Korean Language

[TigerAn1]

How many here are expected to learn Korean terminolgy as a part of their training? We have to learn several ( 7-8) new terms at each belt level. We are also tested on knowing the terminolgy. Is that pretty consistent with others here?

[Kosh]

I learn under a Korea Master and we learn none, or at least none that is graded. We pick some up by Master Kim just saying them but thats about it.

[Darkflames21]

We use at our class all the time. He is from Korea. We are not expected to learn it but he uses it in our train so mouch, we learned some Korean.

[KiWarrior]

Not at all.

American instructor who learned from an american.

[Capt Ann]

We learn Korean terms, names of techniques in Korean, and some martial arts theory, and we're graded on it as part of our test for rank advancement.

[Disciple]

We learn alot of Korean terminology and you just get used to it over time, I think anyway. you could spout a technique at me in korean and I could do it before I culd tell you what it is. lol

[Hadouken]

We have to learn some korean (ie how to count to 20) and some other terminology.

[KiWarrior]

For those in countries with a language other than korean, what are the reasons *you* feel are valid for learning any korean?

Just curious, thanks.

[Guy Mendiola]

In my dojang we use the Korean Terminology like when you have to count in Korean and when you get bowed in the beginning and the end of the class but we don't need to say everything in Korean and I don't think any TKD dojangs speak full on Korean language.

[KiWarrior]

What are the reasons *you* (not the answers you instructors gave you rehashed) find counting in Korean or knowing the korean names for techniques to be useful.

That was never a part of my Hapkido school and so am curious as to what the opposing viewpoints may be.

[Thomas]

Here's something I posted on the TKD forum to answer the same questions:

"Does TKD need Korean? No... but it can be a good thing.

Good things about teaching/learning Korean in class:
(1) Allows you to understand what is being discussed in reference books... and if you read Korean, you can double check what is written (often, the Korean books have English translations that are not very clear).

(2) If you go to Korea to study, or go to seminars with Korean masters, you will understand them when they speak... thereby making the learning experience better.

(3) It maintains a bit of tradition, linking the style to the culture and ideas of Korea, not just a generic "fighting art".


The down side:
(1) Many people don't pronounce them correctly. Unless you've studied Korean and can read Korean, the various ways of Romanization can be very confusing (there are 4 official Romanization systems in Korea). Many people don't have motivation/time/access to learn Korean just to be able to use a few classroom phrases.

(2) In Korean, there are many ways of describing various techniques... if you look through several Korean TKD texts (I have 4 in front of me now)... you'll see several different ways of describing the same techniques. (Much of it depends if the author uses the more formal Sino-Korean names or the native Korean ones).

(3) Spending a lot of time on language can take away from training time in the martial art.

At our school we use a few phrases (including counting numbers) and I teach a it of the pronunciation. We don't use a lot, just enough to get by with classroom start/finish and some terms for techniques. It adds an element of tradition but doesn't distract from our class topics."

Basically, we teach a bit in honor of our past tradition but its taught without taking time away from other training. The little bit of Korea I learned in class really didn't help me that much when I got to Korean, but it was a start and it did help me integrate into Korean schools a bit quicker.

[KiWarrior]

Seems reasonable.

A friend of mine who used to take tkd apparently had to know all techniques strictly by korean names, classes also started with saying the korean pledge of allegiance (or some equivalent).

I was always quite glad my school didn't take up similar trappings.

[Yang, Dae-han]

Originally posted by Guy Mendiola
I don't think any TKD dojangs speak full on Korean language.

Mine, now you have.

Cheers,

DH

[TigerAnsTKDLove]

hana,dool,set,net,du sut, yo sut, iigoupe, yo derl, ah hope, yoll!

hi dad!

[WorldChampTKD]

everything we do is in korean, i mean, there is english speaking in the class, but all commands, counting, etc. is korean.

[TigerAn1]

What are the reasons *you* (not the answers you instructors gave you rehashed) find counting in Korean or knowing the korean names for techniques to be useful.

That was never a part of my Hapkido school and so am curious as to what the opposing viewpoints may be.

That's a good question. I think it has something to do with the overall "well rounded" approach to the learning experience. Our Master is real big on formalities- bowing, handshakes, cleanliness, being prompt for class, etc. AMOF, the first week after belt testing is somewhat devoted to rehearsing all the basics.

[whip]

At my school, all the techniques are in Korean from the very beginning. The instructors expect you to find out what they are and know them. In grading they will ask a technique and you must know it. Some times I get tired of having to do all the outside research, but if it were easy everyone would do Hapkido.

[iain radford]

:) yes we do learn the terminology and the new students are given sheets to learn from! :D

[Kosh]

That's a good question. I think it has something to do with the overall "well rounded" approach to the learning experience. Our Master is real big on formalities- bowing, handshakes, cleanliness, being prompt for class, etc. AMOF, the first week after belt testing is somewhat devoted to rehearsing all the basics.

I think the term learning experience (as apposed to just learning) is very important.

You learn a lot more from speaking, touching, listening, smelling etc all at once than just from 'learning'.

You know what i mean?
...besides theres nothing wrong with learning a little of a different language.

[Pepsi32123]

Our school is tought by an American, but the only Korean we use is bowing, forms, and that's about it. We aren't graded on it, but during testing we'll be asked what a form name means. Do San is a form, but it came from a guy in Korea that was involved in war. I'm going to hvae to read it. If we don't know when we're asked during testing, then the student, instructor, and school looks bad. How we count is by grunts, i.e. "hiah", "kiap", "saup". So on. When we do that, we don't have a counting system, we just go to the end of the floor or until our instructor moves on to something else.