NEW STUDENT HANDBOOK

    The newly revised Verve Taekwondo 'Coloured Belt' Student Handbook is now available! The 70 page student handbook contains the full I.T.S. taekwondo syllabus including white to black belt practical and theoretical sheets as well as full pattern descriptions up to Choong-Moo, all coloured belt set sparring drills, pad drills, anatomy and physiology, philosophy, korean terminology and much more!

Now available from your instructor at a cost of £9.00 per copy!

 

 

   There are various elements to our Taekwondo training, on this page there is a guide to some of those elements. Please do not forget that learning is best done in the dojang and if there is anything you are unsure of, ask your instructor.

   Alittle like at school, there is a syllabus and criteria of requirements for passing and graduating to new belts. Gradings are where students get to be assesed for new belts and act as short and long term targets to ensure progression and student development. Between white and blue belt, students are able to grade every 3 months and between blue and black belt every 6 months, taekwondo belt colours are as follows -

WHITE.........Signifies innocence, as that of a beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Taekwondo.

YELLOW......Signifies the earth, from which the plant sprouts and takes root as the Taekwondo foundations are being laid.

GREEN........Signifies the plants growth as Taekwondo skills begin to develop.

BLUE...........Signifies the heaven towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwondo progresses.

RED.............Signifies danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away.

BLACK.........Opposite of white, therefore signifying the maturity and proficiency in Taekwondo. Also indicates the wearer's imperviousness to darkness and fear.

 

NEW SECTION - Exploring the Martial Arts

Please feel free to click on the blue links below to open up articles written on the specific martial arts issues and training subjects.

FAST TRACK YOUR FUTURE - An Interview with John Swift by Combat Martial Arts Magazine 2008 (928KB)

An INTERVIEW with Taekwondo's John Swift Martial Arts Illustrated Magazine 2010 (1.9MB)

BOARD-BREAKING Article 1     by John Swift - Published in Combat Martial Arts Magazine 2008 (302KB)

FLEXIBILITY Article 1     by John Swift - Published in Combat Martial Arts Magazine 2008 (252KB)

JUMP-KICKING Article 1     by John Swift - Published in Combat Martial Arts Magazine 2008 (333KB)

PADS and BAGS Article 1     by John Swift - Published in Combat Martial Arts Magazine 2008 (505KB)

PRINCIPLES of POWER    by John Swift - Published in Combat Martial Arts Magazine 2009 (249KB)

SELF-DEFENCE Article 1     by John Swift - Published in Combat Martial Arts Magazine 2008 (335KB)

SELF-DEFENCE Article 2     by John Swift - Published in Combat Martial Arts Magazine 2008 (335KB)

SPEED TRAINING Article 1     by John Swift - Published in Combat Martial Arts Magazine 2009 (204KB)

 

 

'24 patterns to represent the number of hours in the day of a mans life'

   Taekwondo patterns are a series of defending and attacking movements performed against imaginary opponents in a set sequence. Through the practice of patterns, students come to learn the applications of various techniques of Taekwondo. Patterns serve a multi-dimensional role, aiding in development and refinement of coordination, balance, timing, breath control and rhythm, all of which are essential skills to the Taekwondo student.

   There are 24 patterns (or Tul) representing the 24 hours of the day, or the whole of a man's life. There are 9 patterns to first degree black belt, at which point the member moves from being a `beginner' to a `novice'. The reason that we learn the meanings of patterns is so we can learn about the country where Taekwondo originated and the people from Korean history that influenced the patterns to be named after them.

9th Kup	Chon Ji	2nd to 3rd Degree	Ko Dang
8th Kup	Dan Gun		Eui Am
7th Kup	Do San		Choong Jang
6th Kup	Won Hyo	3rd to 4th Degree	Sam Il
5th Kup	Yul Gok		Choi Yong
4th Kup	Joong Gun		Yoo Sin
3rd Kup	Toi Gye	4th to 5th Degree	Yon Gae
2nd Kup	Hwa Rang		Ul Ji
1st Kup	Choong Moo		Moon Moo
1st to 2nd Degree	Kwang Gye	5th to 6th Degree	So San
	Po Eun		Se Jong
	Ge Baek		Tong Il

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

   Our ever popular I.T.S. pad drills are designed to help develop focus, timing and technique as well as fitness and speed, they are viewable in the video screens below courtesy of youtube.com . Pad drills are demonstrated by Mr John Swift and Mr Tim Spilsbury.

