Welcome to NTX Schools Introduction page for Beginners. Your training is the foundation of being a Martial Artist. Martial Arts, including TaeKwon-Do are a set of systems of practices and traditions of training for combat. They may be studied for various reasons including acquiring combat skills, developing fitness, self-defence, sport, self-improvement, mental discipline, charachter building and self-confidence.
If you are a prospective Student, or Parent of a Prospective Student, then please complete the ‘Annual Membership Application – 2010 Version’ and bring this to your 1st Class. If you wish to continue training after your first lesson, please bring the £25 Annual Membership Fee to your second lesson.
We will not train individuals without valid in-date membership. Training without valid membership is, we believe, unethical and irresponsible. This fee is not refundable should you wish to leave NTX Schools and is not transferable to any other Martial Arts Organisation.
What is TaeKwon-Do?
A Korean Military Martial Art announced to the world on April 11th 1955. Developed as a means of unarmed combat for soldiers of the Korean Army, TaeKwon-Do (or “TKD” for short) found fame during the prolific Martial Arts Popularity Era, exemplified by Bruce Lee, of the early 1970’s. TaeKwon-Do now features in the Olympic Games and is growing, in relative terms, in fame and popularity all over the World. TaeKwon-Do differs because of it’s Modern, Scientific Approach to Training. Applied BioMechanics, Physiology and Neurological conditioning are all used to some degrees in how we train. In many ways, TaeKwon-Do is the 21st Century Martial Art.
Why Learn a Martial Art?
In today’s world, crime is becoming more apparent and significantly more dangerous to the individual. With increasing personal prosperity, people now own greater material possessions but with a widening social inequity between those who have and those who have not. The combination of these two factors means that the individual is now under a greater potential threat of real physical harm. By learning to defend yourself, you remove a sizeable part of the fear that everyday people often experience. Martial Arts do not make you invincible or a Superman, but they develop your senses and perceptions, sharpening natural human instincts.
What benefits come with joining?
The 12 months Membership of NTX Schools includes International recognition of your grade by the ICTF – The International Ch’ang-Hon TaeKwon-Do Federation.
What ages can train?
We accept applications from individuals aged 5 to 65 Years of age in good health. You may be refused if your application form is incompletely or illegibly returned. Individuals with serious medical disorders or in whom it is felt that, on balance, physical exercise may actually be potentially harmful, a further supplementary application form may need to be completed. Further to this, applications from such individuals may be rejected.
How much does Training Cost?
For something of Quality and Susbtance, one must be prepared to offer something in Exchange. The total Financial Cost for Training includes:
Annual Membership Fee – £25
Training Fees – Paid by Monthly Standing Order – £25 to £35 per month
Equipment & Clothing Fees – See Current Price Lists
Grading Examination Fees – £25
Please note that all costs for Goods and Services received are set for 2010. These may be subject to review following this date are not refundable. Our overall cost of Training from Beginner to 1st Degree Black Belt is similar to other TaeKwon-Do Organsiations and offers, we believe, both Flexibility and Value. Students who are experiencing Financial Hardship should not have their Training adversely affected because of this and may be able to apply for Assistance with their Training Fees.
Is it Dangerous?
Yes and No. Physical exercise carries with it a potential risk to those participating. Perform exercises irresponsibly, carelessly or with little skill and you may injure other people training with you. Beginners are often the most ‘dangerous’ people in the Training Hall for this reason. Injuries are few but often result from mental distraction and loss of concentration. The vast majority of individuals train without sustaining physical harm.
So what will you do in a Class?
Each Class is different and designed to be unpredictable. This is how things are encountered on the Street and in Life as a whole. As any Personal Trainer will tell you, Good Exercise begins with a “Warm Up” and ends with a “Cool Down”. Inbetween, there are exercises perfomed in Lines, Pad Exercises, Patterns, Self Defence, Free Sparring, Fixed Sparring and Team Events. Children’s Classes often incorporate some Fitness-Fun-Based Exercises.
Exactly who are NTX Schools?
An independant group of TaeKwon-Do Schools established by Black Belt Instructors. We are part of the ICTF. We teach TaeKwon-Do around 5 main elements: Patterns, Sparring, Power Test, Theory Test and the Tenets. The latter, to our Instructors, is the most important part of TaeKwon-Do: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control and an Indomitable Spirit.
