So, What things do you need to know?

**Orientation Basics
**Basic Kicks
**Basic Attacks

Orientation Basics

Overview

The orientation class consists of five class sessions to introduce the beginner to Taekwondo. There is not a formal test to graduate from the orientation class, but the student is expected to know the basic terminology, stances, and kicks. The class is divided into five sections. The first two classes consist of an introduction to Taekwondo, general etiquette, dojang rules, the history of Master Lee, basic stances, and double punch. The third class is a review of the first two classes and adds front rising kick, crescent kick, and front kick. The fourth class includes round-house kick, and the fifth class adds side kick. The classes are cumulative and by the end of the fifth class, the student should have a fundamental understanding of the basics. This section describes the basics, in detail, for students to review.

Basic etiquette, bowing, starting class, lining up, etc.

How to tie your belt

1. Find the center of your belt. The center should be placed in the middle of your stomach.
2. Wrap both sides around your body.
3. With the end of the belt in your right hand, bring it under both belts from below, on the left hand side of your stomach, so that it hangs over the top. It should now be on the left side of your body.
4. With the side that was previously in your left hand, use your right hand to fold it over so that it is now pointing toward the left.
5. The belt that is hanging over should now wrap around this folded part of your belt and come up through the hole in the middle.
6. Ends should be adjusted so that they are even.

How to bow

1. Feet together, hands at side
2. Tuck chin to chest and bend forward at waist 45 degrees, eyes looking downward

    It is considered disrespectful in Korean culture to look at the person you are bowing to - it shows distrust .

    Only need to bend forward 45 degrees, a very deep bow can actually show disrespect

    Why do we bow ? In Korea, as in many East Asian cultures, it shows respect.

    When to bow

• On entering and entering the dojang
• When entering and exiting the training floor
• Bow to flags when entering and exiting  training floor (with both the U.S. and Korean flags displayed, this shows respect to our country and to Korea as the origin of Taekwondo)
• To all black belts
• To Sabumnim (GrandMaster Lee)

Seniority and lining up at the beginning of class

• Always line up quickly, senior students line up first so juniors can follow suit quickly.
• Most senior student in front on right hand side
• Decreasing seniority in line to left of senior
• Start a new line with the next highest student on far right hand side directly behind seniors.

Seniority is determined by:

1. Belt Rank
2. Date of beginning Taekwondo practise

Even if someone has been promoted sooner than another, the senior student (within a belt rank) is the one who started Taekwondo earlier. Students who have taken the Black Belt test, and not yet been promoted, do not necessarily become more senior than students who have not taken the test.

Dojang rules

The school rules were developed primarily for the safety of all our students. They are mostly common sense, but some are to maintain the traditions of Taekwondo.

Being part of the Taekwondo family

By becoming part of Taekwondo you are now part of TKD family, it is important for parents and adults to take care of kids - important for kids to listen to parents and adults, regardless of rank.

Being part of the TKD family means that you can always ask questions of your seniors (your new brothers and sisters). Never be afraid to ask, we are a family now who help each other. Some things may not be immediately apparent why we do things. It is your responsibility if you do not understand something or need additional help to ask help from your seniors - that's why they are there!

Basic Terminology

The following basic terms are essential to the beginning student:

our school: dojang

uniform: dobak

instructor: kyo-sanim

master instructor: sabumnim (reserved for GrandMaster Lee). Sabumnim is also considered an endearing term that we use for GrandMaster Lee. It would be like refering to him as "Dad". Since he is our Taekwondo "father", this is appropriate. Outside of the dojang, we would refer to him as GrandMaster Lee, but inside, and to personally address him, we use the term "Sabumnim"

Attention stance: Churi-ot

1. Hands at side
2. Palms against side of thighs, hands open
3. Feet together
4. Eyes forward
5. No extraneous movement.

You are standing at attention awaiting the next instruction. On command "Churi-ot" slap thighs to show that you are at attention.

Ready stance: Joonbi

This is the traditional Taekwondo ready stance. Before you can make any action you must get ready. This is why we begin with joonbi stance.

