Kuala Selangor, Malaysia Taekwondo Championship - July 24, 2010

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All photographs were taken by Mr Ang Chin Beng. Thank you very much for a job well done.

Promotional Testing - May 22, 2010

Fourth Promotional Test of 2010

By Sir Nathaniel Rhine

On Friday, July 23, 2010, the Fourth Promotional Test of the year will be held at The World Taekwondo Instructors’ Academy dojang at 4:00pm. To all the students who will participate in the grading, I would like to wish you all the very best.

Keep in mind that it is not the end of the world, so don’t get too worked up over it. The most important thing is to apply all that you have learned from Master Lee and the seniors and to do your very best.

For those students who are not participating in the grading, why not come out and give your support to your friends. They will appreciate it. Keep it movin’.

Unorthodox Discipline Training

By Sir Nathaniel Rhine

Have you ever had a student or saw a student develop a bad habit simply because he refused to listen to the instructions given by an Instructor? For months even years, the bad habit has become part and parcel of the student’s behaviour or actions. What I am about to share with you may not be the greatest way to teach a student discipline, or to help break a bad habit, but it has worked for me.

This particular student had the bad habit of always scratching and itching. Not only did he scratch and itch, but he would do it continuously even while executing kicks, blocks, any and everything. At one time I would instruct him to give me 10 push ups when I saw him itching. One would think that would deter one from doing something displeasing to the Instructor, but it didn’t help at all.

Therefore, I thought about it for a while and I came up with this solution. In order for one to itch and/or to scratch, one must use their hands. So that is the solution. I decided to use an old Taekwondo belt, his old belt and I used it to tie his hands behind his back as he trained. That’s right, I tied his hands. So the only thing he could itch and/scratch would be his butt. So throughout the class he would perform all the techniques that were being taught. The only difference between he and his training mates is that he could not use his hands. But that was alright, for he was still able to perform all the exercise minus using his hands.

After about a month of having his hands tied behind his back he not only broke the bad habit of scratching and itching, but he learned to “master” his balance and movements without the use of his arms. So in the end I was able to achieve what I wanted and secondly my student improved in another area in which he also needed improvement.

Yes, it may be an unorthodox method, but sometimes such measures must be taken in order to get the results one wants. Try it you may agree with me in the end.

World Taekwondo Federation: Taeguk/Poomsae

By Sir Nathaniel Rhine

Taeguk (White Belt to Red Belt)

01. Taeguk Il Chang

02. Taeguk Ee Chang

03. Taeguk Sam

04. Taeguk Sa Chang

05. Taeguk Oh Chang

06. Taeguk Yuk Chang

07. Taeguk Chil Chang

08. Taeguk Pal Chang

Poomsae (Black Belts)

First Dan        Koryo

Second Dan    Keum Gang

Third Dan       Tae Beck

Fourth Dan     Pyong Won

Fifth Dan       Sip Jin

Six Dan         Ji Tae

Seventh Dan  Chon Kwon

Eighth Dan     Han Su

Nine Dan       Il Yo

Things to Consider When Performing Poomsae (Patterns)

By Sir Nathaniel Rhine

Poomsae should begin and end on the same spot. This will indicate the performer’s accuracy.


Correct posture and facing must be maintained at all times.


Muscles of the entire body should be tensed or relaxed at the proper critical moments in the poomsae.


The poomsae should be performed in a rhythmic movement with the absence of stiffness.


Each movement of the poomsae should be executed accordingly. Some sequences are to be accelerated or decelerated accordingly.


Each poomsae should be perfected before moving on to the next.


Students should know the purpose of each and every movement performed within the poomsae.


Students should perform the poomsae with realism.

Poomsae (Pattern)

By Sir Nathaniel Rhine

Poomsae (patterns) are various fundamental movements, most of which represent either attack or defence techniques, set to a fixed logical sequence. In poomsae, the student systematically deals with several imaginary opponents under various assumptions using every available attacking and blocking tools from different directions.

Thus poomsae practice enables the student to go through many fundamental movements in series to develop sparring techniques, improve flexibility of movements, master body shifting, master balance, build muscle, develop breath control, develop smooth fluid motions, and gain rhythmical movements. It also enables a student to acquire certain special techniques, which can not be obtained from either fundamental exercises or sparring.

Moreover, poomsae can be compared with a unit tactic or a word if fundamental movements are an individual soldier’s training or alphabet. Accordingly, poomsae, the ledger of every movement, is a series of sparring, power test, feats and characteristic beauty. Though sparring may merely indicate that an opponent is more or less advanced, poomsae is a more critical barometer in evaluating an individual’s technique.