I.T.S. Pad Drill 1	I.T.S. Pad Drill 2
I.T.S. Pad Drill 3	I.T.S. Pad Drill 4
I.T.S. Pad Drill 5	I.T.S. Pad Drill 6

 

   Sparring is a partner based exercise enabling us to practice our techniques in the most realistic, safe, environment. Each grade you are required to demonstrate new skills and show progression and development. There are several different forms of sparring, so please note - use the time spent engaged in step sparring and free sparring not only to practice and improve techniques but also to develop focus, co-ordination, timing and distance.

THREE STEP SPARRING Three step sparring techniques are prearranged attacking and defending movements which are performed in concert by two students. These training techniques are among the best methods of familiarizing students with punching, kicking, blocking and all the basic movements.

CLICK the following link to view the written 3-Step 1-10

THREE STEP SEMI-FREE SPARRING This form of sparring involves three consecutive attacks and three blocks or evasions, plus a counter attack. Three step semi-free sparring should not be hurried, the secret is reaction force and quick, intelligent movements. This is where the true art of sparring starts to be learnt.

TWO STEP SPARRING Two-step sparring is designed for the intermediate student to learn more advanced techniques, practising timing and distance, but with more varied attacks, thus also allowing the attacking student to develop various combinations.

CLICK the following link to view the written 2-Step 1-8

ONE STEP SPARRING One-step sparring is the most realistic form of sparring there is, simply because the defender cannot foresee the attack coming. Therefore, the defender must have very fast reflexes, in order to defend and defeat the opponent. This form of sparring is completely different to free sparring. i.e. take down techniques, arm locks, joint breaking techniques etc., are practised. Both students normally begin in parallel ready stance with a single right & left hand attack, but this can be varied at the Instructors' discretion.

ONE FOR ONE / TWO FOR TWO SPARRING This is mainly used for stamina training between intermediate and advanced students. Both students start in fighting position and when the command is given, one student will start with one or two techniques, then immediately after the other student attacks, and so on. Because this is a stamina exercise, the techniques should not be sloppy, they should be crisp and well executed.

FREE SPARRING Free sparring is basically putting what has been learnt so far into practice, with no pre-warning of attack. Therefore, not as many defending techniques can be practised as in the other forms of sparring. Free sparring within our classes is strictly semi-contact. This type of sparring must only be carried out under the strict supervision of a qualified Instructor.

 

 

   General Choi (the founder of Taekwondo) had a vision that the I.T.F. Taekwondo syllabus would be taught all over the world so encouraged the learning of the Korean commands in gradings. Using these terms enable students to train anywhere in the world, overriding all language difficulties. Taekwondo/korean terminology is no longer a grading requirement but may prove to be of interest. The following terminology is based on the Korean language, although some words were developed specifically for the martial art and would otherwise not appear.

 

    We believe that discipline is freedom. It should be understood that the purpose of these regulations is primarily to ensure maximum benefit from the study of Taekwondo. The basic principles found in these rules have been a part of Taekwondo since its beginnings.

2. Be present, changed and ready to train at least '5 minutes' before your lesson starts, as it disrupts other students training if you are late.

3. Do not leave the class without permission from your instructor.

4. Loud conversation, laughing in excess or any unruly behaviour has no place in a Taekwondo School

5. All students are expected to be courteous and understanding. Advanced students are expected to set a good example to new students and to assist such students whenever necessary.

6. Inside the dojang (training hall), the instructor should be addressed as "SIR" (for a male instructor), "MAAM" (for a female instructor) to show them courtesy

7. Any substitute teacher shall be treated as your regular instructor, that is with the same courtesy.

8. If you own a dobok (uniform), it should be clean and pressed at all times.

9. The wearing of jewellery is not allowed whilst training for safety reasons.

10. Eating is not allowed, but drinking water maybe, with the permission of the instructor - whilst training.

11. Smoking whilst wearing your dobok will not be tolerated at any time.

12. Training fees are payable one-month in advance.

ACTION WILL BE TAKEN IF ANY OF THE ABOVE REGULATIONS ARE VIOLATED. PENALTIES WILL BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTORS!!

Contact us on -

07989 980155