Tae Kwon Do History

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About Alpha & Omega

The Alpha & Omega TKD Academy was founded in 1999 as a ministry of Church of the Redeemer in Gaithersburg, Maryland by Master Tomme Chang, 5th dan.

Still holding true to the Christian ministry beliefs, the class grew larger and was moved to a new location at Gaithersburg Middle School, Gaithersburg, MD.

Master Chang's class builds self-confidence, improves discipline, helps to maintain physical fitness, and develops a strong sense of community.

The classes are a FREE service to the public so please come join us for class any time you wish.

Location: Gaithersburg Middle School Wrestling room, Gaithersburg, MD. Time: Every Monday, 7 p.m.

Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do means the "Way of Hand and Foot Fighting," but it is not just an activity of kicking and punching. Tae Kwon Do is a 2000 year old martial art that originated in Korea as a form of unarmed self defense. It's primary emphasis is still self defense, but in the past two decades Tae Kwon Do has rapidly developed into a modern, international sport.

Unlike most other sporting activities, TKD promotes the improved formation of one's character. The TKD master teaches the importance of both mental and physical conditioning by building up the student's self conficence, self respect, and self discipline. A tangible way that progress is measured is through the belt system, whereas the student receives a new color belt each time he/she satisfies the requirements necessary for attaining the next level in the martial arts ladder.

Through diligent practice, students will learn the important aspect of respect. That learned trait will carry over into a student's daily life and positively impact his relationships. In just a short period of time, Tae Kwon Do will contribute to a healthy and productive lifestyle that will help the student realize all of his/her potentials in life.

Q. I am not flexible at all! Can I still learn Tae Kwon Do?

A. Yes you can. Flexibility is very practical for high kicks but it is not an absolute must. Speed has a big influence as well. You will see that using proper technique and speed, you will reach pretty high, even if you are not the most flexible in your class!

Q. Why do martial artists bow?

A. Bowing demonstrates sincerity and respect along with the deep appreciation of oneself and others. It also teaches us to be humble while training to become strong and confident. Bowing is an Eastern form of greeting. It is the equivalent to the Western handshake.

Q. Why do martial artists yell?

A. Yelling develops physical and mental strength while gathering energy and it breaks an opponents concentration.

Q. Am I too old to start Tae Kwon Do?

A. You are never too old to start TKD, as long as you are physically able to train. Of course, the older you get, the more difficult it will be to win in competition for instance, but Tae Kwon Do is much broader than sparring, something which people often tend to forget. The most important aspect of a training is that you feel good about the training and that you make progress on both physical and mental levels. At Alpha & Omega our students range from Junior High age to 41 years old!

Q. I am not very fit... Will that be a problem?

A. No, start training right away! Tae Kwon Do will help you to become fit in a (relatively) short amount of time.

Q. How long does it take to become a black belt?

A. That totally depends on where you train and how much you train. But it typically takes between 2-5 years to achieve the black belt level.

Q. I want to start with Tae Kwon Do. What kind of a club should I be looking for?

A. The first thing you should do is visit a club. Talk with the instructor and observe how he/she is teaching. It is very important that you feel comfortable with your instructor and the way classes are being taught. You must be able to develop trust in your instructor. The style is not really important, both ITF and WTF are, like any martial art equally good, they are just a bit different. Check if the trainings are physically internsive and not too chaotic.

Q. Will there be other beginners in my class?

A. Starting your training at Alpha & Omega TKD Academy is very easy! You will join in the class with all ranks of belts however, you will be taken aside and taught the basics previous to joining the class. You will have personalized instruction at your own pace.