It has been a long time since I started as a beginner Tae Kwon Do student. Over the years I have learned about what is important to me in a Tae Kwon Do school or training facility (dojang) and have put together a short article on best practices you can use when screen Tae Kwon Do schools for the best and most appropriate place for you. I’ve met with several students who have found themselves years later wishing they had made other choices and I’m hoping to help you make a good, educated decision. You never know where you might be in the future — I never thought I’d still be training hard and teaching as a Fourth Dan (degree black belt) over a decade after I had begun. Continue reading How to Find a Good Tae Kwon Do School
Category Archives: School
Location and Directions
The SMS Tae Kwon Do School is conveniently located at 146 W.29th Street, 11th Floor Suite 11ER, between 6th and 7th Avenues. It is just a few blocks south of Penn Station, one block from the 28th St. subway station and just 3 short blocks from Penn Station and most major subway lines. Our telephone number is (212) 268-4300.
Local subways
1, 9: 28th St. stop, 1 block north of the station.
2, 3, A, C, E: 34th Street / Penn. Station. Exit at 7th Ave. and walk south to 29th St.
B, D, F, N, R: 34th St., walk south on 6th Ave. to W.29th St., make a right and walk one block.
Belts and Required Poomsae
The SMS Tae Kwon Do School teaches both the Pal Gwe and Tae Guk poomsae (patterns) in the manner of the WTF (World Tae Kwon Do Federation). There are 20 patterns in total, which must be learned prior to reaching the level of black belt. Master Kim does not believe in requiring formal testing dates for patterns and belt elevation. Master Kim continuously tests his students in every facet of their performance. He decides whether a student has completely mastered the required poomsae and techniques, including possessing the requisite level of skill in all other areas of training in order to progress to the next level.
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| Yellow belt |
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| Purple belt |
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| Brown belt |
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| Black belt |
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| First Dan |
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| Second Dan |
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| Third Dan |
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| Fourth Dan |
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| Fifth Dan |
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| Sixth Dan |
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| Seventh Dan |
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| Eighth Dan |
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| Ninth Dan |
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Class Schedule
Tae Kwon Do classes take place daily on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Classes last one hour and may begin on the hour between 5pm and 8pm. Class sizes and levels vary but students always receive significant personal attention. For more information about the current SMS Tae Kwon Do class schedule, please contact the school.
Students are recommended to arrive at least 10 minutes early in order to change and stretch properly before class.
The History of the Ji Do Kwan
While in Korea last July (1998), I was looking through some old issue of Taekwondo magazines at the Sang Moo Sa store on Kukkiwon-Gil (Kukkiwon Street), just down the hill, past the main gate from Kukkiwon. In the Korean language magazine “World Taekwondo”, August 1997 edition, I found this interview with my Great-Grandmaster Lee, Chong Woo of the Jidokwan. Here is a rough translation of the article for those interested. Jidokwan was one of the five original Kwans and “Root to the birth of modern Taekwondo .” Al Cole
Roots to the birth of modern Taekwondo – is Jidokwan
By Chong Woo Lee
Jidokwan, as meaning of the “way of wisdom”, has developed through the root of Chosun Yun Moo Kwan. Jidokwan, especially took a main role for the Kwan unity act, the new executive committee drove the act positively.
Initiative role for the Kwan Unity
For myself, for the Kwan, for the country, based on these three words, Jidokwan was founded in March 3rd of 1946. The Jidokwan was first titled as Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan Kong Soo Do Bu.
The Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan first founded by Chun, Sang Sup, the first grandmaster of Jidokwan.
Master Chun, Sang Sup first started his martial arts career in Judo during his high school years, then he attended Dong Yang Chuck Sik (Takushoku) College in Japan, where he mastered Karate.
Founded by Sang Sup Chun
After graduating from college, Chun, Sang Sup returned to Korea, and started to teach Taekwondo to black belt Judo trainees in the Yun Moo Kwan, which was located in Soo Song Dong, Seoul at the time. Lee, Kyung Suk was the grand master of the Yun Moo Kwan during that time and Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan was a Judo dojang.
After the surrender of Japan in world war II in August 15th, 1945, Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan moved there location from the Soo Song Dong to So Gong Dong, where the Japanese Gang Duk Kwan used to be located, and officially announced the opening of the Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan as branch of the Korea Taekwondo.
