with confrontation and work outside your comfort zone.

How many times is it said that someone did not perform as well as they have been seen to perform in the past or as expected ? Countless times, in fact more often than not. It is a proven fact that it is always possible for the technically inferior opponent to win.

Based on that, there is hope for all of us within realistic limits but there is unlimited potential for improvement. That is to say It would not be realistic for someone to believe they could beat the world champion today simply by improving their ability to deal with confrontation. However, if they develop something that allows them to deal with confrontation confidently, they can easily work toward improving their physical technique.

How we can prepare for confrontation and make it work for us

The formula I propose has universal application but I will use the Taekwondo tournament as the application.

1. Set the limits within which the confrontation will occur – this way you can devise a strategy. In our application it’s the tournament rules ;
2. Try to work out how many different possible ways you could be confronted – In our application it is limited to all the different scoring techniques available within the rules ;
3. Work out a strategy that will limit the number of possible ways you can be confronted – In our application much if not everything will depend on your positioning in relation to your opponent eg in or out of range, closed or open stance ;
4. Now work out a way that will enable you to dominate your opponent – In our application, one way this can be achieved is by making your opponent constantly respond to your lead ;
5. Adopt a strategy that is constantly changing so as not to allow your opponent the opportunity to dominate – In our application this can be done through as few as 3 different approaches to your attack ;
6. Find a way to demoralise your opponent so he is reaching only half his potential – In our application this can be achieved through developing either an easy way for you to score or an easy way to defend (frustrating the opponent) or both.

These 6 simple steps will work in most applications. There is no reason why this strategy would not apply to anything of an adversarial nature eg competition in business or in certain relationships.

The beauty of this system is that you don’t even need to find your opponent’s weakness as you are creating one for him. Finding another inherent weakness could only be a bonus.

LEARNING HOW TO FIGHT

There are 2 limited commodities in fighting endurance and opportunities both ruled by time. Here are some starting points from which to build your fight strategy.

1. Endurance

Endurance and fitness is able to be lengthened by turning intensity on when required and off when not required. There is no need for it to be on when the opponent is outside the fighting distance or range.

2. Opportunities

Opportunities exist when the opponent comes within your fighting distance. How and when he gets there is up to both of you. These are limited by time and sometimes fitness.

Influencing Opportunities

Influencing opportunities is an integral part of fighting. If you create them for your opponent you have the advantage of knowing what you will do if he is drawn in to taking them. Otherwise the fight could be based on which fighter is the fastest to react.
Is it smart to risk your life on your reaction speed

Is it smart to risk your life on your reaction speed as compared to your opponents’? If he’s faster you die. If he’s slower he dies. Are these options a good foundation on which to enter a fight if your life was at stake ? After all this is the decision a martial artist needs to make in actual battle.

Strategy will deliver an advantage

Strategy will deliver an advantage when you have no option but to fight. Strategies must be well thought out and designed long before entering the arena as sometimes you will only have a split second to apply them. They must be few so they can be easily remembered and implemented and also able to cover most situations.

Arrogance and ignorance

Arrogance and ignorance are the first stumbling blocks. Some believe they are so good that their technique alone is sufficient and others haven’t even thought of it. No one’s technique is that good and never will be. Those who haven’t thought of it continue their blissful ignorance and put themselves at a huge disadvantage.

Speed

Speed in the physical technique is obviously a big factor but the factors that influence it must be understood in order to make significant improvements. Speed is influenced heavily by balance and anticipation both of which need to be set before the physical technique is started.

Remember you are trying to hit a moving and thinking target

This means practising on a stationary object has very limited value. By the same token presenting yourself as a stationary target within an opponent’s fighting range must be the ultimate disadvantage to you.

Balance is the basis of any martial strategy

Balance is the basis of any martial strategy because it can provide both advantages and disadvantages. You need to be on balance when attacking your opponent who must be finding or changing his balance at the time of your attack for the best result.

TRAINING FOR THE ADVANTAGE

Training in martial arts must be designed to achieve at least 2 objectives :-

1. To learn the physical technique ; and
2. To practice how to apply the physical technique in reality.

My principal reason for setting out these points is because many students become disenchanted with their martial art when they are not happy about their fighting and this is understandable because that’s what its all about.
However, what needs to be known by all students is that this occurs due to a lack of knowledge and practised application, not because of any lack of ability or fear.

