Classes

Ages

We accept students from age 5 to 95 (or beyond!), who want to learn Taekwondo. Our curriculum includes many types of hand and foot techniques, such as stances and stepping, blocks, punches and strikes, and kicks. Each belt has a few of each of these to learn, and one new Taegeuk pattern. When we are able to do activities requiring physical contact, we will include self-defense and sparring. Every class includes a fitness component. Students earn curriculum stripes by demonstrating that they have learned the techniques required for the next belt.

Beginner

Our Beginner class currently covers our Taekwondo curriculum for students with belts from white belt (10th gup) to yellow with a green stripe or bar (7th gup). Emphasis is on learning to do techniques smoothly and consistently, while striving to also be accurate.

Intermediate

Our Intermediate class is for students whose belts range from green (6th gup) to blue with red stripe or bar (3rd gup). New techniques are introduced at each belt level, and emphasis for this group is on improving accuracy of techniques, and increasing power.

Advanced

Our Advanced class is for students whose belts range from blue with red stripe (3rd gup) to black (1st dan or poom and above). New techniques are still being introduced at each belt level, and emphasis for this group is on understanding how techniques can be used and combined in attack or defense, as well as improving accuracy, speed, and power.

Poomsae, Sparring, and Self-defense

Each week in our calendar normally has a particular emphasis, with rotation through a four-week cycle.
If it’s ‘patterns’ week each class should include some time teaching or fine-tuning students’ patterns, or poomsae. There are eight colour-belt patterns and students must learn and remember them all on their way to black belt. They are designed to demonstrate a variety of blocks, strikes and kicks, and they also ensure that students learn techniques on both the right and left sides.
Sparring week covers individual kicks, combinations, and tactics. Time will also be spent on cardio drills and some light-contact and full-contact sparring (depending on belt level and age). Advanced students will learn competition rules and have an opportunity to try their hand at judging and refereeing matches. All students are encouraged to take a turn as judges on our electronic scoring system, and those who are interested can learn how to run the Ringmaster scoring program on the computer.
Self-defense week will have instruction in our ‘set’ defenses, releases and escapes, as well as some other useful skills. We will also help students who have yellow belt or higher to create their own attack/defend scenarios. With additional expertise in boxing, judo, karate, jiu jitsu or hapkido, our instructors are always willing to help students develop easy yet effective ways to defend themselves!
Taekwondo is a sport and an art, with rules and standards, and a focus on fair competition. Self-defense is about survival and if your life is in danger, there are no rules!
The fourth week is for getting technical about specific techniques, which may be kicks and combinations, troublesome poomsae sections, or advanced defensive skills.