So, you want to be a Tae Kwon Do instructor. You’ve gone through the training, you know everything, and you’ve passed the test. Now the question is: what tools do you need to run class? Much like their classroom counterparts, Tae Kwon Do instructors use lots of different kinds of tools, from practice boards to agility ladders. There is a lot of variety between instructors, too. Instructors do, however, have a few tools that are generally universal. Here are the top 4 tools every Tae Kwon Do instructor needs to use! A Good Dobok When you joined your Tae Kwon Do school, one of the first things you probably noticed is: tae kwon do instructors have style! There are so many different colors and types of uniform out there. There are so many different styles, designs, and colors that Tae Kwon Do instructors like to wear. Which ones to pick? Personally, The one I wear the most is an all black y-neck. It’s very comfortable, and often draws my students attention. Though it can be seen as a little intimidating, so I don’t usually wear it when I teach younger kids, instead preferring a more colorful uniform . The one I wear for poomse competition is also one of my favorites. While I only wear it for competitions, I have colleagues who like to wear it to train and/or teach. It features a white top, navy blue neck, and navy blue pants to match . Two colleagues (recently engaged to each other) like to both wear this uniform. They certainly look like a charming couple with the matching uniforms. Shoes (that’s right, shoes) If you’ve been training awhile, you’ve seen… shoes? Some Tae Kwon Do instructors have shoes. Why do Tae Kwon Do instructors have shoes, you ask? Simply put, these shoes are designed specifically for the dojang. With the soles designed specifically for Taekwondo movements, particularly the circles on the ball of the foot and the heel, students and instructors can move around much more easily. I’ve used them myself, and I find them to be quite comfortable. When I’m walking around the classroom for hours, I find it feels better to have comfortable shoes that I only wear on the mat. Hand Targets This one is a Tae Kwon Do instructor must have. You know the paddle targets that you hold in your hand so your training partner can kick and/or punch? You probably use these for every class. When you started training, this was probably the first thing you hit. These targets are used by instructors all-day everyday . I honestly spend at least half the class time holding these targets and having students hit them as needed. They’re fairly comfortable, though my wrists sometimes hurt if I hold them for too long! Books If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know: Tae Kwon Do instructors love to read! From Sun Tzu to Marcus Aurelius, instructors can be quite knowledgeable and quite bookish. Here are some of the books I’ve found many of them reading. Poomse books: There are books that are entirely about Tae Kwon Do forms and can be very helpful in a person’s martial arts education if used correctly. These books are often out of date because the competition criteria (particularly the details) for the forms get updated fairly frequently. If you want to know what your instructor is looking for in your forms, it’s best to ask them. However, if you’re looking for a book that instructors often use to help with learning a new form, or reminding themselves of a form they haven’t taught in awhile, there are many that can do that task. Here is one of the books that I commonly find in their bookshelf. This book, “Complete Taekwondo Poomse” by Sang H Kim and Kyu Hyung Lee, is an excellent text for those learning poomse, and need a little more help outside of class. The authors give the readers many of the forms that schools commonly use, as well as stretches, philosophy, and explanation of techniques the forms often require. They even have korean vocabulary that is frequently used in classes! History books: I know, I know. It sounds kind of strange that athletes like instructors like reading so much. Yet, it’s true! Some even like to read about history. Now, some texts are more detailed then others, but a good book to start on is Doug Cook’s “Taekwondo: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World” . This was one of the first Taekwondo history books I ever read. It’s certainly not the text for academics by any means, but for enthusiasts, black belts, and the curious, it’s a very good starting place. Doug Cook has a talent for making an entertaining and educational text. If you’re about to become an instructor, an introductory knowledge to Tae Kwon Do history can be very helpful. So there you go! Now you know what (in my opinion) a good Tae Kwon Do instructor needs! May you have good luck in your Taekwondo career! A Tae Kwon Do student immerses himself in study, surrounded by stacks of books near a nice bookshelf. *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon links: Link for Tae Kwon Do Shoes: Link: https://amzn.to/4jc2I25 Link for hand targets: Link: https://amzn.to/4a9q9oR Complete Tae Kwon Do Poomsae book Link: https://amzn.to/4h5VQl6 . Doug Cook Book Link: https://amzn.to/4fRry4D   Dobok Links: Competition y-neck link: https://amzn.to/3Pru1rM Black Y-Neck: https://amzn.to/42edmj7 Colorful Dobok: https://amzn.to/4h8cqkd

