ABOUT
TAEKWONDO
What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. It is the world's most popular martial art in terms of the number of practitioners. The term "taekwondo" can be roughly translated as "the discipline of the foot and fist." The style we use at Northwestern is Kukkiwon, which is governed by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), and is also the style used by competitors at the Olympic games.
Kick It
The main emphasis of any style of taekwondo is kicking techniques. The leg is longer and stronger than the arm, allowing more powerful attacks to be performed from a greater distance.
Kicks are connected in combinations, and these combinations are used in strategies to score points in competition.
Belts, belts, belts
Students of taekwondo are separated by rank, signified by the belt they wear around their waist. Beginners who have not undergone testing wear a white belt. After students pass their first test, they are promoted, rising from white belt to black belt.
After obtaining their black belt, students can test for higher "degrees" or "dan" of black belt. Testing for colored belts may happen as often as once every few months, but testing for higher degree black belts requires a multitude of pre-tests, as well as waiting periods between tests that can be years long.
Northwestern Taekwondo
Our main goal as a martial arts club is to help members develop their technique, form, and overall fitness with the long-term goal of belt testing and advancing rank! Weekday practices focus more on kicking techniques, poomsae, and board breaks related to the belt testing, whereas weekend practices are geared towards sparring techniques and agility. Additionally, weekend practices will also incorporate high-level kicking for more advanced members in the club. Belt testing occurs at the end of each quarter.
For more experienced members, aside from on-campus activities, we do occasionally participate in tournaments in Illinois. Our goal for this year is to become a member of the Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference (ECTC) so that we can participate in higher-level tournaments and get our name out there!
Social!
While improving ourselves and the individuals around us is an important goal for us, we also value having fun and getting lit! To us, Northwestern Taekwondo is like another family. As a result, we also have social events that are littered throughout the year, such as Hotpot Nights, Movie Nights, and even retreats!
If you're also looking for new people to meet and friends to make, come check us out! We'd love to meet you as well :)