One of the significant factors that sets martial arts training apart from other types of group exercise, such as dance or yoga, is the rank system.  Ranks, or belts, signify steps in our training.  They provide a concrete goal to work toward and physical representation of our hard work.  As a general rule, everyone wants to get better at whatever activity they are doing.  However, when it takes years to fine tune a skill, such as learning a new language or mastering Taekwon-do, progress checks and plaudits along the way make the journey more rewarding.
When will you be ready?  There are many factors we consider and every student is evaluated individually. 
*Regular attendance is key.  We expect a minimum of 30 classes at each rank, but cramming in a bunch of classes right before a test is not as beneficial to your progress as coming consistently.
*You must know your pattern, and that means more than memorization.  What are the stances and techniques?  What are they designed to do?  Are you generating power with each movement?  You must retain all your previous patterns as well.
*Has your technique improved since the last time you tested?  We are comparing you to the previous you, not to the student next to you.
*Are you ready for the next level?  Will you benefit from more practice on the current skills?
And finally, keep in mind that your goal should not be to get to the next rank quickly, but to be the best you can be at whatever level you are.

Affixed to the west wall of the dojang is our school motto:  Improvement of Mind and Body, Ethical Self-Conduct, Unity Among Members.  We adopted this motto from our teacher, Grandmaster Suk Jun Kim.  These three simple phrases incorporate everything we love about Taekwon-do, and while we don’t often spend class time discussing the concepts at length, we strive to demonstrate them through our teaching methods and the atmosphere in the dojang.
Improvement of Mind and Body:  The most obvious benefit of Taekwon-do is physical well-being.  With consistent practice, Taekwon-do strengthens our heart, lungs, and muscles.  It increases coordination, flexibility, balance, and posture.  It builds stamina and improves our reflexes.  But practicing Taekwon-do on a regular basis also hones mental skills such as concentration, memory, and translating verbal directions into physical movements.  It enhances less quantifiable skills like setting short- and long-term goals and seeing them through.  And it greatly relieves both mental and physical stress.
Ethical Self-Conduct:  As a species, humans intuitively look for the easiest path to our goals.  Too often, this means taking shortcuts or, worse, cheating.  In Taekwon-do practice, cheating means cheating yourself.  You can attend the minimum number of classes to move up in rank; you can wait to kick hard until the teacher is watching you; you can stop training once you receive your Black Belt.  But the value of your rank is measured by the sweat you put into it, both earning and maintaining it.  Our teacher, Grandmaster Kim, likes to say that he starts every day as a White Belt and has to earn his Black Belt all over again; at 70, he can still put us all to shame with his ability and work ethic.  Just as important is how we treat other people, in and out of the dojang.  Ethical self-conduct incorporates the golden rule—treat others as you wish to be treated, and kindness begets kindness. 
Unity Among Members:  Our students range in age from 5 to 75 and come from all over Cleveland and its suburbs.  People are drawn to Taekwon-do for many different reasons, so the backgrounds and life journeys of our students are vast and varied.  There may be people you knew before you joined the dojang, and we hope you have found new friends.  But the dojang is a very strong connecting tissue; students support each other and help each other, whether they interact outside the dojang or not.  Sometimes Master Marr and I initiate the help, like collecting outgrown uniforms for a nonprofit group in Brazil or connecting a high school student to one of our adult professionals for a senior project.  But more often it happens naturally—between students--like congratulating someone on a new belt, helping with a pattern, or simply extending a kind word when someone’s had a hard day. 

     Back in the pre-COVID days, we offered dedicated sparring classes to the advanced students and incorporated sparring drills into the other classes.  Taekwon-do is, after all, a fighting art.  While some of you may miss the contact drills, the pandemic has afforded us an opportunity to practice important sparring skills that often get lost in the heat of free fighting.
     Take blocking, for instance.  There are three broad categories of blocking:  deflection, evasion, and counter.  We practice our deflection blocks every day, during basics and patterns.  These are a great way to learn how your body moves and how to generate power.  Deflection is the first level of blocking.  If you have time to block, you have time to hit.  
     Evasion is the art of not getting hit, a very important strategy and arguably, the most beneficial.  The secret to evasion is being quick, both physically and mentally.  Even the simplest exercise in class improves footwork. Every partner drill hones timing and teaches where an attack may come from.
     The final form of blocking is the attack that stops your opponent's attack.  Effective countering takes years to perfect and involves many bruises along the way.  That is, when there is actual contact involved.  The pandemic has given us the chance to practice this skill without physical repercussions.  Take advantage.  
     Find your strong points.  What is your most accurate kick?  What kicking combinations feel most natural?  Think of techniques in sequences rather than as single attacks.
     Streamline your movements.  During basics, try to eliminate all excess movement.  How often does Master Marr remind us that "Back leg moves first" on a skipping kick?  This is why.  Moving your front foot first signals your opponent that you are about to move and slows you down.
     Test your intuition.  Use partner drills to practice anticipating your opponent's moves.
     Over the next few weeks, we will introduce some new partner drills.  Challenge yourself to get the most out of them.

      Let's start with the "what."  Ke-up roughly translates as yell, but really it means to let loose your energy vocally. An effective ke-up should be quick and sharp, but loud.  It should mimic the force and speed of your technique--the snap of a kick or the flash of a punch.  It is an audible breath, demonstrating that all your power is focused together.  And once you incorporate the ke-up into your practice without prompting, you will experience the "why."  Your techniques will become stronger and your mind more alert.
       Now the "when."  During class, students should automatically ke-up every time they go to fighting stance, every time they do a fighting stance turn, and on the first technique of every trip down the floor during basics.  During sparring drills, such as two- and three-step sparring, students must ke-up when they have finished their turn so that their partner knows to start.  During free sparring, a good ke-up can startle your opponent and gain you a critical couple seconds.  We often end class with a series of punches; it is customary to ke-up on the final punch.
       Master Marr sometimes jokes with the kids that he is the only grown-up who asks them to be louder.  But in all seriousness, being able to free your energy, both physically and vocally, is a huge reason Taekwon-do feels so good for students of all ages.  So let loose!  Be loud!  But refine your ke-up as you refine your kicks and punches:  stronger, sharper, faster, and laser-focused.