What rank of Tae Kwon Do to be an instructor?

Answer 1

Certification as a Taekwondo instructor is separate from rank certification, although a minimum rank and experience in assisting instruction is usually required. Instructor training and certification is available through major Taekwondo independent organizations such as the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) or American Taekwondo Association (ATA), as well as those directly linked to the original Kwans of Taekwondo's foundation such as the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association (USCDKA). Since Taekwondo is a Korean Martial Art, the obvious authority for providing instructor training and certification comes from the Korean National Academy and World Taekwondo Headquarters at the Kukkiwon in Seoul, South Korea. http://www.kukkiwon.or.kr/english/index.jsp Depending on where you live, most governmental jurisdictions do not have laws regulating Martial Art instruction, therefore instructor training, certification, a Black Belt rank, or even any Martial Art experience at all is not required to open a school. This is an unfortunate shame, and borders on fraudulent practices. It can also be dangerous to students who are instructed poorly. The practice of unauthorized and uncertified instruction is viewed by most experts in Taekwondo as being unethical and improper conduct.

Answer 2

The short answer is the same way you get to Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice.

A more involved answer is that becoming a taekwondo champion involves a combination of natural skills and dedicated training. Balance can be taught, and flexibility is something you can work on, especially if you start at a young age. But leg length, and the proportion of fast-twitch (snapping) to slow-twitch (endurance) muscles, is something you're born with.

Timing is another critical skill that is partly taught, partly inherited. It requires the ability to sense that an attack is coming in time to respond to it; this requires a good eye, a clear and focused mind, and hundreds (if not thousands) of hours learning to respond to cues as subtle as the twisting of a foot, the drop of a shoulder, or the shifting of weight from one leg to the other.

Answer 3

I received my black belt the same way as all others do; through many years of study and testing.

After an appropriate period of training you will have to demonstrate competence in

• all coloured belt and the first black belt poomse
• sparing both free and one/two or three step
• technical skills in kicks and punches
• Korean vocabulary

and be vouched for by your instructors

Answer 4

Practice, practice, practice. Go to class as often as you can. At home, work on your flexibility and strength training: pushups, sit ups, squats. Take up running to improve your stamina and endurance. Enter tournaments as often as you can to gain experience against as many different competitors as possible. Listen to your instructors and your coaches. Read about other great taekwondo practitioners such as Steven Lopez, three-time Olympic medal winner for TeamUSA.

Answer 5

There are typically minimum rank requirements, but rank is separate from Instructor training and certification. While some people take it upon themselves to teach what the think they know, it requires and advanced education, and special instruction to become a Taekwondo Instructor. The specific requirements might vary from one school or organization to the next, and is up to your Master Instructor as to when a student is ready to lead class exercises, assist with instruction under supervision, or run a class on your own.

Being an Instructor is not automatic upon reaching a Black Belt level. With additional training, a 1st, and 2nd Dan (degree) Black Belts are usually considered assistant instructors, and might be working on completing an Instructor training program that often requires a certain number of hours teaching under supervision. 3rd Dan Black Belt is the level that is typical to become a certified Instructor, but still is not usually ready to open their own school. New Instructors might be put in charge of smaller programs and clubs that are an off-shoot of the main school, but remain under the direct supervision of their Master Instructor.

An Instructor is usually experienced enough to run their own Dojang (school) and be called a Sabeom (head teacher or "Master") at 4th or 5th Dan, depending on the organization. One does not graduate from High School, and begin teaching the High School curriculum at a public school. You have to on to college and get a degree as a teacher in order to know more about teaching a subject than what it took to learn the subject.

Answer 6

Being a Black Belt does not automatically qualify the student to be eligible to teach.

The answer to this question depends on the source of Instructor certification, and if it is legitimately recognized or not. Any school that claims to teach Taekwondo can write their own rules about requirements for rank promotion as well as calling themselves "instructors" or "masters." Various organizations in each country have their own requirements that might vary, and the World Taekwondo Headquarters (the Kukkiwon, in Seoul Korea) has an Instructor Course with International requirements and world-wide credentials.

Instructorship is more about specialized training and certification rather than rank. They are actually two different things, however most organizations that certify instructors typically require a "minimum" rank to be eligible to receive Instructor certification. There are different levels of Instructor certification available from independent organizations, including Junior Instructors for those under age 15 who have attained a Poom rank (Junior Black Belt). Adult Instructorship usually starts with being an "Assistant Instructor" beginning at 1st Degree Black Belt; an "Instructor" at 2nd Degree, and a "Senior Instructor," or "Chief Instructor" at 3rd Degree.

The above levels of instructorship are usually staff instructors who teach classes within a Dojang (Taekwondo school) under the supervision of a Sabeom (Head Master). The Sabeom is usually the school owner and Master Instructor which should be a minimum of 4th Degree Black Belt or higher. Some schools will call 1st Degree Black Belts "Instructors" and they will sometimes open their own schools at that level, although the Kukkiwon in Korea will not permit promotion of color belt students under an Instructor's own name until they are Kukkiwon certified 4th Degree or higher. The requirements for Kukkiwon Instructor certification begins at the 3rd Class level and applicants must be at least 22 years old and hold a 4th Dan or higher.

To be an instructor means to teach what you know, and anyone can attempt to do this, but to do it with skill, proficiency, and a reliable mastery with insights into the art of Taekwondo takes additional training beyond rank requirements. The consumer and potential students would be well advised to check the authenticity of an Instructor's rank and teaching credentials from a legitimate source.

Answer 7

You will need to contact your instructor. Tell him/her that you need a replacement and they can help you with that. Otherwise you may have to write the place that issued you the certificate.