On Saturday 29 November the Libre and Brotherhood Taekwon-Do Dojangs put 29 students through their grading paces from White belts to Blue belt Red stripes.
Libre Taekwon-Do meets twice a week at the Corpus Christi Church Hall on La Roche Drive in Humewood.
The pupils ranged in age from 7 years-old to ‘Don’t-ask’ and were examined by International Instructors Sabum Marc Chong Seng and Sabum Ignatius Ajuebor.
Chief instructor for the kids class, Boosabum Mark Viljoen on congratulating his pupil’s 100% pass rate success said; “I’m humbled by the commitment and dedication of our youngsters who have shown indomitable spirit throughout the year.”
The Libre School of Taekwon Do are affiliated to the International Taekwon-Do Federation South Africa (ITFSA) and adherents of the International Taekwon-Do Federation.
Related Images: https://straton.org.za/index.php?/category/177
Taekwon-Do (written this way in ITF to distinguish between the Olympic sport) is a proudly Korean martial art whose name translates to:
- Tae: To strike or smash with the foot; to kick.
- Kwon: To strike or destroy with the fist; to punch.
- Do: The art, way, or path of life.
Therefore, Taekwon-Do literally means “The Way of the Foot and the Fist.”
Collectively, it signifies not just the physical fighting skills, but also the mental and ethical discipline required to master the art and apply its principles to life.
Taekwon-Do (TKD) uses a ranking system borrowed heavily from Japanese martial arts (like Judo and Karate) which is divided into two main categories: Gup (Colour Belts) and Dan (Black Belts).
ITF uses 6 main colors with a stripe on the end of the belt to denote progression within that color level.
Gup Ranks and their Belt ColorGup Rank Symbolic Meaning
- 10th Gup: White (Innocence) – Represents the student who is a beginner and has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-do.
- 9th Gup: White Belt with Yellow stripe
- 8th Gup: Yellow – Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root, as the foundation of Taekwon-do is being laid.
- 7th Gup: Yellow Belt with Green stripe
- 6th Gup: Green – Signifies the plant’s growth as the student’s Taekwon-do skills begin to develop and expand.
- 5th Gup: Green Belt with Blue stripe
- 4th Gup: Blue – Represents the sky towards which the plant (student) grows, reminding the practitioner to reach for new heights.
- 3rd Gup: Blue Belt with Red stripe
- 2nd Gup: Red – The student’s techniques are powerful and must be practiced with control. It also serves as a warning to opponents.
- 1st Gup: Red Belt with Black stripe – The final stage of color belts, signifying the student is ready to attempt the Black Belt test.
Dan Ranks comprise of:
- 1st – 3rd Dan: Boo-Sabum (Assistant Instructor) – The novice stage of the Black Belt. Focus is on perfecting fundamental techniques and starting to instruct lower ranks and assist the Instructors with running of the dojang.
- 4th – 6th Dan: Sabum (Instructor) – Expert level and indicates mastery of the technical aspects and qualifies the person as an International Instructor and International Examiner after completing the necessary qualification courses.
- 7th – 8th Dan: Sahyun (Master) – Master level who recognizes deep physical and mental understanding, with a focus on guiding senior practitioners.
- 9th Dan Sasung: (Grand Master) The highest attainable rank in ITF TKD. Reserved for those who have dedicated a lifetime to the art and have significantly contributed to the philosophy and spread of Taekwon-do.
Contact details for Libre Taekwon-Do:
Libre.tkd916@gmail.com
Kids classes – +27 82 571 4050
Adult classes – +27 73 591 1038 / +27 83 732 083729
