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Previous Issues > March 2008 > Come Out & Play > Taekwondo
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 Come Out & Play
Taekwondo
Have you ever wondered how the people on TV and in action movies break boards? This is just one skill that you can learn with Tae Kwon Do, or Taekwondo. This traditional Korean martial art actually means Foot or leg (Tae), Fist (Kwon), and Way (Do). But this sport is about much more than the way of the foot and fist, breaking boards and performing kicks.
Master Instructor Dae Jin Kim, a fourth-degree black belt, explained that there is some times a misconception about Taekwondo. "Some parents think this is not for my child; they will learn how to kick and fight," said Master Kim. In fact, Taekwondo focuses on learning the proper uses of foot and fist and how to control or calm down fights and keep the peace. For young children, the classes focus on increasing concentration, attention span, listening, respect and some easy tasks which build confidence. "But most importantly having fun and having a positive attitude," said Master Kim. "The level of intensity varies according to age. Our youngest student at this school is two and a half, and our oldest student is 67," he adds. Through Taekwondo, a student will learn self-defense techniques, including kicks, blocks and strikes; patterns (poomsae); sparring; meditation exercises and breaking techniques. There are also many rules of etiquette that a student must learn, including bowing to the flag before entering the area of instruction (dojang).
So what is the difference between Karate and Taekwondo? For starters, they come from different countries. Karate is from Japan, and Taekwondo is from Korea. Karate uses mostly hands, while Taekwondo uses mostly legs, kicking techniques and frontwards and backwards movements.
Taekwondo is a very popular sport among people of all ages and offers many benefits. Physically it helps develop strength, flexibility and toning and improves cardiovascular health. Mentally, it helps relieve stress in adults and children, and kids also make friends and develop a positive attitude. George Franks, a licensed psychologist, has found in 25 years of practice that Taekwondo can have very real benefits for children and especially young boys with ADHD and behavior problems. The sport teaches them respect, self control and concentration. It helps improve attitude and self confidence.
Taekwondo does not require very much in the way of special equipment. Students do have to wear a special uniform, called a dobok, with a belt which ties around the waist. The belt shows the student's rank. Unlike most other sports, no special shoes are required in fact, you go barefoot! When a student begins to learn sparring, protective gear is required.
There are 10 ranks, or gup, and they are identified by belts of different colors or with stripes. Students advance from the zero gup, or white belt, to the first dan, or black belt.
"Each belt has its own curriculum. White belts first of all have to learn how to tie their belts. They learn a few basic kicks, a few basic moves, and some Korean terminology. There are five stripes total before you can advance to the next belt." explains Master Kim. Once you reach the black belt, there are nine full ranks of black belt. Grand Master Myong Mayes, who owns the school where Master Kim instructs (and has studied since he was nine), has reached ninth-degree black belt and is the highest ranked female black belt in the world. She has also been a four-time World Champion and a U.S. Olympic Head Coach. That's right! You can even go to the Olympics to compete in Taekwondo. It is one of only two martial arts that are Olympic sports.
If you are looking for a Taekwondo school, ask around at school and ask your friends. Word will spread quickly about a good school. When you visit the school, ask questions and see if they offer a trial period so you can see how you like the sport. It's also a good idea to find a school that has a high-ranking black belt as an instructor, and make sure you like the style of the instructors. They should be encouraging and firm, but not belittle students. Also make sure the school emphasizes character and confidence building.
Sources: U.S. Taekwondo Center, Spring Lake, NC; World Taekwondo Federation, www.wtf.org. Photos: Joy Kirkpatrick.
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