Like any art, it must be practiced constantly in order to perfect it. It requires patience, hard work and dedication; however, the fruits are great. Unlike sparring, poomsae can be practiced alone at any time and anywhere. Once one is able to see it performed by a student who is great at performing poomsae, immediately, one will appreciate the art.

Ten Points to Becoming a Good Student of Taekwondo

By Sir Nathaniel Rhine

Below are just ten points that I would like to share with you about becoming a good student of Taekwondo. It is not limited to these ten. There are much more, however, I think ten is a good start. As time goes on, I will add to the list.

1. Never tire of learning. A good student can learn anywhere and at anytime. This is the key to acquiring knowledge.

2. A good student must be willing to sacrifice for his art and his Instructor. Many students as well as parents, feel that their training is a commodity bought with monthly fees, and are unwilling to take part in any demonstration, teaching, or work around the dojang. As an Instructor I can afford to lose this type of student.

3. Always set a good example to lower ranking students. It is only natural that they will attempt to emulate their seniors.

4. Always be loyal and never criticise the Master/Instructor, Taekwondo, or the teaching methods used.

5. If a Master/Instructor teaches a technique, practice it and attempt to utilize it.

6. Remember that a students’ conduct outside the dojang reflects on art of Taekwondo and the Master/Instructor.

7. If a student adopts a technique from another dojang and the Master/Instructor disapproves of it, the student must discard it immediately, or train at the dojang where it was learned.

8. Never be disrespectful to the Master/Instructor. Although a student is allowed to disagree with the Master/Instructor, he must first follow the instructions, and then if necessary discuss the matter later in private with the Master/Instructor.

9. A student must always be eager to learn and ask questions.

10. Never break a trust.

Etiquette of the Dojang (Training Center)

By Sir Nathaniel Rhine

Every student of Taekwondo, especially those who train at my center, Makevelli Taekwondo, must observe the following etiquette of the dojang, training center. This is to ensure order in the dojang:

1. All students must bow upon entering and leaving the dojang.

2. All students must bow to the Master/Instructor at a proper distance. Proper distance meaning within a few feet of the Master/Instructor.

3. Exchange greetings amongst students.

4. Before the class officially begins, all students as a group/class must bow to the Master/Instructor.

5. Recite the Oath of Taekwondo prior to training.

6. Always address the Master, Instructors and Black Belt holders as Master, Sir, Miss, respectively.

7. Recite the Oath of Taekwondo at the end of each training session.

In future articles, I will go into more details about each of the above etiquette. As for now, I am confident that this information will suffice. Thank you for your time.

Oath of Taekwondo

By Sir Nathaniel Rhine

At the beginning and the end of my classes that I conduct at Makevelli Taekwondo, my students will recite the oath of Taekwondo. An oath is a solemn promise that one makes. In the case of my students, they are promising themselves the following:

I shall observe the tenants of Taekwondo.

I shall respect the Instructor and seniors.

I shall NEVER misuse Taekwondo.

I shall be a champion of freedom and justice and,

I shall build a more peaceful world.

This Thing Called Taekwondo. What is it?

By Sir Nathaniel Rhine

Today many people are talking about this thing called Taekwondo. In actual fact what is it? Simply put, it is a version of an ancient form of unarmed combat practiced for many centuries in the Orient. Taekwondo has matured in its present form in Korea.

Translated from the Korean language, “tae” literally means to jump, kick or smash with the foot. “Kwon” means using the hand and/or fist to punch or destroy. “Do” means the art, way or method. In simple English, Taekwondo is the martial art of using both the feet and hands. It is the technique of unarmed combat for self defence, involving the skilled application of punches, kicks, blocks, dodges and interception with the hand, arms and feet to the rapid destruction of the opponent.

The practitioner of Taekwondo, it is more than a mere use of skilled movements. Rather it implies a way of thinking and life, particularly in instilling a concept and spirit of strict self-imposed discipline and an ideal of noble moral rearmament.

In today’s world where crime, violence and intimidation are on the increase, Taekwondo enables anyone to posses a fine and powerful weapon to defend oneself and defeat the opponent as well. It is a means of building one’s level of self confidence. There are so many benefits of practicing Taekwondo. Perhaps in future articles I will share with you some of those benefits. Thank you for your time.

First Students of Makevelli Taekwondo - 2008