In an effort to ensure our youth students are fully prepared for the belt testing experience, the NPTA has instituted a pre-qualifying step that must be completed before your child is recommended to test.  This pre-qualifying step means your child must have his/her form, and sparring ability, approved on 3 different occasions, by 3 different NPTA Black Belts.  Once the youth's form, or sparring, has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Black Belt, your child will receive a "Good Job" card for that skill.  Once 3 "Good Job" cards have been obtained for that skill, they must be presented to your Chief Instructor, who will place an "Excellent Form" stripe, or a "Sparring" stripe, on his/her belt. 

Demonstration of form or sparring must be done on student's own time, either before or after class.  All NPTA Black Belts will be happy to help---all your child has to do is ask! 

The final step to being placed on the testing list is the "Breaking" stripe.  Each child must complete their required breaks in class before they will be allowed to test.  This requirement will give your child an extra incentive for practice at home, and will also ensure the techniques are being executed with the proper form and power.  This will also help with self-esteem, as fewer kids will be going away from testing with wood unbroken!

These 3 pre-requisites to youth testing will sometimes mean extra time in rank---however, these requirements will produce better martial artists, and ultimately, better people.  Please remember that your child's martial arts journey is not about receiving a black belt before any one else---it is about our children learning life principles that will help guide them through the rest of their life.  The NPTA is proud to help your child become the best they can be!

New NPTA youth students earn colored stripes on their white belt for learning small amounts of information.

• Yellow.....Stretching routine; Answering up consistently
• Orange.....Front stance; Low block; Front kick
• Green.....Punch; Back stance; Sidekick
• Purple.....Inner forearm block; First half of Chon-Ji
• Blue.....Second half of Chon-Ji; Can tell left from right
• Brown.....Backfist; Knifehand; Recite Spirit of Taekwondo
• Red.....One Step Challenge; 1st One Step
• Black.....2nd and 3rd One Steps

At this point, your child is ready to test for yellow belt, and will be placed on the list for the next belt-rank testing.  See your instructor for a testing application!

Founded in the Silla dynasty, during the 7th century, the Hwarang history is a rich one.  The term Hwarang can be translated as "Flower Knights", or "Flowering Youth"---most translation from Korean history is subject to a certain amount of interpretation, so it is common to find more than one meaning for a term. 

When researching the Hwarang, one can find voluminous amounts of information, so this essay will be extremely brief.  The pupose is simply to give our students and families an idea what the Hwarang Academy is named for.

The Hwarang was an all-male youth group, founded for the purpose of training boys for public service.  The boys would generally enter the program around 7 years of age, and be in public service at about 15 years old.  The boys would live in secluded groups, surrounded by natural beauty.  They were trained in a wide variety of topics---religion (a combination of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism), the sciences, the arts, and combat. 

What made the Hwarang legendary was their combat skill.  Countless stories, legends, poems, and songs abound in Korean culture regarding members of the Hwarang, and their exploits in battle.  Numerous accounts can be found that tell of their enemies mistaking the Hwarang warriors' feet for swords, due the devestating power and speed in their kicks.

Like most famous groups in history, the Hwarang had a code to live by, which encompassed  5 tenets:

1. Loyalty to the king.
2. Obedience to parents.
3. Trust and respect among friends.
4. No retreat in battle.
5. No unnecessary killing, whether human or animal.

Most of the influential men in the Silla dynasty came from the ranks of the Hwarang.  They include monks, generals, scientists, politicians, and kings.

The Hwarang lasted until the end of the Silla dynasty, then gradually faded out.  However, modern martial arts is loaded with reference to the Hwarang, wth some organizations claiming to be directly descended from the original group.  We encourage you to research the Hwarang, and make the fascinating trip into Korean history---you will be amazed at what you find!