Are the Instructors CRB Cleared?
Yes – To Enhanced Level, certified by Disclosures UK and the VBA. We will only offer CRB Information about our Instructors to Venues whom we let premises from, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We also respect Instructors Privacy and will only discose information which venues deem absolutely neccessary.
Why do we do Grading Examinations?
The entire Syllabus is split into smaller sections (Called Kup Grades), which Students learn over a 4-month interval. At the end of this, they are assessed by an External Examiner and, if successful, are awarded a new Rank (Which corresponds to a particular Belt). After this, they learn a new part of the Syllabus (Usually a new Patterns and Basic Techniques) and this continues until the Student reaches a 1st Kup. At this point, they are then assessed at a Black Belt Grading. Beginners start as 10th Kups and grade about 4 months until 4th Kup (Blue Belt). This progressive habitual nature develops a well-balanced overall individual and Martial Artist. Our aim is to help the Student to reach the standard of a First Degree Black Belt after 3 years Continual, Regular Training.
What Equipment and Clothing will I need?
To start off with, only general sports clothing is needed. You do not need an NTX Schools Training Suit until after you have taken the first Grading Exmination which is for 9th Kup Yellow Tag. Sparring equipment is needed after you have taken the 8th Kup Grading Examination for Yellow Belt.
How do I look after my DoBok?
The Training Suit (DoBok) is a White Polyester Cotton Suit that is pre-shrunk prior to having the NTX logo embroidered on the front and “TaeKwon-Do” Vinyl printed on the Rear. Wash the suit at ideally 30 Degrees with other white only materials. The badge will not run. The suit should be ironed neatly prior to wearing in Class. The emroidered badge is physically strong but avoid direct contact with an Iron. The back patch is not resistant to heat from an Iron and so must be ironed from the inside or over another piece of clothing.
What is your Child Protection Policy?
A full version of our Child Protection Policy is available by contacting Head Office. The Safety and well-being of Children and Junior members who train with us is paramount. We do not allow Spectators in Classes, especially where Children are present or participating. We aim to reduce Bullying, allow a level of Semi-Contact only between Students.
What about Safe Collection and Delivery to Class?
Parents and Legal Guardians must not be late to collect their children from class. The instructors responsiblity ends when the class time finishes and most Instructors have only small time intervals between classes and so cannot afford the time to wait with children whilst their parents arrive. The Instructors are not obliged to wait behind to child-mind beyond this time and we regard this as an abuse of goodwill. Effective from the Instructors Meeting of August 2008, the policy for Child Collection is now:
Parents or Legal Guardians must know the Class times and Venue as well as the Instructors mobile phone number
Parents or Legal Guardians who expect to be more than 5 minutes late after the designated stop time of the class, must phone the instructor immediately
In future if a child is left and no contact has been made, then the instructor may telephone for assitance from the School, Scoial Services or the Police and ask them to collect your child should you be more than 15 minutes late
NTX TaeKwon-Do Schools and Instructors running classes on behalf of NTX Schools accept absolutely no repsonsibilty for any loss, disability or harm which occurs to a child beyond the designated time of the end of class. Moreover, NTX Schools will suspend immediatley the membership of any child whose parent, on 2 occasions, is late and not contactable after the end of any class, subject to a special disciplinary meeting.
What is the System of Rank?
In keeping with our Military Origins and other Martial Arts, there exists in TaeKwon-Do a System of Rank or Seniority which, in broad terms, correpsonds to either the Experience or Ability of the Practitioner. To advance from one Degree rank to the next, students typically complete Grading Examinations seperate to Kup Gradings Examinations, in which they demonstrate their proficiency in the various aspects of their Training. The general rule is that a black belt may advance from one rank to the next only after the number of years equivalent to the rank. For example, a newly-promoted third-degree black belt may not be allowed to promote to fourth-degree until at least three years have passed. Belts must be worn when earned at a Grading Examination and the Student’s previous Belt must not be used again. A beginner starts their training as a 10th Kup Beginner. After the first grading, the Student, if successful, will be promoted to a 9th Kup Yellow Tag. This continues, with decreasing Kup Grades correpsonding to increasing Seniority.
