User:Barryrfd/Taekwondo Association of Great Britain

The Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain (TAGB) was formed in August 1983 and is the largest martial arts organisation in Europe with over 25,000 members and 600 clubs operating throughout the United Kingdom. The TAGB is a founding member of the British Taekwondo Council (BTC), and is currently the largest member. TAGB is also a founding member of Taekwondo International.

The TAGB teach the Chang Hon style of Taekwondo, developed by Major General Choi Hong Hi. This is the same style as the ITF except the TAGB syllabus generally disregards any revisions made to the style after 1983.

Foundation
The Taekwondo Association of Great Britain (TAGB) was inaugurated in August 1983. It was formed by senior instructors of the United Kingdom Taekwondo Association (UKTA) under the leadership of Rhee Ki-ha.

Rhee had decided to host the next international Taekwondo competition in the United Kingdom and had informed the founder of Taekwondo, General Choi, of this. However this move required several major instructors to personally invest huge sums of money into the competition. Believing the move was too risky and having no opportunity to influence Rhee's decision as he was ultimately in charge of the organisation, the instructors collectively left the organisation to set up their own, taking their students with them.

This led to decisions to radically change the way in which this new organisation would operate. Whilst it is typical for the highest ranking member to also be in charge, this would not be so for the TAGB. A committee of instructors would be formed who would collectively decide on matters concerning the organisation, however it was intended that there would be one practitioner who would act as the authority for Taekwondo in the organisation and who would be the highest ranking member.

Early years
Cho Hee Il initially held the position of Chief Instructor in the newly formed TAGB, but more problems were experienced with this arrangement. Cho and several other high ranking members left to form Global TKD International.

For a long time the TAGB attempted to find a suitable master to either take up the position leading the organisation or act as a high ranking examiner. Eventually the TAGB determined that both these tasks would be fulfilled by the committee.

Recent years
Recently, the TAGB has recognised Choi Chang-keun as a high ranking affiliate. Choi Chang-keun attended the 25th Anniversary British Championships, hosted by the TAGB in Nottingham on 12 October in 2008, and stated that he was impressed with the syllabus being taught by the TAGB. In early 2010 he decided to run seminars for the TAGB throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Gradings
The examinations for both practical and theoretical aspects of the martial art for advancing through the ranking system are always referred to as gradings. A high ranking member of the local area, or sometimes a committee member, will sit as chief examiner and mark the practical work done by students, whilst theoretical work is assessed by local instructors.

A grading typically consists of line work, patterns, theory, and sparring. Higher grade students must complete additional layers to the examination procedure, such as locks, takedowns, breaking, writing essays on given subjects, or may be asked how they have contributed to their school aside from working on their own advancement. Contributions often include teaching lower level students, helping at gradings and helping at tournaments.

For progression through the colour belts gradings are held every 3 months at regional centres, more specifically on a thirteen-week grading cycle. Students can typically advance through the belts at a rate of 1 Kup every 13 weeks, until they reach senior grade (blue belt), where the rate becomes 1 Kup every 26 weeks. Therefore, reaching Black Belt within the TAGB takes a minimum 3.5 years training time, assuming the student advances as fast as possible and does not fail any gradings. However, treating Taekwon-Do as just a bought commodity that allows the student to gain a Black Belt is frowned upon.

Advancing up to and through the levels of black belts is done by a system of gradings held every six months at the National Academy in Bristol. The time it takes between degrees of black belt is equal to the number rank that you are aiming for in years. For example, if you are training to become a third degree black belt, you must train for a minimum of three years.

Pregradings
Many clubs offer pregradings, an exam arranged internally which mimics the subsequent grading, though this is not the case in every club. A student must pass this in order to attend the actual grading.

Committee
The association, unlike many other martial arts organisations, is operated by a democratically elected group of instructors representing various regions of the United Kingdom.

Election
Each instructor in a region has a vote, weighted according to the number of students they have, which can be put forward for any of the candidate instructors for their region. Once an instructor has been chosen, they hold their status as committee member and area coordinator for five years.

The rank of the instructor is not a deciding factor in whether they sit on the committee, in contrast to the typical martial arts organisation, where the member with the highest rank is granted presidency. As such the TAGB has no single member who controls the organisation.

Members
Most of the current committee members have been leading or at least within the organisation since its inception, many having trained under Choi Hong Hi or one of the twelve original masters.