Hitting the stationary target

Hitting the stationary target will teach and refine the various correct body positions of physical technique. It will also assist in teaching you what to do to increase power and find your personal balance in that technique.

Practising techniques in a pattern

Practising techniques in a pattern will teach you how to move around and execute techniques whilst in motion thereby requiring you to achieve balance in your transition from one movement to another. Although still applicable to stationary targets it takes us to the next stage of movement.

Hitting the thinking and moving target

Hitting the thinking and moving target is the next obvious graduation in training and probably the hardest. We start free sparring from the beginning of our training which gets us used to moving around. We also now have the invention of protective gear which adds a vital dimension not previously available to martial artists before us. This is a crucial part of training which should not be left to mindless attempts to hit a target.

Footwork and body positioning

Footwork as in almost all sports is the foundation in controlling a moving target, tennis is a prime example. One of your first exercises must be in positioning your body to execute the hitting technique, which would have already been learned.

Balanced footwork

Balanced footwork was previously assisted by patterns but now goes beyond one step. So we need to continue to be balanced at least one step before and after executing a technique.

Why was that one step so important

Why was that one step prior to executing a technique so important ? Simply because it brings the attacker into his fighting range and thereby enabling him to execute the technique.

The opponent’s step

We must now turn our attention to the step which our opponent needs to take to enable him to execute his technique as this step will, most of the time, bring him within your fighting distance as well. If you allow your opponent to stay within his fighting range, without danger, you give him a huge advantage.

The time to strike

The time to strike is when he is taking that final step before his technique because that’s when he is most vulnerable.
Balance change causes vulnerability

Balance change causes vulnerability because one has committed his or her weight to execute a movement, that being, a step forward. Once the body’s centre of gravity is committed forward of 90? and until that is completed he will not be able to change his balance so he can change direction.

Changing direction

Changing direction can take too long in certain circumstances and thereby leave you with the advantage of the stationary target.

Changing direction devices should also be included in your training as you may be caught flat or wrong footed by your opponent. The most effective is employed by dancers who must develop a finely tuned and graceful shift of their centre of gravity. They also employ a special steps in their choreography to assist that, one example is a “ball change” which finds effective application in fighting.

Flat or wrong footed

Being flat or wrong footed adds valuable moments or even seconds to your speed thereby reducing your effectiveness. The timing of a technique should not start when you are ready to do it but from when the opportunity presents itself. Bringing about that opportunity enhances your speed by already knowing what position to be in and makes the technique happen much earlier.

The ultimate training program

The ultimate training program for this crucial training stage must include drills in positioning and balance changing which form part of an overall strategy which allows you to attempt to dominate how and when your opponent moves.

Introductory training drills

1. Working out your fighting distance by using marked lines on the floor with a partner advancing. Executing technique in slow motion trying to touch their chest pad when they first come into your fighting range. This can be sped up after your mind has learned the distance ;

2. Freely moving around with your opponent and positioning yourself. There is no need to deliver the technique but for seeing if it would reach and that should be done in slow motion ;

3. Maintaining the right distance that will cause your opponent to need to take that step in before he can execute his technique. This can be done in a normal free sparring situation but you must only have one purpose and not get carried away with the fight.

This training will also improve your defensive technique as it trains body positioning so you can learn to defend without blocking as blocking can slow down a counter attack.

KIAI

What is Kiai

Although it is only a shout, it is probably the most important concept of any martial art because it is at the centre of and common to most martial strategies.

Types of Kiai

Distracting is a way of taking control of a situation before the opponent is ready to attack or having spotted an opening you distract your opponent so that he doesn’t close it before your attack ;

Drawing which involves letting the opponent make the first move and allowing him to believe that he has control of the situation before you counterattack. This is done by giving your opponent a chance or showing him an opening so he will commit himself, then taking advantage of his commitment.

Denial moments after the opponent’s attack, as if denying his attack by letting him know the attack was unsuccessful.

Completion used to complete the delivery of a technique and finish the opponent psychologically.

