| General Information | What is Taekwondo? | What is Arnis? | About the Instructor | TKD Terminology | Rank | Sparring |
The Taekwondo-Arnis Academy is a traditional martial arts school emphasizing physical fitness, self discipline, and practical self defense. It wholeheartedly supports the five tenets of Taekwondo: Courtesy, Perseverance, Self Control, Integrity, and Indomitable Spirit. Students are expected to conduct themselves accordingly, both inside the Dojang and in their daily activities outside the Dojang.
The Dojang is a place of learning, a place where individuals come for mental as well as physical development. It is the responsibility of the student to sincerely attempt to learn and practice what is taught at the Dojang. A good student will take advantage of any opportunity to learn and practice and will not limit his/her training to the time spent in class.
Beginning students are not required to purchase a uniform although they may do so if they wish. However, once a student has acquired a belt rank, wearing a proper uniform is mandatory. A "proper uniform" consists of a colored belt and white uniform pants and top with school patch on the left shoulder. In warm weather, school T-shirts may be worn in place of the uniform top.
Students are expected to arrive on time for class. If a student lacks the self discipline to be punctual, it is doubtful that he/she possesses sufficient self discipline to learn a martial art.
The time available before class should be spent warming up, stretching, and practicing; students should not hesitate to ask senior students or instructors for assistance. Loud talking, horseplay, and indolence have no place in the Dojang.
Upon entering the Dojang, students should bow to the instructor. If class has already begun, the student, after bowing to the instructor, should wait quietly for the instructor's permission to join the class.
When the class is to officially begin, the instructor will clap his hands and the students will line up according to rank (when students share the same belt rank, time in rank determines seniority). After the students bow to the instructor, a short time will be allowed for meditation to enable the student to prepare mentally for learning a martial art. A similar procedure is followed at the end of class.
Inside the Dojang, instructors should always be addressed formally (e.g., "Sir", "Mr./Mrs. ", etc.). Outside the Dojang, with permission, the instructors may be addressed less formally.
Taekwondo is a Korean form of fighting that embraces kicking, punching, jumping, blocking, and dodging; it is a system for training both the mind and the body with an emphasis on development of moral character.
Since Taekwondo is basically a kicking art, every practitioner must spend time developing the legs, hips, and back. Training also includes stretching exercises to make the practitioner limber and able to kick head high. Wide stances are utilized to develop strength in the thighs, a practice common to many martial arts.
Unlike Okinawan and Japanese Karate, Taekwondo advocates a broad array of kicks with many of them aimed at head level. Taekwondo is also famous for its flying kicks; all of the basic kicks can be delivered in a jumping or flying motion. Punching, blocking, and striking techniques are also used in Taekwondo and, as in Karate, all parts of the hand and arm are used in attacking as well as defending.
Taekwondo has its roots in the centuries-old Korean arts of Taekyon and Subak which were later blended with Chinese Kung Fu and Japanese Karate. Taekwondo is one of the most popular martial arts in the world and was introduced as a sport in the 1988 Olympic Games. It has since become a permanent addition to the Olympic Games.
The internationally recognized governing body for Taekwondo is the World Taekwondo Federation headquartered in Seoul, Korea. All of the black belt instructors of the Taekwondo-Arnis Academy are registered with the World Taekwondo Federation.
Otherwise known as “Kali” or “Escrima”, Arnis is the most popular martial art of the Philippines. Arnis techniques are executed empty-handed or with tools such as a stick or blade. There are three basic forms of combat: espada y daga (sword and dagger), solo baston (single stick), and sinawali, a native term relating the intricate movement of two sticks to the crisscross weave of sawali, the bamboo split pattern used in walling and matting in the Philippines.
Arnis is most effective in close range combat and stresses simultaneous striking and parrying skills. In addition, footwork and the use of the leg to offbalance and throw an opponent are very important. The Arnis practitioner strives for maximum speed when delivering strikes, speed of hand and foot, and even speed of the eyes in spotting an opponent's weakness.
Carl S. Minkel was born in 1945. From 1963 to 1972, he studied classical fencing, primarily the saber, under several internationally recognized instructors. His study of Taekwondo commenced in 1973 and he has trained in Filipino Arnis since 1977. Mr. Minkel currently holds the rank of 7th degree black belt in Taekwondo (World Taekwondo Federation, Kukkiwon), 4th degree black belt in Modern Arnis (International Modern Arnis Federation), and 1st degree black belt in traditional Arnis (International Philippine Martial Arts Association). His martial arts training continues today under 9th degree Grandmaster Moo Yong Lee (Taekwondo) and Grandmaster Jeffery Delaney (Modern Arnis). Mr. Minkel is also an authorized teacher of “Awareness Through Movement®”, part of the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education, and a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner.
Tae – kick, strike with foot Baro - Return to ready position
Kwon – punch, strike with fist Dojang - Training Hall
Do – way, art, method Ahnjo - sit/kneel
Kiai - yell Shup - Rest
TaeKwonDo - art of hand and foot fighting Mukyom - Meditate
Sichak - Begin Chunbee - Ready Position
Dorah - Turn Dobak - Uniform
Charyut - Attention Hyung (Poomse) - Form
Kyung yeh - Bow Esang - Finished
Kwan - School
There are nine degrees or “Dans” of black belt. There are 10 belt ranks or “Gups” below black belt described by 5 colors and 5 stripes (White, white with yellow stripe, yellow, yellow with green stripe, green, green with blue stripe, blue, blue with red stripe, red, red with black stripe).
Significance of belt colors
WHITE - Innocence
YELLOW - Earth
GREEN - Growth
BLUE - Sky or Heaven
RED - Danger
BLACK - Opposite of WHITE: Maturity, Proficiency
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1. No strikes or kicks are allowed to the groin or more than two inches below the belt; techniques to the back, kidneys, neck, or joints are specifically prohibited.
2. No contact is allowed to the face or head with any technique. Light, controlled contact to the body is allowed with hand or foot technique.
3. Sweeping techniques are prohibited. 4. Wearing of hand and foot protection is required to minimize the risk of injury. In addition, all students below the rank of black belt who participate in free sparring must wear headgear, chest protector, mouthpiece, and (males) groin cup.
| General Information | What is Taekwondo? | What is Arnis? | About the Instructor | TKD Terminology | Rank | Sparring |