Beginner Classes on Now!

Threshold Taekwon-Do School in the centre of Dunedin city, is now welcoming new students. We invite you to come and try out Taekwon-Do in a safe and friendly environment. You are invited to come along and try Taekwon-Do. Contact us online, or give us a call on 4792462 for a chat. We look forward to hearing from you.

What classes should I try?

Students are seperated into two different streams at Threshold Taekwon-Do. These include:

Classes for people who are 13 yrs & older
Kids Classes for 5 yrs to 12 years old

Use the class time list on the right of the home page to identify a class you would like to attend for the first time.

Joining Threshold Taekwon-Do

Joining Threshold Taekwon-Do School will be one of the greatest decisions you will ever make. You will not only be improving your body, gaining fantistic life skills and confidence, you also will make friends for life.

Ask the instructor for a joining form, fill it in and give it back to the instructor along with the joining fee. When you join Threshold Taekwon-Do you receive a colored belt training syllabus handbook to help you learn Taekwon-Do. Members also receive a Taekwon-Do Talk magazine three times a year.

Your application will be sent to ITFNZ to be registered as a member with the national Taekwon-Do organisation.

After a short period of time your instructor will receive your membership card, acknowledging your registration. Congratulations, you are now a member of Threshold Taekwon-Do and ITFNZ.

When students of Threshold Taekwon-Do are accepted as an official member they qualify to wear the Threshold Taekwon-do logo on their right Do Bok sleeve.

Your First Training Session

In the first training session you are exposed to a variety of new and exciting things, firstly everyone is wearing a white Do Bok, the training uniform of ITFNZ and a belt which identifies their rank.

To start class the instructor yells "form up" this is the signal for everyone to line up in lines for the procedure of starting class.

You will form up with the rest of the new students. It is most likely that someone will show you what will happen and help you find where you need to be standing, before the start of class.

It is expected that before class, students will first bow to the instructor and then other students working down from senior to junior. It is also courtesy to bow when entering and leaving the training area. A non shoe wearing area is sectioned in the training hall. You may wear shoes within the entry area and along the walkway identified by grey tape. This tape runs from the entry and seated area through to the changing areas.

Gradings

Gradings are a test for students who are ready to increase in rank up the Taekwon-Do belt system. Our ranking system is recognised throughout the world. Students begin with a white belt and progress after their first grading to a yellow tip, the next grading a yellow belt, then green tip and so on. The belt colors are: White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Red, Black. A committed student could progress to their black belt after three years.

Gradings occur three times a year; they help you to set new goals as your skills improve. Certificates are issued to everyone who passes. A separate fee is charged by ITFNZ for the grading. Clubs in all regions, regardless of their location, are graded by an independent qualified ITFNZ appointed examiner of at least 4th Degree in rank.

Uniforms

If you are accepted as a member you will be required to purchase a training uniform. Threshold Taekwon-Do wears the official uniform of ITFNZ:

1. The Dobok Top is to be of the front Zip Up or Velcro style.
2. The ITF badge is to be correctly mounted on the front left breast. The Foundation badge is to be mounted on the front right breast. A small club badge may be attached to the right sleeve for individual club identity. (This should be smaller than the ITFNZ badge)
3. The ITF Tree is to be worn on the rear of the Dobok top. The trouser leg should have the words ITF down the outside placed at about knee height.
4. Black belt holders shall wear an official ITFNZ black belt and have 3cm wide black trimming around the bottom of the jacket; 4th Dan and above are distinguished by 3cm black stripes down the outside of the jacket sleeves and trousers.

You can purchase a uniform from online from one of ITFNZ's endorsed providers. Alternatively, Fight Times, on lower Stuart St, sell unfirms locally in Dunedin. However, you will need to purchase a seperate ITFNZ badge from your instructor for these uniforms.

About Taekwon-Do

Taekwon-Do originated in Korea and has grown to be one of the most popular martial arts in the world. As a martial art scientifically designed for self defense, it empowers the individual, accelerating confidence through physical and mental development. Learn more about the history of Taekwon-Do.

Threshold Taekwon-Do practices the original ITF style of Taekwon-Do and is affiliated to the International Taekwon-Do Foundation of New Zealand (ITFNZ).

Standards and Rules

Taekwon-Do is a disciplined martial art. This means that students are expected to act in accordance with the rules and commands issued by the instructor. This can take a bit of getting used to at first but after a while it’s pretty easy. Be prepared to line up in rank at the start of class and return to these positions after different exercises during class.

In addition to this, students are required to act with courtesy, respecting differences in age and rank. It is courteous to greet the instructor and other students when first arriving at the training hall (Do Jang) for example. As a member of ITFNZ, Threshold Instructors adhere to very high levels of standards, rules and regulations.

Improvement

One of the great things about learning Taekwon-Do is that each level gets gradually more challenging than the last. This means that you advance as you gradually improve, at a pace which suits you.

Threshold Taekwon-Do will challenge you. Don’t be too hard on yourself if your arms and legs won’t do exactly what you ask them to when you first start. I guarantee you that you will get better.

Instructors love students who ask questions. As a beginning student of Taekwon-Do, you probably have a thousand questions. Don’t be afraid to approach the instructor or one of the seniors with your questions; they are always willing to help.

Some people also have feelings of vulnerability after attending their first few Taekwon-Do classes because they begin to identify weaknesses in their ability to defend themselves. These feelings will pass as you gain in confidence.