What Does a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do Signify?

You did it. Proudly tied around your waist is that ultimate of martial arts goals – the black belt. Your family and friends slap you on the back as they offer you congratulations. Your instructors bow in respect and give words of well-deserved praise. Capture the moment. You will remember it for the rest of your life.

But then you stop and consider – “Now what? Is this it? What does having this black belt mean for me?”

Defining the Role of a “Master”

Whoever wrote the Wikipedia article on black belts nailed the analogy:

“Since in many styles a black belt takes approximately three to six years of training to achieve, a good intuitive analogy would be a bachelor’s degree: the student has a good understanding of concepts and ability to use them but has not yet perfected their skills. In this analogy, a master’s degree and a doctorate would represent advancement past the first degree.”(1)

In simple words, a black belt means you have mastered the fundamentals of Tae Kwon Do. You should be very proud of your accomplishment. Only a few ever manage to reach the level of black belt, and even fewer go on to become a “master” of Tae Kwon Do as an art.

Children can achieve black belt status.This is because a black belt does NOT mean that the student can beat everyone in a fight. Even though kids are taught to spar, there is a point where size takes over. Having a black belt DOES mean they have acquired the mental and physical skills needed to teach others, and to take Tae Kwon Do from a “sport” to an “art”.

With Rank Comes Responsibility

If you reach the rank of black belt in Tae Kwon Do, you are expected to lead or teach. Believe it or not, a teacher often learns more than the students. When you have to break down the skills that you now take for granted, you see components and relationships you hadn’t noticed before. For this very reason, learning does not stop once you have your black belt.

As a black belt, you have a lot of responsibility. Students perceive you to be one of the “experts” in the dojang. It’s important that you stay in top condition and exhibit a strong character. Younger students look up to you and emulate you.

Your responsibility isn’t just inside the dojang. You need to be aware of your role outside as well. Others may discover that you are a black belt, so it is important that you are a strong representative and ambassador for your art. This means you must not be perceived as a bully, you shouldn’t speak ill of other styles – and while it is okay to demonstrate Tae Kwon Do, showing off should be avoided.

Finally, you have a responsibility to yourself. After years of disciplined study, the last thing you want to do is stop. Conditioning and muscle memory disappear when they aren’t exercised. Continue to study Tae Kwon Do and make it a life-long pursuit. There is always something new to learn.

A Word from the Black Belts at Vortexic

At Vortexic, our black belts take their rank and responsibilities seriously. In their own words, two of them describe what their rank means to them:

“I believe that there are three main points to what it means to be a black belt. The one I think is the most important is for a black belt to live by the 5 tenets of taekwondo: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. Being a black belt also means that you value your experience as a martial artist and demand respect for your efforts, especially those in your journey going from white to black belt. Last but not least, a black belt has pride in his/her self as martial artist.”

-Isabel Enriquez

“Being a black belt has defined me as the person I am today. It represents years of hard work and a desire to always improve myself. It has instilled a sense of respect for myself and others.”

-Rachel R.

How Can You Become a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do?

Whether you are new to Tae Kwon Do or you have been studying for a while, you probably see that black belt as your goal. That’s good! A black belt gives you a focal point with clearly defined steps on how to get there.

Tae Kwon Do students are ranked by colored belts. As each level of study is mastered, the student moves up in rank. At first, it may only take a few months to move to the next rank. As each level gets progressively harder, it takes a bit more time. Finally, after mastering each of the levels, you are tested in proficiency and if you pass – you get your “degree” – a black belt.

The first step in getting a black belt in Tae Kwon Do is the easiest. Just call and schedule a class. We offer complimentary classes to anyone wanting to know more about Tae Kwon Do.

Check out what we teach. Visit with our black belts. Find out from them firsthand how Tae Kwon Do has developed them into the people they are today.

There is nothing to lose! Call us today. Vortexic MA

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_belt_(martial_arts)

source https://vortexic.com/what-does-a-black-belt-in-tae-kwon-do-signify/

MMA vs Taekwondo: The Case for Traditional Martial Arts

We teach Tae Kwon Do, so it’s probably no surprise that we feel that traditional martial arts are the way to go. However,we believe an opinion should be supported by facts. Therefore, we offer you the reasons why we believe everyone, especially children, should begin their training in traditional martial arts and not MMA.

What is MMA?