The use of Kiai

Kiai is only one instrument through which we may apply our strategy. In this context Kiai is a shout used to break an opponent’s concentration.

Taekwondo practised without KIAI simply becomes just an aerobic exercise and stops being a martial art or sport – A martial artist’s first objective must be to gain the advantage over his opponent.

Gaining the advantage of the moment

This is the best technique Taekwondo can teach anyone. It can mean the difference between winning and losing and the way one can overcome a superior or an evenly matched opponent. In war, where martial arts are intended to be used - it was and still is rare to get a second chance as ones life was usually at stake. It would be arrogant and probably fatal for any soldier to presume their unknown opponent was so inferior they did not need to use a strategy to gain the advantage.

Applying Kiai to sport

The use of KIAI is not often seen to be properly used in junior grades, probably because they give greater emphasis to the development of their physical technique. The physical technique is or accounts for probably less than 50% of the attack or defence. There are at least 2 other very significant elements to an engagement that junior grades need to develop which precede the actual technique, they are KIAI (which is part of martial strategy) and also POSITIONING. Most senior grades use these 2 elements to gain a huge advantage and do so easily. Kiai is a strategic tool for diverting attention and the principal is used in all sports where it is given names like sledging or psyching out.

Diverting focus and attention

The founder of Aikido Morihei Uyeshiba used a kiai pronounced haai, the moment the opponent began his attack his kiai began as if inviting the attack, telling the opponent that he knew everything about it. When the kiai reached the sound of “i” his technique had reached the opponent. It was a use of 2 types of kiai at once.

Uyeshiba thought this aspect of any martial art was so important that he devoted, what he thought may have been his last demonstration to this. At this demonstration in Chiyoda, Tokyo on 5 October, 1968 he demonstrated how kiai or sen had a much wider application.

Imagine over 3,200 spectators packed into the Hibiya community hall, waiting for the demonstration, at full attention turning their eyes and ears to Uyeshiba. He could not afford to make a mistake. With 1 against 3,200 he needed to even things up a little, so his aim was to first scatter their concentration. Initially, he avoided exciting them by walking slowly to the stage, as the 80 year old that he was, playing the weak old man. A brisk walk would have increased the spectators’ tension.

Then, he touched the microphone making an annoying noise and at the same time muttered to himself distracting the spectators’ concentration. With their concentration broken it was his chance to take control and it was then he began the techniques starting with, “haai”.

The spectators could try to follow what was taking place but they no longer held the advantage they had prior to his appearance. In a situation like that you don’t really see what took place and remember it all. Time passes so quickly it is impossible to keep up, yet you leave with an impression of a great demonstration.

This is similar, in some respects, to how magicians create an illusion of magic. They need to divert your attention from what they are actually doing to leave you with an elevated impression of what has actually happened.

Everyone would have left Uyeshiba’s demonstration content with having seen a good demonstration of Aikido techniques but the success of Uyeshiba’s real demonstration was left to be realised by most, hours or even days later thus succeeding against every one of the 3,200 spectators who watched him.
Similarly, he used this concept to improve his students’ intensity during training by telling them he would be attending their class. He purposely always arrived late because he knew the students would be training intensely to impress him when he walked in. Another example of his demonstration of sen was by interrupting an instructor, placing his hand on his hip and challenging him to move him. He would then say he was immovable because he was one with the universe. In that instance the instructor never stood a chance, because, he was never given an opportunity to physically and psychologically position himself and Uyeshiba was free to choose where he put the instructor’s hand. The instructor may have realised what Uyeshiba was up to days or even moments later but it was too late by then because he had lost the advantage of the moment.

There is a 6th tenet of Taekwondo, not always included by all schools, is modesty. In this context it has significant application because only an arrogant exponent would believe his technique to be so good that he did not need the assistance of Kiai in the strategic sense.

Kiai breathes life into Taekwondo techniques

The concept of kiai has universal application to just about everything you will undertake in your life. As students of Taekwondo part of your training is to learn and practice kiai which makes Taekwondo unique as a sport and as a result you will be able to apply the concept to other sports you may play and to other endeavours you choose to pursue. Its not just or always a shout.

