Miles
Senior Master
In a recent thread there was some discussion about the differences between the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and the Kukkiwon (KKW). It might be interesting to explore what people's perceptions of the KKW are.
The KKW is a building ("won" literally means "building") which houses the central administrative offices of Taekwondo (please, not trying to flame anyone else's style, I am only referencing Kukki-TKD). The Kukkiwon is the "World Taekwondo Headquarters." In many pictures, it is on top of a high hill. Today, that area of Seoul-Kangnam is very urban-lots of hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. If you didn't know where to look, you could very easily not locate Kukkiwon-gil-the uphill road to KKW.
KKW was built specifically to train instructors, develop and refine techniques, and issue dan ranking (KKW is not concerned with guep ranks). KKW rank is used by the WTF in international competitions as a minimum requirement.
There are 3 classes of instructors training courses. The lowest class is the 3rd class. This is for instructors who are ranked 4th and 5th dan. The Course is 40hrs and the overall objective is to standardize basic movements/poomsae, teach instructors what a positive impact they can have on their students, and to teach them how to teach. Anyone with at least a 1st dan can take the course, they are just not certified as an instructor until they've attained 4th dan.
In order to open a TKD school in South Korea, you need to have at least a 3rd class instructor license. To date, there have been numerous 3rd class instructor courses for Korean instructors, but only 11 for "Foreigners" (i.e. non-Koreans). I was priveleged to attend the 10th Foreign Instructor Course.
The 2nd class instructor course is for 6th and 7th dans who have already completed the 3rd class course. The first 2nd Class course for non-Koreans was just held 2 weeks ago.
The 1st class instructor course is for 8th and 9th dans who have completed the 2nd class course. So you can see even in the home of TKD, being an 8th or 9th dan is not the end of one's journey, there is a course to teach them how to be better administrators.
The KKW issues standardized dan ranks. Well, the idea is that it is supposed to be standardized. There are requirements for 1st dan, 2nd dan, etc. which are minimums. An instructor can require more from his/her students, but should not require less. The universal practice of TKD has lead to instructors who have altered basic motions/poomsae. The KKW seeks to standarize TKD.
TKD is unique in that there is a "standardized" way of performing and a unified dan rank. The goal of the founders of TKD were to put aside their own egos/fiefdoms/schools for the betterment of all. The primary source of revenue for most of the Kwans/schools was the shimsa or dan testing fees. When the Kwans agreed to recognize KKW rank as the standard, they essentially sacrificed their income for the betterment of TKD.
My experience at KKW was overwhelmingly positive. The instructors, support staff, interpreters, etc. were extremely accomodating. TKD is a source of national pride in Korea-it is their gift to the world. I would highly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to take a course at KKW to do so.
The KKW is a building ("won" literally means "building") which houses the central administrative offices of Taekwondo (please, not trying to flame anyone else's style, I am only referencing Kukki-TKD). The Kukkiwon is the "World Taekwondo Headquarters." In many pictures, it is on top of a high hill. Today, that area of Seoul-Kangnam is very urban-lots of hotels, restaurants, bars, etc. If you didn't know where to look, you could very easily not locate Kukkiwon-gil-the uphill road to KKW.
KKW was built specifically to train instructors, develop and refine techniques, and issue dan ranking (KKW is not concerned with guep ranks). KKW rank is used by the WTF in international competitions as a minimum requirement.
There are 3 classes of instructors training courses. The lowest class is the 3rd class. This is for instructors who are ranked 4th and 5th dan. The Course is 40hrs and the overall objective is to standardize basic movements/poomsae, teach instructors what a positive impact they can have on their students, and to teach them how to teach. Anyone with at least a 1st dan can take the course, they are just not certified as an instructor until they've attained 4th dan.
In order to open a TKD school in South Korea, you need to have at least a 3rd class instructor license. To date, there have been numerous 3rd class instructor courses for Korean instructors, but only 11 for "Foreigners" (i.e. non-Koreans). I was priveleged to attend the 10th Foreign Instructor Course.
The 2nd class instructor course is for 6th and 7th dans who have already completed the 3rd class course. The first 2nd Class course for non-Koreans was just held 2 weeks ago.
The 1st class instructor course is for 8th and 9th dans who have completed the 2nd class course. So you can see even in the home of TKD, being an 8th or 9th dan is not the end of one's journey, there is a course to teach them how to be better administrators.
The KKW issues standardized dan ranks. Well, the idea is that it is supposed to be standardized. There are requirements for 1st dan, 2nd dan, etc. which are minimums. An instructor can require more from his/her students, but should not require less. The universal practice of TKD has lead to instructors who have altered basic motions/poomsae. The KKW seeks to standarize TKD.
TKD is unique in that there is a "standardized" way of performing and a unified dan rank. The goal of the founders of TKD were to put aside their own egos/fiefdoms/schools for the betterment of all. The primary source of revenue for most of the Kwans/schools was the shimsa or dan testing fees. When the Kwans agreed to recognize KKW rank as the standard, they essentially sacrificed their income for the betterment of TKD.
My experience at KKW was overwhelmingly positive. The instructors, support staff, interpreters, etc. were extremely accomodating. TKD is a source of national pride in Korea-it is their gift to the world. I would highly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to take a course at KKW to do so.
