WMA Student Handbook

World Martial Arts
New Student Handbook
2015
2115 George Washington Memorial Hwy
Yorktown, VA 23693
(757) 867-5085
[email protected]
Find and “like” us on Facebook @World Martial Arts
Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Rules and Regulations
a. General Rules
b. Mat Rules
c. Children’s Home Rules
d. Dress Code
3. Korean Terminology
a. How to count in Korean
b. Basic commands
c. How to start and end class
4. Programs
a. Regular Program
b. Before and After School Program (BASP)
c. Spring, Summer, and Winter Camps
d. Sparring Team
e. Demonstration Team
f. Private Lessons
5. Testing
a. Overview
b. How to Know if You’re Ready for Testing
c. Testing Day and Belt Ceremony
d. Belt Requirements Chart
6. Achievements
a. To Do Lists (stars)
b. Patches
c. End-of-Year Awards
7. Events
8. Conclusion
“A family that kicks together, sticks together!”
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Introduction
Welcome to World Martial Arts!
We are excited to have you join our Taekwondo family and aspire to help you improve
physically, mentally, and spiritually through the discipline of martial arts. Our highly qualified
instructors have a passion for what they do and upgrade their skills constantly to continue
providing safe, efficient, and exciting lessons for students of all ages.
Benefits of Martial Arts
Taekwondo can be fun and effective exercise that contributes to overall health and well being.
Through Taekwondo, one can develop good coordination, gain strength, increase flexibility, and
improve cardiovascular conditioning. We also teach self-defense techniques that could one day
save your life. In addition, through martial arts training, one can develop a healthy mind and
strong spirit.
For children in particular, the respect, focus, and self-control taught through martial arts
develop skills for success in all areas of life. Having respect at the dojang (Taekwondo school)
extends to good respect at home and at school. Focus used in learning kicks and punches serves
as a valuable asset in studying for tests and quizzes. And finally, self-control must be used to
foster good relationships with peers in this world where we must all work and live together in
peace.
In addition, our belt rank system instills a sense of pride and a realization that one can
accomplish what one sets out to do, developing vital self-confidence necessary for leadership
and success.
How to use this book
This handbook is provided to new students in order to keep parents and students informed of
our policies so they can be more involved with their children’s development in martial arts. We
hope this handbook will answer questions you may have about our school and your martial arts
journey; however, it is not meant to be comprehensive. If you have any questions about issues
not addressed in this document, please feel free to ask any of our knowledgeable staff and we
will be happy to assist you.
World Martial Arts
215 George Washington Memorial Hwy
Yorktown, VA 23693
(757) 870-0782 [email protected]
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Rules and Regulations
Please read and follow all rules! Parents, please go over these rules with your children to
ensure proper understanding. Repeated failure to follow rules may lead to reduction of rank.
General Rules
1. Respect and obey masters, instructors, and higher ranking belts at all times.
2. Respect fellow students and parents at all times.
3. Parents and other family members should remain in the lobby for the duration of class.
This provides a distraction free environment in which students can train successfully.
a. Exceptions are made for private testing sessions and other special
circumstances.
4. Younger siblings not participating in class are parents’ responsibility. Please keep an eye
on them to prevent wandering and keep small hands away from the viewing window
and mirrors in the lobby.
5. Parents or guardians of children that require assistance using the restroom must stay for
the duration of class. Otherwise, parents may drop off and pick up children when class
ends.
6. Shoes must be removed in order to enter the training room in order to keep the mats
clean for everyone to use. (However, Taekwondo shoes only used on mats may be
worn.) Socks must also be removed if participating in class because they may cause falls
due to slipping during running and agility exercises.
7. Shoes must be put up neatly on the shelves provided. Do not leave shoes for others to
trip over in the middle of the floor, please!
8. Please keep up with current events by taking and reading a copy of our quarterly
newsletter, which has important dates such as school closings and belt test days. There
is also a whiteboard in the lobby that is updated with news and you can keep up with
news online via our website at kostkd.com, or on our Facebook @World Martial Arts.
The Five Tenets of Taekwondo
1. Courtesy
2. Integrity
3. Perseverence
4. Self-Control
5. Indomitable Spirit
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Mat Rules
1. When entering the training room, first face the flags at the front of the room and place
your right hand over your heart to salute and honor your country and Taekwondo’s
country origin. Then, if an instructor is present, bow to the instructor (after removing
hand from chest) The same procedure is used when leaving the training room.
2. Always bow:
a. When greeting senior instructors. Greet when you first enter and again when
leaving. (“Hello/good bye ma’am/sir!”)
b. When receiving help or praise from your instructor, in addition to saying, “Thank
you sir/ma’am!”
c. When beginning and ending practice with a partner.
