Online International Do Course
What are the dates and times of the International Do Course (IDC)?
Sunday January 23rd and Sunday January 30th (2022) (UTC-time) – From 15:00 to 18:00 (UTC-time), and from 19:00 to 22:00 (UTC-time) on each Sunday.
Who may register for the course?
The course is open to all ITF Taekwon-Do members from 2nd grade/gup (red belt) and above, who also are 16 years of age or older.
How much does it cost to register for the course?
75 euros for the course (a total of 12 hours) and handouts (e.g., copies of PowerPoint presentations).
ITF Board Members and ITF Committee Chairpersons may register for free.
How do I register for the course?
The ITF decided earlier to stop using ITF-BOOKS.COM for course registration. However, due to the urgency of the situation (members interested in participating in the IDC must register for the course by Sunday, January 16th, 2022) and the absence of an alternate platform to register, the ITF has decided to make an exception and add the International Do Course to the ITF-BOOKS.COM platform. So, as originally announced, you must go to ITF-BOOKS.COM to register for the course. Before registering for the course, however, please make sure that you first register your attendance at ITF Courses (on ITF Online) through the Secretary-General of your National Organization. Once you have registered in the ITF database, you will be assigned a registry number than can be found next to your name. If your country is eligible for reduced registration fees, you will need this number to have access to the reduced fee.
What is the deadline to register for the course?
Sunday, January 16th, 2022.
What will be the language of instructions during the course?
The course will be delivered in English. However, it will be possible to ask questions in Spanish.
Copies of PowerPoint presentations and other course materials will be available in English only.
What does the course cover?
During the course, you will be taken on a journey to explore what it means to be truly a man or a woman of Taekwon-Do (TKD), as defined by General Choi, and how one becomes truly a man or a woman of Taekwon-Do.
Topics for Day 1 and Day 2 will be as follows:
Day 1 – Part 1: Moral culture and TKD; Origin and meaning of the word “DO”; the Tenets of TKD; Student’s Oath; Connecting Do to moral culture, tenets, oath, and goal of TKD; Stages of moral development; Psychology of human behaviour; Self-control (what it is and why it matters; how to develop better self-control; how to teach self-control to TKD students; applications in dojang and daily life).
Day 1 – Part 2: Courtesy (what it is and why it matters; how to become more courteous; how to teach courtesy to TKD students; applications in dojang and daily life); Integrity (what it is and why it matters; how to develop and maintain integrity; how to teach integrity to TKD students; applications in dojang and daily life); Ethical/moral decision making (how to resolve moral dilemmas / conflicts between tenets of TKD).
Day 2 – Part 1: Perseverance (what it is and why it matters; how to develop and strengthen perseverance; how to teach perseverance to TKD students; applications in dojang and daily life); Motivation and goal-setting (how to set effective goals in TKD and life);
Day 2 – Part 2: Indomitable spirit (what it is and why it matters; how to develop an indomitable spirit; how to teach indomitable spirit to TKD students; applications in dojang and daily life); Integration of Do teaching into regular TKD classes (general guideline and tips).
Who is the IDC for?
The course is for all Taekwon-Do practitioners who are interested in studying the Do and developing a way of life based on the moral culture of Taekwon-Do, as well as for all Taekwon-Do instructors and assistant instructors interested in learning how to teach the Do and integrate the teaching of the Do in the teaching of Taekwon-Do.
It does not matter if you are an experienced or less experienced Taekwon-Do practitioner or instructor. The course will provide you with a great learning experience that will increase your knowledge and understanding of the Do and the moral culture of Taekwon-Do.
Why should I seriously consider to register for the IDC?
In his last publication, Moral Guide Book (2000), General Choi wrote: “…the only way one can truly achieve the status as a man of Taekwon-Do is to go beyond the technical aspect and establish a lifestyle based on a solid code of morality.” (p. 9). For him, physical and moral training were two indivisible parts of the study of Taekwon-Do. Without the emphasis on moral development, Taekwon-Do is just a sport, not a martial art. The true nature and spirit of a martial art is in the learning and teaching of the Do, i.e., the “way”, the “right way” as General Choi calls it. For him, the “right away” is the “way paved by the saints and wise people of the past.”
Furthermore, teaching the Do is good for business. With so many businesses competing for the customer’s money and attention, each business has to work hard to set itself apart from its competitors. Those instructors who are able to teach the Do effectively and provide moral training in addition to physical training have a competitive edge on their business competitors. They can offer a product that is unique, needed, demanded, and better than the competition. This means that they can attract more students in their dojang.
Is there an exam for the course?
There is no exam for this course.
Will there be physical activities during the course?
Activities during the course will include primarily actively listening to oral presentations, participating in quiz and group discussions, engaging in thinking and self-reflection exercises, and putting into practice the knowledge and skills learned. Video clips will also be used to show how to use Taekwon-Do exercises and other practical strategies to teach the Do and develop the Tenets of Taekwon-Do. Physical activities during the course will be few and scattered.
Will it be possible to ask questions during the course?
Yes, there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each part of the course. However, participants will be asked to submit their questions via the chat facility on the Zoom platform. We will select which questions to answer, focusing primarily on the questions most relevant for the course and the audience.
What will I receive when I register?
You will receive a confirmation of your registration by e-mail which will also be a receipt of your payment. Later (usually the day before the course), you will receive a Zoom link via e-mail. It will allow you to join the course on the day of the course. In addition, you will also receive additional information via e-mail before the course starts (e.g., dress protocol for the course, instructions to follow as participants in the course).
Will I get a certificate for the course?
Participants who attend the full IDC will receive an officially signed digital certificate certifying that they have successfully completed the International Do Course (I.D.C.) in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Federation.
Applicants for promotion to 9th degree black belt are already required to participate in at least one IDC to be eligible for promotion. Furthermore, a growing number of Instructors, Masters, and Grand Masters are asking the ITF to extend this requirement not only to applicants for promotion to 7th degree and above, but also to applicants for promotion to 4th degree and above.
The IDC certificate that you will receive will be an officially ITF valid document. You will be able to use it to show that you have completed the IDC promotion requirement.
Do I have to attend all parts of the course?
To obtain your certificate, you must attend all parts of the course, that is the full 12 hours. However, if you miss one of the parts, you will still be able to attend the other parts.
If I have a question about the course, who do I contact?
If you have a question that is not answered above, you can contact [email protected] for more information.