|
Tae
Kwon-Do Syllabus |
| THE BASICS |
| There are rules of the Do-Jang
(training hall) which must be observed at all times. These are the
discipline side of the Martial Arts. We must treat each other with respect
and always be friendly and leave any ego’s outside the Do-Jang. After all
we are all here to have fun. |
| FITNESS |
| Every class has a workout of one
form or another. This has the obvious benefit of keeping you fit in
general but also means that if you decide to take your sparring seriously,
you will be able to spar for longer with less effort. A useful ability if
you want to compete. |
| FLEXIBILITY |
| Along with fitness, we perform a
lot of stretching. We use 4 types - dynamic, static active, static passive
and isometric and each is used in the appropriate part of the class.
Flexibility is very important in Tae Kwon-Do as we perform a lot of
kicking techniques. However, you do not have to be flexible to start, you
don’t have to be able to kick high. |
| PAD WORK |
| This is basically where students
practice techniques against a partner holding a pad and feel what is like
to hit something. This means that students can develop proper balance for
when hitting a target (different from kicking air), practice generating
power and its a great stress buster! |
| LINE WORKS / ROUTINE |
| Techniques have to be learnt and
practiced before trying them out. Here is the main part of this learning.
Techniques are very stylised but develop the correct muscles to perform
the techniques for real. Routines are pre-set groups of these exercises
which are used for beginners to practice and as a general warm
up. |
| SET SPARRING KATAS |
| These are sets of techniques
performed with a partner as if having a fight. Obviously no one would ever
fight like this but it does develop timing, distance, control and gives
students a feel for what it is like to face up against somebody and have
punches and kicks thrown at them - without fear of getting
hurt. |
| ONE STEP SPARRING |
| This is semi-free form of sparring.
Techniques are performed with control but students have to defend
themselves against a single attack from a partner. Any and all counter
techniques are allowed and it is a good prelude to self-defence
techniques. After all it’s harder to defend against a straight punch than
a bar-room style swing. |
| SELF
DEFENCE |
|
It is a regrettable fact that there are times when
some of us will have to confront a potentially dangerous situation. Here
we develop skills to protect yourself. The main emphasis is on conflict
avoidance and not having to get into a fight in the first place. If,
however, you have no choice then we practice realistic and practical
techniques to counter a variety of situations. |
|
PATTERNS |
|
Patterns are sometimes better known
as ‘Katas’. These are properly executed techniques against one or more
imaginary opponents in a pre-set form. Each grade must learn a
progressively more difficult pattern to progress through the grading
system. Each pattern has an interpretation from Korean history which must
be learnt. |
|
SPARRING |
|
Though this is strictly speaking an
optional part of the syllabus, everybody has a go because it is so much
fun! Students wear protective hand and feet pads and ‘fight’ each other
according to a strict set of rules governing acceptable target areas and
levels of contact. It is a ‘semi-contact’ sport, meaning that though
students do hit each other, they only make contact for points and
are not
trying to
hurt each other. |
|
PROGRESSIVE SPARRING |
|
Again an optional part, usually
only performed by senior grades. Here the levels of contact are brought
right down for safety reasons. Students can use almost any technique to
almost any area of the body, making sparring very realistic. Knees,
elbows, sweeps, throws and take downs are allowed. Multiple opponent
sparring also is incorporated. |
|
BREAKING |
|
Only done by senior grades,
techniques are performed against either wooden or special plastic boards.
This is to demonstrate power and build confidence that the techniques do
work. |
