Il Gi Dojang Geneva

Taekwondo is a martial from South Korea which is practiced without weapons. Taekwondo is famous for its spectacular kicks but it is a complete martial art with sparring, Poomsae (forms), Hanbon Kiriougui or one-step sparring, Hoshinsul (self defence) and Kyokpa (breaking techniques). We work on all these aspects at Il Gi Dojang Geneva

Free Trial

New to Taekwondo or to our Club? Feel free to come and try out our lessons without obligation for a week. Taekwondo is a great way to work out for all ages and we cater to all levels. It is also an Olympic sport which will help boost endurance, strength and confidence. Just come in your sports gear and tell the teacher you are attending for a trial

Free Trial

New to Taekwondo or to our Club? Feel free to come and try out our lessons without obligation for a week. Taekwondo is a great way to work out for all ages and we cater to all levels. It is also an Olympic sport which will help boost endurance, strength and confidence. Just come in your sports gear and tell the teacher you are attending for a trial

Belts

Il Gi Dojang usually offers 3 gradings per year: generally in December, March and June during training hours (the regular training does not take place on those days but all members are welcome to witness the grading and lend assistance if required).  Gradings cover all aspects of Taekwondo in line with what will be required for the Dan test at the Swiss Taekwondo federation level: Poomsae, Kiriougui, Hanbon Kiriougui, Hoshinsul, Kiokpa, Pad Work, and of course terminology which is not required for the Dan test.   The Club is able to offer belts up to the black tip, the black belt is only obtainable from the Swiss Taekwondo federation.
Note! Gradings are tough and demanding so please obtain your Master’s approval and prepare well for a grading.
Dan tests for the black belt are held by the Swiss Taekwondo federation twice a year in Berne.

Requirements

Each grading requires the demonstration of having acquired new techniques and patterns (poomsae) but also a growing exigency as to the level of execution (speed, power, balance, accuracy) in the execution of all acquired techniques. Some more explanations below:

Poomsae : a new poomsae is required for each belt. It isn’t sufficient to be able to show the new poomsae’s pattern only. With each higher belt, we expect improvements in the candidate’s attitude, the amplitude, power and precision of movements, balance, rhythm and breathing must also improve

Kiriougui (sparring): you will have to participate in at least one sparring contest with or without protections. It isn’t important to win at a grading but your determination, strategic ability in deploying your varied techniques and knowledge of the rules of sparring must be demonstrated. You must be in possession of World Taekwondo approved protections (except chest protector and helmet which the Club can provide). Higher belts can be asked to spar against more than one opponent.

Hanbon Kiriougui (formalised sparring): with each new belt we expect a greater number and variety in yangon kiriougui techniques. As you acquire new techniques and greater speed and accuracy, these must also be on display in hanbon kiriougui. Unlike self-defence, stances and techniques must be accurate and well defined in formalised sparring.

Hoshinsul (self-defence): with each new belt a greater number of self-defence techniques is also required but unlike hanbon kiriougui, self-defence techniques should focus on quickly exiting a tough situation and not on the neat accuracy of techniques. Self-defence is usually practiced against one or more people grabbing the candidate.

Terminology : the Korean terms in Taekwondo are learnt gradually as we acquire new belts. Terminology covers stances, blocks, attacks with the hands or the feet. Candidates must understand the Korean terms and then execute them correctly. The higher the belt the more techniques can be combined.

Pad Work: In this exercise the candidate must demonstrate all authorised techniques in sparring against training pads held by another candidate. Duration is between 30 seconds and 1 minute only. Each candidate holds the pads and also demonstrates the techniques. Holding the pads requires and skill and concentration and both parts of the exercise are judged at the grading. The Pad Work must be fluid, quick and realistic.

Kiokpa: candidates must break between 1 and 3 plans of either wood or re-usable planks provided by the Club. Techniques must be delivered with force, precision, in a logical sequence… and the planks must break!

Note: to obtain the blue belt (4th Keup) or above, Il Gi Dojang requires each candidate to have participated at least once in their lives in one sparring competition AND one poomsae competition. This applies to children and to adults. Local contests (interclubs) will also be taken into account for this requirement but the participation must be recorded in the Mudopass.

Success criteria:
In order to pass a grading, a candidate must obtain 66% of available points. The candidate will have to skip the following grading before being able to attempt a new grading
With a score of 75%, candidates will pass and are allowed to attend the following grading (if ready)
With 85% or above, candidates may be considered for a double grading but this is not automatic and is subject to approval by the grading Masters

Grading booklet

The grading booklet lists the terms (in Korean) and techniques that are needed to acquire each belt up to the black tip. The Korean terminology is used at gradings. A grading booklet is given to each Member of the Club upon registration.

Grading registration

In order to register for a grading, you must obtain the approval of your Master and pay the correct registration fee.

Grading cost: CHF 40.-

Grading plus Mudopass cost CHF 40.- + CHF 20.-

Each grading costs CHF 40.-. This cost covers new belt or tip and administrative fees to the Swiss Taekwondo federation. For your first grading, you will need to add CHF 20.- to obtain the Swiss Taekwondo federation passport called “Mudopass”
Upon your first grading with us, the Club will ask Swiss Taekwondo to issue the Mudopass in which your Taekwondo career in Switzerland is documented: gradings, competitions, special trainings, etc.
If you already have a Swiss Mudopass, you don’t need a new one, just bring your current Mudopass to the Club.
If you have a Taekwondo belt from another federation than Swiss Taekwondo, you may wear your Dobok and belt but you will have to pass a confirmation grading for your current belt.