Kiai is what breathes life into every Taekwondo technique and the physical technique needs to be learned at the same time as learning to use kiai.

Some students find it easier to separate the two and master the physical properties of a technique first before applying intensity and kiai. Although this is possible most students then seem to forget to apply the other and more important aspects of the technique. They then move on to the next technique which they learn in the same way.

By the time students reach an intermediate colour belt they start realising that they may have left some aspect of their learning behind and feel the need to add these all important elements to their technique. This is the harder, less exciting and the longer road to learning.

SELF SUFFICIENCY IN TRAINING

Because Taekwondo is first and foremost an art, it is up to the student and not the instructor to breathe life into it. Some unfortunate students will never do this and to them it will never be more than just a fancy motor exercise there to be copied. It is also interesting that those who excel in it
as a sport are those who have first discovered the art or treat it as an art from their first class.

To understand this it is important to know that the aims of Taekwondo training are not one dimensional. In addition to teaching the student self defence it also intends to equip the student with valuable life skills (which in themselves provide self defence) and this is reflected from its 5 foundations. Students not training within its’ foundational tenets from the beginning will never develop it into an art.

Beyond the 5 tenets, one of the most valuable life skills students need to develop through training is self sufficiency. This is the bridge students cross when they take Taekwondo to a higher level, from a mere motor skill into art, as art can not exist without creativity and dynamism.

Self sufficiency is easily developed depending on the student’s attitude to training. Admittedly, Taekwondo has a significant proportion of instructor directed training principally due to the priority of safety and the need for progression in the students’ knowledge and skill base. However, within the framework of instruction the student should seek to become self sufficient to allow Taekwondo to become an art. There is a vast difference in the 2 principal pathways or approaches to learning available to a student, one is dependant and the other is self-sufficient approach.

The dependant approach

This approach at its extreme is totally mindless and the student elects to do the bare minimum of what the class is called upon to do. The student does enough to merely exist as a student of a class or, in one word, subsist.

Unfortunately under this approach students set for themselves huge limitations and obstacles to learning and enjoying the art. This eventually and unavoidably leads to the end of the student’s interest in it. Unfortunately, they will probably never know it was their approach that was flawed or even boring that caused this end of their interest in Taekwondo.

An art needs to be given life through independent thought and creativity otherwise it never lives and certainly can not ignite passion which in turn raises the level of the student’s ability.

Being an information absorbing sponge should only be the beginning but the art starts when that information is given life which can only happen within the student. If the information is not used it merely exists and only extremely limited gratification from performing the art may result. Its similar to drawing, learning to use a pencil can only produce limited pleasure. It is the necessary beginning but what you do with the skill and how you enhance it is the art and only the student can develop that.

The independent or Self sufficient approach

This approach commences where the dependant approach ends as we all need to take instruction. We all need to learn the motor skill. What we do with the instruction is where the paths diverge or the fork in the road. The self sufficient students are attuned to what is going on they have a thirst for learning and do everything with intensity. They adapt the instruction to the way it can be best utilised by them for themselves. By doing this they have breathed life into the art and their passion for it is ignited because they have started to think about it. While they think about it, the art is nurtured and continues to live. When they stop thinking about it, it withers and dies.

These students enjoy training much more, because they have no self imposed limitations and will go on to enjoy the Dan grades. They will commence a never ending quest that will comfort them throughout their lives and they will be able to call on that experience and adopt it to other facets of their life to make them more successful and enjoyable.

They learn how to make a motor skill dynamic and thereby allowing the art to be born within them. There will never be any limits to their Taekwondo or their ability to enjoy whatever life offers them. They will forevermore thirst for creativity in everything and appreciate it when it’s displayed by others. They will enjoy life.

The Wyllie approach to Taekwondo is :-

1. To turn a number of motor skills into an art, the student should SEEK TO BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF INSTRUCTION by USING the information in the way it can best be utilised for themselves ; because
2. Creativity and thought puts life into a movement which can then be called an art.

Mindless dependency on instruction and minimal student input create huge limitations and obstacles to learning and enjoying the art which will inevitably lead to loss of interest. These students do not USE the information to create an art.

