1. Tae Kwon Do
South West England
Local Study
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

2. The Governing Body
The Taekwondo Association of Great Britain (TAGB) is the largest governing body in the UK, which
divides the UK into its regions and allocates one of the 8 members of the TAGB committee as Area
Co-ordinator to oversee that region's gradings and important events. For the South West this is
Master Michael Dew, 8th degree black belt, Vice chairman of the TAGB and President of the British
Taekwondo Council (BTC). In order to take part in Taekwondo you must hold an up to date TAGB
licence and abide by the oath and tenets of Taekwondo. (See appendix one)
Grass roots
Anybody can start Taekwondo from any age or gender; many classes are held in different locations
for you to attend. There are 123 TAGB clubs in the South West (See appendix two). My local club in
Dorset is the Stephen Lambeth School of Taekwondo where classes are offered every day of the
week excluding Tuesday, in four different locations. Tigers classes, for young children from 4-7 years
old, are also offered at my club and most other clubs, to get children involved in Taekwondo from a
young age. (See appendix three) On a whole there is no provision for taekwondo at local schools and
colleges, however my taekwondo club runs one taekwondo extra curriculum activity in one local
middle school, however it does cost to attend.
The TAGB runs courses for black belts students who wish to progress further, these include umpire,
referee and instructor courses. (See appendix five) The courses are optional and are funded through
the fees that these students pay for them. However in order for black belts to progress to their next
Dan/grade students are required to take the courses and meet all other regulations. (See appendix
four)Umpire and Referees are voluntary, however if black belts want to be able to move up a Dan
grade they need to follow the regulations of the TAGB and complete the courses and the officiate
the required amount of competitions.
Bristol Academy in the South West is the training headquarters of the TAGB and the headquarters of
Taekwondo International owned and run by Master Michael Dew. Bristol Academy holds all black
belt gradings and pre gradings and instructors courses. Hutton Moore Sports Centre in Western
Super Mare in the South West holds all black belt training sessions and pattern courses. (See
appendix five)
Progression to first level elite performance and the structure of competition
To progress in Taekwondo you need to go through the belt rankings; this involves taking part in
gradings in order to get to the next belt. Once a student has reached blue stripe you have to train for
a minimum of six months between gradings, and in order to go from Black stripe to Black belt (1st
kup to 1st Dan) you have to train a minimum of nine months. From white belt to green belt (10th kup
to 6th kup) a grading contains four parts: Patterns, where you have to perform the pattern for your
grade (See appendix six), line work where you have to perform the relevant line work for your grade,
step sparring and theory where you are required to learn all the names of your movements in
Korean. From blue stripe and above you are also required to participate in sparring. You must not
only know everything for your grade but also everything from all the previous grades as you can be
asked to perform a wide variety of skills.
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

3. In addition to national competitions, the TAGB holds regional ones in each area each year,
occasionally local competitions are held within the South West. Competitions consist of two parts:
sparring and patterns, however you do not have to compete in both.
Funding and Sponsorship
The private route for Taekwondo is the only option as no voluntary or public provision is available.
All students who wish to compete in competitions and gradings need to have an up to date TAGB
licence. Participation in competitions costs approximately £10. Licence renewal costs £34. Lesson
costs are paid to your instructor; at my local club it cost £5 for a 1-1.5 hour lesson, or £30 a month
for as many lessons as you want to attend. To participate in lessons, gradings and competitions you
are required to have a Dobok (See appendix six) which can be purchased through your instructor via
the TAGB. Each grading costs an additional amount. Once a student has reached blue stripe they are
required to purchase sparring gear for competitions, class and gradings. The money from TAGB
merchandise such as Dobok’ and sparring gear, competition and licence renewal fees goes to the
TAGB.
The TAGB has also been involved with health and fitness promotions with the British Taekwondo
Council, ASDA, Nationwide, Sainsbury's, Nestle, Thomas Cook, Rotary International. (See appendix
seven) The website http://www.buy.at/taekwondo is fundraising for local TAGB Taekwondo schools,
receiving donations for every item purchased last Christmas in 2010. (See appendix eight)
Gender and Age
Taekwondo can be done by any gender or age. However competitions are divided up into groups,
depending on grade, gender, height and weight due to the intense physical contact of the sport.
Both sexes have equal opportunity in Taekwondo.
Disabled Taekwondo
At my Taekwondo club there is no provision for the disabled, however in Bath the Keynsham
Taekwondo club offers provision for the disabled to participate. However taking part in Taekwondo
and being disabled would be a great challenge as Taekwondo requires using all body parts in a wide
range of movements whilst having control over your whole body.
Critical Analysis
In my local area of the South West of England there are 123 TAGB schools. However being the ITF
style the provision for progressing is more limited than the WTF style and even more so for disabled
Taekwondo. The TAGB is currently the largest Taekwondo governing body in the UK and the largest
member of the British Taekwondo Council (BTC), however the funding for the TAGB is limited, and
the private route for taekwondo is the only option. With a lack of Taekwondo in schools and the
voluntary sector. In my opinion more opportunities for the disabled are needed, and an increase in
funding and talent transfer schemes to give ITF students greater opportunities to progress in their
sport.
Word Count: 1,023 excluding titles, italics, appendices and references.
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

