Chung Do Kwan
Encyclopedia : C : CH : CHU : Chung Do Kwan
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art, and Chung Do Kwan (정도관) is one of the original five schools of Taekwondo. Chung Do Kwan is also the oldest of the school, being the first school founded.
At the end of World War II, several Kwans arose. They were Chung Do Kwan, Moo Duk Kwan, Yun Moo Kwan (Jidokwan), Chang Moo Kwan, and Song Moo Kwan. In the late 1950's, these Kwans united under the name Tae Soo Do. A few years later, the name Taekwondo was adopted for its similarity in name only, to Taekkyon (practiced by the Koguryo, Silla, Baekjae, and Koryo Dynasties).
Chung Do Kwan is one of the few styles of Tae Kwon Do, in which contact is not permitted. Instead, the participants are trained to come very close, sometimes uncomfortable ranges. Practices are held in a 5 part manner, consisting of Warm-up, Forms, Sparring, Three-step, and then ending in a Warm-down. World Tae Kwon Do Association, headed by Grand Master Duk Sun Song, based out of New York City.
The idea of of personal restraint is one which is very heavily expressed throughout the schools. Each section of a typical practice has a meaning, begining with the run at the beginning of Warm-Up. Besides the obvious of limbering up, one is to run first, fight later. After the run, basics are run in a military style, up and down the particular area, be it a room, school gym, or dojo. After which, a moment's breath, and then forms, or kattas. These are excercises designed to focus on specific areas of the body. All of which are designed to strengthen to practicer. Sparring for the upper belts, and three-step for the entire class, and then warm-downs. Three step is an series of three step combinations, either pre-arranged, or impromptu. Some are mandatory for the White and Yellow belts, while others are made up, and perfected at upper belt levels.
In the World Tae Kwon Do Association, there are less belts than other schools. Not that it's a bad thing. Each belt rank comes with 2 forms for the student to learn, with the exception of Green belt, in which case, the student is to continue working on his or her second yellow belt form.
Belt Ranks and Associated forms
-
White
- Kuk-mu 1
- Kuk-mu 2
-
Yellow
- Pyong-an 1
- Pyong-an 2
-
Green
- Pyong-an 3
-
Purple
- Pyong-an 4
- Pyong-an 5
-
Brown
- Chul-Gi
- Palsak
After Brown belt, the 1st Dan black belt forms and beyond are not permitted to be discussed by lower belts.
See also
Suggested Readings
- Korean Karate by Grandmaster Duk Sun Song
- Tae Kwon Do Classic Forms: 21 Hyung by Ted Hilsen
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.