At that time, Taekwondo was called Kwon Bop Boo. The first trainees of the new Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan were, Chun, Ill Sup, brother of Master Chun, Sang Sup; Pae, Young Ki; Kim, Bok Nam; Lee, Chong Woo; Pak, Hyun Jong; Lee, Byung Lo; Chung, Jin Dong; Kim, Chun Sun, they later became members of the Jidokwan.
Chun, Ill Sup first popularized the Taekwondo to the state of north Jun-La (Cholla buk do), Bae, Young Ki served 3rd Grandmaster term for the Jidokwan, and Lee, Chong Woo served 2nd and 4th grandmaster terms and they became the main leaders of the Jidokwan.
Yet, Park, Hyun Jong gained the strength of Jidokwan from the reign of the Pusan and Lee, Kyo Yun from Han Moo Kwan joined the Jidokwan and founded the Han Kuk Chae Yuk Dojang (Seoul) and acted as master while he was working for the police communications department.
The title Jidokwan first used from Pusan in 1950’s
Grandmaster Pae, Young Ki was the first student of Chun, Sang Sup and had the earliest relation with Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan. He started his first training from the Soo Song Dong period
Great Grandmaster Yoon, Byung In was a best friend of Chun, Sang Sup. He was a hired Sabum at Chosun Yun Moo Kwan in 1948. While studying in Japan, Master Yoon became a student of Kanken Toyama Sensei. After teaching for Master Chun for 1 years, he opened the YMCA Kwon Bop Bu (Chang Moo Kwan) with Lee, Nam Suk. He disapeared during the Korean War. However, Pyong Soo Kim states that he made contact with Master Yoon by writting letters to him in North Korea. Jidokwan and Chang Moo Kwan are considered brother Kwans as Master Yoon and Master Chun were often called brothers due to training together so much.
Yoon, Byung In, the founder of Chang Moo Kwan, also worked as master for one year in the Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan in 1947. Later he went to the YMCA and then founded the Chang Moo Kwan.
Great Grandmaster Yon, Kwai Byeong trained in Chuan Fa in Manchuria. Also trained and was certified as a Shihan (Sabum) under Kanken Toyama while studying in Japan. Became 2nd hired Sabum to work for Master Chun. After Master Chun disapeared in Korean War, the original students of Master Chun voted Master Yon as Jidokwan 1st President. However, in the mid 1960’s, Master Yon opposed Kwan unity and was voted out of Jidokwan. Chong Woo Lee became the 2nd Jidokwan President.
With appointment of new master Yoon, Gae Byung, who was known as a great master among the Karate field, Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan became very active.
In June 25th 1950, the Korean War started and the Grandmaster Chun, Sang Sup, founder of Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan, was abducted to North Korea. And during the evacuation period in Pusan, the Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan changed their name to Jidokwan. Lee, Chong Woo first suggested the change of the Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan’s title and with the agreement of Yoon, Gae Byung, Cho Sun Yun Moo Kwan became Jidokwan.
“After the abduction of master Chun, Sang Sup during the Korean war, I have suggested to Yoon, Gwae Byung for the change of the title and with his agreement, I suggested the appointment of Yoon, Gwae Byung as the grand master”, said Lee, Chong Woo.
Jidokwan became very active and gained their strength in 1953, when Jidokwan extended their organization on the Han Kuk Chae Yuk Dojang’s (Korea Sports Center) Taekwondo Department.
During that period, once or twice a year, they thought self-defense and bone setting from special sessions. But Jidokwan started to have disruption over the Kwan unity act.
During the development of the Korea Tae Soo Do Organization, Ki Hwang and his followers from Moo Duk Kwan and Yoon, Gwae Byung and his followers from the Jidokwan stands in opposition to the Kwan unity act.
Training Through Contest
And that was the start of the disruption of Jidokwan. Lee, Chong Woo drove the Kwan unity act without Yoon, Gwae Byung and became 2nd Grandmaster of the Jidokwan with the support of the national committee.
Kim, Chun Sun (council of Jidokwan), Cho, Yong Dae (president of Australia’s committee), Lee, Sang Chul (president of USTU), they are also alumni from Jidokwan.
Jidokwan, along with Moo Duk Kwan, acting as the main role of modern Taekwondo in Korea. Especially Jidokwan’s unique and intensive training, one would have to defeat three straight competitors to have belt promotion, made the birth for the great athletics for this period.