4. References
http://www.blackbeltschools.com/schools/sch_list_area.asp?search=area&area=21
http://www.tagb.biz/index.html
http://www.dotcomunity.org.uk/dcu3_resources_for_disabled.php?type=Provider&id=5344&l2=1&l
3=4&l4=26&area=32&local=Somerset
http://www.bristoltkd.com/
http://web.me.com/jonball/TKD/Home.html
Appendices
Appendix One - Oath and Tenets of taekwondo
Appendix Two - South West taekwondo schools
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

5. Appendix Three - Stephen Lambeth’s School of Taekwondo
Appendix Four - Official minimum requirements for black belts
Appendix Five - Bristol Academy Events
Appendix Six - Definitions of Dan, Patterns, Line Work, Dobok and the different types of sparring.
Appendix Seven - TAGB Health and fitness promotions
Appendix Eight - http://www.buy.at/taekwondo
Appendix One
Taekwondo Oath:
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

6. As a student of taekwondo I do solemnly pledge to abide by the rules and regulations of the
taekwondo Association, to strive to always be modest, courteous and respectful to all members in
particular my seniors, to put the art into use only for self defence of in defence of the weak and
never to abuse my knowledge of the art.
Taekwondo Tenets:
Courtesy: To be polite to one's instructors, seniors and fellow students.
Integrity: to be honest with yourself. One must be able to define the difference between right and
wrong
Perseverance: To achieve a goal, whether a higher grade or a new technique, one must not stop
trying; one must persevere.
Self Control: To lose one's temper when performing techniques against an opponent can be very
dangerous and shows a lack of control. To be able to live, work and train within one's capabilities
shows good self control.
Indomitable Spirit: To show courage when you and your principles are pitted against overwhelming
odds.
Appendix Two
South West TAGB clubs
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

7. There are 123 TAGB clubs in the south west of England, for full list see;
http://www.blackbeltschools.com/schools/sch_list_area.asp?search=area&area=21
Print screen from
Google maps of TAGB
schools in the south
west
http://www.tagb.biz/sc
hools.html
Appendix Three
Stephen Lambeth’s School of Taekwondo
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

8. http://web.me.com/jonball/TKD/Home.html
Stephen Lambeth’s Taekwondo schools has been open since 1996 and run at 4 locations in Dorset
and Hampshire; Verwood, Ringwood, Fordingbridge and Ferndown. They aim to incorporate fun into
learning taekwondo, self defence and keeping fit. In addition to running 4 locations clubs are also
run as extra curriculum activities in local schools. Ages run from 4 years old to 60+.
Appendix Four
T.A.G.B MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR BLACK BELT
GRADINGS – WITH EFFECT FROM MAY 2007
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

