Blue Stripe

Introduction to Bai Rui Taekwon-Do and the Authentic Art

Heritage and Authority: Bai Rui Taekwon-Do follows the original and authentic Art formulated by the Father of the Art, General Choi Hong Hi, and the school's founder, Senior Master Charles Birch. The school maintains a well-established reputation for high-quality instruction.
Methodology and Standards: The school does not promise an easy path through the ranks. Lowering standards is viewed as a destruction of the quality and fabric of the Art and the student's sense of achievement.
Scope of the Art: Taekwon-Do is not limited to kicking and punching. It includes:
- A fascinating history.
- A code of conduct second to none.
- An incredibly numerous range of techniques that can constitute a life's work.
Personal Development: The Art is a voyage of self-discovery where students identify strengths and weaknesses. Training enables students to challenge weaknesses, enhance strengths, and increase self-control and confidence.
The Literal Meaning of Taekwon-Do:
- Tae: Jumping, flying, to smash or kick with the foot.
- Kwon: Fist, to punch, or to destroy with hand or fist.
- Do: Art or Way.
Historical Origins: Taekwon-Do originated in Korea. General Choi Hong Hi ( $9^{th}$ Degree) is the Father of Taekwon-Do who presented the Art to the world on $11^{th}$ April $1955$ .

Biography of Senior Master Charles Birch and School History

Introduction to the Art: Senior Master Charles Birch was introduced to Taekwon-Do in $1982$ in New Zealand by his wife, Margaret Birch, to engage in a whole-family activity. This became his passion.
Mission to Australia: In $1986$ , General Choi Hong Hi asked Charles Birch (then at the rank of $1^{st}$ Gup / Black Stripe) to go to Australia "To teach good Taekwon-Do."
Founding of Bai Rui: The Bai Rui School was formed and the name adopted on $1^{st}$ May $1988$ . However, Senior Master Birch originally founded the school on $11^{th}$ April $1988$ in Brisbane.
Early Growth: The first class held only $5$ students, $4$ of whom were his immediate family members.
End of Life and Legacy: Senior Master Birch passed away on $23$ July $2015$ as an $8^{th}$ Dan Senior Master and the school's Chief Instructor.
International Connections:
- Promoted to Master by Senior Grandmaster Charles Sereff.
- Senior Grandmaster Charles Sereff formed the United States Taekwon-Do Federation (USTF), which heavily influenced Bai Rui.
- Since Sereff's passing in $2022$ , the USTF continues to support the school.
Principles: Senior Master Birch followed General Choi's teachings without wavering, maintaining loyalty to the General, Senior Grandmaster Sereff, and the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF). He challenged any force seeking to diminish the ITF's standards or ethics.

Taekwon-Do Rank Systems and Belt Theory

Belt Significance:
- White Belt: Signifies the innocence of the beginner who has no previous knowledge of Taekwon-Do.
- Yellow Belt: Signifies the earth from which a plant sprouts and takes root as the Taekwon-Do foundation is laid.
- Green Belt: Signifies the plant's growth as the Taekwon-Do skill begins to develop.
- Blue Belt: Signifies the heaven toward which the plant matures into a towering tree.
Rank Hierarchy:
- Student Ranks (Gup): There are $10$ Gup levels. $10^{th}$ Gup (White Belt) is the lowest, and $1^{st}$ Gup (Red Belt with Black Stripe) is the highest.
- Black Belt Ranks (Dan): There are $9$ Dan ranks.
  - Novice ( $1^{st}$ - $3^{rd}$ Dan): Boo Sabum.
  - Expert ( $4^{th}$ - $6^{th}$ Dan): Sabum.
  - Master ( $7^{th}$ Dan): Sahyun.
  - Senior Master ( $8^{th}$ Dan): So-nim Sahyun.
  - Grand Master ( $9^{th}$ Dan): Sasung.

Korean Terminology and Counting

Counting $1$ to $10$ :
- One: Hana
- Two: Dool
- Three: Set
- Four: Net
- Five: Dasot
- Six: Yasot
- Seven: Ilgop
- Eight: Yodul
- Nine: Ahop
- Ten: Yul
Commands and Terms:
- Attention: Charyot
- Parallel Ready Stance: Narani Junbi Sogi
- At Ease: Swiyo
- Bow or Salute: Kyong Ye
- Uniform: Dobok
- Training Hall / Gymnasium: Do Jang
- Pattern: Tul
- Ready Position: Junbi
- Begin: Si-jak
- Stop: Guman
- Yell: Kihap
- Break: Hechyo
- Restart: Gasok
- Face the flag: Kuk-ki-yea tae-hae
- Sit or kneel: Anj-oh
- Meditate: Muk-nyom
- Return: Baro
- Class finished: Ee-Sang
- Thank you very much: Ko-Map Sum-Nee-Da

