Why Become a Student at Elite Eagle Tae Kwon Do?
Practicing martial arts at Elite Eagle Tae Kwon Do in Spring, TX is about physical fitness, character development (self-esteem, self-confidence, focus, concentration, self-discipline) and self-defense.
We use the holistic approach in our curriculum. We care about the technical skill and physical ability, but we also care about your personal development and how we interact with society. At times, it may be necessary to demonstrate strength through self-defense. It may also be necessary to show compassion and kindness to someone seemingly undeserving.
When you join us, you join a family. As such, everyone has roles and responsibilities to each other, to the instructors, and to strangers as we carry the name of our dojo wherever we go.
We invite you to take part in a trial class or sit and observe a class. We have also written a guide to help you determine whether our school, or perhaps a different discipline or location, is the best fit for you. Wherever you go, thank you for considering us.
OUR GUIDE ON
If you are reading this, you likely have in mind what type of martial art you would like to attend. There are many to choose from: taekwondo, karate, kung fu, jujitsu, judo, aikido, tai chi chuan, and kendo, to name a few.
But the market is saturated with many schools for each disciple, so how do you choose?
General Recommendations for a Martial Arts School
1. Curriculum
• Is there a structured curriculum?
• What are the opportunities for leadership? For competition?
2. Reputation
• What is the school’s reputation in your community?
• What do reviews say based on third company sites? Can you find the school rating based on Google, Yelp, Facebook, Bing, etcetera?
3. Observations
• Does the school allow you to sit and observe a class? Do they offer a free class so you or your child can determine if you enjoy the style of martial arts being taught?
• While watching a class, observe the interaction between students and instructors very carefully. The atmosphere should be formal and professional, but the students should be having fun as well. Evaluate if the students seem happy and motivated.
• A good instructor can instruct 50 students with control and ease, but for an inexperienced instructor, five students might be too many; language barriers should readily be overcome through respect and careful guidance on skill development by instructors.
4. Martial Arts Instructors
• What kind of training do the instructors have? How long have they been an instructor? Are their bios readily available?
• The martial arts instructors at the school you select must be positive role models for the students and should be able to establish an immediate rapport with your child.
5. Martial Arts Facility and Safety Issues
The school should be welcoming and comfortable for both students and parents.
• Is the facility clean?
• Is there a large matted area where students can train?
• Is there a viewing area for parents?
The above will help you narrow to a select handful of schools, but the below will guide you in choosing the best match for you.
1) Values
What is your priority? Is it to fight? Is it personal development? Is it fitness?
At Elite Eagle Taekwondo, we prioritize the personal development of each member. Taekwondo to us is about honing one’s skills for the good of self and others. We value courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. These are the core of our values. We also develop self-esteem, self-confidence, focus, concentration, and self-discipline.
We will teach you how to fight, but we do so to enable you to defend yourself and protect your loved ones. We do not do so to encourage violence and inflicting harm for an adrenaline rush.
2) Methods
Many schools only require a given number of hours for a black belt to become an instructor. While these instructors know how to do the moves, self-ability is very different than teaching someone else how to do them.
Does your instructor pay attention to each placement of every part of the body? Do you notice the difference between a punch from the chest versus a punch from the hip? When do you choose to use each one?
Is your instructor teaching you how to pass the belt tests or building your foundation for sustainable skill? It may look good to have a significant number of black belts on one’s roster, but quantity can never outrank quality.
Elite Eagle Taekwondo does encourage and develop progression between belt levels, but it is done based on one’s skill and not length of membership.
We hope this guide has been helpful to you. While we earnestly await you to join our Dojang, we understand that we may not be the best fit for everyone.
Should you have any questions, we invite you to come meet and speak with us about your concerns, aspirations, and to build rapport.