I know this thread is very old, but got my curiosity going. For reference:
people have been voicing their concerns, dissatisfaction, disgust etc over certain TKD organizations. For the sake of discussion, 'what if' all TKD organizations folded up tent tomorrow and they were all gone. 'What if' an 'ultimate' TKD organization was then being designed by people IN TKD and FOR people in TKD? Here is the question; what would you propose for the rules of this organization?
It was correctly pointed out that KKW & ITF are so vastly different, that trying to blend them together would make both unrecognizable.
But the important thing is, that i think its good that you can choose which interpritation you wish to learn.
With that said, if we focused the original question into a single 'style' of TKD there should be enough common ground.
If you designed your ideal TKD organization, what would it look like? (My list from the perspective of an independent, but older ITF style is):
What rules are important to you, and why?
What rules should be 'set in stone', and
- Rules around how stances are to be consistent with each other (ie: a forward stance, a horse stance, and an L stance all cover the same distance).
- The general rules for patterns beginning and ending in the same place.
- How power is generated within fundamental movement drills and forms (if you're a sine wave style, the following those parameters; if using horizontal rotation, then doing that consistent with the org.)
What rules, if any, should be flexible guidelines that 'could' be changed from time-to-time?
- The use of kihaps.
- Precise blocking chamber positions (just need to be consistent with each other... 1 down block shouldn't chamber at the wrist if all your other down blocks chambered differently).
- Slow vs fast timing on different movements within a pattern. The focus should be on the proficiency being displayed rather than if the timing is the same as mine.
- Uniforms should be school choice.
- Sparring rules. (Students should learn multiple types of sparring). Tournament/exam rules could be consistent, though with themselves... not necessarily with each other.
What types of fee should be charged?
Minimal to run the administration... but more on that at the end.
Should there be a fee for each rank promotion?
For BB exams, of course. If you're asking an examiner (or panel) to take time/travel etc. Then they should be compensated for their time.
Any TIG strictly enforced?
I like the Time in Grade requirements frequently used for Dan levels. The amount of years equal to the dan grade applied for at minimum. (2 years for 2nd, 5 years at 4th before applying for 5th etc).
- I don't care so much about how long it takes a student to reach BB... but how good they are when they get there. If someone is exceptional, and gets there in 2-3 years, great. If it takes 12 to get there, great. The product is what matters.
- My ideal minimums would focus 1st on the aspects that have nothing to do with athleticism. Stance, posture, movement, balance, chambering positions... all things that nearly everyone can control their ability of through attention to detail and hard work. A black belt should be competent with both sides at EVERY fundamental movement taught. (And before someone snowflakes on me... of course exceptions are made for those with different abilities/structural limitations).
- 2nd on sparring/self defense competence (if your martial art doesn't teach you to fight... then maybe you're actually just learning to dance).
Sparring is a learned skill, but one more directly related to athleticism... making it impossible for everyone to reach the same level of proficiency. Perfection of fundamentals/patterns, however; is almost 100% within the control of the student. This is why I believe it to be the most important (and fair) standard to measure student progression with.
- Afterwards things like breaking and other demonstration techniques are useful but less important to me.
The org should:1. Set technical standards for techniqe2. Set Standards for rank and competition. (Flexible based on age, size and gender.)3. Provide a clearing house for rank certification / verification. 4. Organize seminars and competitions. 5. Provide a knowledge resource for #1 & 4 above. 6. Provide marketing assistance by way of idea sharing and cost sharing. 7. Set limits on what can be charged for rank with flexibility based on geographic cost variations.
GM Weiss, I realy liked your reply on this... but noted something about it. Nearly all your points of what an organization should be/do have nothing to do with individual students. They speak to supports for schools/instructors, making tournaments available, etc.
My last ideal for an organization follows that line further. Instead of an organization having 500 black belts and 10000 color belts (random hypothetical #s); it should only have those 500 BBs.
- This reduces administrative costs
- focus on the quality of teachers/BBs whose job it is to pass along to their students.
- Students can't affiate until they receive BB.
- Evaluate individual school's curriculums against the base standard of fundamentals etc.
- Instead of worrying about each gup rank doing the same thing at the same time, put the focus on 'did everyone get to around the same place by BB?'.
- Tournaments can be open to all students of affiliated instructors.
- Put on an annual regional org gathering/BB exam weekend/seminar for instructor development/grading to maintain standards and connections.
Instead of collecting students to raise funds to support org administration; just get rid of most of the administration.
This is a (very brief) description of an organization I could be a part of.
