FAQ, Expectations, and Assertions

Sparring Team Captains:
Henry Nguyen, Stephen Olexa

What is Sparring Team?
The IWT Sparring Team focuses on the Kyorugi element of Taekwondo. Practices focus on building stamina, speed, and a repertoire of sparring techniques. Sparring Team meets Sundays after main practice..

What are the goals of this Team?
Captains hope to coach a group of highly motivated individuals to improve their Kyorugi abilities and truly deepen their love and understanding of one of the defining elements of taekwondo training. Practices for the FA23 semester will include an emphasis on explosiveness, kicking power, flexibility, cardio, advanced techniques, and more.

Who can join? How do they join?
The Special Teams are structured with the assumption that members already have a grasp of intermediate taekwondo techniques, procedures, and customs. As such, those with previous TKD experience (1 year in club, or blue belt & above from other academies) are eligible to try out for the team.
Tryouts occur twice a year, once per semester. The Sparring Team Fall Semester tryouts will occur on September 24th and will be done in “rumble” (a zero-elimination tourney) format. Those interested are encouraged to attend two ‘open’ sparring team practices in the previous weeks to get a feel as to what practices (and the tryout) will entail.

Discipline and Respect – members realize that practice times are practice times, and commit to focusing on their instructions.
In the context of IWT Taekwondo sparring, respect is paramount to any interaction- we are here to foster collaborative engagement, not hatred or contempt for fellow club members.
Unchecked aggression, malicious practice, and other problematic or disrespectful behaviors are not tolerated. Noncompliance will result in suspension or removal from the team or club, depending on frequency or severity.
Team members will always act in good faith to all team members and any opponents from other schools. Noncompliance will result in suspension or removal from the team.
Suspension or removal from the Sparring Team or Illini World Taekwondo is under the discretion of the Sparring Team Captains and/or IWT Executive Board.
Decorum – whenever possible, neat uniforms appropriate to one’s status will be worn. Club merchandise is also acceptable. Clean, well-kept sparring gear is also expected from all Sparring Team members.
Safety – Sparring, as a contact sport, can be dangerous. All Team members are expected to understand how their actions may affect the safety of others, and act accordingly.
Team members are of course expected to not use any illegal technique (grabs, pulls, and select strikes, kicks) under the WT rulebook.

Assertions

All members of the Sparring Team are required to be a member of Illini World Taekwondo. This includes paying dues, filling out the club sports injury waiver, and any other IWT sub-waivers.
Illini World Taekwondo is an organization open to all levels of taekwondo experience. However, the Sparring Team, as a subset of the IWT instructional apparatus, focuses on higher-order specialization.
 As Kyorugi is a contact sport, injuries are prone to happen- members should be mentally and physically prepared for such occurrences. Sparring Team Captains will do their best to prevent injuries by letting members know of the possible dangers associated with certain techniques. The club will not be held liable for personal injuries.