How to Bow: bend at the waist between a 45 and 90 degree angle with your head facing
down. Bowing with the eyes up is considered disrespectful because in Korean culture, it
signals you do not trust the other person.
3. Be in uniform and prepared to start class right away when the previous class ends. In
other words, be ready at least five minutes before class begins.
4. Be respectful of other students’ classes by sitting and stretching quietly at the back of
the training room while waiting for your class to start.
5. No chewing gum, loud talking, or horseplay during class.
6. No jewelry should be worn during training, with the exception of small stud earrings
(And those should never be worn during full contact sparring). Dangling earrings,
watches, bracelets, necklaces, and rings must be removed in order to prevent injury to
yourself and others. Wedding rings may be worn during regular training but should be
removed, as with stud earrings, for full contact sparring.
7. Keep fingernails and toenails trimmed short, also to prevent injuries.
8. Do not touch glass or mirrors.
9. Do not leave for the bathroom or to get water unless you ask for and have permission
from an instructor to do so.
10. When lining up, order is first determined by rank, then age. For example, an orange belt
is higher than a yellow belt, and therefore lines up first. If two people are the same belt,
higher rank is determined by number of tips. Then, if both people have the same
number of tips, the older person is in front.
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Children’s Home Rules
Good behavior is expected of children not only at the dojang, but at school and at home. The
following are the ten Children’s Home Rules that students are expected to follow.
1. Children must show respect to their parents and family members at all times.
2. Children shall greet their parents when entering the house and say goodbye when they
leave.
3. Children will be truthful at all times.
4. Children will maintain a good relationship with their brothers and sisters.
5. Children must help with household chores.
6. Children will keep their own room neat and clean.
7. Children must keep their body, hair, and teeth clean at all times.
8. Children will not interrupt adult conversations.
9. Children will study their school work at school and at home.
10. Children must show respect for their teachers and their peers at all times.
Children who do not follow these rules may be reduced in rank.
Dress Code
1. The uniform, called a dobok, should be worn neatly at all times during Taekwondo
training.
a. For regular classes, a World Martial Arts t-shirt, dobok pants, and belt must be
worn.
b. For formal occasions, such as belt testing and belt ceremonies, the full V-neck
dobok and belt is required.
c. Colored belts must wear uniforms with a white collar. Only black belts are
allowed to wear uniforms with a black collar.
2. Students participating in class should be barefoot OR may have Taekwondo shoes that
have only been used on mats - no outside shoes allowed.
3. Students age 6 and up should know how to tie their own belt. Step-by-step instructions
are outlined on the next page.
5
How to tie your belt
Step 1:
Start by placing belt behind you with both ends facing
forward.
Step 2:
Begin to wrap belt around body.
Step 3:
Wrap belt around body twice stopping when both ends
are in front.
Step 4:
Lay the end that started in front of you under the end
that was wrapped around.
Step 5:
Take wrapped around end and tuck under belt coming
up.
Step 6:
Pull both ends apart from each other to tighten belt.
Step 7:
Place end facing up down over belt.
Step 8:
Place original end pointing down and flip up.
Step 9:
Wrap end from step 8 through belts.
Step 10:
Pull both ends apart to tighten.
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4. Stars and patches can be earned for various achievements. Stars should be sewn on the
collar, six on each side. As for patches, they should be sewn on the formal V-neck dobok
top as shown:
The World Taekwondo Federation is the international federation governing the sport of
Taekwondo. The old logo featured two figures kicking in front of a globe of the world, but now
has been updated with a more modern look.
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Korean Terminology
Taekwondo (태권도) is a Korean martial art which literally means “Way of the foot and hand,” with “Tae
(태)” meaning “to strike with the foot,” “Kwon (권)” meaning “to strike with the hand,” and “Do (도)”
meaning “way of life”. We also teach Hapkido (합기도) self-defense techniques to adults and black belts
and offer Tai Chi, a slow martial art that emphasizes breathing and balance, but our main focus is
Taekwondo.
The Taekwondo school is called a dojang and the uniforms we wear are called dobok. Please do not
confuse it with “dojo” and “gi,” which are terms used in Karate, which is a Japanese martial art.
Students should also, in addition to knowing the basic terms Taekwondo, dojang, and dobok, should also
learn the following Korean terminology over time:
How to count in Korean (1-10)
Used when counting for stretching or counting number of movements. White belts should know how to
count 1-10 before testing for yellow belt
English
One
Romanization
Hana
Hangul (Korean)
Two
Dool
둘
Three
Set
셋
Four
Net
넷
Five
Dah-sut
다섯
Six
Yuh-sut
여섯
Seven
Il-gop
일곱
Eight
Yuh-dul
여덟
Nine
Ah-hope
아홉
Ten
Yul
열
하나
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Basic Commands
These terms should be learned by yellow belts.