9. ALL GRADES
All black belts wishing to grade must train on a regular basis and must be in possession of a current
T.A.G.B. licence. He / She must have held a T.A.G.B. licence continuously over the whole training
period.
All black belts must attend at least one of the special T.A.G.B. Black Belt pre-grading training
sessions held every six months (licence books must be stamped) and all three immediately prior to the
grading for which they are applying.
All black belts who are under 16 years old do not need to attend any umpires’ or referees’ or
instructors courses. However, the minimum training times are double those printed.
1st Dan to 2nd Dan
i) Attend Umpires Course (Parts I and I) – At least 6 months between Part I and Part II.
ii) Officiate at a minimum of 2 T.A.G.B. tournaments per year. At least one of which must
be a national tournament. (Licence books must be stamped)
iii) Must attend ALL three pre-grading sessions immediately prior to the grading.
iv) Application form must be endorsed by Instructor and Area Co-ordinator.
Note: Minimum training time is 2 years
2nd Dan to 3rd Dan
i) Attend Referees Course (Parts I and II) - Must have been a qualified umpire for at least 6
months and at least 6 months between Parts I & II.
ii) Officiate at a minimum of 2 T.A.G.B. tournaments per year. At least one of which must
be a national tournament. (Licence books must be stamped)
iii) Must attend ALL three pre-grading sessions immediately prior to the grading.
Note: Minimum training time is 3 years
3rd Dan to 4th Dan
i) As per 2nd to 3rd Dan
ii) Must have attended Part 1 and Part 2 of the instructors Course.
Note: Minimum training time is 4 years
4th Dan to 5th Dan
i) As per 3rd to 4th Dan
ii) A written application must be sent to the T.A.G.B. Committee together with the
relevant Instructors’ recommendations, via the Area Co-ordinator.
iii) Must be a qualified T.A.G.B. Instructor and Referee.
Note: Minimum training time is 5 years
6th Dan and above
i) As per 4th to 5th Dan.
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

10. ii) Awarded at the discretion of the black Belt Examiners Panel.
Note: Minimum training time to 6th Dan is 6 years.
__________________________________________________________________________
TAGB COURSES
The following minimum age limits apply to TAGB courses.
Umpires and Referees: 16 years. Assistant Instructors: 16 years. Instructors: 18 years.
Appendix Five
Bristol Academy Events
http://www.bristoltkd.com/news/South%20West%202010.pdf
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

11. http://www.bristoltkd.com/
http://www.tagb.biz/events.html
Appendix Six
Definitions of Dan, Patterns, Line Work, Dobok's and the different sorts of sparring.
Dan:
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

12. Dans are the ranking of black belts. Once a student reaches black belt they are 1st Dan. Progressing
further than black belt means to take gradings to get a higher Dan grades. Every Dan has three
different patterns. 9th degree black belt is the highest the rankings go.
Patterns:
There is one pattern for every belt up until black, where there are three for each Dan grade and an
optional two for both 1st and 2nd Dan. Patterns are a set sequence of movements, designed to enable
the student to train alone. There are 24 patterns in total in ITF taekwondo and each pattern has an
historical meaning behind it.
Line Work:
Line work is combinations of movements performed in class in line. It enables students to practice
and perfect techniques from their patterns and previous patterns.
Dobok:
Dobok is the Korean name for the uniform worn by taekwondo students. The Dobok comes in many
varieties, traditional white for coloured belts, black belt Dobok’s for black belts, you can also get
Dobok’s corresponding to the country to which you are from for example, England, Scotland or
Wales.
Step sparring:
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 syllabus.
Semi Free Sparring:
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 Sparring:
Free sparring enters the grading syllabus from blue stripe, though students can enter into sparring
categories in competitions from yellow stripe.
Appendix Seven
Health and fitness promotions
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

13. http://www.tagb.biz/index.html
In the last few years the TAGB has been involved with health and fitness promotions with companies
such as Nestle, Nationwide Building Society, Sainsbury's, Asda, Cardinal Securities, Disneyland and
Rotary International.
http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=424&section=&Year=2007&NewsID=850
In 2007 the TAGB was involved in the Sainsbury's Active kids vouchers, where children could collect
the vouchers for their school, for every £10 spent in store a voucher would be awarded and
additional vouchers would be give for spending money on items marked as healthy such as fresh
fruit and vegetables. The school were then able to exchange these vouchers for coaching for
activities they probably never had the chance to do before, such as a trained taekwondo coach
coming to their school to teach them.
Appendix Eight
http://www.buy.at/taekwondo
Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050

14. Siân Roberts
Candidate Number: 8050