History of Grand Masters
- Founder: Sang Sup Chun
- 1st Grandmaster: Gae Byung Yoon
- 2nd Grandmaster: Chong Woo Lee
- 3rd Grandmaster: Young Ki Pae
- 4th Grandmaster: Chong Woo Lee
- 5th Grandmaster: Sung Wan Lee (current president since 1988)
Annex Kwans
In the 1950s, 60’s and early 70’s, when the Kwan’s existed as martial arts, some black belts left their Kwans for various reasons. The main reason for most black belts to leave the Jidokwan was that this Kwan had a reputation for being the best sparring school, taking over 70% of the nationals sparring titles. These fighters where highly prized by the Kwan and the Korean Government. Some Black belts from this school who did not participate in sparring did not like this preferential treatment, so some joined other Kwans, or became independent.
The most notable person to break away from Jidokwan, due to disagreement, was Kyo Yoon Lee who went on the found the Han Moo Kwan in August of 1954. Kyo Yoon Lee writes about this development in his English language book “Global Taekwondo”. Today, the Han Moo Kwan, like the other eight Kwans has millions of descendant practitioners world wide.
The above information used with permission from www.taekwondojidokwan.com
Dojang Rules and Member Pledge
Do Jang Rules (Do Jang Kyuchik)
- Always bow to the flags when entering or leaving the Do Jang
- Always address Master Kim as “Sir” or “Kwan Jang Nim”
- Bow to Kwan Jang Nim first, then senior students in order of rank (black belt, brown belt, purple belt, etc…)
- Bow at a 45 degree angle and say, “Ahn nyung ha shimni ka” as a proper greeting
- Always answer in a loud, clear voice, by saying, “Yes Sir” or “No Sir”, never “Yeah”, or “Nah”
- When class ends,say “Kham sa ham ni da” (Thank you)
- When leaving, bow and say “Ahm nyung ee kay say yo” (Good night)
- Always turn away from Master Kim when adjusting or fixing your uniform or belt
- Do not wear shoes into the Do Jang
- Do not speak during practice of forms, sparring, or kicking techniques unless asked a question by Master Kim
- Do not curse or use vulgarities in the Do Jang
- When sitting,sit with legs crossed
- Do not leave uniforms in the changing area or on clothing hooks – bring them home daily
- Keep the changing area clean – Throw away any garbage, cups etc. If you want to reuse your cup, store it in your bag
- Show respect to the other students who are here to learn and practice. Be courteous and polite.
- Do not whistle in the Do Jang.
- Turn off or mute cell phones during class.
Member Pledge
- I will observe the rule, and absolutely obey the order of S.M.S. Do Jang
- I will attain physical and mental discipline in the spirit of S.M.S. Do Jang
- I will devote myself to the creation of new tradition and achievement of S.M.S. Do Jang
The spirit of the eight manners of solemnity
- View Rightly
- Feel Rightly
- Think Rightly
- Speak Rightly
- Order Rightly
- Contribute Rightly
- Have Ability
- Conduct Rightly
Welcome to New York’s SMS Tae Kwon Do School
What is S.M.S. Tae Kwon Do?
The SMS Tae Kwon Do School studies in the methods of the Ji Do Kwan. SMS stands for Sun Moon Stars.
In brief, Grand Master Kim believes in practicality and understanding the needs of the students and the environment within which they live.
Master Kim’s philosophy of the martial arts consists of fully appreciating both attacking and defense — both inflicting damage and avoiding it and healing the body. While the Ji Do Kwan included perhaps the most devastating group of fighters after its formation, the philosophy is still consistent in understanding both the Yin and the Yang, offense and defense in appropriate amounts.
The SMS Tae Kwon Do methodology is one where conditioning, speed and agility is paramount to mere raw power. A good martial artist with superior technique can easily wear down an opponent with lesser training. In addition, since most local students are seeking healthier bodies with minimal downtime and risk of injury (1) full contact sparring at the school requires a complete set of appropriate padding, and (2) Master Kim does not currently promote board breaking and other potentially dangerous techniques. The risks far outweigh the benefits and, more often than not, students are not truly able to put in the requisite amount of time and training necessary to consistently break boards without causing injury to themselves.