English
Attention
Romanization
Cha-reut
Hangul (Korean)
Bow
Kyung-ne
경례
Ready
Joon-bi
준비
Start
Shi-jahk
시작
Return
Bah-roh
바로
At ease/ rest
Shi-uh
쉬어
Switch feet
Bahl bbahk-kwuh
발 바꿔
Yell (verb and noun)
Ki-hap
기합
차렷
How to Start and End Class
When starting and ending class, these words are used by the highest belt (other than the instructors) to
direct the class. Orange belts need to learn these words.
First, the class is brought to attention with (1) cha-reut. Then the right hand is put over the heart in
response to the second command, (2) Kuki-eh dehan kyung-ne, to honor our country, America, and
Taekwondo’s country of origin, Korea. Then hands are brought down with the third command (3), bahroh. Finally, (4) or (5) is used, depending on the rank of the instructor leading the class. If Grand Master
Ko is leading, then (4) Bow to grand master is used. Otherwise, (5) Bow to instructor/master should be
used.
English
1. Attention
Romanization
Cha-reut
Hangul (Korean)
2. Salute flags/country
Kuki-eh dehan kyung-ne
국기에 대한 경례
3. Return
Bah-roh
바로
4. Bow to grand master
Kwanjangnim-kkeh kyung-ne
관장님께 경례
5. Bow to instructor/master
Sabumnim-kkeh kyung-ne
사범님께 경례
차렷
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Programs
Regular Program
Our regular program consists of evening classes that can be taken by both children and adults. It is our
largest program and you can sign up for training one, two, or unlimited times per week. Students will
develop physical fitness through running, jumping, kicking, and strength training exercises, which is then
used to execute and improve martial arts techniques. It’s a great workout for the whole family, and
consistent effort and dedication can lead to the grand achievement of black belt.
Before and After School Program (BASP)
Working and don’t have time to bring your children to Taekwondo lesson? No problem! In BASP, we pick
up your children directly from school and bring them for Taekwondo training and homework help until
parent pick-up. We also pick up on early dismissal days free of extra charge and do all day training on
teacher work days. During school breaks, you may be interested in…
Spring, Summer, and Winter Camps
Our camps are a great way to keep your child active during school breaks. With two hours of morning
training from 9-11 am and afternoon training from 3-5 pm, our camp students have the chance to
develop their martial arts skills and physical fitness at an accelerated pace. Kids also love our varied
afternoon field trips to the library, the museum, the beach, the bounce house, and much more!
Sparring Team
Did you know Taekwondo sparring is an Olympic sport? High belts with interest in going to tournaments
or just improving timing and distance skills are eligible to join the sparring team with instructor approval.
Both children and adults undergo exciting, intense training. As with everything we do, safety is the
highest priority and all students are required to wear protective gear during contact sparring.
Demonstration Team
Higher belts, especially black belts, can also join our demo team, which performs at events such as belt
ceremonies, cultural expositions, and philanthropic fundraisers. Members develop self-confidence and
teamwork, all while having fun. Demo team members learn how to do twisting jumping kicks, flips, and
other amazing feats to showcase the splendor of Taekwondo.
Tiny Tigers
For very young children, ages 3-5, there is the Tiny Tigers program, which focuses on early martial arts
development through fun games and fitness exercises.
Private Lessons
Instructors are available for private lessons outside regular class time for students that need extra oneon-one training. Contact the instructor if interested in scheduling a private lesson.
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Testing
Overview
Belt testing is held once a month. Check the quarterly newsletter for testing dates or ask an instructor. A
minimum of 20 hours of training is required for belt testing, which equates to approximately three
months for color belts. Ultimately, however, it is up to the instructors and parents to decide when
testing is appropriate.
Instructors will give students a testing envelope when they feel a student is ready to test after receiving
all their tips (8 for white belt, 7 for yellow, and 6 for all other color belts up until high brown belt). A
chart with testing requirements for each belt is outlined below.
Then, parents are expected to examine home and school behavior to determine if their child has
permission to test. We firmly believe that respect and discipline learned at the dojang should also
extend to exemplary behavior outside World Martial Arts.
Testing fee is $40 per student for regular group testing. Should there be a scheduling conflict, you may
choose to do private testing for $50 per student, which may be done at any time, such as before, during,
or after a student’s regular class.
The above information applies to color belt testing. There are different requirements for black belt
testing that are covered at black belt information sessions held a few months before the bi-annual
testing dates. Attendance for at least one of these sessions is mandatory in order to test for black belt.
How to know if you’re ready for testing
Keep an eye on the number of tips to calculate when to prepare for testing. The first tip is for hand
techniques, the second for kicking techniques, and the third is for forms. In the case of white and yellow
belt, they have multiple forms to learn, but starting at orange belt, there is only one form until high
brown and bo-black, which must learn five and eight forms, respectively.
