Answers to Common Questions About Advancement and Belt Promotion

How many belts are there, and what purpose do they serve?

How does one advance through the different color belts?

How does the instructor cover all the material necessary to prepare students for testing?

What is the purpose of the time and attendance requirements?

What does the phrase "personal best" mean?

What about comparing one student to another?

Who decides when a student is ready for a tip or belt test, and how should I communicate with the instructors regarding questions about progress?

What do the instructors do when a student has difficulty with a particular requirement during their test?

If a student passes a color belt test, when do they receive their belt?

 

 

* if you have another question, please contact us.   

 

How many belts are there, and what purpose do they serve?
Advancement in Taekwondo is symbolized by a series of 13 increasingly darker colored belts. At Master Han Lee's Taekwondo USA, those belts are: white, yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, blue with brown stripe, brown, brown with red stripe, red, red with single black stripe, red with double black stripe, and black. Different martial arts schools, and even some other Taekwondo schools, use different colors. The purpose, however, is the same: to provide students with a system for measuring progress through short-term goals enroute to the long-term goal of black belt.

 

How does one advance through the different color belts?
Students must memorize, practice and satisfactorily perform a number of requirements, including: kicks, blocks, punches, choreographed routines (form), blocking sets (choreographed routines of blocks), kicking sets (choreographed routines of kicking techniques), block and counter drills (one step sparring), escape from different grabs and holds (self-defense), "live" drills with a partner (free sparring), and board breaking with both kicks and hand strikes. There are also Korean terms, as well as essays. A specific  listing of the requirements that must be performed for each rank promotion is available at the office. It is also outlined in detail in each of the specific belt testing papers.

 

How does the instructor cover all the material necessary to prepare students for testing?
 Throughout the month, the instructors teach a variety of different classes designed to challenge, motivate and develop each student.  Individual classes may focus more  on certain areas and less on others. If students consistently attend two classes per week, they will be exposed to all of the material required for advancement.

 

What is the purpose of the time and attendance requirements?
The time requirement was established for the benefit of all students. Most students, both children and adults, will need at least the minimum amount of time in order to be properly prepared for the belt exam. Some students who are naturally fast learners or gifted athletes may feel they can progress at a quicker pace. However, the personal best standards, set by the instructors, will challenge those students to raise their performance to an even higher level prior to testing, and they will therefore benefit from the additional practice time.

 

What does the phrase "personal best" mean?
At Master Han Won Lee's HAN LEE’s TAEKWONDO ACADEMY, we recognize that our students vary tremendously in age, learning rate, and natural physical capability. As a result, it would be unrealistic to hold everyone to the exact same standard of performance level.

Although every student must memorize the same requirements for each belt, the instructors use their experience and daily interaction with students to determine a "personal best" level. This level is both challenging and attainable. Therefore, the performance standard for each student is based on the instructors' interpretation of an individual student's "personal best."

 

What about comparing one student to another?
No two students are exactly the same, so a fair comparison cannot be made. Two students that are the same level must memorize the same requirements, however, their age, athletic ability and learning rate will determine individual performance requirements.

Our  philosophy  is that each student is working toward their individual "personal best." By encouraging students to compete with themselves, we are continuously placing a goal in front of them that is both challenging and attainable.

 

Who decides when a student is ready for a tip or belt test, and how should I communicate with the instructors regarding questions about progress?
Students and parents are asked to remember that  testing represents a progress check, and the instructor's experience and day to day interaction with the students make them uniquely qualified to determine a student's readiness for testing. At the same time, we believe that communication between the students, parents and instructors is a vital part of the learning process, and we welcome your questions and concerns. If you are uncertain about the status of your child's or your own progress, you may mention this to the instructors. You can trust that they will take care of the situation professionally.

All of our instructors are committed to making recommendations for testing based solely on what is in the student's best interest. If they are encouraging a student to wait, it is only because they believe  the student has the capability to learn more and perform at a higher level prior to testing. If they are encouraging a student to proceed, it is because they feel the student has reached their personal best level and needs to move on to new material in order to stay challenged and motivated.

If a parent or student has additional questions or concerns about an instructor's decision, they may set up a private conference to express those concerns and to discuss the instructor's recommendation. Together we will work to find the best path for the student to achieve success!

 

What do the instructors do when a student has difficulty with a particular requirement during their test?
The instructors give a student permission to test only after they are satisfied that   the   student has the knowledge and ability  necessary to be successful on testing day. However, not all students perform at their best on the day of testing, mistakes due to nervousness are not uncommon. If a student struggles with a requirement to the  degree that they forget it or are unable to complete it during testing, they will be  required to "make up" that segment at a later date, prior  to promotion.

Our testing is not done on a pass/fail basis, but rather it is similar to academic schools' use of letter grading. Therefore, it is possible for a student to have a lower score  in some areas and a higher score in others, and still pass to the next belt.

In addition, the instructors use testing not just to determine who receives a new belt, but as a way to assess the progress of each student. This assessment is then used to adjust future classes and lesson plans, as well as areas of emphasis to match the needs of the students.

 

If a student passes a color belt test, when do they receive their belt?
Promotions to a new color belt are given out after warm-up exercises, beginning the week following testing. As a result students should continue to attend the classes held for their current belt level up to the day of their promotion. Once they have received their promotion they should begin attending the appropriate class for their new level.