Dear Students, Parents,
and Friends,
As you know, we are
currently celebrating our 37th anniversary in business in the
Tulsa area! Since 1971 we have been the leading martial arts school in
the country, providing our students with the most exciting and
comprehensive programs. We are always dedicated to the continuous
growth and improvement of our Dojang.
Our goal is to provide each and every student the highest quality
Taekwondo instruction. We strive to empower our students with valuable
character and physical skills that will allow each individual to bring
out the best in themselves. It is to this end that we are now
introducing the new ROTATING CURRICULUM.
The new
Rotating Curriculum is designed to provide our students with a clearer
path to achieve their goal of BLACK BELT and beyond. The Rotating
Curriculum will enable your instructors to lead a more structured and
efficient class. It will also provide our students a greater
opportunity to work together while practicing new and old curriculum.
We will be
upgrading our program in 4
different ways:
1.
GRADUATION / TESTING:
The Promotion
tests will no longer be held every month. The GRADUATION/test will now
be held every 8 weeks. Each Dojang will also hold its own Promotion
test. Students at the North Dojang will NO LONGER
be required to travel south to test.
It is our goal
that every student in our Dojang participates at every Promotion test.
There is a minimum attendance requirement of 16 classes in each
rotation before you are eligible to test.
2008 GRADUATION
DATES
January 7 WEEK is the
First official week of new curriculum!
March 1 - Graduation
April 26 – Color Belt
Graduation
June 28 - Graduation
August 30 – Color Belt
Graduation
October 25 – Color Belt
Graduation
December 20 – Color Belt
Graduation
2.
ADDITION OF BELT STRIPES
Stripes will be earned by learning the material along with tasks
representing black belt excellence, by utilizing the awarding of 2
different colors.
3 Red Stripes - Attitude Stripe
4 Black Stripes - Curriculum Stripe
BELT SYSTEM WILL
NOT CHANGE
White,
Orange
Yellow
Green Stripe
Green
Blue Stripe
Blue
Red Stripe
Red
Black Stripe
Recommended
Black
1st Dan - 9th
Dan
3.
ROTATING CURRICULUM BLOCKS
Under the rotating curriculum system, all
students of the same general skill level learn the same curriculum
in a cycle. The instructor teaches the class and students learn
together as a team, rather than in isolated pockets of instruction.
Each cycle will last 8 weeks. After the
first 8 week cycle, everyone will test and we will begin teaching a
different set of curriculum at the next cycle for that level.
There are four levels
under our new system:
Intro and white - Level 0
Orange, Yellow, Green Stripe, and Green - Level I
Blue Stripe, Blue, Red Stripe, Red - Level II
Black Stripe and above - Level III
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)
What was the purpose behind moving to a rotating curriculum?
The rotating curriculum will help the instructors lead classes in a
smoother and more efficient way. It will also create a sense of teamwork
among our students by working with everyone in class equally rather than
just those students of the same belt rank.
How will the rotating curriculum help our students?
The rotating curriculum will help all students to move at a more regular
pace, meaning that students will not lag behind others, creating a
positive feeling of inclusion and self-worth. Instructors will be able
to identify right away the students that need help, and everyone will
receive the same level of instruction from an instructor. Assistants to
the instructor will be available in the event that a particular student
needs extra help.
Overall, it will streamline and simplify both the classroom and the
learning process so that students receive the best instruction,
attention, and practice to assure their continued success.
How will I earn my next belt under the new curriculum system?
Promotion will take place every 8 weeks, and everyone in the school is
expected to promote at the same time.
What will belt promotion be like under the new curriculum
system?
As before, students who are promoting will demonstrate the curriculum
from the completed level and then they will earn their next belt.
Will this new curriculum system affect my progress as a
student here?
No! In fact, it should help to keep all students on track and
progressing through the curriculum much more smoothly than in the past.
The instructors carefully track where each student is in their belt rank
and will work with all students to prepare them to test for their next
belt.
This system guarantees that the instructors are focused on exactly
where you are as a student and that there are always other students
learning the same things that can help you or work with you as a
partner.
Why do I now need to bring all of my equipment to class with
me?
In any sport or activity, it is important to have your equipment with
you for practice. A football player who came to practice without their
pads and helmet would not be allowed on the field! It is the same with
TaeKwon-Do. Safety equipment is an important, intrinsic part of our
curriculum and so it is equally important that this equipment be with
students at all practice sessions.
We also want to instill responsibility in all of our junior students
to bring all their gear with them at all times. It will also allow us to
use sparring gear to practice drills to create a more realistic
atmosphere for practice.