About Taekwondo
Taekwondo, the "Way of the Hand and the Foot," is a Korean martial art which traces its roots through the centuries to the ancient fighting arts of the Korean peninsula. Today, Taekwondo is the world's most widely practiced martial art, with over 20 million practitioners worldwide.
Patterns, or Poomses in Korean language, are a series of defending and attacking movements performed against imaginary opponents in a set pattern. Through the practice of forms, students come to learn the applications of various techniques of Taekwondo. Patterns serve a multi-dimensional role, aiding in development and refinement of coordination, balance, timing, breath control and rhythm, all of which are essential skills to the Taekwondo student.
W.T.F. uses Poomses for patterns. Poomses originate from the book 'I Ching', a Chinese oracle. The I Ching has 64 hexagrams, a combination of two sets of three lines, closed or broken. The sets of three lines are called trigrams. The closed lines represent Yang, the open lines Yin. In the chinese language, the unity of Yin and Yang is called 'taich'i'. In the Korean language, the unity is called T'ae-guk. This explains the term Poomse Taeguk. The eight trigrams together are called Pal-gwe as in Poomse Palgwe...
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Il Jang -- Heaven
(South, Father) The first Taeguk/Palgwe is the beginning of all Poomses. The associated trigram represents Yang (heaven, light), therefore, this Poomse should be performed with the greatness of Heaven.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Ee Jang -- Lake
(South East, Youngest daughter) In the depths of the lake are treasures and mysteries. The movements of this Taeguk/Palgwe should be performed knowing that man has limitations, but that we can overcome these limitations. This should lead to a feeling of joy, knowing that we can control our future.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Sam Jang -- Fire
(East, Second daughter) Fire contains a lot of energy. Fire helped man to survive, but on the other hand had some catastrophical results. This form should be performed rhythmically, with some outbursts of energy.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Sa Jang -- Thunder
(North East, Eldest son) Thunder comes from the sky and is absorbed by the earth. Thunder is one of the most powerful natural forces, circling, gyrating. This Taeguk/Palgwe should be performed with this in mind.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Oh Jang -- Wind
(South West, Eldest daughter) Wind is a gently force, but can sometimes be furious, destroying everything in it's path. Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Oh Jang should be performed like the wind: gently, but knowing the ability of mass destruction with a single movement.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Yook Jang -- Water
(West, Second son) Water can move a mountain. The movements of this Poomse should be performed like water. Sometimes standing still like water in a lake, sometimes thriving as a river.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Chil Jang -- Mountain
(North West, Youngest son) Mountains will always look majestic, no matter the size. This Poomse should be performed with the feeling that all movements are this majestic and deserved to be praised.
Poomse Taeguk/Palgwe Pal Jang -- Earth
(North, Mother) The associated trigram of this Poomse is Yin: the end of the beginning, the evil part of all that is good. Even in this darkness, there is still some light. Performing this Taeguk/Palgwe, one should be aware that this is the last Taeguk/Palgwe to be learned, it also is the end of a circle, and therefore it is also the first, the second etc...
Both Palgwe's and Taeguk's are numbered from one to eight. After this point, there is no longer a difference between the patterns. The patterns below follow the Poomse Taeguks as well as the Poomse Palgwes.
Poomse Koryo
Koryo (Korea) is the name of an old Korean Dynasty. The people from the Koryo-period defeated the Mongolian aggressors. Their spirit is reflected in the movements of the Poomse Koryo. Each movement of this Poomse represents the strength and energy needed to control the Mongols.
Poomse Keumgang
The definition of Keumgang is "Too h3 to be broken", or "diamond". The movements of the Poomse Keumgang are as beautiful as the Keumgang-san (a Korean mountain) and as h3 as Keumgang-seok (diamond).
Poomse TaeBaek
The legendary 'Dangoon' founded a nation in Taebaek, near Korea's biggest mountain Baekdoo. Baekdoo is a symbol for Korea. The definition of Taebaek is "lightness". Every movement in this Poomse must not only be exact en fast, but with determination and hardness.
Poomse Pyongwon
The definition of Pyongwon is "stretch, vast plain": big, majestic.
Poomse Sipjin
Sipjin stands for decimal. This Poomse represents the orderliness of the decimal system. It also means the endless development and growth in a systematic order: stability.
Poomse Jitae
Jitae is derived from the meaning of the earth. All things evolve from and return to the earth, the earth is the beginning and the end of life.
Poomse Cheonkwon
Cheonkwon means 'sky'. The sky should be seen as ruler of the universe. It is both mysterious, infinite and profound. The motions of Cheonkwon are full of piety and vitality.
Poomse Hansoo
This poomse is derived from the fluidity of water which easily adapts within nature.
Poomse Ilyo
The state of spiritual cultivation in Buddhism is called 'Ilyo' which means more or less 'oneness'. In Ilyo, body and mind, spirit and substance, I and you are unified. The ultimate ideal of taekwondo can be found in this state. It is a discipline in which we concentrate on every movement leaving all materialistics thoughts, obsessions and extermal influences behind.
Philosophy Of Belt Colours |
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The Taegeuk and Um-and Yang instructs us that life is a cycle with no beginning and no ending. It is the perpetual cycle of opposites (sky and earth, male and female, light and darkness, good and evil). This is the philosophical explanation for the colors of the ranking belts (see colors below). These represent the cycle of life of animals and plants (birth, growth, maturation and death). Thus death is not an ending, but another beginning. The cycle repeats, never ending.
