Dear All, I am going to list some fairly common titles appointed in the Taekwondo / Korean Martial Arts community and would like to hear more about which ones you use, and how they are used! Below is a list of fairly commonly used titles, and I would love for you to add and expand upon this thread as much as is applicable to your dojang, and / or according to your own experience in Taekwondo / KMA. Kyo Sa Sabum Chong Sa Kwan Jang Chong Kwan Jang These are the most common non organization specific terms, and have a variety of utilization. These terms are used in our dojang and although there are some minimum rank requirements associated to them they are not appointed merely based on rank. Kyo Sa - Assistant Instructor (Minimum of 1st Degree) may lead classes or programs, but are under the close eye of more senior instructors. Sabum - Senior Instructor (Minimum of 4th Degree) May appoint certification, and issue the appointment of Kyo Sa when applicable. The appointment of Sabum is issued by the Organization at the request of the Chong-Sa or Kwan Jang, or may require special testing as scheduled by the organization. Chong Sa - Chief Instuctor (Minimum of 4th Degree) This appointment is issued to a specific Sabum when there are other sabum for which he is responsible. Appointment is issued internally by the kwan jang. Kwan-Jang - Head Master (Generally 6th Degree or Higher) Founder or Head of a School or domestic organization. Serves as a domestic representative of the organization. Chong Kwan Jang - Senior Head Master (Generally 9th Degree) Head or President of the Organization, overseeing the issuance of all international black belt certificates, and appointments of office to include Sabum and Kwan Jang of all member nations. Much like a military hierarchy for dispatching troops and maintaining a chain of command. So working backwards through our martial lineage, the Chong Kwan Jang will dispatch Kwan Jang to member nations who will then train Sabum to further spread the art. When necessary the Kwan Jang will appoint a Chong Sa to oversee the Sabum in a specific area or region. Those Sabum are responsible for training students, and appointing Kyo Sa to assist and become Instructor's Assistants (Instructor Trainees). Please help by sharing and explaining how titles are used in your ranks and what purpose or function they serve! TAE-KWON! Spooks
Generally, we don't use a lot of titles. We call each other by first name or Mr./Mrs./Miss + surname (if we want to be more formal). In class we refer to "Master Instructors" as Master + surname. We rarely use the Korean titles except when we bow in and bow out. (1) Assistant Instructor - helps with running class. May be asked to run warmups, help with patterns, teach small group topics for short time durations, and sit on a testing panel (and/or help with testing). Occasionally may be asked to run a class (under supervision). Usually 1st-2nd dan rank holders. (2) Instructor (if we use Korean, we use the term "Sa Beom") - can run an entire class on their own. Responsible for supervising assistant instructors and for following the overall guide for student training and testing as provided by the Master Instructor of the school. May be asked to rate/assess people being tested. May be expected to devise new drills and teaching strategies. Usually 3rd - 4th dan rank holders (may have own school). (3) Master Instructor (if we use Korean, we use the term "Kwan Jang") - responsible for supervising instructors and assistant instructors and for providing a overall guide for student training and testing. Responsible for teaching students AND providing training for instructors. May award rank to students assessed as deserving (including placement of students with various backgrounds and etc) (4) Grandmaster - responsible for supervising instructors and assistant instructors and for providing a overall guide for student training and testing across the system. Responsible for teaching students AND providing training for instructors. May award rank to students assessed as deserving (including placement of students with various backgrounds and etc). May be developing and revising system-wide curricula and developing books/videos/seminars for members.
1st - 3rd Dans = BoSaBumNim (assistant instructor) appointed by a certified international instructor or upon successfully completing a national/domestic instructors course 4th - 6th Dans = SaBumNim (Instructors) International Instructors, the most prestigious title in original or ITF TKD, but only after successfully completing an official International Instructors Course & applying for a separate serial numbered International Instructors Certificate 7th & 8th Dans = SaHyunNim (wise & benevolent teacher) 9th Dan = SaSungNim (4 star is the lateral translation)
