Traditional Korean Martial Arts School
Tae Kwon Do Program
Membership Packet
Note: The first 2 pages of this Membership Packet are taken from documents I received upon becoming a member of the United Martial Arts Black Belt Association (UMBA) in 1983. These are the words of my Kwan Jang Nim, Myung-Hwan Kim. If the English seems strange, please understand that it was written before he had mastered our language. I chose not to edit his words as I wish to preserve his teachings in their original form.
1. What is Tae Kwon Do?
Tae Kwon Do is the name of a martial art which has been independently developed over about 20 centuries in Korea. The main feature of Tae Kwon Do is that it is a free-fighting self-defense using bare hands to repel an enemy.
All of its activities are based on defensive tactics since Tae Kwon Do was developed as a defense against enemy attacks. In old days, people living simple lives lacked physical strength and agility and their bodies became bent in their old age. Tae Kwon Do also served to improve health, physical balance, agility and poise of the people practicing it.
Our belief is that Tae Kwon Do trained people are self-confident in every respect, not only in physical strength, but also in their mental discipline, because they have developed superior techniques for personal defense by using their entire bodies. For a Tae Kwon Do person, the entire body is a weapon, and they are easily able to attack and repel an aggressor with hands, fists, elbows, knees, feet or any other part of their body.
The most important fact about Tae Kwon Do as a martial art is that it is not only a superior art of self-defense, but it adds remarkable bon sence to its practitioners. Self-confidence makes people generous in their attitudes toward weaker people. They can stand equally against any opponent, but their code forbids unfair assaults or unnecessary use of force. The practice of Tae Kwon Do gives an individual the mental attitude of modesty. The virtues of modesty and generosity are fundamentally based on self-confidence.
It is obvious that healthy bodies make people active and powerful. Such mental and physical self-confidences are beneficial to the mental life of individuals, their families, neighbors and their nation.
A Tae Kwon Do form (Hyung or Poom-Sae) comprises various stances, each with its peculiar nature but each blending into the other. A “form” consists of about two dozen stances inter-connected. Blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking are included in Tae Kwon Do forms, and these are properly carried out with hands, fists and feet according to the vital spot of the body at which they are aimed. The stances will also change accordingly - front stance, back stance, cat stance and horse-riding stance, etc. as the situation requires.
Tae Kwon Do has two styles of competition. One is free-style competition in which students can freely use their acquired techniques in attack or defense. The other is competition by pre-arrangement, in which students follow an agreed sequence for practice or demonstration. In the latter, the course of the prearranged competition must be thoroughly mastered before used in a free-style competition.
Tae Kwon Do is formed as a trio of Forms (Hyung), Competition (Daeryun) and Breaking (Kyuk-Pa). Tae Kwon Do requires great mental concentration and it produces almost incredible power.
As a matter of fact, it is impossible to exercise the developed power against people without the risk of inflicting serious injury or death. And so, another way was sought to test such formidable power against non-living things like wooden planks, roof tiles or bricks. We call this “breaking”. And we must realize that anyone can become proficient in this aspect of the art because in Tae Kwon Do, anyone can properly develop and control his or her latent power. No special place is needed to practice Tae Kwon Do. During any free time, individuals can practice and develop Tae Kwon Do techniques.
The Tae Kwon Do Uniform is neither expensive nor luxurious. It is designed to fit for free body action. It is believed that the white color of the uniform signifies “the purity and origin” as well as “conversance”. There are belts, i.e. black, red, brown, purple, blue, green, yellow, white, etc., with each color designating the degree of graded proficiency possessed by the one wearing the belt.
White, yellow and orange signify beginners, green, blue and purple indicate intermediate ranks while brown and red signify advanced students. A black belt (the sign of “Living Dignity”), is reserved for Tae Kwon Do experts who hold the first grade of Dan or above.
2. Goals of our Traditional TKD Program
The goals of our program are:
a. To provide a means of improving students physically, mentally and spiritually. b. To teach self-defense. c. To provide a path for students to gain self-confidence, modesty and the ability to demonstrate generosity to others. d. To develop proper social attitude within students through the understanding and practice of discipline and respect. e. To build fellowship among members.
Successful accomplishment of the above goals will result in numerous subsequent benefits for enrolled members, including: better educational experience for children, improved health, reduced risk of childhood delinquency, improved domestic relations, greater motivation for further achievement (educationally, professionally, etc.).
We wish to work with the parents of younger students, in order to couple the developmental progress in Tae Kwon Do with that in school and at home. Therefore, discussions between parents and Instructors is welcomed and encouraged. In addition, parents’ attendance at promotion tests can be of particular value in verifying this progress.
3. Uniforms and Equipment:
Typically, students will need only their uniform (consisting of a white top with TKMAS patch, white pants and rank belt) for class. Gentlemen should consider wearing an athletic supporter. During sparring sessions, protective equipment is required. The basics are: a. Mouth-guard b. Groin cup (Males). In addition, the following are RECOMMENDED: a. Shin-instep pads b. Headgear (required for tournament competition) c. Chest Protector (required for tournament competition) d. any other approved, protective equipment you feel is necessary.
Please consult an Instructor if you have any questions concerning protective gear. Recommended gear can be purchased over time to avoid burdensome expense at the beginning of training.
4. Promotions and Rank
Ranks (belt colors) are used in martial arts to help students gauge their progress. Ranks are not assigned to compare one student to another. Rather, students should only make a comparison of their own progress from day to day, rank to rank, in order to recognize their OWN IMPROVEMENT and PROGRESS!!
Promotion tests are opportunities for students to prove (to themselves as well as the Examiner) that they have “met the challenge” and have improved themselves to the point where they are able to take another step along their path. Promotion Tests are opportunities for the student to gain self-confidence. Normally, each rank will include requirements that consist of the following:
a. physical fitness b. basic motions or techniques c. forms d. one-step-sparring (self-defense techniques) e. breaking f. sparring g. terminology (Korean) h. philosophy
Promotion and Tip Tests will normally be scheduled for the end of each session (some exceptions are made). A testing fee is required to cover the cost of breaking materials, belts and certification of new rank. If serious financial difficulties require, exceptions can be made by Sah Bum Nim. Tip testing is a “progress check” for both students and Instructors, and does not require a fee.
Please see the Rank (Advancement) Requirements sheet at the end of this packet for complete information concerning requirements.
(1-20) R&L (1-5) 3-Steps (1-10) Judo
Green/ Blue Yellow/ Orange Yellow/ Purple/ Brown Purple/
Red/ Red Red/ Black Belt Black
- Black