EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

HANDMADANG

Every May, each USTA school convenes to hold our annual Handmadang: A Korean word meaning "Festival". This serves as our inter-studio Tournament, where students compete in their poomsae (Forms), and ranked sparring matches. This serves not only as a way to measure our skills against one another, but a chance to convene as a family, and watch our skills increase.

In addition to our competitions, Hanmadang also features demonstrations of black belt teams from several studios; opportunities for spectators to join in on the fun; prizes, and most of all, the chance to compare your skills against a wide variety of competitors! 

INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT

Once a USTA student has reached their black belt and is at least fifteen years old, they are eligible to join the USTA Instructor Program, an advanced set of curriculum that will eventually place them in control of the classes they began learning in.

This program provides access to two monthly expert-level classes which provide advanced training for their own techniques, as well as teaching leadership skills and human education methodology and interactions that will enable them to be successful in whatever career path they choose in life, including the opportunity to become full owners and operators of a USTA studio.

SPARRING CLASSES

For advanced level students who wish to improve their sparring and self-defense skills, USTA offers several high-level classes, the first of which is the Olympic Sparring program. A set of three high intensity classes with a basic and advanced division, Olympic Sparring offers the ability to learn sparring techniques and drills used by Olympic Taekwondo competitors. 

Also offered is the once-yearly Sparring Seminar, a single workout which lasts several hours and focuses on fine-tuning kicking techniques, building endurance, and practicing sparring with competitive opponents. 

DEMO TEAM

Black Belt students are invited to join their regional demonstration team, a weekly seminar which teaches demonstrative techniques not found in other classes. Students work with each other and their demonstration coach to create a unique spectacle which integrates their individual martial arts talent into a cohesive show, and will eventually perform for audiences at belt ceremonies, Hanmadang, and public demonstrations.

The key goal of demonstration teams is to build teamwork and group cohesion. No single student stands above the rest, but every one has a chance to shine on their own.