ATTENDANCE

The importance of frequent training

The grading test is not only in the examination. In every class a student attends the master is watching their progress, making it a much more rigorous regime than one moment of excellence under examination which is no test of technique being able to be replicated on demand.

The attendance record

Signing the attendance sheet serves numerous functions all of which are integral to managing the Academy. One of the most important is compiling every student’s attendances as this is the most crucial prerequisite for grading.

Attendance and grading

Readiness for grading is initially determined by consulting a student’s attendance record over the 10 week period prior to grading. For black belts a much longer period is considered. Unless the time has been put into training, a students skill is unlikely to have improved. If a student has the requisite attendance the instructor may then look at the student’s integrity in his or her training.
This means that the master looks at whether the student has been training intensely whilst in class or just mindlessly going through the motions. Just being there is not enough.

GRADING

Grading is at the centre of Taekwondo

Grading in the Wyllie Academy has many important aspects all of which are crucial to human

development and enhancing the students’ ability to learn.

The 4 main aspects are :
1. acquiring the skill of organising how to learn something new over a defined period of time ;
2. understanding the need for self motivation and its importance
3. developing the ability to perform under pressure or outside your comfort zone ; and
4. appreciating the reward or recognition for achievement ;

The way these life skills are developed are through learning a set number of :-

1. new motor skills ;
2. developing ones understanding of how the human body is able to generate and focus power ; and
3. gradually improving our strategic thinking

The Instructor’s function

Learning is simplified by the instructor to the point where someone as young 3 is able to take part in this developmental process. From this point of view, grading is as big a test for the instructor as it is for the student. It is for the instructor to :-

1. motivate the student to learn ;
2. find a way to convey to each individual student what needs to be learned ; and
3. assist the student to overcome obstacles in learning and development.

Instructors must be prepared to have their ability tested in this way at every opportunity. Although they may not succeed with every single students they do succeed with the vast majority or 99% of students.

The grading test

Each grading test is a landmark for every student and of significant importance in their general development. Although everyone tested for the same grade is set the same tasks, the level of
performance in the test is mostly subjective until the student reaches the black belt level.
Everyone that comes to Taekwondo does not start on equal footing. Some are carrying handicaps which need to be dealt with, others have advantages which will be further developed.

The Master’s function

The Master’s complex and diverse task is to pave the way for individual development plans to be
implemented during the colour belt stages which will eventually achieve objective recognition in the black belt levels.

To do this the Master monitors the progress of his instructors through the grading examinations of their students and also during training classes.

It is therefore crucial to the success of this process that the Master tests the students in the grading examination and gets the opportunity to observe them in general training.

The Big Picture

We attend school 5 days per week for most of the year for 13 years but if we leave after Kindergarten we can’t expect to have learned as much as we could have learned if we attended throughout the period the syllabus was designed to be taught over. More importantly, we can’t expect to receive the thrill of achievement if we stop after having completed only 8% of the course.

The success and reward cycle in life is reflected in microcosm in Taekwondo. To stop prematurely is to prevent the failure and correction process to be appreciated thereby depriving the student of the development of valuable life skills which can be picked up in the friendliest
non- hostile environment possible.

Taekwondo is an easy way for anybody at any age to learn how to focus on enjoying their life.

If attended properly the Taekwondo colour belt course up to black belt takes 3 years. The junior black belt stage takes a further 5 years. The senior black belt stage commences after that and takes a lifetime.

The grading examination

There are 4 main areas of testing :-

1. attendance since last grading ;
2. training and grading pursuant to the 5 tenets of Taekwondo ;
3. ability to demonstrate syllabus requirements ; and
4. development of Knowledge and Technique .

All areas are of equal importance and marked accordingly.

CODE OF CONDUCT AND PROTOCOL

The 5 tenets of Taekwondo

1. SELF CONTROL
Controlling our actions and emotions commands respect. Self control must become a way of life for the student of Taekwondo. Without it even elements vital to producing power, balance, accuracy and speed in techniques or mental strength will never develop.

2. INTEGRITY
Practise your Taekwondo and live your life with integrity. There will be no satisfaction in pretending to practise your techniques correctly because it will not produce the result you want. You must train with intensity. Put an honest effort into any endeavour otherwise you are cheating yourself.