Then, the next tip is for philosophy. A few sentences or a paragraph is required, depending on the age of
the student, explaining what the philosophy means, and how it should be used, and an example. For
children who are too young to read or write, memorizing the definition is adequate. At this point,
parents should look and see when the next closest testing date is.
The final two tips are for fitness and breaking. Fitness for each belt is a set number of push-ups, sit-ups,
back extensions, squats, and lunges. The number increases with each belt rank. As for breaking, there is
a hand and a kicking technique learned at each belt, which is used to break a board at testing. Breaking
is, for the most part, a confidence exercise. By the time students learn breaking, they should have
acquired the physical ability to break the board from the many hours of training they have been
through.
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Testing Day and Belt Ceremony
Please be sure to turn in your testing envelope early. For children, a copy of their most recent report
card should be included. Wear full formal uniform (V-neck with pants and belt) neatly – it should not
be wrinkled or stained. This is a formal occasion and sloppy attire is a sign of disrespect for fellow
students testing as well as your instructors.
Parents and friends, feel free to come and take pictures and video during the test!
At the belt ceremony (separate from belt testing), there is formal presentation of belts and a
performance by the demo team with a potluck afterwards to celebrate students’ achievements. Friends
and family are highly encouraged to come to this great event to recognize the hard work and dedication
given to rising in belt rank.
Belt Requirements Chart
The following chart is an overview of belt testing requirements. Other skills are also learned and
expected to be practiced, but this chart outlines basic testing requirements. This chart can also be found
on the walls of the dojang for reference during class.
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It’s a pretty good idea to keep your old belts to remember how far you’ve come over many years of
training. Plus, you can put it on a cool belt rack!
The style of Taekwondo we teach here is governed by Kukkiwon, which is the World Taekwondo
Headquarters in South Korea. You may also hear it referred to as World Taekwondo Federation style, or
“WTF”.
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Achievements
We have a number of achievements to encourage good behavior and extra dedication both at the
dojang and outside the dojang. Many come in the form of patches that may be worn on the formal
uniform for all to recognize.
Stars
Star patches are earned by children for completing the “To Do List”, which is a monthly green chart for
5-10 year olds and a blue chart for 11-15 year olds. Items on this chart include making your bed, helping
with chores, doing homework on time, and helping younger siblings. The daily tasks may be adjusted by
parents as necessary (for example, if a child does not have younger siblings, it may be changed to
listening to older siblings or omitted entirely). If the chart is mostly checked off by the end of the month
(nobody is perfect – and most people don’t have homework on weekends, right?) then children will
receive a star to be sewed onto the collar of their uniform (see dress code).
After doing the chart for 6 months and receiving 6 stars, students will receive a medal for good behavior.
After a year (12 stars), students receive a trophy.
Patches
Patches are earned by children for good grades on their report cards. Home schooled students may
bring in a note from their teacher detailing their progress. The location of the patches can be found in
the dress code section of this handbook.
Yearly Awards
We also have yearly awards given out at the end of the year at our End-of-Year party in December. They
include:
-
Master of the Year
Instructor of the Year
Family of the Year
Parent of the Year
Student of the Year
Most outstanding
- Best Discipline
- Best Effort
- Classroom Hero
- Most Improved
- Best of Demo Team
- Best of Sparring Team
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Events
We have several events throughout the year that are a lot of fun and give you a chance to meet with
other students from other classes. In December, we always have an End-of-Year party with a huge
demonstration, big potluck, and presentation of awards. It’s one of the most anticipated events of the
year, so don’t miss out!
We also have a yearly family picnic outdoors at a local park, with games like egg toss, corn hole, threelegged races, and a watermelon eating contest.
Other events to look forward to are Parent’s Night Out, where parents can drop off their kids to have
movie night or video game night at the dojang.
If you’d like to help plan events, consider joining the Taekwondo Parent Association (the TPA)! We have
TPA meetings every few months to improve communication between parents and instructors and
discuss and plan events such potlucks and the end-of-year party.
Or, you can plan your own event here! We do birthday parties on Saturdays, where your child’s friends
can come learn martial arts and play lots of fun games. You can decorate our classroom to use as your
party room any way you would like, and we’ll clean up afterwards. Please ask an instructor for details.
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Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read through this handbook!
If you have any further questions or need information on anything not included here, please feel free to
ask any of our instructors. We are always here for you if you need more guidance, and we are always
looking for ways to improve our school. There are many methods by which to contact us: through email, phone, Facebook, Twitter, and of course, in person.
We hope you are just excited as we are about training together at our school to strengthen mind, body,
and spirit.
See ya in the classroom!