North Battleford Taekwondo Academy
2022-2023 Student Guide
Must be read by all parties prior to completing registration.
I understand that it is a lot of reading but please take the time to thoroughly read each point.
Parents/Guardians: please go through this section with your kids.
This section is comprised of the following topics:
General Info
Expectations
Dragons
Spectators
Uniforms
Belts
Age Divisions
Closing Remarks
General Info:
The martial arts style we practice at NB TKD Academy is called Kukkiwon Taekwondo (“Kook-Gee-Wohn Teyh-Gowhn-Doh”).
Taekwondo (pronounced closer to “Teyh-Gwohn-Doh” and NOT “Tie-Kwawn-Doh”) is a predominantly striking based martial art which originates from the Republic of Korea (South Korea). When translated from Korean to English the word Taekwondo essentially means “The Way of Kicking and Punching” with “tae / 태” meaning to “to kick”, “kwon / 권” meaning to punch and “do / 도” meaning “the way of”.
Taekwondo is not the same thing as Karate.
New students will be notified of when they are eligible to attend Full Contact Sparring practices and Open Training. Open Training must be used for actual practice time, not for standing around on the mats.
Students wear a TKD uniform called a Dobok 도복 (“Doh-bohk”) and practice in a facility called a Dojang 도장 (“Doh-jahng”) while learning different kicks (Chagi 차기 / “Chah-gee”), punches (Jireugi 지르기 / “Jee-roo-gee”), blocks (Makgi 막기 / “Mahk-gee”) strikes (Chigi 치기 / “Chee-gee”) and patterns (Poomsae 품새 / “Poom-Seyh”), all while developing physical and mental skills such as focus, strength, flexibility, agility, dexterity, endurance and a ferocious spirit.
You may have heard the words Sensei 先生, Dojo 道場 and Dogi / Gi 道着 in reference to a martial arts school and martial arts uniform but please note that those are terms for martial arts of Japanese origin (Karatedo, Jujutsu, Aikido, Judo, etc.) — as Taekwondo is Korean, we use Korean terminology. Sabeom 사범 (instructor), Dojang 도장 (training hall) and Dobok 도복 (training uniform).
World Taekwondo (WT) is the organization which governs the competitive sport (sparring and patterns) aspects of Kukkiwon TKD. Taekwondo Canada is a member organization of WT, Sask Taekwondo is a member organization of TC and NB TKD Academy is a member school of Sask TKD.
There are other federations and styles of Taekwondo, the most popular after Kukkiwon & Olympic style is that of the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).
The Kukkiwon is the world headquarters for our style of Taekwondo and is located in Seoul, South Korea. All Kukki TKD black belts are certified through the Kukkiwon after successfully completing an examination conducted within their guidelines by an accredited Master. The Kukkiwon develops and disseminates training methods for Kyorugi (Competitive Fighting), Poomsae (Forms) and Hosinsul (Self-Defense).
Expectations:
If you or someone in your immediate social circle is sick please stay home until it’s clear that you are not feeling any symptoms.
Washrooms are not for changing in. Show up to class in your uniform, if it’s a sparring class make sure to already have your protective cup on when you arrive and bring enough water for your training session.
Use the washroom at home before you come to the dojang.
Arrive no more than 7 minutes prior to your class and have a pick up arranged for departure immediately at its end time.
Treat the school with the same respect you would your own home.
Please make sure that students have clean clothing, hands and feet before practice as TKD is a contact sport and proper hygiene helps keep the facility safe and enjoyable for all who take part. Toe nails should be regularly trimmed to ensure that students don’t injure themselves or others while kicking or cause undue damage to training equipment.
The main entrance will be unlocked 10 minutes prior to the first class of the day and locked 10 minutes after the last class of the day.
Taekwondo is an evolving, modern martial art and a sport of the Summer Olympic Games while retaining strong roots in tradition. Students will address instructors of any rank by “Sir” or “Ma’am” and must bow both BEFORE stepping onto the training mats as well as AFTER.
Bowing to training partners, instructors from our school as well as others, or opposing fighters and coaches is proper etiquette for showing mutual respect, sportsmanship and good will.
The training will be challenging to the body and spirit for all ages. If you are not willing to work through difficult and intense classes then this may not be the school for you — and that’s okay! There are less serious martial arts schools out there which are a better fit for those who just want to get out of the house a couple times a week.
The people who rise to the challenge are always the ones who attain a high skill level. You’re going to get tired, sweaty, frustrated, and sore. If you stick with it you’re also going to get good. Really, really good.
Don’t compare yourself to the others around you — everyone grows at their own pace.
Full contact sparring is mandatory for rank promotion from Yellow Belt and onward.
Practice does not make perfect! Practice makes progress.
Perfection doesn’t exist! We can however use the pursuit of the idea as a method to grow.
A high standard of technique and effort is expected from all students, relative to their age and level.