3. PERSEVERANCE
The pursuit of excellence requires perseverance. The dynamic movements of Taekwondo need to be practised with precision to produce the result you are searching for.

4. COURTESY
Courtesy defines the human being and provides fertile ground from which to grow with the assistance of others. Respect of ourselves and others is expressed through courtesy and we must always be careful not to devalue what we are worth.

5. INDOMITABLE SPIRIT
We will not always succeed immediately or on every attempt at whatever we try to do. Some things may take a long time to master. With the right spirit we will eventually succeed either by persevering with the direction we chose to achieve a particular end or by finding another way to do it. What is important is not to allow something to defeat us. For this we need to develop an unbeatable spirit.

Dojang protocol

There are 4 basic areas of protocol which become immediately visible upon entering a dojang.

Flags & Academy Crest

At the head of the training hall the Korean and the Australian flags are displayed along with the name and crest of the Academy and the art that is practiced in that hall.

Displaying the Korean flag is recognition of where the art and sport of Taekwondo originated.

Displaying the Australian flag indicates the country in which the Dojang is located and where Taekwondo is practiced.

The combination of displaying the two flags, the Academy crest and the school of Taekwondo is intended to honour the school of Taekwondo, the Academy and all the past and present masters who have contributed to the creation and development of Taekwondo and its teaching in that and other training halls. At the same time it recognises the Korean and Australian contribution to the art and sport.

White uniforms & Belts

The white uniform is Taekwondo’s great equalizer. Whether you are rich or poor, a blue or white collar worker, fat or thin, fit or unfit, tall or short, you are the equal of everyone else on the Dojang floor.

You are expected to keep your uniform neat and clean out of respect to yourself and the people you train with. It must display the Academy logo as a sign of pride in being part of that Academy.

The white colour represents purity and innocence in this sense. You should bring to each training session a focused, true and clear state of mind and train with the eagerness and enthusiasm of a beginner no matter what grade or level of ability you have attained.

The belt was originally used to keep the top of the uniform closed. Since the introduction of the colour belt system, its colour indicates the level of your knowledge and experience. The black belts are also granted the added privilege of a black collar.

The belt system is the art’s ideal form of motivation. It instils the desire to set goals and achieve them.

Bowing

Bowing is an action which means many things and discerning its meaning is usually determined by the context in which it is done. It makes people feel good because it provides a means to say hello, goodbye, please and thank you and other things which may take a long time to put into words. It is purely and simply about respect and courtesy not worship.

Students bow to their instructor to show appreciation for his knowledge and commitment to teaching. The instructor bows to his pupils in recognition of their desire to learn. Students bow to each other as a gesture of friendship and to acknowledge their fellowship. Practitioners bow when they enter the Dojang acknowledging the contribution of the past and present masters and students when they see the flags, the academy crest and the name of their school. The richness of past and present contributions determines the achievements in the future.

The 5 tenets of Taekwondo

Everyone training in a Taekwondo class tacitly undertakes to do so pursuant to the 5 tenets

because without these qualities guiding your learning you will never be able to master Taekwondo.

Training protocol

[A] BEFORE ENTERING THE TRAINING HALL

1. Anyone who can not attend their regular class must inform the Master prior to the commencement of the class ;
2. Prior to entering the training hall all students must :-

i. Ensure their training fees are paid ;
ii. Be an insured and current member of the Academy ;
iii. Have their attendance noted ;
iv. Be wearing the regulation academy uniform ; and
v. Have brought to the class their own full set of protective equipment and paddle.

3. In the interest of safety there are to be no spectators bags or personal items on the mat area at any time and seating areas must be kept clean and functional ;

4. Only Taekwondo shoes, not worn on the street, are to be used on the mat ;

5. A clean and properly fitting regulation uniform is to be worn to every class with the belt showing the students’ grade ;

6. Uniform must be kept tidy throughout each class ;
7. Permission to leave the mat or the training hall during class must be sought from the instructor ;

[B] AFTER ENTERING THE TRAINING HALL

1. Everyone must bow to the Academy crest and flags upon entering the Dojang ;

2. If the class has commenced prior to your arrival you must wait to be asked to enter by the instructor and then join the back line ;

3. Lack of punctuality is a lack of courtesy ;

4. Each formal class commences with :
i. the class lining up in order of grade ;
ii. the class and instructor bowing to the flags and the Academy crest ;
iii. the class bowing to the instructor.