Kids often ask a lot of questions Yep, that’s right. We wrote a list of random FAQ questions that we receive all the time. We remember when we were earlier in our training and one of us kept asking our instructors questions. So many questions. (To their credit, our instructors answered all of them.) Here are some of the ones he asked! Where Did Tae Kwon Do Start? Tae Kwon Do started in South Korea in the 1940s and 50s. Though one of our instructors, who is trained as a historian, got quite frustrated and said “it’s not that simple! It’s never that simple!” When Does an Instructor’s Training End? Never! In fact, our instructors still train by themselves, with each other, or even under another school! What Books Do Tae Kwon Do Teachers Read? Well one of us has recently been reading Ready Player One, The Art of War, and Mark Bittman’s cookbook! What Age Can a Person do Tae Kwon Do? Well, it depends on the school, but some go as low as 3 years old. If you’re worried that you might be too old for Tae Kwon Do, don’t worry! Our instructors have colleagues who have retired from their career and still train! Families often train together! Can A Disabled Person Do Tae Kwon Do? Absolutely! In fact, most instructors have worked with students with all kinds of disabilities from autism, to ADHD, to mobility issues! As a side note, one of our instructors is disabled himself, and he has won many an award. Can a Tae Kwon Do Person Learn How To Use A Sword? Sure! Tae Kwon Do Schools often offer sword classes as part of their curriculum. As a result, Some of our instructors have training in swords as well as nunchucks, staffs, and even throwing knives! Hope these helped answer some of your questions!

Training in martial arts is so hard! You know what makes it easier? A good Tae Kwon Do instructor! But what makes a good Tae Kwon Do instructor? Is it the trophies? The belts? The number of students? This is a question that I find many people have at some point in their martial arts career. To help with this, I wrote down a list of the 5 qualities that, in my experience, make a great Tae Kwon Do instructor. Enjoy! Patience In my experience, some of the best instructors are patient. They understand that learning takes time, and not everyone gets it right away. That is totally normal, and any teacher who recognizes that is one step ahead of their impatient colleague. Besides, when you're struggling to learn how to do a tornado kick, who do you want more? The person who gets frustrated after the first few attempts, or the person who will spend a whole class period working to teach the student? The person who will work all class, of course! Knowledge A good teacher needs to know their topic! That might seem obvious, but I’m sure everyone has met a few people who’ve managed to get jobs they were woefully unqualified for. Naturally, in order to teach, someone has to have at least some pre-existing knowledge of a topic. This is why a lot of martial arts schools only have instructors who are black belts. Schools (understandably) want to have teachers who have extensive knowledge on their topic. In order to stay up to date on their info, instructors sometimes read! Respect In martial arts, respect is key. Respect doesn’t just mean that you should give respect to your instructors though. A good instructor, in my experience, doesn't demand or openly ask for respect. They earn it every day with their attitude and their humility. On top of that, good instructors will give respect to you, too. Respect, both from and to an instructor, can be key in a good martial arts education. In my experience it helps improve both character in students and fosters a good educational community. Treat others the way you want to be treated, you know? Integrity Everyone likes an honest, fair, and consistent teacher. The integrity a teacher has is important to ensuring the professional relationship they can have with their supervisor, their peers, and (most importantly) their students. How is a student supposed to learn if they can’t trust what their teacher is saying? On top of that, integrity is necessary to have a fair examination when an instructor tests their students. Everyone wants a fair judge, right? Integrity is key in Tae Kwon Do, and a good instructor leads by example. So, if you wish to be a great instructor, be someone who has great integrity! Experience The best teachers are usually the experienced ones. By experience, I don’t mean years or the number of awards. I mean the wisdom this person has gained from teaching. The truth is that the best way to become a better teacher, in my opinion, is to teach more. The best classroom teachers, in my opinion, have always been the ones with experience, not necessarily the ones with impressive degrees. The same is true in martial arts. The gold medalist or the demonstration team coach might be good instructors (particularly in those areas), but the best instructor is going to be the person who teaches the most, often having more breadth than some other instructors might have. Conclusion These are all important values, but the most important is simply having an encouraging instructor who is rooting for you. A good instructor wants their students to succeed and will work with their students to accomplish this task. That is what makes an instructor great. They are knowledgeable, patient, honest, and respectful. The best instructors, in my experience, were those who strove to fulfill these criteria. What do you think? What, in your opinion, makes an instructor great?

