Definition of Taekwondo

Taekwondo was created in Korea, based primarily on Korean martial arts with some influence from Japanese and Chinese systems. "Tae" means "foot" or "to strike with the feet". "Kwon" means "hand", or "to strike with the hand". "Do" means discipline, art, or way. TaeKwonDo (foot-hand-way) means literally "the art of the feet and the hands" “Ryu” is actually a Japanese term that means style or school. Hence, Cecil-Ryu is “Cecil-Style”. This style is modeled on ITF Taekwondo. ITF is the International Taekwon-Do Federation, founded on March 22nd, 1966, by General Choi Hong Hi, who developed Taekwon-Do, to promote the teaching of this martial art.

Tenets of Taekwondo (CIPSI)

COURTESY (Ye Ui), INTEGRITY (Yom Chi), PERSEVERANCE (In Nae), SELF CONTROL (Guk Gi)

INDOMITABLE SPIRIT (Baekjool Boolgool)

Korean Counting

1 : hanah 2 : dool 3 : set 4 : net 5 : dasot 6 : yasot 7 : ilgop 8 : yadol 9 : ahop 10 : yool

Rank

gup : grade (below black belt) dan : degree (black belt and up)

Hand Positions

kwan soo : spearhand (also "pyun sahnkeut")

Forms

poomse : forms or patterns (pronounced "poom-say"), also "hyung" or “tul”

Uniform

dobok : Taekwondo uniform (Korean)

gi: Judo uniform (Japanese)

Commands

cha ryuht : attention

choon bi or joon bi: ready

bah ro : return to starting position

dwi uro dorah : about face

gomahn : stop or relax

kyung nae : bow

hop sul : switch your stance (switch your feet)

seijak : begin

shiuh : relax

Titles

do joo nim : founder (of the art)

kwan jang nim : grandmaster

chung sah nim : chief instructor (or "chief master")

sah bum nim : instructor (or "master")

sah boo nim : more intimate and respectful form of "sah bum nim"; literally "teaching father"

kyo sah nim : teacher (also "seon saeng nim")

sensei is the Japanese word for “teacher”. I tend to use this term because it is easier to remember.

Miscellaneous

dojang : place where one trains (house of discipline) called "dojo" in Japanese

kihap : yell

ki : life-energy

dahnjun : the center of your "ki"

Student Creed (From Universal Karate Studio)

I will build myself physically, mentally and spiritually based on the Taekwondo spirit. I will maintain friendship and be a strong group. I will never fight for selfish means but to develop. “Might for Right”.

Meanings of some of the belt colors ( www.itatkd.com/beltcolors.html)

White signifies a birth, or beginning, of a seed. A white belt student is a beginner searching for knowledge of the Art.

Yellow signifies the first beam of sunlight which shines upon the seed giving it new strength with the beginning of new life. A yellow belt student is given his/her first ray of knowledge, opening his mind, from an instructor.

Green signifies the growth of the seed as it sprouts from the earth reaching toward the sun and begins to grow into a plant. A green belt student learns to further develop and refine his/her techniques.

Blue signifies the blue sky as the plant continues to grow toward it. A blue belt student moves up higher in rank just as the plant grows taller. The light feeds the plant so it can continue to grow. The student is fed additional knowledge of the Art in order for his/her body and mind continue to grow and develop.

Red signifies the red-hot heat of the Sun as the plant continues growing toward it. A red belt student is higher in rank, he/she acquires more detailed knowledge and, just as the plant grows slowly toward the Sun, so the red belt student learns to be more cautious as his/her knowledge and physical abilities increase.

Black signifies the darkness beyond the Sun. A black belt seeks new knowledge of the Art. As he/she begins to teach others, he/she begins planting new seeds, his/her students, many of which will take root deep into the Art, blossom and grow through the ranks in a never-ending process of self-growth, knowledge, and enlightenment.

Belt Ranks in Cecil-Ryu Taekwondo (lowest to highest):

White Yellow Orange Green Blue Purple Brown Red Black

Beginner: white thru green. Intermediate: Blue thru Red. Advanced: Black

LOWER BELT FORMS

Chon-Ji 19 moves Heaven and Earth

Dan Gun 21 moves Holy Dan Gun, founder of Korea in 2333 B.C.

Do San 24 moves Pseudonym of Ahn Chang Ho, freedom fighter and educator 1876-1938

Won Hyo 28 moves Monk who introduced Buddhism to Korea in 686 AD

Yul Gok 38 moves Pseudonym of Yi I, 1536 philosopher nicknamed "Confucius of Korea"

Joong Gun 32 moves Joong Gun, patriot, freedom fighter, assassinated the first Japanese Ambassador in 1910.

32 movements is the age of Joong Gun when he was executed.

Toi Gye 32 moves Pseudonym of Yi Hwang, 16th Century Neo-Confucian scholar.

Hwa Rang 29 moves Elite military group in Silla, 500 AD

Chung Moo 30 moves Admiral Yi Sun Sin, 1592, first "kobukson" (Iron Turtle Ship)

BLACK BELT FORMS (some of them)

Kwang Gae 39 movesKwang Gae T'o was a king of Koguryo Dynasty. 39 moves depict years of reign.

Po Eun 36 moves Pseudonym of Chong Mong Chu, poet, physicist in 1400 AD

Gae Baek 44 moves General in Pak Chae Dynasty 660 AD

Good sites on the Internet

http://www.geocities.com/cecilryutaekwondo (club website)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taekwondo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangsoodo

http://www.youtube.com/itftuls

http://www.taekwondo-legacy.com/index.php