Each formal class finishes with :
iv. the class lining up in order of grade ;
v. the class and instructor bowing to the flags and the Academy crest ;
vi. the class bowing to the senior belt ;
vii. the class bowing to the instructor.

5. Students are not to talk whilst the instructor is talking ;

6. Students are only permitted to ask questions relevant to the point under instruction other questions are to be asked at the end of the class ;

7. Talking is to be kept to a minimum. Bowing is to be used to signify thanks, commencement or completion of an activity and permission to address the instructor.

8. The 5 tenets of Taekwondo must be STRICTLY followed during any class. They are :-

1. Courtesy
2. Self Control
3. Perseverance
4. Indomitable spirit
5 . Integrity

9. All training must be performed with intensity and at the student’s highest ability. It is an insult to the student, the class and the instructor to do otherwise ;

10. All students must be alert throughout the class to avoid injuring themselves and others ;

11. Non students watching a class on the invitation of a student or the instructor are not to talk to students, the instructor or between themselves whilst the instructor is addressing the class or in any other way disrupt the class ;

12. No food or drinks are to be brought onto the training area.

Grading protocol

[A] BEFORE THE GRADING

Kup Grades

When a student feels they are ready for grading the protocol is to ask the Master or their instructor if they do not train at the HQ, if they are ready for grading.

Basically, most students that train frequently and earnestly should be ready for grading but the student must extend to the Master the courtesy of asking and not just giving the master a grading application form. There is a need for courtesy and communication.

It would be discourteous to either apply for grading without consulting the Master or your instructor first, or to ask if you are ready when you have trained very little since your last grading.

Dan Grades

The protocol is similar but for the mandatory minimum training periods between grades, age limits and the different type of grading used for the Dan levels. The protocol is set out in the following steps :-

1. After checking your attendances and you are satisfied that they exceed the minimum training
period by the date of the grading examination, ask the Master if you are ready for grading ;

2. If you are considered to be ready to prepare for the grading, the Master will accept your
“Notice of Black Belt Grading” form and the grading examination will begin from that
moment ;

3. The examination will be spread over a 6 month period during which time your ability will be
observed and tested by the Master. This is why it is vital that the student attends at least one
class per week with the Master in addition to usual training.

Consultation

Consultation with a senior Dan is recommended prior to approaching the Master of the Academy. After you have an objective opinion that you are ready, you may approach the Master.
Consultation with the Academy Master is vital to the process of Dan grading prior to and during the grading period.

Minimum Periods

Minimum periods set out by the Kukkiwon are exactly that. There is no point even contemplating grading prior to the expiration of that period unless you have won a world title or have been decorated by the state in recognition of your contribution to Taekwondo.

The minimum periods are set out in the syllabus along with the requirements for all grades up to 4th Dan. Frequency and quality of training during those periods are most relevant to readiness.

The 6 month period

Dan grading is not dependant on one stellar performance. There must be sustained consistency of a certain level of ability that can only be tested over a relatively long period of time.

[B] AT THE GRADING

[1] Applicants must wear FULL regulation Taekwondo uniform at the grading ;

[2] Applicants MUST wear their own protective equipment. Borrowing equipment is discouraged
for health reasons as most equipment is worn directly onto the body. Only Chest guards sizes
2 - 4 and may be borrowed as they are worn over the uniform ;

[3] Protocol for the grading event :-

1. Grading application forms and fees must be tendered prior to the beginning of grading ;
2. No one should move out of their designated seating position unless requested ;
3. There should be little or no talking whilst the grading is being conducted ;
4. Spectators may leave the hall at any time through the back door only ;
5. Although it may be open, the side door is not to be used during the grading without prior permission ;
6. Students, grading or not, may not leave the grading hall prior to the conclusion of the grading unless by special arrangement with the Master before the commencement of grading.
7. When called or excused by the Master proceed down the sides of the training hall which should be left clear for that purpose.
8. Bow when you reach the grading table and when you are excused to return to your to your sitting position.