It is a common stereotype, and quite cliché, that martial artists meditate. Despite that irritating cliche, it is true. Many martial artists meditate. But why?

So, you’ve been watching some YouTube videos and they keep talking about McDojos. They talk about it like it’s some sort of villain of the martial arts community. So, that begs the question… What’s a McDojo and why is it bad? Simply put, a McDojo is bad because it’s simply a scam. They have that nickname because, much like a fast food restaurant, it gives lots of deals and lacks quality. In other words, they're focused so much more on money than they are in education. Sounds unethical? That's because it is. So, if you are interested in avoiding a McDojo, here is what a McDojo is typically thought of in the martial arts community! This is kind of how I imagine it when I hear the term McDojo... Schools that give out belts all the time This one is quite irritating. This might sound a little bit snobbish, but belts are something that are marks of achievement and indicators of progress. They are supposed to be a milestone in a long journey, not a product to be bought in a shop. If a school is basically giving you a belt if you pay money without really testing your technique, then it’s probably not a very good school. Schools that have some sort of “fast track” This one is a dead giveaway away. If a martial arts school has some sort of overpriced fast track, then it’s probably not a very good school. Look at it this way. Does a good college have a fast track? Does your high school? Probably not. That’s because they’re focused on teaching, not making as much money as possible. The black belts are VERY young. Connected to the last one on the list, the average age of the black belts can be a good sign that the school is a McDojo. Like, we’re talking not even tall enough to ride all the rides in a theme park. A young black belt or two in a school probably means those students are very talented and passionate, but if you see a large number of black belts that aren’t even 10 years old, then it’s probably a McDojo. Your main instructor is a master and somehow not an adult. In my experience, in most schools it takes over 15 years to become a master. If you have a master who isn’t above the age of majority in most countries, that’s generally not a good sign. Becoming a master, especially a young master, takes a lot of work. Young instructors certainly exist (someone has got to start training to teach at some point, right?) but they aren’t usually leading the class. Schools that don’t do any sparring… ever. I’ve been in lots of schools that limit sparring to more advanced students. That makes sense. No one should be hurt because one student doesn’t have proper self-control. But if schools don’t ever do any sparring at all? That takes out a huge chunk of training. Probably a McDojo. Conclusion Look, at the end of the day, martial arts is a business. But, just like any other business there is a difference in quality among schools and some schools are simply better places to train than others. Now that you’ve read up on what a McDojo is, what do you think? Have you ever had to deal with a McDojo? How did you handle it? Disclaimer: This post is for informational and entertainment purposes only. All martial arts techniques and exercises should be supervised by a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. The information on these pages and videos is meant only to reinforce and supplement the instruction given at your martial arts classes. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a martial arts instructor who can provide you with an in-depth explanation of the technique, help correct your mistakes, answer your questions and detail how the technique should be utilized. In addition, all references to "McDojos" are abstract, related to the general idea of a "McDojo", and not affiliated with any martial arts school or community at all. Any similarities are entirely coincidental. The idea of a "McDojo" is a meme, and not meant to harm anyone.

