What is the first day of taekwondo class like?

Question

I am planing to take taekwondo for the first time and can anyone tell me what it will be for the first day?

Answer 1

Usually at our school we show them how to properly bow in and out of the class. They do warm up excercises with the class and then they go to the back of the class with someone (usually either a black belt or a high ranking student) and we show them everything they will need to know to earn their white belt. In our school you can't spar until you get your white belt (which most people can earn within about two weeks) so this is usually your agenda for the first 2 to 4 classes.

     To earn your white belt in our school you have to be able to demonstrate the following: fighting stance, front punch position, front punch (left and right side), reverse punch (left and right side), backfist strike (left and right side), front kick, back leg front kick, side kick, back leg side kick, round house kick, back leg round house kick and switch stance. You also have to know the following: style of martial art (Tae Kwon Do), the system (ours is Moo Duk Kwon but there are other systems of Tae Kwon Do), the origin (Korea), the founder (General Choi Hong-Hi), the meaning of Tae Kwon Do (Kick Fist Art; 75% feet; 25% hands), the meaning of the White Belt (Purity or Beginning), the Korean word for Ready Stance, the Korean word for Attention Stance, the Korean word for Bow and how to count to at least 5 in Korean.

     That might look like a lot to learn but it's not. It's all pretty simple stuff. Also keep in mind that all school's are a little different and you may need to know more than that and you may not need to know that much. I've heard of school's where you get your White Belt on the first day of class and you don't have to test for it. It just depends on the school and the instructors. My wife and I have both been taking Tae Kwon Do for 16 years now. Our three children (ages 11, 10 and 6) have been taking it for about a year.

Answer 2

Don't take taekwondo.  It's not a very useful discipline, and the belt system isn't based on accomplishment.  It is based on time and in some cases money put into the discipline.

Answer 3

well, for me it was normal. I went there and I told the instructor I wanted to try it out. We went in, and we did a normal class, obviously with interruptions to explain me everything that was going on.

The class usually starts with a ritual to the flags and then you practice whatever the instructor wants you to practice. The way classes are handled depends a lot from instructor to instructor, but you'll probably begin by practicing some of the basic kicks and defense techniques.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy it! ;)