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Taekwon-Do is a Korean martial art and is very popular as a sport as well as a form of self-defence. UCC Taekwon-Do is open to all skill levels and styles with a primary focus on ITF style TKD. Classes for both beginners and advanced students are available; for more details, visit us on Instagram @ucctaekwondoclub.
UCC Taekwon-Do Club, founded in 1984, is one of the most successful martial arts clubs on campus. It offers classes three times a week conducted by Master JB McCarthy (8th dan black belt). The club caters to both beginners and advanced belts, offering sparring, traditional patterns, one-step sparring, self-defence, and board breaking if you want to try that out.
Training sessions are structured to suit beginners and advanced practitioners and welcome all ITF and WT associations and styles. The club focuses on both traditional and practical elements, encouraging students to engage in sparring to promote confidence in self-defence. Students learn basic joint locks, pressure points, and releases from grabs to react in real self-defence scenarios.
UCC Taekwon-Do Club has consistently performed at the highest level at the annual Irish Taekwon-Do Intervarsity competition. If you are interested in competition, there are plenty of local, national, and international competitions. Bring along a friend and try it out on Monday and/or Wednesday evenings! Just wear a tracksuit or shorts and t-shirt; all sparring equipment is provided by the club.
Welcome to the University College Cork TAEKWON-DO Club. Feel free to browse around the site which is designed to provide readers with a wealth of information about our Club, events, the spirit of the Korean Martial Art of Tae Kwon Do. The club was founded in 1984 and has consistently been one of the most popular martial art clubs. The club has a mix of new beginners and experienced students who have been training in their local clubs.
The club caters to new beginners with separate dedicated class as well as an advanced class for those who have experience or have gained a coloured belt by successfully passing a grading test. There are no class fees plus we have loaner sets of hand and foot pads for new members (you need to get your own gum shield and males need to get a groin guard when we start sparring).
If your primary focus is to learn self-defence and you want to get into great shape, then this program is for you. These classes are fast paced, and upbeat. Constantly moving, you are going to get your heart pumping.
In this class, you are actually learning the basics of Tae Kwon Do while getting a great whole body workout. We take the time to teach you the correct way to punch and kick so are constantly improving. It is this constant learning and acquiring new skills that keeps you coming back. You will see yourself growing and consistently attaining new levels of skill and fitness.
As you progress in your training, you will be eligible to attend the advanced level Tae Kwon Do classes. This is where you will start learning to actually apply what you have learnt. This is done with partner drills and free sparring. You will continue to learn the art of Tae Kwon Do including basic and advanced self defense against one or more unarmed or armed aggressors, one step sparring (basic, advanced, model), point sparring, continuous sparring, two against one sparring, destruction (breaking), special techniques and much more.
So, whatever your needs, we have a program that will help you reach your goals. Give us a call or just drop by. We would be happy to see you . Please note beginners are welcome anytime to come along and join in anytime on Monday or Wednesday nights. If you already have a belt in any style of ITF or WT then come along and join in the fun – we are always looking for new members who want to compete in the annual intervarsity competition against Taekwon-Do clubs from other irish universities.
Taekwondo is a modern martial art, characterized by it’s fast, high and spinning kicks. There are multiple interpretations of the name taekwondo. Taekwondo is often translated as ‘the way of hand and foot’.
My definition of the name Taekwondo is Tae=’to strike or block with the foot’ or ‘to kick’, it also means ‘jump’ K’won=’Fist’, ‘to strike or block with hand’ Do=’The way of’ or ‘art’. Put this together and Taekwondo means: “The art of Kicking and Punching” or “The art of unarmed combat”. The sport has been founded in Korea and is one of the popular modern martial arts.
Disciplinces of taekwondo Taekwondo has four disciplinces which are explained in a separate page/chapter of this site. The four displinces are:
Patterns
Sparring
Self-defence
Breaktest
It is the combination of these four disciplines that makes the art called Tae Kwon Do. General Tae Kwon Do Information:
Oath
Tenets
Conduct
Belt Colours
Terminology
Before the class commences and when it finishes, form orderly lines facing the instructor, with the most senior student standing to the their right, and the remainder lining up from right to left in order of seniority.
At the beginning and end of the class, the most senior student calls the class to attention with the command (CHARYOT), followed by Boosabum (1st-3rd degree Assistant Instructor), Sabum (4th-6th degree Instructor), Sahyun (7th-8th degree Master) or Saseong (9th degree Grand Master), whichever is appropriate. S/he gives the command to bow to the instructor (KYONG-YE), as they bow all students say TAEKWON.
Bow to the instructor at the proper distance
No jewellery may be worn during class.
No shoes to be worn in the Do-Jang at any time.
Finger and toenails must be kept clipped short and clean.
Dobok must be kept clean at all times.
When fixing your Dobok or belt do not face your instructor.
No horseplay, whistling or loud talking in the Do-Jang.
Never lose your temper in the Do-Jang, especially during sparring.
No talking during class except to ask a question.
Before asking a question raise your right hand to attract the instructors attention.
