Pruter's Martial Arts - About Ko's Black Belt

Sport TKD

High Level Sport Competition

Regular tournaments locally and across the nation give every age group the opportunity to compete for medals and trophies in many different categories. For those desiring the ultimate competition at the Olympics a student can potentially make the U.S. Taekwondo Olympic team through the superior training at Pruter's U.S. Martial Arts

Taekwondo originated of 2000 years ago in Korea . Now, we hear the dynamic kihap sound of Taekwondo through out the world. Taekwondo is now a global sport and martial art that has contributed tremendously to the health and fitness of millions of practitioners for many years.

Kyorugi is an actual fight between two competitors using the offensive and defensive skills acquired through the practice of Taekwondo. Valid techniques for scoring points in competition include a variety of punching and kicking skills. The punch can be used only to the trunk (areas covered by a chest guard) and kicking techniques can be executed to the face (head, in front of the ears) and trunk (areas covered by the chest guard.) Any techniques below the belt are prohibited. One point is awarded to a technique that is delivered accurately on a legal area with the proper amount of power. Illegal techniques and behavior are penalized by a warning or deduction of a point.

Most of the vital points of the legal target areas are shielded by protection gear worn by the competitors. It is mandatory for all competitors to wear headgear, a chest protector, shin guards, forearm guards, and a groin protector to prevent potential injuries.

The Spirit of Competition

As in the Olympic slogan of “Faster, Higher, and Stronger,” Taekwondo competition encourages competitors to improve the level of human capacity. Taekwondo competition is a form of education that takes place through the practice of skills and their application in competition, based on traditional values. The fundamental significance of Taekwondo competition lies in the fact that the competition ring provides a venue where following the rules and doing one's best are rewarded. The site of the competition is a place to learn the way to achieve harmony and perfection on the mind, body and spirit through the discovery of true self. This is possible through the struggle within self and against the opponent.

Competition is a method of developing the full potential of the human body, both physically and technically. Taekwondo competition pursues the development and integration of fitness, technique and strategy as well as a sense of humility and sportsmanship.

The ultimate ideal of Taekwondo practice is to achieve a state of mind in which the performer is acutely aware of the endlessly changing competition environment and can effortlessly react to such changes. This state of mind becomes possible through the mastery of a broad range of offensive and defensive Taekwondo skills.