As students progress in rank, they may begin to think they might want to become an instructor someday. If this occurs with you, then talk with other instructors about their experiences as instructors. If you still think you want to be an instructor, request to talk with Mr. Deese about your possibilities, Sometimes, Mr. Deese may think a student shows instructor potential, and may ask the student if he or she is interested in becoming an instructor.

There are two types of instructors: Junior (7-17 years of age) and Adult (age 18 and over). Juniors enter the instructor training program as Trainee instructors and work toward becoming Junior Certified instructors. Adults enter the instructor training program as Certified instructors and work toward becoming Senior Certified instructors. When Junior Certified instructors reach the age of eighteen, they may test to become Senior Certified instructors.

To become a Trainee or Certified instructor, a student must be a First Degree Decided Black Belt. However, if a red or black belt student demonstrates an interest in becoming an instructor, Mr. Deese may allow him or her to assist in teaching classes to evaluate his or her potential and give the student an opportunity to find out if instructing is what he or she really wants to do.

Instructor Program

See Instructor Program for details on how to become a Taekwondo America instructor.

Instructor testing may be done at a regional level testing. If you desire to take your test at a national level event, download the National Testing Application (Word document), complete the application, and submit it to Mr. Deese no later than one week prior to the testing.

When really to attend an Instructor Seminar, download the Instructor Seminar Application (Word document), complete the application, and submit it to Mr. Deese no later than one week prior to the seminar.

Techniques Reference Chart

For a chart of techniques that are required at each belt rank, download the Techniques Reference Chart (Word Document). The chart lists all techniques required at each belt level and it:

• Indicates which techniques are new techniques to be learned for use in a pattern or one-step for a belt level.

• Indicates which techniques are previously learned techniques that are used in a pattern or one-step for a belt level.

Instructors may use the chart to see which new techniques each belt level must learn, which techniques must be reviewed for each belt level, and which techniques are shared by belt levels. Using the chart, an instructor may quickly determine which techniques would be best to teach to a particular group of students. For example, if a class has yellow, red, brown, and black belts, the chart indicates that yellow belts need to learn the round kick, and that brown, red, 1st senior black, and 2nd senior black belts need to review the kick since it is used in their patterns.

Training Drills

For list of training drills that may be used to teach Taekwondo skills in a fun way, see Training Drills.