Tae Kwon Do and Martial Arts Valid for Academies?

sa_applicant2023

USNA 2023
Joined
Dec 19, 2017
Messages
102
USMA candidate here. I have a question regarding extra curriculars. I am a black belt candidate in Tae Kwon Do and by the time the application is finished I will most likely have my 1st degree black belt. I did a year of varsity wrestling but I hated it. So I went back to Tae Kwon Do after leaving it in the seventh or eighth grade and did it instead. If i get my black belt is it a valid alternative to a varsity sport? I just didnt like wrestling and wanted to do something I was naturally good at. I have other extra curriculars including over 60 hours of community service (as of now) and a 3.61 out of 4 unweighted GPA, and a 1300 PSAT (680 math) (taking SAT in 3 weeks) Does tae kwon do help me a little bit? Thanks. I heard its getting more and more popular at the academies. :))))
 
Team sports not only important to show athletic ability, they are avenues from which to highlight your ability to work as a member of a team and as a leader. Without a team sport, try to make sure you can document other activities that showcase teamwork and leadership skills.
 
Team sports not only important to show athletic ability, they are avenues from which to highlight your ability to work as a member of a team and as a leader. Without a team sport, try to make sure you can document other activities that showcase teamwork and leadership skills.

Well I did want to mention that at least to me and how we train it is almost like a team sport because everyone helps eachother out in learning from mistakes and such. Being the second highest ranking student in my class it is pretty easy to establish some leadership potential even with a relatively small class. But you are right. Thanks for the reply. :)
 
My DS is a Karate Instructor and all instructors in our Dojo are unpaid volunteers.
I believe that added a little to his whole candidate score.
How much is anyone's guess, but it surely didn't hurt!
 
Academies still have a bias towards school varsity sports. The only way club sports have an impact is if you are a division I athlete caliber. For instance, most of the hockey players are playing junior hockey, not high school hockey. Also soccer players are typically recruited from clubs, not from high school teams. Now if you competed in tournaments and are ranked high in the state or the nation you would have a strong argument. Honestly, I would get back on the wrestling team and get that varsity letter. It is a whole lot easier having the varsity letter on your file then it is trying to explain why you Tae Kwon Do club should be an equivalent.
 
USMA candidate here. I have a question regarding extra curriculars. I am a black belt candidate in Tae Kwon Do and by the time the application is finished I will most likely have my 1st degree black belt. I did a year of varsity wrestling but I hated it. So I went back to Tae Kwon Do after leaving it in the seventh or eighth grade and did it instead. If i get my black belt is it a valid alternative to a varsity sport? I just didnt like wrestling and wanted to do something I was naturally good at. I have other extra curriculars including over 60 hours of community service (as of now) and a 3.61 out of 4 unweighted GPA, and a 1300 PSAT (680 math) (taking SAT in 3 weeks) Does tae kwon do help me a little bit? Thanks. I heard its getting more and more popular at the academies. :))))

I will confirm that your Tae KWON Do equally counts as 1 Varsity!!!!! Even better if you have any Dan 1-5. And even better if you were rated at the WTF Worldwide HQ in Seoul. But Black Belt is Black Belt as long as you are attending an approved ATF or WTF. But WTF is the official recognized sponsor and monitor of the Olympic Sports. Yes in addition TKD Team Sport is essential to build team skills. But gets a lot of mileage at the Academies. In fact you will be feared if they see that you know you can kick box and take down Cadets or Mids. You’ll learn Combatives and Boxing which you should take up now before Plebe year. TKD teaches you agility good stuff. Get into MMA!
 
If you hate wrestling take up Juijistu. No point doing something you don’t like. That’s the real true skill you will need in a real fight. Better than TKD. In fact if you have basic wrestling skills it is easier to learn jujitsu. But takes longer to master than TKD. In the military, Juijistu is more respected because it is closer to the real thing you will use in hand to hand combat. If you mix Juijistu boxing TKD you have MMA. Everyone respects MMA far more than TKD in the military. I guarantee you that’s the real s_ _ _. My DS did TKD for 10 years and he did Juijistu for 3 years and now taking up boxing. Now he can mix up this cocktail fighting skills to learn MMA. And he’s a Varsity Swimmer and have been swimming for 10 years. 6 footer and quick. He will be feared at the Academy and will kick some A_ _. And you need that Spartan experience in your Plebe year to breakdown your fear so you can build up your personal confidence without holding a weapon.

Enjoy learning!
 
No varsity letters are given out at my school. Wrestling was something I really disliked.

Academies still have a bias towards school varsity sports. The only way club sports have an impact is if you are a division I athlete caliber. For instance, most of the hockey players are playing junior hockey, not high school hockey. Also soccer players are typically recruited from clubs, not from high school teams. Now if you competed in tournaments and are ranked high in the state or the nation you would have a strong argument. Honestly, I would get back on the wrestling team and get that varsity letter. It is a whole lot easier having the varsity letter on your file then it is trying to explain why you Tae Kwon Do club should be an equivalent.
 