White
This colour represents the beginning of knowledge and the development of basic skills. Man is as a seed hidden beneath the winter's snow.
Yellow
This represents the warmth of the winter's sun that melts the winter's snow and allows the seed to germinate. This is the birth of conscious and purposeful action.
Green
This is the colour of the sprout and represents the spring when growth and activity abound. This is continued growth of knowledge.
Blue
This is the colour of youth, ambition and rapid growth. The seedling is now reaching for the blue sky.
Red
This represents the summer's sun that swelters with the intensity of the flowering arts and the mature knowledge in the skills and philosophy of Taegeuk.
Black
This is the colour of mastery. No colour added to this colour can change or improve it. This completes a cycle that is now begun again. New knowledge and skills continue in a new cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions |
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Is it good for self-protection?
Yes! An important component of self protection is learning self defense skills. Other components are of course awareness, assertiveness, and safety skills. Good self defense training requires both learning how to defend against various attacks as well as learning effective attacks to disable an assailant. We learn both offensive and defensive tactics against various kinds of attacks. Including grappling (i.e. Choking or hand grabs) and striking techniques (punching or kicking). Techniques are designed to maximize your strength against your opponent's weakness. We also emphasize learning to develop power in delivery of blows -- capable of incapacitating an opponent in one blow. Since an assailant is likely to be bigger and stronger than you are-- we also learn to effectively use our longest and strongest weapons against them -- our legs. With effective kicking techniques one can compete with an assailant with a longer reach and stronger upper-body. Since self protection entails more than just learning to deal with striking attacks we also learn defenses for various grappling techniques. This provides a very well-rounded base for dealing with self-defense.
Can a rank beginner join -- how do you handle new and advanced students?
Absolutely! Classes are taught on an ongoing basis with no given "start" and "end" date. As such people of all levels train together. And beginners can start anytime.
How do you handle classes of mixed levels?
Martial arts classes are almost always of mixed ranks. Some people will be brand new beginners and others will have trained for several years. The system that has proven to work well is to have the instructor give different drills for each level of student. So beginners will work on a simple technique, while advanced expand the technique into something more complex. Also it is the responsibility of those with more skill/rank to help those of lesser skill/rank. This way there is an entire community that is working together to help maximize learning. It also helps advanced students by sharing some of the teaching responsibility.
What kind of physical condition do I need to be in?
Panther Tae Kwon Do is taught in such a way that everyone will develop at their own pace. You will gradually become stronger, more flexible, and have better endurance.
Unlike some sports, the attitude in Panther Taekwondo is that the class is a community of mutual responsibility where the weakest are strengthened, not where the strongest are glorified. The instructors create within the program a commitment to cooperation and responsibility, and in this atmosphere is the greatest learning made possible.
What about women's self-defense?
Women are more likely to be assaulted than men. An important component of self-protection training for women is self-defence while training at Panther Tae Kwon Do. You will be taught other components of self-protection include assertiveness, awareness, and safety skills. The reality is that a potential assailant is likely to be male and much larger and stronger. However, most assaults use physical force only and do not employ a weapon -- which is where effective physical fighting comes in. Also studies show that women who fight back are more likely to be able to escape an attempted assault. With yelling, screaming, running away, and/or fighting being the most effective strategies.
For useful fighting techniques, women need to learn to pit their strength against the weakness of a potential assailant. This requires learning powerful striking and kicking techniques, and learning effective target areas. Since Panther Tae Kwon Do emphasizes kicking women learn to use their strongest weapon effectively. Kicking also has the longest reach and can help keep an attacker farther away. Choking is an important technique to be able to get out of, since choking is a common tactic, and studies show that when used choking tends to shift the stats in favour of the assailant you will learn how to get out of hand-grabs, chokes and other common situations... Our classes include instruction in these techniques as well as applying and defending against striking techniques.
What should I wear?
To start with loose fitting exercise clothes such as sweats and a T-shirt are fine. Obviously these clothes should be reasonably modest without pictures or statements that other students might find offensive. No jewelry -- unless they are of religious significance. Jewelry sometimes can snag and injury a partner -- or yourself -- if you wear them during class. Most students do not wear shoes. Martial arts shoes can be worn or if you have a preference for wearing shoes... Korean culture also places a certain value in the tradition of not wearing shoes for martial arts training. Socks can be worn with shoes, but socks should NOT be worn otherwise -- it makes training slippery and too difficult. After you've been in class for awhile you will want to purchase the traditional uniform (a Dobok). We also can order uniforms for students at a discount.
What about rank advancement?
The purpose of rank advancement is to: recognize skill and advancement, and to increase skill and commitment by giving a reachable goal to obtain. Once rank is achieved it also provides higher expectations that again lead to increased skill development it's also an aid to teaching, by ensuring that an individuals skill is careful examined by senior ranks. Since testing often brings other high ranking members on the testing board, it can help to bring a fresh perspective to a student's progress. Rank provides an easy way for instructors to assess gross skill level and assign drills accordingly. There's also an opportunity for students to share in teaching responsibility, by giving students responsibility to help teach students less advanced in skill and rank. And rank provides a mechanism to recognize all students for their own personal advancement and achievement and not just those students that excel in competition.
What if I already have rank from another style or association?
Students that wish to train with us that already have rank in another style or association, but do not wish to test can do so. They will do the drills that we work on in class, although they can work on their own set of forms during the forms section. As such we will fully recognize those with certified rank in a martial arts system.
Where can I learn more?
Keep an eye on this web page there are regular updates or go to our contacts page.
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