Emily Smith

T.S.
English Comp. 1
Discourse Communities
12/6/15
Kihap!
Being a student of Kyuki-Do martial arts means that their long term goal is to become a
black belt, and that the training and effort given to get their current rank will not be enough to get
the next rank belt. A students short term goal is to qualify to test for their next rank. Kyuki-Do is
a Korean form of martial arts that was created by Grand Master Ken OK Hyung Kim, who holds
the highest rank: 10th degree black belt. The parts of the word Kyuki-Do translate to the way
or the art of striking with energy. In Korean, the definition of Kyuki-Do is spark or
explosion.
Before one tests for 1st degree black belt, one must have tested and gained the twelve
color belts. Everyone begins with a white belt which means that the student has learned the
minimal basics of Kyuki-Do. Each full color belt is followed by a belt of the same color with a
stripe of the next color. For example, if a student is a blue belt then the next belt up is a blue with
brown stripe belt. The colors are in order as follows: white, yellow, green, blue, brown, and red.
Once all knowledge and color belt ranks are acquired, the student can test for black belt. Once a
black belt has gained his/her 5th degree black belt, they also gain the pronoun Master.
Some of the things students learn as a white belt are the most important. Students learn
the tenets of Kyuki-Do. The six tenets are courtesy, humility, integrity, perseverance, selfcontrol, and indomitable spirit. They are also expected to know the student pledge: I) I shall

respect my instructor and all senior ranks, II) I shall conduct myself in a respectful manner, III) I
shall respect the teachings of Kyuki-Do and never misuse them, IV) I shall always respect the
rights of others, and V) I shall strive for peace and camaraderie in the world. Along with these,
students also learn how to behave inside and outside of the dojo, how to complete their first form
or set of movements, Kibon, and how to do basic kicks, punches, blocks, falling sets, and more.
As students go up through the ranks, they learn everything they must know for each rank.
They must learn certain kicks/kicking patterns, blocking combinations, defense moves and
escapes, one-steps and of course the form for the belt rank they hold. To help the students learn
better together with and around their peers, they are split up by ranks for each type of class.
There are beginner, intermediate, advanced, and black belt classes. Kyuki-Do students learn
more complex defensive and offensive skills as they attend the higher and more difficult classes.
Students are also given the opportunity to become a part of the Leadership group of
students in training. Leadership students train with weapons such as bo staff, Filipino kali sticks,
and nunchaku. They train to better their skills with their weapons and learn to protect themselves.
It is helpful for black belt training because when someone tests for each degree of black belt they
are required to present a form of their own with a weapon of choice. They can either do a
different form with a different weapon every time or they can perfect a form and present the
altered form each time. The Leadership program is useful because it gives students a chance to
become comfortable with safely using weapons. Black belts are allowed to use a weapon given
to them through the Leadership program for their weapons form or they can use a different
weapon of choice. Examples of other weapons that have been used in the weapons forms include
fans, tonfa, katana (or any sort of wooden sword).

Not only are there specific words used in Kyuki-Do martial arts in English, but we use
Korean terminology as well. When training, we are expected to know what movement to do
whether we are told it in English or Korean. Instructors and students count in Korean and
English. There is Korean terminology for anything from blocking combinations to kicking
sequences to stances. For example, instead of saying spinning hook kick an instructor can tell
students to complete or define a dwi golcha chagi. Lower ranks like white and yellow belts
arent expected to know many of the translations but upper color belt ranks are expected to know
a large amount of them. Black belts and Masters should know the majority if not all Korean
terminology.
The American Kyuki-Do Federation body of students, instructors, and Masters make up
one of many forms of discourse communities. Different languages are used for vocabulary that
only those who are training in Kyuki-Do dojos would understand. Not only is there a ranking
system from highest in knowledge and training to lowest, but there are categories of classes and
topics learned based on ones rank. The people that make up Kyuki-Do martial arts are peers, but
also family.