Taekwondo FAQs
Q. What does Joong Do Kwan mean?
Joong Do Kwan - 중도관 [中道館] - is a nod towards 'Chung Do Kwan' the first of the original kwans and means 'the school of the middle way.' Joong is the point between predecessors of our art and modern Korean innovations from the mid 1950s and beyond.
Q. What do you mean when you call what you do 'traditional'?
It is 'Traditional Taekwondo' insofar as to distinguish it from the evolution that occurred in the mid 60s factioning Taekwondo into the ITF and WTF. We use the Chang Hon Taekwondo Pattern set similar to how it was practiced in the mid 1950s or the good old pre-sine wave days. Our style has however intermingled with karate practitioners since, and this has meant that in some ways what we do has devolved into being more karate-like than Taekwondo was in the 1950s. See My Traditional Taekwondo, The Problem with Hard Style Systems like Karate and Taekwondo and ... and that's found in Traditional Taekwondo?
Q. How do you see Joong Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do differing from ITF Taekwondo?
The professed Traditional Taekwondo philosophy is the equal use of both hands and feet. Similar to a traditional Karate school, we value the 'focus' or kime to generate power for basic techniques. Where we differ from both Karate and Taekwondo however is where we work on covering or drilling techniques on our 'centre line.' Philosophically we aim to engage opponents at mid to close range, and this really affects the kicks we choose and the type of combinations you see at our school.
Q. How do you see Joong Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do differing from Karate?
Anytime you have an over-institutionalised training methodology, there are huge benefits of injecting innovation and relaxedness to allow for greater self exploration and adoption of natural movement. While we adhere to Karate's Kihon-Kata-Kumite for some of our classes, two drawbacks of Karate have always been its line drills and the prescribed (read 'contrived') official bunkai or pattern analysis. JDK seeks to break free from such rigidity but continues to value some of Karate's basic fundamentals.
Q. What makes Joong Do Kwan better than Taekwondo or Karate?
Joong Do Kwan is a meat and potato program offering little entertainment to spectators aside from the quips and whatever slapstick action can be found in class. In fact, you will find neither the spectacular kicks of some Taekwondo schools nor the crisp competition-oriented kata of some Karate schools. The training program of note has been developed to take a beginner naturally and systematically from white to black belt, but offers many of the same skills that other good hard style schools offer. We do however encourage a student practitioner to explore Taekwondo from various perspectives, and offer a good range of material in our student manual (on sale below to non-members at a very exorbitant price), syllabus and this blog for continued study.
Q. What is your view on Taekwondo's Sine Wave?
I don't practice the Sine Wave, but that doesn't mean you won't see me compressing my body, or expanding myself upwards if I find myself crouched lower than my opponent. In my opinion it's unwise to focus too much on one training methodology to build combat effectiveness. But there are opportunities for practitioners to explore aspects of the Sine Wave for tactical advantage. For more information see Only True Taekwondo Practices the Sine Wave.
Q. Who writes this blog?
Colin Wee started training in 1983, got his first black belt in 1987, started training in American Karate and Aikido in 1991, and started the Hikaru Dojo Martial Arts Academy in Perth mid 2000s. He has trained on three continents and in three styles. Since 2003 however Colin has worked tirelessly to research and promote meaning and applications of Taekwondo's Chang Hon pattern set. See Man of Tradition: Australian Taekwondo Magazine Interview, with additional links on the history of Taekwondo.
Q. What is Colin's official rank?
Colin is ranked to 5th Dan by Molum Combat Arts Association through his affiliation with MLCAA Director Hanshi Tim White since 2003. Colin holds a 3rd Dan from his direct instructor Master Bryan Robbins from American Karate and Taekwondo Organisation. Note: I would like to add that in our system, promotions above 3rd dan are honorary and do not require physical testing. I also hold shogo awards, ask if you're really interested.
Q. How can I navigate this blog better?
Try Sitemap to Traditional Taekwondo Techniques and Taekwondo Patterns.
Q. Where else can you connect with us?
Find us on FaceBook at http://www.facebook.com/traditionaltaekwondotechniques and Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/taekwondo_au.