1. Begin this stance from attention stance (churi-ot, discussed above)
2. Step sideways with th left foot one shoulder width distance; both feet are facing straight forward.
3. At the same time make fists with both hands and raise both hands to level of eyes, shoulder width apart, palms facing inward.
4. Bring both hands down to hip bone, palms up.
5. Last, thrust straight forward, turning palms downward.
6. Fists finish at belt level , shoulders width apart.

Want to make a good first impression so do correctly and strongly

Different joonbi stances related to different Kwans. Symbol of JiDoKwan is two spheres- smaller one on top of larger one (similar to clown that you punch that falls over but returns to upright position - symbology accurately portrays philosophy of indomitable spirit - continue until you are successful)

This is a self-control position - don’t move from this stance until given further direction.

How to make a fist

1. Open your hand with the palm facing away from your body.
2. Begin at the tips of your fingers and curl all fingers, except the thumb, until hand is tightly closed.
3. Tuck the thumb across your closed knuckles.
4. Your hand should be tightly squeezed.

For punching, the striking part of the hand is the first two knuckles only. The angle between fist and wrist should be straight with no side to side or up or down bend. This position is the most structurally sound position for absorbing impact without buckling.

A good way to get the feel for the proper position is to perform knuckle pushups (at least getting into position). All the weight should rest on the first two knuckles of each hand.

Horse riding stance: choo-chum-seoggi

This is a very traditional punching stance.

1. Begin from joonbi stance.
2. Step with your left foot two (2) shoulder widths keeping both feet parallel and facing straight forward; and then bend your knees.
3. As you step to the left, extend your right arm and fist (palm down) straight in front of you (about as high as your solar plexus), and place your left fist palm up on your hip bone.
4. Then as you place your left foot down and bend your knees, execute a middle punch to a point directly in front of your own solar plexus, your left hand should turn so that your left fist is facing palm downward; at the same time and and with equal speed, pull your right hand back to your right hip bone (palm up, still in a fist).
5. Make a loud Kihap as you complete the left hand punch.
6. Keep your body upright and back straight at all times, do not turn your shoulders when punching. Keep your hips directly underneath your shoulders. Adjust the amount of knee bend lower and lower as you become stronger (deeper bend is physically harder to maintain and is better for you). You should feel tension in inner thighs, like gripping a horse (hence, horse-riding stance).

Single Punch from Choo-chum-seoggi

1. Execute one punch at a time with alternating fists. Punch with the fist resting on your hip.
2. Remember to move both arms at the same time, returning the last punching hand to the ready position on the hip bone, and the hand the punches stays at the extended position. Your back should remain straight, with knees bent and shoulders straight. Each punch is to the middle of the body to a point directly in front of your own solar plexus - or to the solar plexus of an imaginary opponent.

Double punch

1. Execute two punches, one followed by the other rapidly.
2. Punch to your imaginary opponent's solar plexus.
3. Maintain a good choo-chum-seoggi stance.
4. Make sure each punch is complete, that is, both hands completely return to the hip and completely extend with all punches (it is always better to do any technique slowly and well, than quickly and poorly,so start slowly and speed will come with time and practice).
5. Make a loud Kihap with the second punch.

Triple Punch (with Tae-Kwon-Do)

1. Execute three rapid middle punches to your opponent's solar plexus.
2. Maintain a good choo-chum-seoggi stance.
3. Make sure each punch is complete.
4. Loudly say "Tae", "Kwon", "Do" with the first, second and third punch respectively.

Returning to Joonbi position:  Barro

1. Since you originally stepped down into choo-chum-seoggi stance with your left leg, move your left leg back to your right leg.
2. At the same time, bring both fists up to eye level.
3. Bring left foot in so that feet are shoulder width apart.
4. Bring both fist to hips, palms up.
5. Thrust fists forward, thus returning to Joonbi position.

Yelling: Kihap

A kihap is a loud yell. You don't yell "kihap!" that would be like yelling "Yell!". What you yell while performing a kihap is as individual as the student. The kihap should originate from the abdomen and be a loud release of energy. Reasons for kihap include: showing good spirit, tighten abdomen (will reduce a blow to the stomach), frighten opponent, focus energy, etc.

