How long does it take to become a black belt?
When our class met in my home town, we trained at least five times a week. It usually took our students at least two (2) to three (3) years before they obtained the rank of black belt. Though, this is also subjective to the student and the effort put forth. With this class being only two days a week, you can expect to probably double that time frame. Now, I understand that there are some Tae Kwon Do classes that tell their students that if they pay on time every month for two years, they are automatically a black belt. This is NOT one of those classes!
Do I have to get my “legs popped?”
Most people who love martial arts have seen the movie “Kickboxer” starring Jean Claude Van Damme. In this movie, he goes through a rigorous training regimen where his instructor ties two ropes to his legs and pulls them until his legs “pop” and he is able to perform a straight “Chinese split.” Keep in mind that is just a movie. There may be some masters out there that may do this to their students, but rest assured, this is not one of those classes were this is done.
Do you honor belt ranks from other classes?
If you say you earned a certain belt/rank from another class, I will take your word for it and you can wear that belt when you participate in my class. BUT, two pieces of white tape will be noticeably placed on both sides of the belt (with the word "visitor" written on it) to show that they have earned that belt from another instructor and there is a reason for this. If a student obtains a certain rank from another instructor, I have no way of knowing what was taught to this student during that time. The student may have legitimately earned that belt/rank, but that training may be a direct contradiction to what is taught in this class. There may be some exceptions, such as if a student earned another belt/rank from Master Curtis or another one of his black belts. Though, this is not a definitive reason and it may or may not apply.
Does this class teach any type of weapons?
I teach the basics of certain weapons. But, this is not officially part of your Tae Kwon Do training in this class.
How does Tae Kwon Do differ from Karate? What about the other martial arts?
Firstly, the nationality of origin is different. Karate is a Japanese marital art. Tae Kwon Do is a Korean art. The main difference between these two styles is that Tae Kwon Do emphasizes kicking as a means of self-defense a lot more than Karate does. Other than that, there are some subtle differences, but (in my opinion) nothing major. Now, there are other martial arts that are very different than Tae Kwon Do and Karate. Kung Fu (for example) is a Chinese art that is very fluent in nature that mimics animal movements. Some styles (like traditional Aikido) do not have any kicks. Each martial art is different and each style of that martial art may operate slightly different or the differences may vary greatly. The best way to find out is to visit one of these schools and ask questions. I personally do not have a problem with a student expanding their horizons and taking another martial art the same time they are taking mine. Just make sure you keep the two classes separate.
Aren’t the martial arts a dead/worthless art since everyone carries guns nowadays?
Quick question, do you currently have a gun on you right now? How many people do you know that carries a gun? Depending on your lifestyle, you will probably have a short list. But, even so, we will show you some techniques that may help you defend yourself in a certain situation where you can get yourself out a situation where someone is attacking you with a firearm.
Isn’t martial arts/Tae Kwon Do only for kids as a sort of after school program?
No, no, no! Tae Kwon do can be a deadly art and is an excellent form of self-defense. Adults and children alike can benefit from the various things Tae Kwon Do has to offer.
Do I have to speak fluent Korean?
No. You will have to recognize several commands in Korean. Though, you won’t have to memorize every single Tae Kwon Do technique in Korean.
Are there throws, break falls, and takedowns in Tae Kwon Do?
There are some. You might be shown some if certain conditions in the class are present, including mats.
During class sparring, is there any blood that is shed? Will I get bruises?
The upmost safety precautions are put into place in this class. I try my best to minimize injuries even during sparring. That’s why I emphasize the students to buy their own individual sparring gear and bring it to ever class period.