FAQs at Hikaru Dojo
Q. What does Joong Do Kwan mean?
Joong Do Kwan - 중도관 [中道館] - is a nod towards 'Chung Do Kwan' the first of the original kwans and means 'the school of the middle way.' Joong is the point between predecessors of our art and modern Korean innovations from the mid 1950s and beyond.
Q. What do you mean when you call what you do 'traditional'?
It is 'Traditional Taekwondo' insofar as to distinguish it from the evolution that occurred in the mid 60s factioning Taekwondo into the ITF and WTF. We use the Chang Hon Taekwondo Pattern set similar to how it was practiced in the mid 1950s or the good old pre-sine wave days. Our style has however intermingled with karate practitioners since, and this has meant that in some ways what we do has devolved into being more karate-like than Taekwondo was in the 1950s. See My Traditional Taekwondo, The Problem with Hard Style Systems like Karate and Taekwondo and ... and that's found in Traditional Taekwondo?
Q. How do you see Joong Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do differing from ITF Taekwondo?
The professed Traditional Taekwondo philosophy is the equal use of both hands and feet. Similar to a traditional Karate school, we value the 'focus' or kime to generate power for basic techniques. Where we differ from both Karate and Taekwondo however is where we work on covering or drilling techniques on our 'centre line.' Philosophically we aim to engage opponents at mid to close range, and this really affects the kicks we choose and the type of combinations you see at our school.
Q. How do you see Joong Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do differing from Karate?
Anytime you have an over-institutionalised training methodology, there are huge benefits of injecting innovation and relaxedness to allow for greater self exploration and adoption of natural movement. While we adhere to Karate's Kihon-Kata-Kumite for some of our classes, two drawbacks of Karate have always been its line drills and the prescribed (read 'contrived') official bunkai or pattern analysis. JDK seeks to break free from such rigidity but continues to value some of Karate's basic fundamentals.
Q. What makes Joong Do Kwan better than Taekwondo or Karate?
Joong Do Kwan is a meat and potato program offering little entertainment to spectators aside from the quips and whatever slapstick action can be found in class. In fact, you will find neither the spectacular kicks of some Taekwondo schools nor the crisp competition-oriented kata of some Karate schools. The training program of note has been developed to take a beginner naturally and systematically from white to black belt, but offers many of the same skills that other good hard style schools offer. We do however encourage a student practitioner to explore Taekwondo from various perspectives, and offer a good range of material in our student manual (on sale below to non-members at a very exorbitant price), syllabus and this blog for continued study.
Q. What is your view on Taekwondo's Sine Wave?
I don't practice the Sine Wave, but that doesn't mean you won't see me compressing my body, or expanding myself upwards if I find myself crouched lower than my opponent. In my opinion it's unwise to focus too much on one training methodology to build combat effectiveness. But there are opportunities for practitioners to explore aspects of the Sine Wave for tactical advantage. For more information see Only True Taekwondo Practices the Sine Wave.
Q. Who writes this blog?
Colin Wee started training in 1983, got his first black belt in 1987, started training in American Karate and Aikido in 1991, and started the Hikaru Dojo Martial Arts Academy in Perth mid 2000s. He has trained on three continents and in three styles. Since 2003 however Colin has worked tirelessly to research and promote meaning and applications of Taekwondo's Chang Hon pattern set. See Man of Tradition: Australian Taekwondo Magazine Interview, with additional links on the history of Taekwondo.
Q. What is Colin's official rank?
Colin is ranked to 5th Dan by Molum Combat Arts Association through his affiliation with MLCAA Director Hanshi Tim White since 2003. Colin holds a 3rd Dan from his direct instructor Master Bryan Robbins from American Karate and Taekwondo Organisation. Note: I would like to add that in our system, promotions above 3rd dan are honorary and do not require physical testing. I also hold shogo awards, ask if you're really interested.
Q. How can I navigate this blog better?
Try Sitemap to Traditional Taekwondo Techniques and Taekwondo Patterns.
Q. Where else can you connect with us?
Find us on FaceBook at http://www.facebook.com/traditionaltaekwondotechniques and Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/taekwondo_au.
FAQs at Hikaru Dojo
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