Taekwondo Classes
Portland Oregon
During our Taekwondo classes students practice a wide variety of blocks, punches, strikes and kicks. Students learn a memorized series of moves called a Form. There are 24 forms in traditional Taekwondo and students learn them based on their rank. Each color belt rank has a different form. Advanced students also do various take-downs and defenses against chokes and other physical attacks. Our practices do not involve trying to hurt the person we are training with, but rather a controlled set of moves so that each participant can learn how to apply martial arts in a manner that protects them, but doesn't hurt their training partner.
Taekwondo Sparring
Intermediate and advanced students practice free sparring. In free sparring students fight with a partner using the Taekwondo moves they have learned. This sparring is NON-CONTACT. This means that we do not hit or strike each other, but attempt to kick or punch as close to the other person as possible without actually making contact. Developing this skill requires CONTROL, one of the skills developed in martial arts. Occasionally a person may slip or a partner may move into an attack, resulting in a blow to the other person. In the last ten years no one has been seriously hurt when this occurs. It usually amounts to a slight sting or a bruise.
Testing and Promotion
Belt promotion takes place on the first Saturday of the month at 4:00 PM at Montavilla Community Center. There is no testing fee but new belts cost $5.00. Students must pass a pre-test during the 30 days prior to their promotion test to be eligible to take the promotion test.
Taekwondo Class Registration
White TIger Martial Arts Taekwondo classes are offered through Portland Parks and Recreation at East Portland Community Center, Montavilla Community Center, Mt. Scott Community Center, Arleta Elementary School and Alice Ott Community School. Class registration is through Portland Parks and Recreation; please visit their website for more information.