The short answer is: Yes. But not in the way you think. In fact, in my experience many Taekwondo students will be quite annoyed to hear that they’re studying a mixed martial art

So, you've been training for a year and you love it. Every single part of it is amazing to you. In fact, you're actually considering becoming a taekwondo instructor. It seems like a cool job, but how do you know you should become one? Well, just like any other job, being a taekwondo instructor requires many skills and can be a hard job. On top of that, in my experience, it doesn't necessarily pay well. That said, I really enjoy being a taekwondo instructor! So, given this information, I wrote down the 5 qualities that I believe every instructor should have. Do you really want' to be a taekwondo instructor? I mean, do you REALLY want to? You love Taekwondo Obviously! You shouldn't do a job you don't enjoy, right? Taekwondo is something that just resonates with a potential instructor. Coming to taekwondo is so much fun for instructors. Being an instructor is a hard job, but for a good one it's a fun job. The moment they step on that mat, they feel excited. It's your dream come true! You love teaching If you want to be an instructor, you have to be a good teacher. Who becomes an instructor and is a bad teacher? That's just silly. An accurate phrasing is “teaching is not a job, it’s a passion.” It’s honestly true. Especially in martial arts. Of all the instructors I’ve met, the best ones are the ones who are interested. That way they spread their love of their martial art to others. You’re great with people An instructor has to work with people. It's just the nature of the job. Being conversational is an important thing to do. People are often nervous to start something new, so having a friendly face can help with that. Besides, people like to work with courteous individuals. Not only is it good as a teacher, it's also good for business, and taekwondo is a business at it's roots. Who would hire an instructor that is rude and inconsiderate? You are hardworking Listen, if you've become a black belt, then you are probably pretty hardworking. Being an instructor is often a hardworking job. How? Simple. Every student is different and every day is different. Part of it is because you don't necessarily know which students will be there, but also because you need to have a different class each day. You can't teach them the same thing every day! You enjoy a different day, every day As you might have noticed in the "hardworking" section, having a different day every day is important. How do you make it different? Simple. Make a lesson plan. Seriously, your classroom teachers do it. So should you. Not only does it make class better for your students, it also helps teachers stay organized. There are some instructors who even keep binders of organized lesson plans to refer to if needed. Do you know if you want to become a taekwondo instructor now? No? Well, at least now you know what it takes to be a taekwondo instructor, right? Good luck! Disclaimer: This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. All martial arts techniques and exercises should be supervised by a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. The information on these pages and videos is meant only to reinforce and supplement the instruction given at your martial arts classes. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a martial arts instructor who can provide you with an in-depth explanation of the technique, help correct your mistakes, answer your questions and detail how the technique should be utilized. In addition, all martial arts techniques and training should be used safely and responsibly. In addition, learning to teach is often different among schools. If you want to teach, you should learn how to from an instructor at the school, not a blogger. This blog is purely for entertainment purposes, not career advice.

It’s testing day! Excited? Nervous? Both? It’s certainly normal to be both. You’ll be standing in front of a panel of instructors, grading your performance. But they’re not your instructors today. Today, they’re your examiners. I've written a bit about examiners and what testings can be like, but here is what it's like to be the instructor sit behind the desk and evaluate students on a testing day, based on my experience. In essentia, this is typically what my schedule looks like on testing day.

