Master Caputo has always been dedicated to ensure that his school teaches a martial art, not sell a business or consumer product. He has achieved this by strictly following General Choi's teachings. One sentence uttered many times by General Choi reverberates in the mind of Master Caputo and all his black belts - that when a school becomes a business, it loses the 'art' part of Martial Art. This is explained in more detail in Master Caputo's VI Dan Thesis.

Beaches ITF Taekwon-Do schools has been a non-profit organization since 1984.  Fees, where applicable, are only in place in order to pay the rent and take care of the general upkeep of the Do-Jang (training hall). What permits us to have such low training fees is simple. The black belts at 'Beaches' teach on a volunteer basis, assisted by high-ranking colour belts.  This method stems from the nature of Taekwon-Do as a Martial art.  Unlike a sport, Taekwon-Do has a profound philosophical aspect. This leads to a sense of social responsibility that permits an individual to more fully enjoy the environment she or he lives in. Students are initially introduced to this by means of the tenets and student oath.  Furthermore, the requirements that the Federation imposes on the opening of a new Do-Jang ensures that only experienced, knowledgeable and capable men and women will open a school.

In the ITF, only a IV Dan may open a Do-Jang. In order to achieve this rank, an individual must have been an active black belt for approximately ten years (plus the average four to five years it takes to achieve first Dan black belt). Thus a school under the ITF is the product of years of dedication and training. Absolutely anyone can attain such a rank, as long as they dedicate themselves to the martial art.

The ITF itself covers the globe which means that the training our students receive is recognized world-wide. At each full belt level our students are presented with rank certificates from the ITF which are recognized at any ITF Do-Jang in over 136 countries. Most black belts will visit other Do-Jangs when they travel, just as many black belts have visited our Do-Jang while in Toronto on business trips or during vacations.

Although the rank of Black Belt is the goal of virtually every white belt, it is not an easy path.  Approximately one in thirty will make it to that rank. Unlike 'business' Martial Art schools, students here are not promoted because of the amount of time they have been training or the financial dues that they have paid. Rank in Taekwon-Do is based on knowledge, with each rank representing a student's proficiency in the curriculum. If a student cannot put in the effort to learn the material and fails to exhibit proper technique through laziness or hubris, he or she simply cannot be promoted. Once new techniques are memorised, they have to be developed so that the student can utilize them practically. They eventually become conditioned reflexes rather than theoretical exercises.  As a person moves up belt levels simple understanding and application of techniques are not enough.

General Choi stipulated that a person's moral character and technical expertise must be parallel and unshakeable in order to be promoted to Black Belt. If a person fails to demonstrate character traits that show an understanding and application of moral culture, they should not be promoted. Social responsibility is not a slight thing in Taekwon-Do and bears heavily on the shoulders of its Black Belts.  Character is as essential, if not more so, than the techniques.  A person's rank represents their experience, knowledge and length of study.

Furthermore, as long as one dedicates themselves to their training, promotion will be forthcoming.  Age, gender, initial physical condition are not factors that will necessarily affect a student's ability to enjoy this martial art.  Master Caputo has promoted students to first degree black belt that were in their late forties.

What is Taekwon-Do?

"To put it simply, Taekwon-Do is a version of unarmed combat designed [by General Choi Hong Hi and founded in 1955] for the purpose of self-defence.

It is more than that, however.

It is the scientific use of the body in the method of self-defence: a body that has gained the ultimate use of its facilities through intensive mental and physical training.

It is a martial art that has no equal in either power or technique. Though it is a martial art, its discipline, technique and mental training are the mortar for building a strong sense of justice, fortitude, humility and resolve.  It is this mental conditioning that separates the true practitioners of Taekwon-Do from other sports.

This is one of the reasons that Taekwon-Do is called an art of self-defence. It also implies a way of thinking and living, particularly in instilling a concept of an ideal noble moral rearmament.

Taekwon-Do definitely enables the weak to possess a fine weapon together with a confidence to defend himself or herself and defeat the enemy as well.

Taekwon-Do is an excellent total body exercise and according to physical fitness experts, one of the fastest calorie-burning sports activities around."

- General Choi Hong Hi, Taekwon-Do: The Korean Art of Self-Defence, USSR: International Taekwon-Do Federation, 1991. p. 747.