this
is us.
We are a collegiate, mostly student-run club on the University of Michigan campus. We cater to everyone from beginners to competitive black belts. In our practices, we cover sparring, forms, strength and conditioning, as well as competition prep. We are a competitive club in the sense that we frequently send members to participate in collegiate tournaments, but we also emphasize on developing everyone, whether you want to be competitive or not.
More importantly, we are a tight-knit community that somehow bonds over kicking each other for fun.
Here at Michigan, our Taekwondo team follows the WT sparring rules and forms. Although we put a lot of emphasis on competitions, a lot of our members joined solely to learn a form of martial arts and just have fun!
TKD at UMICH
EXERCISE
Here at UMTKD, it's about progress, not perfection. Regardless of whether you can do push ups or not, you'll either find buddies that encourage you to get better, or you'll find fellow sufferers as we all struggle to do proper push ups together.
FRIENDSHIP
Bond with other people who share the same passion for kicking and getting kicked, and find that you will end up hanging out with us all the time. #sorrynotsorry. The friends who kick you in practice will be the first to back you up if anyone not UMTKD-approved tries to kick you.
COMPETITION
We compete about 2 to 3 times a semester, and it is completely up to you how much or whether you wish to compete. Compete in forms, sparring or strangest shenanigans showcased. It’s a great chance to pit your skills against other collegiate taekwondo athletes.
Classes for new members are announced in the beginning of each semester. If you missed it, feel free to go to the practices listed on our front page.
FAQ
Who can join?
Any student, faculty, or employee of the university with or without prior experience may join. The club has many experience levels, ranging from beginners to experienced instructors. Faculty, staff, and students staying for the summer will need to purchase membership through the Rec Sports Department.
How do I join?
There are no tryouts, just fill out the participation agreement on MaizePages. We welcome all experience levels, whether you have competed in national championships or do not know what a round kick is.The club generally holds an introductory class on each semester (fall, winter, and spring/summer). Contact us for more information. If you join more than halfway through the semester, it’s usually recommended that you wait a month or so until next term’s class to start.
What should I expect when I come to practice?
You should dress in comfortable workout clothing. Taekwondo is also performed barefoot, so be ready to take off your shoes (Taekwondo specific shoes are fine).
Plan to arrive a few minutes early, so you’re ready to go when the room is ready. We usually jog to warmup and then do some group stretches before the main practice. Depending on the day, the theme of the practice might be forms, techniques, or sparring.
Who leads the practices?
Club practices are always lead by an experienced club instructor. See the Instructors/Officers section for more information on the club leadship.
Are there club dues?
Yes, the club dues are typically $175 for the fall and winter semester together or $110 for one semester. If you wish to stay over the Spring/Summer, then there may be additional dues.
What equipment is involved or required?
We provide all equipments for practices. During sparring practices, you will use a helmet, hogu (chest protector), arm guards, shin guards and instep pads. These can be borrowed from the club at no cost. Additionally, men are required to have groin protectors during sparring, but this is optional for females. Mouthguards are required during all sparring. Sparring gloves are highly encouraged for practice sessions and mandatory for tournaments.
What league affiliations does the club have?
The club is affiliated with both the ECTC (Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference) and the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association (NCTA). We follow the rules and guidelines for competition and promotion from the World Taekwondo (WT).