While in the Do-Jang, always address the instructor as Sir or Mr/Miss/Mrs using the instructors surname.
Students must behave in a disciplined manner while training.
No profanity will be used in the Do-Jang.
Respect all members of senior grade.
Any student who is late for class must get the instructors permission and bow to the instructor before joining the class.
Students should never leave class for a break, water or an early dismissal without permission.
As a member of Tae Kwon-Do, I do solemnly pledge to abide by the rules of the association
To strive always to be modest, courteous, and respectful to all members in particular my seniors,
To put the art to use only in self-defence or defence of the weak and never to abuse my knowledge of it.
WhiteSignifies innocence, as that of the beginning student who has no previous knowledge of Tae Kwon-Do.
Yellow Signifies Earth, from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the Tae Kwon-Do foundation is being laid.
GreenSignifies the plant’s growth as Tae Kwon-Do skills begin to develop.
BlueSignifies the heaven towards which the plants matures into a towering tree a straining in Tae Kwon-Do progresses.
RedSignifies danger, cautioning the student to exercise control, and warning the opponent to stay away.
Black Opposite of white, therefore signifying the maturity and proficiency in TaeKwon-Do. Also indicates the wearers’ imperviousness to darkness and fear.
Interpretation of Patterns There are twenty-four patterns in Tae Kwon-Do. Each TKD pattern is named after a significant figure or group in Korean history. The nine coloured-belt patterns are listed below.
The following points should be considered while performing patterns:
Pattern should begin and end at exactly the same spot. This will indicate the performer’s accuracy.
Correct posture and facing must be maintained at all times.
Muscles of the body should be either tensed or relaxed at the proper critical moments in the exercise.
The exercise should be performed in a rhythmic movement with an absence of stiffness.
Movement should be accelerated or decelerated according to the instructions in this book.
Each pattern should be perfected before moving to the next Students should know the purpose of each movement.
Students should perform each movement with realism.
Attack and defense techniques should be equally distributed among right and left hands and feet.
CHON-JI – 19 Movements – Yellow Belt Literally translated means “Heaven and Earth”. In the orient it is interpreted as the creation of the world, or the beginning of human history. Therefore, it is the initial pattern practised by the beginner. It consists of two similar parts, one representing Heaven and the other Earth. Video
DAN-GUN – 21 Movements – Green Tip Is named after the Holy Dan Gun, the legendary fouder of Korea in the year 2333 BC. Video
DO-SAN – 24 Movements – Green Belt Is the pseudonym of the patriot Ahan Ch’ang Ho. (1876-1938). The 24 movements represent his entire life, which he devoted to furthering the education of Korea and its independence movement. Video
WON-HYO – 28 Movements – Blue Tip Was the noted monk who introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in the year 686 A.D. Video
YUL GUK – 38 Movements – Blue Belt Is the pseudonym of the philosopher and scholar Yi I. (1536-1584 AD) nicknamed the “Confucius of Korea”. The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38 degrees latitude and the diagram ( � ) represents “Scholar”. Video
JOONG-GUN – 32 Movements – Red Tip Is named after the patriot Ahn Joong Gun who assassinated Hiro Bumi Ito, the first Governor-General of Korea, known as the person who played the leading part in the Korea-Japan merger. There are 32 movements in this pattern to represent Mr. Ahn’s age when he was executed at Lui Shung prison in 1910. Video
TOI GYE – 37 Movements – Red Belt Is the pen name of the noted scholar Yi Hwang (16th. century AD), an authority on Neo-Confucianism. The movements of the pattern refer to his birthplace on 37 degrees latitude, the diagram ( � ) represents “Scholar”. Video
HWA-RANG – 29 Movements – Black Tip Is named after the Hwa Rang youth group which originated in the Silla Dynasty in the early 7th century. This group eventually became the driving force for the unification of the three Kingdoms of Korea. The 29 movements refer to the 29th infantry division, where Tae Kwon Do developed into maturity. Video
CHOONG-MOO – 30 Movements – Black Belt Was the name given to the great Admiral Yi Soon Sin of the Yi Dynasty. He was reputed to have invented the first armoured battleship (Kobukson) in 1592 AD, which is said to be the precursor of the present day submarine. The reason why this pattern ends with a left hand attack is to symbolise his regrettable and untimely death, which occurred before he had a chance to display the full loyalty. Video
Kihap in Patterns
Chon-Ji: Movement 17
Dan-Gun: Movement 8 &17
Do-San: Movement 6 &22
Won-Hyo: Movement 12
Yul-Gok: Movement 24, 27 & 36
Joong-Gun: Movement 12
Toi-Gye: Movement 29
Hwa-Rang: Movement 14 & 25
Choong-Moo: Movement 9 &19
Kwang-Gae: Movement 23 & 27
Po-Eun: Movement 12 & 30
Ge-Baek: Movement 19 & 28
Text from here down courtesy of Ms Jana Galinski V
Chon-Ji: #17 (Ap Joomuk Jirugi)
Dan-Gun: #8 & #17 (Ap Joomuk Jirugi + Chookyo Makki)
