All classes at Realm Martial Arts offer a well-rounded experience for students. They learn fundamental techniques like stances, kicks, punches, and blocks, while also learning about Korean vocabulary, global martial arts history, character development, and self-defense concepts. The dynamic classes keep students of all ages and abilities engaged as they work on building strength, improving motor skills, and enhancing focus.
Fundamental components of Songahm Taekwondo curriculum include:
Traditional Forms
The Korean word “poom-sae” means a “form” or “pattern of movements.” It is actually a planned series of movements that combines the physical skills (such as blocks, strikes, kicks, stances and more) with the mental skills (such as balance, coordination, discipline, strategy, focus and more). The target of these movements is an imaginary opponent of the practitioner’s own size.
One-Step
One-Steps are an intermediary exercise between forms and sparring to demonstrate techniques using a partner without physical contact. Students take turns with their partners performing a short series of predefined techniques using their partner to determine appropriate target areas. One-Steps provide an opportunity to exhibit control and precision of basic techniques while developing comfortability and confidence in deploying skills while facing another person.
Traditional Sparring | Combat Sparring
The term “sparring” refers to the exercise of applying offensive and defensive movements with control and restraint of power as a form of training. Traditional Sparring refers to matches where students use only their bodies (hands and feet) to defined legal target areas on an opponent. Combat Sparring features the use of a single-handed weapon and extended target areas. Both Traditional and Combat Sparring offer students the opportunity to understand the practical application of attack and defense skills, improve their hand-eye coordination and reflexes, and experience the feeling of physical impact in a safe environment to build confidence and resilience.
Tournament Sparring is a “point-sparring” adaptation of both Traditional and Combat sparring. Participants face-off in bracketed matches with the goal of earning the winning number of points (5 for Traditional, 10 for Combat) through attacks ranging from 1 to 3 points each, as determined by three judges. Points are awarded based on a 2/3rds rule, meaning two of the three judges must agree or have no contest with a point determination.
Traditional Weapons
In Taekwondo, weapons training involves the study and practice of a number of weapons introduced at various belt ranks. Weapons training is important for developing hand-eye coordination, balance, and timing skills that translate into overall martial arts performance. Students learn specific forms that challenge the student to master the flow and control necessary for effective weapon use, both in practice and real-life situations. Weapons training is a great opportunity to honor martial arts tradition while developing dexterity and awareness of how tools may be used for personal safety or when defending against armed attackers.
Board Breaks
Breaking boards is a traditional demonstration of power and precision in techniques. Students will be asked to perform different requirements as they progress through their journey at each rank. Rebreakable boards of varying difficulty allow students of different age groups to test their skills with both hand and foot techniques.
Self-Defense Scenarios
As a core principle of martial arts, self-defense training emphasizes practical techniques and mental preparedness, aiming to instill both physical and psychological readiness. While there are elements of self-defense training across all areas of curriculum, key components of this focus area include situational awareness, de-escalation tactics, scenario-based simulations, physical conditioning, and legal awareness of implications which collectively prepare a student to respond appropriately and effectively to threats they may encounter. In the early stages of their martial arts journey, students will be provided with guided scenarios and response strategies. As students achieve higher ranks, they will be encouraged to explore new scenarios and craft their own responses accordingly.
Life Skills
DISCIPLINE is to obey what is right. It means to practice good habits. And what are good habits? Simply put, they are behaviors that make us better human beings. Discipline begins with obedience. When we are children we must obey our parents, teachers and mentors, since they are the ones who are responsible to show us the right path.
BELIEF is having the “YES I CAN” attitude always and no matter what. It is the ability to see the invisible and look beyond the obvious. Belief is our inner power used with our core values towards the fulfillment of our goals. Absolutely everything we do in our lives, in fact, is based on our beliefs. Every action we take, every decision we make, and every single thing we do stems from what we believe. If we believe this, we do that; if we believe something else, we do something different.
COMMUNICATION is how we relate to ourselves and everything around us. It is so important that the success of a society depends on how well it communicates. The word communication comes from the word “common”, which means “equal”. This means that in order to communicate with each other, we must find common ground. To ensure this, our communication must be seen, heard and felt.
RESPECT ourselves means doing things that are good for us. For example, like taking care of our bodies both mentally and physically, educating ourselves and finding mentors to help us improve our lives. Self-respect also means thinking positively, making the right choices, and caring for our possessions and our personal appearance. When we show self-respect, others learn that they must also treat us with respect.
SELF-ESTEEM is the joy of being who we are. It describes how we see and value ourselves. When we feel good about ourselves – independent of the circumstances that surround us – we show self-esteem. We can build our self-esteem by making a choice to see everything in our lives positively. This way, in time, we develop a positive attitude towards life.
HONESTY is the first step to a rewarding life. To be honest is to obey our conscience. It means to have the courage to confront the consequences of our actions no matter what price we may have to pay. It is to take responsibility for our actions and to be accountable.
