• What is Tae Kwon Do?
Tae Kwon Do literally translated from Korean means ¡°The art of kicking and punching." It is also sometimes referred to as Korean Karate, although it predates Karate by many centuries. In fact, although Tae Kwon Do's origins as a martial art can be traced back 2,000 years to the ancient art of Taek Kyon.
• How Do I Choose A Good School?
Watch some of the training sessions. Talk to some of the students, both higher belts and novices. Spend some time learning more about the people who teach there. You never stop learning in Tae Kwon Do, even when you reach black belt, and getting started is just the first step of a learning adventure that stays with you for life.
• Will I Learn Real Self-Defense Techniques?
Yes, Tae Kwon Do is a highly powerful form of learning self-defense techniques. Kicking techniques in Tae Kwon Do deliver force from a distance. As training progresses and you gain in rank, you will be more confident in dealing with all situations.
• What Does It Mean To Get A Black Belt?
It means different things to different people. When a student attains the rank of black belt in the United Black Belts of America, they write a personal essay. You can read some recent essays on our Web site.With the rank of black belt comes a great deal of responsibility. You are an example to all the students, you are a teacher, and you are an advanced student. Like all major achievements in life, it takes dedication, hard work, and discipline to become a black belt. In UBBA, you are encouraged to have as your goal the attainment of a black belt, but you have to earn it. Fortunately, there is plenty of encouragement and support at the school to help you get there. You can't ask for any more.
• How Does Tae Kwon Do Differ From Other Martial Arts?
Tae Kwon Do places a greater emphasis on kicking techniques than other martial arts. Therefore, Tae Kwon Do skills involve balance, flexibility, speed, and power. All practitioners of Tae Kwon Do are encouraged to create a sense of harmony between the actions of their body and focus on their mind.Tae Kwon Do is categorized as a ¡°hard¡± martial art in that striking is used more often than grappling or throwing. Tae Kwon Do sparring is especially noteworthy, as it uses almost-full-power techniques to the body. Tae Kwon Do sparring is done in full protective gear under the supervision of experienced referees and teachers. The purpose of Tae Kwon Do sparring is to develop proper techniques and control in a challenging environment, not to beat up your opponent.
• What Is A Good Age to Start Training?
Grandmaster Jea S. Kim, founder of the United Black Belts of America, encourages and teaches students from pre-school-age children to adults nearing retirement. As students progress through the rankings and gain greater experience they are encouraged to help novices follow the same path.
• What Is The Likelihood That I Will Get Hurt?
While there is an element of risk in any sport, students are taught to understand their own physical and mental limits and work towards exceeding them. Tae Kwon Do in the United Black Belts of America emphasizes correctness of detail, self-control, and the systematic learning of principles. These are the key elements in the training of students at all levels. Beyond the ache of whipping yourself into shape, there is no reason to expect injury in a properly supervised school.
