Korean Martial Arts - Teaching Methods

Teaching Methods

The traditional Taekkeyon system has no fixed curriculum. Every student is an individual and thus the lesson is always different. All basic skill are eventually covered. The basic skills and taught in temporary patterns that evolve, as the student learns. Basic skills are expounded on and variations of that single skill are then practised, in new simple combinations. When the student has learned all the variations of the basic movements, and can mix all the basic techniques accuratly, they perform the Taekkyeon Dance. Taekkyeon is a Ten year technique.

Modern Korean martial arts' systemization and presentation are very similar to their Japanese counterparts (i.e., barefoot, with uniforms, classes executing techniques simultaneously following the teacher's commands, and sometimes, showing respect to portraits of the founder by bowing to the picture or national flags). Many modern Korean martial arts also make use of colored belts to denote rank, tests to increase in rank, and the use of Korean titles when denoting the teacher. These include:

  • Kyosanim: teacher.
  • Sabeomnim (사범님 / 師範님): Master instructor.
  • Kwanjangnim (관장님 / 館長님): training hall owner/ kwan leader.
  • Dojunim (도주님 / 道主님): keeper of the way.

These Korean terms are based on Confucian rank systems (with the same Chinese characters). Many schools also make use of Korean terminology and numbers during practice.

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