Definitions and Classifications of Techniques

Fundamental Movement: A technique not used in a previous pattern.
Release: Breaking free from an opponent to create distance from the attacker, not to continue the confrontation.
Multiple Kicking: Double, triple, etc., kicks performed with the same foot with a very brief intermediate time that does not cut movement continuity. Performed with one breath per movement and a normal sine wave movement when finishing. Can be stationary or jumping.
Consecutive Kick: Two or more kicks with the same foot against a single or several opponents in succession. If they are the same kick, they must be performed to different directions.
Combination Kick: Two or more kicks using alternating feet against a single or several opponents in succession.
Mid Air Kick: Performed with no directional movement (i.e., straight up).
Flying Kick: Performed with either one motion on the spot or several motions while running.
Joint Lock: A grappling technique involving manipulation of an opponent’s joint such that the joint reaches its maximal degree of motion.
Joint Attack: A direct strike to an opponent’s joint or taking the joint past its maximal degree of motion.

Movement Systems: Sine Wave and Breath Control

Continuous Motion:
- Definition: Two or more consecutive movements with two or more sine waves, with one breath in and two or more breaths out.
- Process: For a two-movement sequence: DOWN-UP-DOWN-UP-DOWN. Each movement should finish on each execution.
- Breath: One inhalation and a short sharp exhale on each movement.
- Example: Movements $13$ and $14$ in Dan-Gun.
Connecting Motion:
- Definition: Two movements performed with one sine wave and one breath at the end of the second technique.
- Process: DOWN-UP-DOWN.
- Example: Movements $16$ & $17$ and $19$ & $20$ in Yul-Gok.

Stance Specification and Geometry

Attention Stance (Charyot Sogi):
- Width: $0.0$ shoulder width.
- Weight: $50\%$ front / $50\%$ rear.
- Details: Heels together forming a $45^{\circ}$ angle; legs straight. Arms dropped naturally with elbows partially bent. Hands lightly clenched, showing $1.5$ strike knuckles. Eyes face slightly above the horizon.
Parallel Ready Stance (Narani Junbi Sogi):
- Width: $1.0$ shoulder width (measured from footswords).
- Details: Hands lightly clenched, $5\,cm$ apart, and $7\,cm$ from the abdomen. Elbows $10\,cm$ from floating ribs. Upper arms forward at $30^{\circ}$ , lower arms bent at $40^{\circ}$ .
Walking Stance (Gunnun Sogi):
- Length: $1.5$ shoulder width (measured from big toes).
- Width: $1.0$ shoulder width (measured from center of insteps).
- Weight: $50\%$ front / $50\%$ rear.
- Details: Back leg knee locked. Front leg knee in line with back of heel. Front foot points front; back foot points no more than $25^{\circ}$ outward. Named after the front foot.
L Stance (Niunja Sogi):
- Length: $1.5$ shoulder width (measured from front big toe to rear footsword).
- Width: $2.5\,cm$ (measured from inside front heel to back heel).
- Weight: $30\%$ front / $70\%$ rear.
- Details: Rear knee bent so kneecap is over toes. Rear hip aligned with inner knee joint. Front foot points $15^{\circ}$ in; back foot points $15^{\circ}$ in from side. Named after the rear foot.
Sitting Stance (Annun Sogi):
- Width: $1.5$ shoulder width (measured from inside big toes).
- Weight: $50\%$ front / $50\%$ rear.
- Details: Feet parallel. Knees bent over balls of feet. Chest/abdomen pushed out, hips pulled back. Muscles tensed with emphasis on footswords.
Fixed Stance (Gojung Sogi):
- Length: $1.5$ shoulder width (from big toe to inside big toe).
- Width: $2.5\,cm$ .
- Weight: $50\%$ front / $50\%$ rear.
- Details: Knees bent evenly. Foot angles same as L-Stance ( $15^{\circ}$ ). Named after the front foot.
Close Ready Stance ‘A’ (Moa Junbi Sogi ‘A’):
- Details: Feet together and parallel. Left hand wraps right fist. Hands $30\,cm$ in front of the philtrum. Bottom of hand level with philtrum at $110^{\circ}$ from the body.
Bending Ready Stance ‘A’ (Guburyo Junbi Sogi ‘A’):
- Weight: $0\%$ front / $100\%$