White belt for TaeKwonDo?--- stripes? (read more)?

Question

Okay, just started TaeKwonDo, our instructor doesn't tell us squat. How many of those "tips" are there to advance to yellow. What is the (I believe) 16-step form called? (Where you keep your fist close to your chest, parallel to the ground) Are we suppose to get a book or anything? How long should the process from white to yellow take?
What is the flip over the elevated rectangle mat called. Is there something called horsecrab????
Ugh, it is moving so fast.
Thank you so much people!

Answer 1

Two issues: first what the previous poster said and second your question.

Much of what the other person said about TKD is true. It is a sport, not a good self-defense unless taught Korean style. There are numerous arts that are good for self-defense including kung fu, jkd, bjj, hapkido, kempo, mauy thai etc.
Here is the differance between a sport and defense:
sport you learn to fight for points and kick high
defense, low kicks and strikes include attacks on sensitive areas.
But TKD is better than nothing and most 1st Dans would be able to win (I think) in a normall street fight.

Your questions. Each school is differant so forms could differ some. There typically is no book, but you learn by watching, trying, and asking for help after class. The class goes fast, which in my opinion is good as long as the instructor is willing to work with you after class. Imagine yourself a brown belt and going slow..you would not learn much, but by setting the bar high and forcing you to really watch you will learn. It just takes time to learn and to get your body to essentially learn how to walk all over again. Everyone goes through this.
As to yellow belt...two months is prob about right. But thats going 4 days a week at 2 hours a go and practicing at home. Again, each school is differant...Don't focus so much on the belt, but instead on what you are learning. The belts will come the more you practice.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Let me save you some time and money:

Tae-Kwon-Do is an extremely old martial art and is not at ALL practical for today's fighting styles. Seriously, when's the last time you saw a bar fight, or a fight at school where one of the guys got down in some silly low stance, pulled his fists back to his waist and yelled "Kiaaaaaaaaa!!!" It's stupid and it doesn't work.
Using Tae-Kwon-Do in a streetfight today would be the same as using muskets and cannons in world war 3. It's old, outdated and ridiculous.
Karate and TKD teaches you to kick people in the head and the face. Why the hell would anyone want to do that when it's so much easier and effective to just kick them in the balls? You don't have to stretch for an hour a day to do it and it doesn't take any practice. And, it works.

If you want to check out a real fighting style, go to Google and look up JKD (Jeet Kune Do.)
JKD uses lots of knees, elbows, chokes, eye poking, throat striking and other practical things that actually work. No kicking above the waist, no stretching until you're able to do the splits...(stupid) and no silly uniforms and belts. You train in street clothes because after all, if you get into a fight, that's what you're going to be wearing, right? Haven't seen many streetfights where the people were wearing no shoes and some retarded white suit with a belt hanging from their waist, have you?

Now, if you're not really interested in learning how to fight, but rather would just like to compete in tournaments and win points, then go ahead and stay with TKD. But, if you want to learn how to actually take someone out with no mercy - even if they're twice your size, then go with JKD.

This is 2006; there's no logical reason to be learning a martial art that was created 500 years ago.

The Navy SEALS use JKD for a reason. It's the most effective style there is. Could you imagine a SEAL sneaking up on an Iraqi terroist and doing some stupid low block, yelling "Kiaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" and jumping in the air, spinning around and kicking him in the head??? LOL No way. This isn't the movies, it's real life. Get with the times and say bye-bye to Tae-Kwon-Do.

Answer 3

like capitalctu said some schools mix the teenagers with the adults usually because theres not enough of one or the other to make a whole other class. since you say you learn fast and and you are just beginning so you are not learning anything too advanced maybe thats why you arent getting much attention, and as you go onto more difficult things then he'll focus on those more. this is just one possiblity. if you really want more feedback your instructor courteously ask if your technique is right, what you can do outside of class to practice, is there anyway i can get more practice in with you perhaps in a smaller enviroment, being a good instructor this will help engage him to focus in on you and see that you are really wanting to learn. if the problem continues to persist after that then you might want to start training somewhere else addressing the other responses on effectiveness tkd can be effective if taught right however if has been known to have a lot of "mcdojos" handing out black belts for money and also focusing on point sparring instead of full contact sparring, on the other hand the clip agnostic front gave you was of crocop a k1 mma fighter and his style is not taekwondo

Answer 4

i'm sorry i can't answer your question right now, but i'll do a quick search and get back to you on that.
now, the first answer i read (which should be right above mine) is way~ off. first of off, tae kwon do isn't 500 years old. it's should be about 50 years now. and JKD isn't the best style in the world. matter in fact no martial art should be able to claim that because it's more about the fighter and their experience than the styles themselves.
tae kwon do mostly a mix between tekkeon, (not sure if that's spelled correctly) a traditional korean MA, and karate, japanese MA. the ITF tae kwon do still has it's martial value although it lacks grappling and ground fighting. the WTF, most likely the tae kwon do most ppl know, is now called a martial sport and they are more match orientated than self defense orientated.

now getting back to the question. at first it'll feel like everything is going slowly because you are only learning the basics, but stick with it a bit more. most of the good dojo/dojang/any other name for training in MA will have a firm basics training before going into flashy techniques. if you really feel that the place isn't for you, then find another place to train in and ask if you can observe a class or even take a demo class to see how that place is run.

Answer 5

Wow, The first guy has it wrong (sort of)
Tae-Kwon-Do is not a very effective self defence art. It's more for show and tournements. Karate doesn't teach you how to kick people in the head! I've practiced for years and would never put myself off balance with a high useless kick. But, you didn't ask what we thought of your art, you asked some very basic questions about your art.
I can't give you those answers, but I will tell you that if your instructor is not teaching you what you need then you need to find another DoJang.
Go to the instructor and ask him these tings, if he can't answer, you don't want to learn from him. If you are affraid to approch him and ask the questions, then you won't learn very much from him in the long run.
I hope I've helped a little.

Answer 6

tagoo ilchan is the 16 step for callled the process from white too yellow takes about couple of months, yes you should get a book the flip over the rectangle matt is called a front flip or a back flip there is no such move called called a horse grab in Taekwondo
but there is a move called a horse riding stance center middle punch. to achieve white to yellow belt you have to start with your form called baseform then after that you have to start with right foot back front kick then front kick with your left leg turn your face
right foot back extend your right leg and snap then choon be center middle attack yell with right hand. say kamsamnida