Walking story

GrandMaster Lee has numerous stories and parables that are interspersed throughout these pages. They are all designed to illustrate some element of our Taekwondo practice. A basic story is what we call walking story:

If you see a person walking, do they normally walk with one hand rigid at their side while the other one swings? Or do you see them swinging both hands forward together and then backward together? Of course not! When we walk our hands move opposite to each other, the same is true for how we move in Taekwondo. Since we don’t walk with just one arm - why should we punch or block with just one arm? When executing movements, be sure to use both arms.

TKD is natural, so the movements we make should be natural as well.

Pal chaggi: Fighting/Kicking stance

This is a modern short, upright, and unstable stance used for kicking and punching.

1. Begin in Joonbi position
2. Move one foot backward a single step (in class, we always begin by moving the right foot backward first); the length of this step is a natural walking stride distance. Feet should be shoulder-width apart.
3. Lift the rear heel (placing your weight on the ball of your foot) and raise your fists in a defensive position in front of your body.
4. Keep 51% of your weight forward over your front foot and 49% over the rear foot.
5. Turn your upper body 45 degrees toward the rear foot. This makes a smaller target to a frontal attack than standing square.
6. Place the fist that is on the same side of your body as your forward foot as high as your shoulder, pointed forward.
7. The rear fist should cover the area around your solar plexus.

With this stance, your center of gravity is higher than traditional lower and wider stances. At first this may make balance difficult. Later you will find balance easier, and the speed of movement you will gain will make the earlier difficulties worthwhile.

Since your weight is already forward, when you make a motion, such as a rear leg front kick, you will not need to shift your weight to your forward foot prior to making the kick, as you would if your weight was on the back leg, and thus you will avoid making two motions (and giving your intentions away).

After much practice, you will learn to raise both heels at the same time; while it is emphasized to kick with the rear leg mostly because it is stronger, sometimes it will be advantageous to use the front leg too. Raising both heels allows you to shift your weight continuously between front and rear foot (always with the 51%/49% or 49%/51% relationship) and permits either a front or rear leg attack. This continuous movement also means that you already have momentum, and therefore any movement, offensive or defensive, will be faster because you are already in motion.

This stance was created by GrandMaster Sang Lee to scientifically meet the challenges of modern Taekwondo. Taekwondo is a living martial art and like all living things, it too must change to meet the changing world. To become skilled in modern Taekwondo you will need to learn to attack and defend from this short and unstable kicking stance. There are several reasons this stance is better for kicking and punching than more traditional deep and stable stances:

• it allows you to move very quickly
• a blow from an opponent si not taken with full force
• you are always ready to attack or defend because you are ready to move

Today, most US and World champions use this stance.

Double punch from Pal chaggi (fighting stance)

1. Execute two punches, one followed by the other
2. Punch first with forward hand (hand on same side as the forward foot); should be a short, quick jab-type punch
3. After retracting the first hand, punch with the rear hand, being certain to extent the arm fully and to turn your hips and shoulders to get maximum power and extension.
4. Fist position is different than when punching from choo-chum-soogi stance, palm of fist is now pointed to side rather than downward,  hand/arm/wrist structure remains same to it is equally stronger, but it is faster.
5. Front knee  is essentially locked, so you are pivoting around a straight front leg when turning your hips to execute the rear punch.
6. Pull the punches back fast. This gets you back into position quicker and provides more "impulse" to the target.
7. Your head should not move with the punches, but remain focused on the target.

GrandMaster Sang Lee uses the "John Wayne story " to illustrate performing a double punch from fighting stance. (For those that don't know who he is, John Wayne is a famous actor who played many cowboy roles.)

"John Wayne has two guns - a pistol for short distances and a rifle for long distances. In the  same manner, we have a front hand for short distances and a rear hand for long distances. That is why we must turn the back shoulder and hip when punching with the rear hand to get the added distance and power."