Eli, my son, just barely turned 3.  Before he could even walk, I remember teaching him how to balance on against a chair executing a front and side kick into my palm.  He watches me teach and often practices his hyung when I’m supposedly not looking.  Soo Bahk Do being a passion of mine, it shouldn’t surprise you to see me beaming with joy with his interest in Soo Bahk.

Tonight was the highlight so far.  He grabbed my hand and brought me into my office, shut the door and asked me to turn off the lights.  It’s now dim in the room and not overly dark.  He then says, Daddy Soo Bahk!  He starts kicking and punching.  I get down on my knees and teach him how to do a low block and a punch.  He crosses his hands really well and usually brings his hand across in a low block fashion.  His punches were good too–relatively straight and was even making a proper fist.

Half way through the 10 minute lesson, he asked for a uniform, which of course I already had saved waiting for the moment he would finally want one.  I put it on him and it fit just right.  He then wanted me to put mine on, which I did.  We continued the lesson after a short photoshoot.

He was really interested in not just playing around, but wanted to learn really badly.  I hope to be able to do small 10 minute sessions with him now that he is 3 that way he’ll be prepared to enter the Tiger Tots class when he turns 4.

Recently, the US Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation issued a new Gup/Dan manual for all of our members.  All current and active members of the federation are eligible to receive a free manual.  You will find that the testing requirements for Cho Dan (1st degree black belt equivalent) has changed.  The curriculum has been stream-lined in order to give ample time and attention to practical self-defense.  In the past, many have commented that the majority of class time is devoted towards memorizing standardized curriculum, leaving less time to improving proper execution of technique, awareness of weapon, and awareness and accuracy of target.

The curriculum below is based on the new minimum standard of curriculum you are required to know in order to test.  Wasatch Martial Arts Academy may require additional points of emphasis to fulfill local requirements.  Also note, that while the amount of memorized curriculum has been decreased, the expectation of performance has increased to a new level.

The minimal time requirement is also slightly different.  It is possible to achieve the rank of Cho Dan within 3 years.  The majority of students will still need to wait 4 or more years before testing for Cho Dan, but exceptionally pro-active students may be able to test for Cho Dan in as little as 3 years.

I hope you will share your comments on the changes below and our local curriculum may adjust slightly in order to better serve its local members.  Later, I will update the Children’s and Adult’s Requirements on the WasatchMartialArts.com website.