 * Dave Oliver 9th Degree, Chairman of the TAGB, President of TKDI, Area Co-Ordinator for the South-East of England, Publicity Office for the BTC
 * Mike Dew 8th Degree, Vice-Chairman of the TAGB, President of the BTC, Area Co-Ordinator for the South-West of England
 * Kenny Walton 8th Degree, National Coach, Committee Member, Area Co-Ordinator for the North of England
 * Paul Donnelly 8th Degree, Liaison Officer, Committee Member, Area Co-Ordinator for Central-England South
 * Ron Sergiew 8th Degree, Treasurer, Committee Member, Area Co-Ordinator for Central-England North
 * Gianni Peros 7th Degree, Welsh Coach, Committee Member, Area Co-Ordinator for Wales
 * Don Atkins 8th Degree, National Secretary, Committee Member, Area Co-Ordinator for the South-Midlands
 * Brian Towndrow 7th Degree, Committee Member, Area Co-Ordinator for the North-Midlands

Five Tenets
The tenets form the larger part of the moral teachings of the TAGB. The tenets of Taekwondo are derived from those of Hwarangdo. A student is expected to show the application of the tenets in lessons and gradings, and this may affect their progression through the art.


 * Courtesy - "To be polite to everyone. You must always be courteous to your instructors, seniors and fellow students."
 * Integrity - "To be honest with yourself. You must be able to define the difference between right and wrong."
 * Perseverance - "To achieve a goal. Whether a higher grade or a new technique, you should never stop trying."
 * Self Control - "To always be in control of your actions. You must be able to live, work and train within your capabilities."
 * Indomitable Spirit - "To show courage when you and your principles are pitted against overwhelming odds. You should do your utmost to never give up."

Whilst these are expressly the official tenets, there are a few more emphasised through the interpretations of patterns and belt colours such as Loyalty and Self Discipline.

Bristol Academy
The Bristol Tae Kwon-Do Academy is an old church building that was purchased in the early 1980s by Mike Dew and converted into a Training Facility. Much of the administration for the TAGB is carried out there and it is also used for the Black Belt gradings. The building has a large martial arts training hall upstairs and offices, storage and changing rooms below.

Recently it had been refurbished and now includes are large tent outside as well as repairing building. It now has more room to accommodate large event's like black belt grading and courses run by the committee.

Uniform
The TAGB's official training uniform, or Dobok (도복), previously a more traditional and uncommon style of jacket. The line of folded fabric around the collar extended to the lower-right side of the jacket, giving the appearance that it could be opened similarly to the Japanese Karategi (空手着). However, from 2009 a new v-neck style of jacket is replacing it, similar to WTF uniforms. This follows the general trend in many Taekwondo organisations to modernise and also reduce the Karate influences, instead incorporating Korean themes.

Colour Belt version
The training suit worn by colour belts is completely white with any lettering written in red.

Black Belt version
Black belt uniforms are also white, with the exception of the black edging that runs around the v-neck collar, and also from the shoulders to halfway down the smock/jacket arms, and from the waistband to halfway down the trouser legs. This differs from ITF and WTF official doboks, which have similar black edges position in different places on the jacket.

A 4th Dan and above Dobok is identical except that the black trim on the trouser legs are full length, rather than just stopping halfway.

Also with this new style of black belt dobok, the black piping on the arms and legs has the new TAGB logo printed all the way down. and on the back the doboks used to read "TAGB Tae Kwon Do" and now have "International" printed underneath, e.g.


 * " TAGB
 * Tae Kwon Do
 * International"

Referring to the fact the TAGB is part of Taekwondo International.

Instructors version
A completely black uniform with gold lettering.

The instructor's uniform at present retains the old-style jacket-effect dobok.

Other versions
Sometimes at regional or national competitions, squads representing other regions may be permitted to wear their own design of training suit.

Belts
The TAGB uses the following belts system:


 * 10th Kup - White belt (White signifies innocence, that of the beginner, who has no previous knowledge of Taekwondo.)
 * 9th Kup - White belt with yellow tag
 * 8th Kup - Yellow belt (Yellow signifies earth, from which the metaphorical plant sprouts and takes root, as the Taekwondo foundations are being laid.)
 * 7th Kup - Yellow belt with green tag
 * 6th Kup - Green belt (Green signifies the plant's growth as skills begin to develop.)
 * 5th Kup - Green belt with blue tag
 * 4th Kup - Blue belt (Blue signifies heaven, towards which the plant matures into a towering tree as training in Taekwondo progresses.)
 * 3rd Kup - Blue belt with red tag
 * 2nd Kup - Red belt (Red signifies danger, cautioning the student to exercise control and warning the opponent to stay away.)
 * 1st Kup - Red belt with black tag
 * 1st Dan - Black belt (Black is opposite to white, signifying maturity and proficiency in Taekwondo. It also signifies the wearers imperviousness to darkness and fear.)

A tag would often be a band of the appropriate colour around the end of the belt. Nowadays within the TAGB, the tag system has been removed in nearly all cases, and new belts are made with a stripe of the appropriate colour along the middle. The various degrees of black belt are signified by a gold bar sewn into the ends of the belt. It is likely that the Dan ranks will run from one to nine. However as nobody within the TAGB has yet reached nine, it is unsure whether this will be the final Dan grade or whether a tenth position will be incorporated.The meaning attributed to the belt is greatly important within the organisation. It is frequently asked as the theory question at gradings, and black belt students are frequently reminded of the meaning of black belt.