Academies are the ones giving you the Varsity credit for TKD and doesn’t have to come from your school. So you should list TKD on your Athletic profile.
 
My advice for anyone at any age is to do what you love.
Life is too short to do things you hate, just because you think you should.

I woke up this morning. Not everyone does, but nearly everyone I know actually EXPECTS to wake up every morning.
 
Black Belt in any martial art = Varsity Letter for WCS points. There is a check box on the application for black belt. You can get additional points for winning significant awards or championships.

On a subjective basis, the further you progress past 1st degree black belt the better the admissions committee will view it when reviewing your file.
 
If you hate wrestling take up Juijistu. No point doing something you don’t like. That’s the real true skill you will need in a real fight. Better than TKD. In fact if you have basic wrestling skills it is easier to learn jujitsu. But takes longer to master than TKD. In the military, Juijistu is more respected because it is closer to the real thing you will use in hand to hand combat. If you mix Juijistu boxing TKD you have MMA. Everyone respects MMA far more than TKD in the military. I guarantee you that’s the real s_ _ _. My DS did TKD for 10 years and he did Juijistu for 3 years and now taking up boxing. Now he can mix up this cocktail fighting skills to learn MMA. And he’s a Varsity Swimmer and have been swimming for 10 years. 6 footer and quick. He will be feared at the Academy and will kick some A_ _. And you need that Spartan experience in your Plebe year to breakdown your fear so you can build up your personal confidence without holding a weapon.

Enjoy learning!

Not sure about the different martial arts being feared or respected at the Academy or in the ARMY as you claim. DS did tkd for years, was short of getting to black belt when his only instructor moved out of our small town. Martial arts are great in teaching respect and honor while kids gain confidence in their skills. I never witnessed anyone hoping to be able to beat anyone else up because of their skills mastery, it goes against the teaching and principles they are taught.
Boxing is required at usma, and all male plebes will get to square off. The class is graded on specific techniques and punches, not just beating up your opponent. It is an opportunity for the kids to get confidence in both giving and receiving punches.

FYI, No plebe is feared at the Academy......
 
I think you just unnecessarily escalated this to making an original point on TKD qualifies for Varsity Point to making a point on something I don’t disagree with what you said. I made no reference of beating up another cadet. You took kicking A_ _ meant to be fun figuratively and made it un fun. Of course Cadets learn self defense to learn the skills of self defense and to build confidence instead of learning to beat up another cadet classmate. This is the case in any schools or gym.

Like all defensive and offensive sports it is in the person who learns the art and uses the art appropriately. You hit a classmate hard your classmate will hit you back hard. You exercise control in the ring despite the skill differences, it becomes a good training.
 
USMA candidate here. I have a question regarding extra curriculars. I am a black belt candidate in Tae Kwon Do and by the time the application is finished I will most likely have my 1st degree black belt. I did a year of varsity wrestling but I hated it. So I went back to Tae Kwon Do after leaving it in the seventh or eighth grade and did it instead. If i get my black belt is it a valid alternative to a varsity sport? I just didnt like wrestling and wanted to do something I was naturally good at. I have other extra curriculars including over 60 hours of community service (as of now) and a 3.61 out of 4 unweighted GPA, and a 1300 PSAT (680 math) (taking SAT in 3 weeks) Does tae kwon do help me a little bit? Thanks. I heard its getting more and more popular at the academies. :))))

I will confirm that your Tae KWON Do equally counts as 1 Varsity!!!!! Even better if you have any Dan 1-5. And even better if you were rated at the WTF Worldwide HQ in Seoul. But Black Belt is Black Belt as long as you are attending an approved ATF or WTF. But WTF is the official recognized sponsor and monitor of the Olympic Sports. Yes in addition TKD Team Sport is essential to build team skills. But gets a lot of mileage at the Academies. In fact you will be feared if they see that you know you can kick box and take down Cadets or Mids. You’ll learn Combatives and Boxing which you should take up now before Plebe year. TKD teaches you agility good stuff. Get into MMA!
CrewDad DS is a 2nd Dan TAE KWON DO. Where would you suggest putting this on his application? He did club TKD competition team up to the age of 13. (His master stopped teaching and became a pro football coach!) DS volunteered to teach over the summers in 9th grade for the TKD club. Thanks for your reply.
 
Last year USMA requested DS's black belt certificate. He was definitely given credit for it.
Unfortunately, he couldn't trade it for an asthma waiver.
 
@PatternisFull. I replied to your PM. Short answer is yes Academy offers Varsity Letter for Black Belts in Marital Arts and for any DAN likewise since Dans are beyond Black Belt. If he did Instructions leading classes that can qualify for Team Captain. DS was credited for the above likewise back in 2018. I wish your DS best of luck. I now like to advise taking up boxing since he will be doing boxing Plebe year. You can go to any boxing gym to learn including Title Boxing. Good to have the basics so you feel comfortable in rings.
 
@Overwhelmed. That’s a darn shame. Looks like your DS made it all the way except the waiver. I hope he will find his path or another route or back en route again next year. Good luck to your family.
 
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