Recently I was watching Cobra Kai (yes, I know. sigh. It’s a guilty pleasure of mine) and they talk about Tang Soo Do and how the Cobra Kai school is based on Tang Soo Do, instead of Karate. Even though it calls itself a karate school. (Fun fact: viewers get a hint of this in the first episode when Johnny does a tornado kick) So what is Tang Soo Do and how is it different from Tae Kwon Do and Karate? Karate Unlike taekwondo, karate is native to Japan (or Okinawa, an island off the coast of Japan, depending on how you see it). Karate means, “the way of the empty hand”. There are various types of karate, but they all maintain a relatively balanced ratio of hand techniques to kicks. Karate is also older than taekwondo. Much like with taekwondo, good karate training centers around self improvement and self discipline. They also have their own set of competitions, sporting events, demonstrations, etc. They also wear their uniforms differently, choosing to fold their y-neck gi as right-over-left rather than left-over-right, like taekwondo. (I know that one is small, but hey, it matters sometimes). Tae Kwon Do If you’ve taken a class, read any of my other posts , or perhaps watched anything, you know the basic premise of what makes Taekwondo unique from other martial arts. For one thing, taekwondo means “the way of the hand and foot”. Taekwondo, contrary to popular belief, is a fairly new form of martial arts. Depending on how you interpret the historical sources, it can be considered to be as recent as 1973. Taekwondo is known for being mostly kicks. The common explanation for why is that the leg is typically longer than the arm, so it's reasonable to want to focus on the longer extension of the body. Of course, taekwondo also has plenty of hand/arm techniques too, they just aren't typically the main focus of training. Usually, the first techniques students are ever taught are a straight punch and basic blocks. As any experienced martial artist knows, blocking is very important, so it's understandable that instructors would be interested in teaching students to block first. Despite some of the first techniques being hand blocks, training is still centered around perfecting kicks and combinations of techniques. Tang Soo Do Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art that is intertwined with various traditional fighting styles, including karate, taekkyeon, and Kung Fu. Tang Soo Do was established in 1944 by Hwang Kee, who sought to create a unique system. The influence of Tang Soo Do on taekwondo is significant, particularly in the various techniques and training methodologies. Practitioners of Tang Soo Do engage in learning a wide range of skills, including striking and kicking techniques, self-defense strategies, and the execution of intricate forms. One of the most notable features of Tang Soo Do is its navy blue belt, which represents the highest rank within this martial art. Unlike traditional belt systems that use a black belt to symbolize completion, the navy blue belt symbolizes the concept of continuous growth and the journey of learning. This philosophy acknowledges that imperfection is an inherent part of learning. Practitioners are encouraged to view their training as an ongoing process of personal development, fostering a commitment to lifelong learning. A lot of Tae Kwon Do forms and techniques are based around Tang Soo Do! Much like with taekwondo, practitioners are taught to cultivate qualities such as humility, perseverance, and respect, which are seen as essential for martial arts, personal growth, and interpersonal relationships. The teachings of Tang Soo Do extend beyond the dojang, guiding individuals in their interactions with the world around them, and encouraging them to embody the principles learned through their practice in all aspects of life. So there you go! There is the difference between taekwondo, karate, and Tang Soo Do! Hopefully, you can go forward in knowing more about the martial arts community.

In the world of Tae Kwon Do, the journey toward mastery is a long and fulfilling process. Among the many milestones practitioners can achieve, the black belt stands out as a symbol of skill and dedication. Achieving a black belt is a remarkable achievement for anyone, and is something to be proud of! A black belt not only is a great achievement in a school, but it can also open several gates for you in your Tae Kwon Do career. Should you choose to step out the front door into competitions and conferences, it’s important to understand what a black belt is. One of these things is what type of black belt you have. Do you have a Poom black belt or a Dan black belt? Does it matter?

