Duke TKD At a Glance
About Us
Duke Taekwondo trains in the World Taekwondo (WT) style of Taekwondo, which includes poomsae (forms) and Olympic-style sparring. Practices are held four times a week and conditioning sessions are held twice a week so all members have the opportunity to improve both Taekwondo techniques as well as general fitness. Members are welcome to attend as many or as few practices as they like.
Duke Taekwondo recognizes the importance of the progression of one’s skill in and appreciation for Taekwondo. As such, the club holds belt tests twice a semester. Belt testing is the opportunity for members to show what they have learned in their time in Duke Taekwondo and advance through the ranks of the martial arts. With enough perseverance and dedication, members will have the opportunity to test for their black belt under the evaluation of our head coach, Master Nicholas Yates by the end of their time at Duke.
Members who regularly attend practices are invited to compete with the club in tournaments across the country. Duke Taekwondo travels to 4-6 tournaments throughout the year across the country including a few run by ECTC (Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference), one or two by ACAT (Atlantic Collegiate Alliance of Taekwondo), and the Collegiate National Championships hosted by NCTA (National Collegiate Taekwondo Association) every spring. Competition gives members the opportunity to compete in sparring and/or poomsae against practitioners of comparable skill levels from other collegiate teams.
Members also have the opportunity to attend various social events throughout the year. We host a Winter and Spring Banquet where members are able to shed their workout clothes and uniforms to dress up and eat delicious food at local off-campus restaurants. We also arrange a Fall and Spring Retreat to destinations such as the local North Carolina mountains. Members of this tight-knit community often form many close bonds and friendships that last a lifetime.