Patterns
The TAGB use a loose phonetic system to name the patterns, derived from the McCune-Reischauer romanisation system.


 * Sajo Jirugi (Note: This is not actually a pattern, this is an exercise, but it is performed in place of a pattern for the 10th kup -> 9th kup grading. There are two official variations of this exercise, both of which are performed at the grading, but there are many more unofficial ones used in junior classes.) (Saju Jireugi)
 * Chonji (천지/天地 Cheonji)
 * Dan-gun (단군/檀君 Dan-gun)
 * Dosan (도산/島山 Dosan)
 * Wonhyo (원효/元曉 Wonhyo)
 * Yulgok (율곡/栗谷 Yulgok)
 * Joong-Gun (중근/重根 Junggeun)
 * Toi-Gye (퇴계/退溪 Toegye)
 * Hwarang (화랑/花郎 Hwarang)
 * Choong-Moo (충무/忠武 Chungmu)
 * Kwanggae (광개/廣開 Gwanggae)
 * Po-eun (포은/圃隱 Po-eun)
 * Gyebaek (계백/階伯 Gyebaek)
 * Eui-am (의암/義菴 Uiam)
 * Choongjang (충장/忠壯 Chungjang)
 * Ko Dang (고당/古堂 Godang)
 * Samil (삼일/三一 Samil)
 * Yoosin (유신/庾信 Yushin)
 * Choi-yong (최영/崔榮 Choeyong)
 * Yonggae (연개/淵蓋 Yeon-gae)
 * Ulji (을지/乙支 Eulji)
 * Moonmoo (문무/文武 Munmu)
 * Sosan (서산/西山 Seosan)
 * Sejong (세종/世宗 Sejong)
 * Tong-il (통일/統一 Tong-il)

In the Chang Hon style the patterns are taught and performed very strictly according to the original specification, and are considered to be the secret to the perfect understanding and performance of taekwon-do techniques. As said by General Choi "the secret of taekwon-do lies within the patterns". The TAGB still perform Kodang instead of Juche.

Set
Set sparring consists of predetermined sequences of movements, similar to a pattern, but performed with an opponent. It is designed to be the next stage towards real combat from patterns and line work.

Because of its predictability it is the first type of sparring taught to students. There are three levels in order of most basic to most advanced: three-step, two-step, and one-step. Each level brings itself closer to real combat. The three levels are taught across the colour belt syllabi.

Semi-Free
This type is similar to set sparring but with an improvised element. On lower levels there are set attacks but no set blocks, which must be improvised. Higher levels are similar to free sparring but with distinct stepping.

Free
Free sparring enters the grading syllabus from blue stripe, though students can enter into sparring categories in competitions from yellow stripe.

Competition History
From the time of the Association's inception in 1983 till the mid 1990's, the TAGB was renowned for producing some of the top ITF-style competitors in both the UK and the world who performed well not only in Taekwon-Do but also in semi-contact and full contact kickboxing. Dave Oliver was responsible for producing numerous champions and top-level competitors in the 1980s such as:

Annette Sullivan Sparring ITF world champion Harjit Singh Sparring ITF world champion Harjit Singh Destruction ITF world champion Nigel Banks Sparring TI world champion Ron Sergiew Sparring WAKO world champion Dorian Bytom Sparring TI world champion Annette Puddifoot Sparring TI world champion Steve Merricks Sparring TI world champion Quentin Oury Sparring junior TI world champion Cassie Oury Musical forms junior TI world champion

Former students with International competitor status:

Warwick:

Paul Donnelly Ron Sergiew Harjit Singh Jackson White Mick Keogh Jamie Cochrane Manjit Kalm Cathy Miles Annette Puddifoot Tina Hope Jill Cochrane Quentin Oury Toby Oury Solihull:

Annette Sullivan Dorian Bytom James Grogan Chris Bradshaw Ian Reddi Stuart Rae Paul Tairn Steve Reddi Paul Gautier Steve Merricks Tim Hobin Mark Roberts Sonia Tierney Sue Baker

Nuneaton:

Nigel Banks Steve Brindley Mick Ford Richard Stevens Chris Emanual Jennifer Jurolek Angelina Jacobs

Other current members of the TAGB renowned for both their technical knowledge and competition expertise are Ralph Minnot (Former Great Britain team member BTCB - WTF, Seoul Olympics 1988), Kenny Walton, Ron Sergiew, Paul Donnelly (Member of the ITF demonstration team to North Korea 1980, recommended personally by Rhee Ki Ha) and Roger Lawrence.

Former members of the TAGB renowned for both their technical knowledge and competition expertise are Tony "The Ice Man" Sewell (3 time world champion, Kim Stones, Mike Lambert (Hong Kong film stuntman, Paul Cain and MMA's Mark Weir. The next generation of TAGB competitors from 1995 till 2010 include Gordan Fearn, Rebecca Riggs, Ruth Chare, Debbie Hill, Jane Lambert, Warren Vice, Andy Williams and Andrew Deer.