In all my time as an instructor I've had many good days and many stressful days. As is normal in the teaching profession, I'm told. I have to say though, one of the most stressful days was the first day of teaching. I've been teaching Tae Kwon Do for over 10 years for multiple schools, so I've had a few "first days". Let me tell you what I find helps me be a better instructor. Honestly, before my first class, I was so anxious I couldn't sleep the night before. It was my first time without a supervising instructor. I was the one in charge! It was pretty scary. But guess what? It didn't go too badly at all. The classes went smoothly, and when I messed up, people were really understanding. As I gained more confidence, those nerves faded away. Here are a few things I did to help with that. First time teachers sometimes get nervous, regardless of the topic! Confidence Yep, I looked in a mirror and told myself "You can do it!" I'm kidding. What I mean by "confidence" is remembering that I had trained for this exact day for yeas. My instructor had taken the time to teach me what I needed to do in order to teach by myself. All I had to do was not mess up (too badly). Well Dressed I always make sure that my uniform is clean and not wrinkled. That way I look professional. I was taught that it's not just important to be good at doing the job, it's also important to look good while doing the job too. Write (and review) the lesson plan When I teach, I write out the lesson plan for the day. What am I going to have students do today? What will we practice? I usually take the time to sit down with my notepad and write out what it is I want to teach. I find that it helps me teach better if I know what I want to teach before I step on the mat, rather than improvising all day. Santa doing Tae Kwon Do. Gotta be strong to climb up and down that chimney, right? Be Santa Ok, not literally. What I mean by "being Santa" is that I typically double check everything so that I know exactly how everything is. Santa's reading his list, and checkin' it twice... why shouldn't you? Clean the Dojang If I'm nervous about teaching that day, I take the time to clean the dojang again. Not only does it look nice, it feels good to work at something menial. Besides, customers, students, and co-workers appreciate a clean space to work in. So there you go! There is the list of the things I do before teaching! Have you got any suggestions or ideas? Feel free to contact me! Disclaimer:This site is for entertainment purposes only. All martial arts techniques and exercises should be supervised by a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. The information on these pages is meant only to reinforce and supplement the instruction given at your martial arts classes. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a martial arts instructor who can provide you with an in-depth explanation of the technique, help correct your mistakes, answer your questions and detail how the technique should be utilized. In addition, all martial arts techniques and training should be used safely and responsibly.

Let’s face it; board breaking is intimidating! Honestly, it’s one of the sections I frequently see students struggle in during their next belt test. Think about it this way, many students have done it before you. That means it’s humanly possible, right? If it’s humanly possible than you can probably do it too. Why am I struggling with this board break? Honestly, there could be lots of reasons. You could be too slow, too weak, or just hitting it wrong. It could also just be a mental block. Seriously, I’ve discovered that I, and many of my colleagues as well, find it easier to break boards if I believe that I can, because I have practiced hard. Sounds cheesy, I know. But it’s true. I’ve discovered that it’s harder for me to break a board if I’m hesitant to do so. So maybe believe in yourself just a bit more? Why is it so easy for everyone else? It seems like everyone else gets it right the first time, doesn't it? It looks easy for them. It isn’t. Or at least, it probably isn’t. No matter how easy it is for someone to break 5 boards now, it wasn’t always that easy for them. Breaking boards takes practice. Lots of practice. Do people really think that the black belts on the demo team just woke up and discovered they could break boards with a triple roundhouse kick? No! Of course not. What they did do was spend days, if not weeks or months, practicing that one technique until they perfected it. Practice, practice, practice! Even the instructors have to practice! How do I get better? Practice! It’s easy, especially when you’re a more advanced student, to think you know everything. News flash: you don’t. Even the masters and grandmasters are still learning.* It's just the nature of the art. Taekwondo, and martial arts in general, is all about practicing and learning. There were two important things I learned on my way to becoming a black belt: 1. If you need to get better at something, ask an instructor for help and 2. If you think you have it perfect, you definitely don't. So, how do you get better? The answer is simple. Keep. Practicing. Conclusion Yes, it’s really that simple. Much like anything else in martial arts, it’s all about practice. Asking for help, not comparing yourself with others, and practicing (a lot) are fundamental steps to success in martial arts. Seem daunting? Don't worry; it is. It's important to remember that the other students that are teaching you were likely facing the same challenge you are with that board break. Wether it's a triple roundhouse kick or a hammer fist, another student has tried, failed, and tried again. Eventually, they succeeded. So can you. Good luck! *Fun fact: There are taekwondo lectures that instructors, masters, and grandmasters attend. Much like other academics, martial artists also go to professional conferences! Disclaimer: This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. All martial arts techniques and exercises should be supervised by a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. The information on these pages and videos is meant only to reinforce and supplement the instruction given at your martial arts classes. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a martial arts instructor who can provide you with an in-depth explanation of the technique, help correct your mistakes, answer your questions and detail how the technique should be utilized. In addition, all martial arts techniques and training should be used safely and responsibly.