FAQs

The core programme at Bluewave is Taekwondo.  We teach Taekwondo both as a martial art and as a sport, with the opportunity to develop a strong and rounded understanding of all aspects of this Korean Martial Art. 

In addition, for our youngest members we have a programme, KickStars, focused on developing agility, balance and coordination in a fun and friendly environment using activities, games and basic Taekwondo. 

Taekwondo is a Korean Martial Art and Olympic Sport.  The martial art side of Taekwondo includes a full range of upper body strikes and blocks but it is best known for its fast and dynamic kicks.  In 2000 Taekwondo became a full medal sport in the Olympics.

We teach the World Taekwondo (WT/Kukkiwon) style of Taekwondo.  The club’s syllabus covers traditional technical skills, self defence and sport.  We are first and foremost a martial arts club rather than a pure competitive club – though there are plenty of opportunities to compete if you want to.

Our syllabus is deliberately tough and challenging.  Our aim is to develop martial artists who will have strong and rounded skills in all aspects of Taekwondo.  So those who progress through the grades know they have earned their belts. 

The club currently has 9 registered coaches, including 6 master ranks (4th Dan and above).  All our instructors are registered through the British Taekwondo.  The club’s senior instructor is Master Gerry Reilly, 7th Dan, who is one of a fairly small number of UK instructors to have completed the Kukkiwon Instructors course in Korea.

We are the only club in the Basingstoke that is in membership of the World Taekwondo recognised national governing body, British Taekwondo.  This means that your grades gained in the club will be recognised at other British Taekwondo clubs and when you reached Black Belt your grade will be registered in Korea and recognised worldwide.

Our membership of the British Taekwondo also means that should you wish to compete you have the opportunity to compete from all levels up to the Olympics.

You will find plenty of variety in our classes.  Our classes cover the full range of our syllabus and are taught in a reasonable relaxed style.  We aim to limit class sizes to 20, though occasionally this will be exceeded.

A class will start with formal bows to the flags and the coach, followed by a warm up.  Typically then some of the basic techniques will be practised followed by concentrated work on one or more of poomsae, sparring or perhaps self-defence. Following a cool down, the class will end with formal bow to the flags, instructor and senior students.

We run specialised classes for Competition Poomsae, Sport Taekwondo and for our senior grades.

You will find up to date details on the fees page of the website.  First class is free.  After the first class, members pay a monthly fees, with the level depending on whether you are an adult or junior (under 12) and whether you opt for one or unlimited classes per week.

If you are only in the area for a short time such as university vacations or working locally temporarily we can provide flexible arrangements for your time in the Basingstoke area.

The training fee covers membership of the National Governing Body, British Taekwondo, and student insurance.  We do not charge a separate membership fee.

As a not-for-profit organisation, all training fees, grading fees, etc, go into the club to help improve our facilities, equipment and funding club events. 

The way we operate the monthly fees is flexible.   As you will have seen from our website we have quite a range of classes so there are plenty of opportunities to train each week.   If you are paying the once-a-week fee you are not required to train in the same class each week and if you miss classes any reason you are welcome to train several classes other weeks.   So it just has to average out around one class a week.   Obviously if you are paying unlimited training you can do as many classes as you can manage!

As a large club we have to keep a consistent approach to fees just to ensure the level of administration is not excessive and that we can have a consistent income to pay for our facilities.  This is the reason we run our fees by standing order rather than a pay-as-you-go approach which we found became too complex and unpredictable.  

You do not need any equipment to start training in Taekwondo. Once you are sure that you wish to continue to train you will need a uniform (dobok) which are compulsory for official events such as competitions and gradings.

As you progress you will be expected to purchase your own protective equipment for your safety in contact sparring and other contact drills.

For those interested, we aim to take people out to competition once a month. There are opportunities to compete at all levels – the club has competitors from novice to some who are competing at international class.  There is a weekly class specifically focused on the sport aspect of WT Taekwondo.  As members of British Taekwondo we can offer competition to the very highest level.  If you have the talent and dedication this could take you up to Olympic level.

However, participation in competition is entirely optional.  You do not need to compete to be able to progress in grade.  However, before grading to Black Belt level it is expected that students will have gained some experience of the competition side of Taekwondo as either a competitor or official.

This will depend on how often you train, how hard you train and how quickly you learn.  Students who are more dedicated and train harder will obviously achieve their black belt before other less committed students but to put a time span on it is difficult.    For a student training a 2-3 classes per week it is possible to reach the standard required for 1st Dan Black Belt in approximately 3 years.  However to achieve this requires a consistently high level of commitment and effort.