Until a dobok (uniform) has been acquired students may practice in comfortable athletic wear and bare feet. After the first month of training has been completed students will be expected to purchase a uniform — ones with another school’s logo on the back or of another martial arts style will not be permitted.
All students should begin to acquire sparring gear ASAP, having completed their full kit by Orange Belt (this is the 4th belt earned: White → Yellow Stripe → Yellow → Orange). Please see Kyorugi → Equipment for more details.
A full set of Olympic style sparring gear as well as a quality pair of boxing gloves will be required by all students. If purchasing second hand please ensure that the gear does not have the logo of any other martial arts schools.
Tournament participation and rank promotion exam (belt testing) opportunities are not a given simply because students show up for class.
Not every student is invited to every test nor will every student pass by default but by the merit of their performance on that day.
NB TKD Academy maintains a high level of skill across all age levels with proven training methods — simply put, it’s a lot of hard work over a long period of time. Focus and a will to improve oneself will provide the foundation upon which all techniques and tactics are built.
Martial arts should only ever be used for defense and for sport, never for bullying or being an aggressor whether it be verbal or physical. NB TKD Academy has a strict policy in place for removal of students who have been found to be acting in such a manner at the club, at school, or anywhere else.
During class there will be some simple Korean words used – don’t worry, you’ll catch on quick!
용 Dragons:
Dragons (5 to 7 year olds) must be turning 6 within the given calendar year (prior to December 31st, 2023) to begin training. Students who are 7 and will be turning 8 within the given calendar year will start in the Dragons program and advance to the regular program in a shorter amount of time.
The program is not geared towards students who are younger than this and that extra year of development at home makes a massive difference in their ability to have successful practices.
No exceptions will be made in regards to age eligibility.Dragons progress through a separate belt system before joining the regular classes once they have reached a sufficient skill and age level.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to be on the mats and participate with their Dragons during their class! Helping them out by holding striking targets or assisting with sit ups for example really goes a long way.
The main objective in the Dragon program is to assist kids with learning how to learn before they level up into the more demanding older kids classes. Qualities like focus, patience, listening skills and respect are also built upon through practice.
Just as with older students, Dragons earn rank promotions and extra class opportunities based on their skill level and attitude. There are no belts given out just for showing up.
Please be aware that all colour belt students, Dragons included, can be demoted in belt level should their level of technique and behaviour not continue to meet the standard they showed when promoted.
Full Contact Sparring classes cannot be attended by any Dragon students without prior permission to do so. Only students who show a high level of focus and listening skills are invited to attend these classes as it involves the health and safety of training partners in a full contact sport training environment.
Spectators:
The spectator area consists only of the two benches near the entrance to the dojang.
Parents/Guardians are welcome to watch classes from the spectator area. Barring an emergency no one is permitted on the mats during class time aside from those who are practicing.
As space is limited please keep spectators to two per family.
Please make sure that any younger siblings who may also be watching are not overly loud or disruptive and that they do not at any time go onto the mats.
You cannot be a spectator for a class which does not have any of your family members.
Please keep the noise level to a minimum.
Please feel welcome to film any part of practice as long as you don’t step onto the mats to do so.
No coaching from the sidelines. Anyone who does will no longer be welcome to watch their family member’s class.
All of the above guidelines also apply to belt tests, training camps and other misc. functions.
After a belt test please feel welcome to come onto the mats for a photo opportunity!
Belts:
Students progress through a grade system marked by coloured belts:
Beginner Colour Belt Ranks:
10th Grade: White Belt
9th Grade: Yellow Stripe Belt
Novice Colour Belt Ranks:
8th Grade: Yellow Belt
7th Grade: Orange Belt
6th Grade: Green Belt
Intermediate Colour Belt Ranks:
5th Grade: Purple Belt
4th Grade: Blue Belt
3rd Grade: Brown Belt
Advanced Colour Belt Ranks:
2nd Grade: Red Belt
1st Grade: Black Stripe Belt
Cho Dan Bo (Black Belt Candidate)
Black Belt Levels:
Kukkiwon 1st Dan Black Belt - 9th Dan Black Belt
Age Divisions:
Dragons (5 - 7)
Kids (8 - 11)
Cadets (12-14)
Juniors (15-17)
Seniors (18-39)
Executives (40+)
Closing Remarks:
Like any skill there is no shortcut to acquiring proficiency – you get results based on the work that you put in. Rank promotion exams and tournament competition opportunities are not automatic, and of course from there it is impossible to guarantee success in the ring or at a belt test. What we can do is train our hardest in pursuit of excellence and this requires years of practice, hundreds of thousands of repetitions, countless hours of hard work so that when the time comes to use your skills you have done so to the absolute and honest best of your ability.
Colour Belt ranked students who wish to join NB TKD Academy from another dojang or another style of martial art will receive a one on one assessment to determine what their rank equivalency is for this club. Kukkiwon Black Belts, of course, retain their rank.
It won’t always be easy but it will always be worth it. Train hard!!!