ATA Taekwondo

History

Taekwondo has its roots over 1,000 years ago in what many believe to be a martial arts form known as t'aekyon. It wasn't until the middle 1900s, though, that an attempt to unify the various styles of taekwondo was done. The word "taekwondo" is composed of three Chinese/Korean words:

tae: kick or jump
kwon: fist or hand
do: the way

In the 1960s and through the rest of the 20th century, the newly-organized sport evolved into a combat sport, and curricula were developed to teach and spread this increasingly-popular martial art.

Songahm Taekwondo

There are many different kinds and styles of martial arts of which one can become a student. Through any of these disciplines, one can learn common qualities such as self-defense, courtesy, respect, integrity, discipline, and other positive mental attributes, as well as one's increasing one's physical activity. But we feel that Songahm taekwondo as encapsulated by the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) can be especially effective in one's gaining or improving upon these qualities.

From the ATA's start in 1969, the widely-used Chahng-hun forms style was taught in its classes. But the association's founder, Eternal Master H. U. Lee, did not feel that these forms (essentially, a prescribed set of movements) fit his vision and plan for taekwondo, and especially the curriculum in which it was embedded. He developed new taekwondo forms as part of a fully-integrated curriculum in which students at all grades and ranks can explore all facets of this martial art. An advancement path was developed so that students would be continuously challenged on their journey to become black belts (and beyond). One cannot build on a weak foundation, and this is one of the tenets of Songahm taekwondo.

Along with the body, one's mind is also developed during their training. Self-confidence is gained as one progresses through the Songahm program and meets tougher and greater challenges with their studies. One's gaining self-confidence in meeting these challenges allows one to accept other challenges without hesitation. This confidence often spills over into other facets of the student's life. Other life skills such as repsect, courtesy, self-control, and integrity are taught both explicitly and implicitly.

All classes are taught in a positive, supportive environment. This helps the student feel like he or she can meet the goals they have set for themselves, whether it be to do a perfect kick or achieve a certain rank, and that help is always and readily available. Although the path might not be clear at the time, the instructors will be happy work with the student to find a way for their goals to be reached.

Belt ranks

Each of the color belts the student earns has a specific meaning:

	White belt "Pure and without the knowledge of Songahm Taekwondo. As with the pine tree, the seed must now be planted and nourished to develop strong roots."
	Orange belt "The sun is beginning to rise. As with the morning's dawn, only the beauty of the sunrise is seen rather than the immense power."
	Yellow belt "The seed is beginning to see the sunlight."
	Camouflage belt "The sapling is hidden amongst the taller pines and must now fight its way upward."
	Green belt ""The pine tree is beginning to develop and grow in strength."
	Purple belt "Coming to the mountain. The tree is in the mid-growth and now the path becomes steep."
	Blue belt "The tree reaches for the sky toward new heights."
	Brown belt "The tree is firmly rooted in the earth."
	Red belt "The sun is setting. The first phase of growth has been accomplished."
	Black belt "The tree has reached maturity and has overcome the darkness. It must now plant seeds for the future."