If you are a Black Belt with either a Kukkiwon registered grade or are transferring from another British Taekwondo club your grade will be automatically recognised. Kup grade students from other clubs in membership of British Taekwondo will automatically have their grade recognised.

However if you are from a WT style club from outside of British Taekwondo, or from an ITF or Independent club, the coaches will assess your standard over the first couple of months of your training and an appropriate starting grade will be agreed with the club’s grading examiners.  Unfortunately there are some clubs who promote very rapidly and expected only a very low standard, therefore this assessment is necessary to ensure that transferring students start at the point in our syllabus appropriate to their current knowledge and skills. 

We run classes out of our dedicated dojang (gym) in Basingstoke.  As a member of the club you are welcome to train in any of the appropriate classes.

For more details please look under Classes on this website.

We have classes available 5 days a week.  This provides the opportunities for to train several times a week and so make more rapid progress in your Taekwondo journey.

You are never too old to start.  However if you have not engaged in physical activity or sport for some years, you should check with your GP before starting up a new activity such as Taekwondo.  However we have several members who started their training in their 50s and older, so you don’t need to be a youngster to enjoy Taekwondo.

We accept beginners from the age of 6 in our regular junior classes.  Based on many years of experience we do not believe that most children under the age of 6 have developed the fine motor skills and concentration to benefit from formal martial arts training.

Bluewave considers appearance to be part of the discipline of martial arts training and therefore all students are expected to train in an appropriate Taekwondo uniform (dobok).  This dobok should be kept clean and neat.  For juniors it will be necessary to replace their dobok reasonably regularly to maintain a loose fit that can accommodate the fast, dynamic movements of Taekwondo.  The following notes are intended to outline the clubs expectation on the style of dobok to be worn.  The notes also cover the equipment, etc, that is required to ensure safe practice of Taekwondo.

All kup grade (white belt to black tag) students must train in a World Taekwondo style plain white dobok.  

The dobok should have a white v-neck and should not have stripes on shoulders or legs.

Students are welcome to purchase their doboks either through the club or elsewhere. The club will supply high quality doboks, normally these will be JCalicu, Tusah or Redox brands, at competitive prices.

Dan grades students up to and include 3rd dan wear a World Taekwondo dan dobok with a black v-neck.  The dobok should not have stripes on shoulders or legs.

Under 15s may choose to wear a poom dobok with Red/Black V and this may be required for some higher level poomsae competitions at this age.

As a part of the club’s tradition, each new black belt will be presented with their first dobok following their successful grading.

The club can supply a wide range of black belt doboks in a varied of brands and qualities.  As the club has trade accounts with the major supplies these will generally be at a price significantly below retail cost.  Please talk to one of the instructors for details.

Master grades, 4th dan and above, wear a World Taekwondo dan dobok with a black v-neck and may choose to have stripes on shoulders and/or legs should they wish.

T-shirts may be worn under doboks, but must be plain white.  No coloured t-shirts or printed/patterned t-shirts.

For poomsae competition, kup grade should wear their normal dobok.  Dan grades should wear a age/gender specific poomsae competition dobok, this may also be worn for poomsae training sessions.

All grades should wear their normal dobok for sparring competitions and training.

All jewellery must be removed or covered in training and competition with the exception of plain band rings without sharp edges.

The only permitted head coverings are those worn for religious reasons.  These are permitted both in training and competition.

All students are expected to purchase their own sets of arm and shin guards once they have been training with the club 6 months, or have reach yellow belt or wish to take part in the sport competition training.  All students competing outside of club competitions must purchase their own full set of sparing equipment.

All training is strictly conducted in bare feet, students will not be permitted to train in footwear including martial arts shoes.

Beginners are very welcome to start just wearing normal loose clothing.  A t-shirt and leggings/tracksuit bottoms is ideal.  It will normally be expected that a dobok is bought after approximately a month of training and certainly before the first grading.

Students transferring from other clubs are welcome to wear their old uniform/gi/dobok with a white belt until their first grading with the club.

You can either call us on 0800 860 0043 or send us email at info@bluewave.org.uk.  

Bluewave is a trademark (number UK00003030169) for Class 41 (Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities.) owned by Master Gerry Reilly on behalf of Bluewave Korean Martial Arts.

Then just send us an email or submit a contact form.