Hello
I heard on an other forum that you are not considered an instructor in TKD until you have reached 4th Dan. Is this the common practice or is it the same way teachers in some schools of traditional Japanese styles will not be called sensei until 3rd or 5th Dan?
How long does it take on average to reach 1. Dan in TKD? And for 4th Dan?
(NOT here to bash. :asian: Peace )
While requirements vary between organizations, and depending on what country in which you are training/teaching, there is one important issue to consider. In most well-established, or Korean based Taekwondo organizations,
rank is separate from teaching credentials.
Although there are typically
minimum rank requirements to teach, as others have mentioned here, the common incorrect assumption made by the general public, or beginner students, is that a Black Belt rank automatically means you are qualified to teach. That would be like saying that a person who just graduated from High School can get a job in the public schools as a teacher.
The concept of a color belt (geup rank) teaching, or giving rank to anyone up to their own rank is not an authorized procedure. While independent instructors, who open their own free-lance schools, can do whatever they want, this is not a practice traditionally supported by the Korean Martial Art of Taekwondo.
Any ranked student is considered senior to a junior belt, and my be called upon in class to help "guide" junior students by reminding them of what they have already been taught. High ranking color belts (Red or Brown / 3rd, 2nd, or 1st geup) are considered class senior students, and often lead exercises, and supervise small groups within a class. They are typically not permitted to teach a student new techniques for the first time, and are not authorized to open a school.
Also, while many 1st and 2nd Dan Black Belts do teach classes at their instructor's Dojang, many do so without actually having passed an instructor's training course, or been certified as an assistant instructor. A Black Belt who assists in teaching should be specifically trained on how to teach, and is labeled as a "Chyo kyo nim" (assistant instructor).
1st or 2nd Degree Black Belts, who have been properly trained and certified as "Instructors," are still not qualified to open their own Taekwondo Dojang. They either teach classes at the school of a certified Sabeomnim, or they run smaller programs at local churches, public schools, or health clubs under the direct supervision of their Sabeomnim (I spell it this way because it is more accurate to the Korean Hangul and correct pronunciation 사범 ).
Even a 3rd or 4th Dan who has not completed an Instructor's course should not be considered a Kyo sa nim (Instructor), or Sa beom nim (Master Instructor). A certified Instructor who is a 3rd Dan, does not automatically become a "Mater Instructor" when they test for 4th Dan. There is typically further training, and certification, separate from rank, to be awarded the title of Master Instructor.
As far as governmental restrictions for teaching, in Korea, there are rank requirements and association approval before you can open a Dojang and proclaim to be a "Taekwondo Instructor," let alone a Master. In the United States, to my knowledge, there are no such restrictions in any state. So long as you do not "falsely advertise," or "defraud or endanger the public," free enterprise allows just about anyone to "teach" whatever it is they
think they know about most any subject. As it goes - a white belt could drop out of his Taekwondo school after failing the test for yellow, then open a "Taekwondo" school or general "self defense" class and teach the unsuspecting public.
Personally, I think this is fraudulent, but it comes down to "buyer beware." Therefore, in my opinion, the public should do their research, and spend their time and money with an instructor who can prove years of training and certification with a large, well-accredited organization. Even if that instructor is no longer associated with an organization, and has gone independent (some downside to that as well) at least they can prove they had the credentials and training to qualify them to teach in the first place.
I believe we need more strict standards within the Martial Art community, and better education for the public to know the difference. Unfortunately, there will always be some people who will join the "white-belt master academy" because it is the cheapest in town, and
talks up a good game!
CM D.J. Eisenhart