MMA, or mixed martial arts, has actually been around for centuries. As the name implies, it is just an amalgam of several styles. Tae Kwon Do, in its present day form, was developed during the 1940s from elements of Karate, Taekkyeon, Subak, and Gwonbeop. If you consider the impact of other styles in the development of this discipline, then the argument can be made that Tae Kwon Do is a mixed martial art.

 

However, In today’s society, MMA has come to signify the combat sport that has been popularized by such organizations as the UFC. Made popular in the 1990’s, that form of mixed martial arts is what people think of when the term MMA is used.

Comparing the Purposes of Tae Kwon Do and MMA

 

MMA is a combat sport designed to entertain. Fans are not interested in a defensive fight. Therefore, MMA teaches aggression. The primary purpose of MMA is to fight in the ring – TO MAKE MONEY.

 

Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, and pretty much all the other traditional martial arts teach self-defense. One of my favorite quotes by a martial arts instructor is, “The best way to win a fight is to avoid a fight.”  Aggression should never be encouraged, especially in children, unless there is no other option but to fight. Traditional martial arts stresses this. Self-control and discipline are keys to traditional training.

 

So to reiterate:  MMA, by necessity, focuses on aggression, because the goal is to fight, win, and make money. Traditional martial arts such as Tae Kwon Do teach students to fight only WHEN NECESSARY.

 

Carefully consider which of those philosophies of fighting you want your children to be taught.

Wait a Minute – Isn’t Tae Kwon Do a Combat Sport?

Yes it is. The difference is that you have never paid a hundred dollars to watch two Tae Kwon Do kids knock each other out. Traditional martial arts tournaments have some pretty strict rules. They participants wear sparring gear, to PREVENT injury, not encourage it. The contest is about technique and control. How quick is the reaction time? Which one saw an opening? You only need to show that you would win a fight, you don’t have to prove it by knocking out your opponent.

The difference may be subtle, but it’s real. Tae Kwon Do builds confidence, not aggression.

Even MMA Fighters Recommend Tae Kwon Do Training

In a recent interview with Tim Kennedy, the retired MMA fighter discussed his thoughts on training at an MMA school. This is what he said:  “They’re building a house without a foundation. An MMA coach can take the skills and tools you have and put them together to construct a nice building, but if the foundation doesn’t exist — which is the techniques — you’re wasting your time.”

 

Tae Kwon Do provides that foundation. In fact, a large number of MMA fighters began their study of martial arts with Tae Kwon Do, and continue to do so even today.

 

Both Anderson Silva and Cung Le, famous MMA fighters, started training in Tae Kwon Do as children. Silva relies heavily that training when he executes his famous Tae Kwon Do kicks. It wasn’t that long ago that he knocked out Vitor Belfort with a front kick for the middleweight title. Cung Le is known for his spinning back kick and straight, Tae Kwon Do punches.

 

Anthony Pettis, another fighter, is a 3rd-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do who still trains in it today. In an interview, he gave the credit for his success to his Tae Kwon Do training. The ability to throw lightning-fast kicks has been a huge asset for him in the octagon.  

 

All of these MMA fighters owe their success in MMA to traditional martial arts training, specifically Tae Kwon Do.

Summation and Closing Arguments

 

• By its very nature, MMA emphasizes aggression. It has to. Nobody will win fights if they are running away from their opponent.

 

• MMA fighters generally own a specific set of skills received from traditional martial arts training. It is only later, after years of training in specific styles, that they start blending techniques and disciplines.

 

• Tae Kwon Do emphasises self-control and discipline. The benefits of this carry over into all parts of the student’s life, not just in the dojang. The very structure of a traditional class makes the student a more productive member of society.

 

The case for traditional martial arts training cannot be disputed. If you want to pursue combat sports, train in Tae Kwon Do. If you are a teenager, there may even be an opportunity for college scholarships. If you are more interested in street-defense, you can look into Hapkido. There, you train in all four combat ranges (which is what happens in MMA) and yet, you will also benefit from the character-building discipline that goes with traditional martial arts.

 

We, at Vortexic, highly recommend that you train in traditional martial arts before you ever consider branching off into mixed martial arts. If someday, your child wants to become a professional fighter, then maybe that’s the time to look into MMA. However, Vortexic offers classes in Olympic style Tae Kwon Do. This too, can be a path to a professional career. Maybe someday, your child will be the one standing on the podium, holding gold. In the meantime,Tae Kwon Do definitely offers them the best training in self-defense, sport, and character.

Check Out Our Taekwondo Class Here

source https://vortexic.com/mma-vs-taekwondo-the-case-for-traditional-martial-arts/