Taekwondo Aberystwyth

Since Taekwondo has quite high physical demands, it is perhaps more suited to the younger people of Aberystwyth. That is not to say that older people can't be involved in this particular activity, but merely that there might be other martial arts which are more appropriate for the less agile among us. Tai Chi would be a perfect illustration.

With its beginnings in 1940's Korea, Taekwondo is obviously one of the more recently formulated of the martial arts and entails primarily high-kicking movements such as head kicks, rapid kicking techniques and spinning/jumping kicks. It started when schools called "kwans" were set up by a group of Korean martial arts specialists in Seoul, South Korea.

Since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport. This has added to its popularity throughout the world with some 60 million people or more regularly taking part in classes. And it is by enrolling in a Taekwondo class or club that you are able to begin your journey of learning this exciting art.

A key aspect of Taekwondo is self-defence, and of course this is one of the primary reasons that individuals in Aberystwyth join classes and engage with the sport. There's been a troubling increase in violent behaviour in recent times and this is especially widespread in city and town centres around Wales and the United Kingdom in general. The fantastic thing about Taekwondo though, is that it also teaches self-discipline and a deep respect for others, not such widespread characteristics in Aberystwyth these days.

With a bit of luck you will never need to use your newly acquired Taekwondo skills for defending yourself outside of your local club environment, however it's nice to know they are there if you need them.

Your First Aberystwyth Taekwondo Class

If you've never had a go at Taekwondo previously, you might be a little concerned as to what to expect on your first lesson. This will vary from club to club but will usually involve some or all of these. A 15-20 minute warm up to loosen muscles and increase heart rate, a little technical training involving learning some hand attacks, blocks, stances and kicks, discovering some Poomse (forms), an overview of sparring which will include movement, the timing of attacks and timing, and lastly a warm down to stretch and relax weary muscles.

British Taekwondo is the regulating body of the sport within the UK, and membership of this organisation is compulsory if you would like to join any Taekwondo club in Aberystwyth or nearby. By exploring British Taekwondo's official website you'll be able to read info regarding establishing a new club, coaching courses, safeguarding and equality, coaches and referees, clubs and members, health and safety, news, first aid, events, and a lot more Taekwondo related facts.

The Popular Taekwondo Kicks

There are a lot of different Taekwondo kicking movements, here are just a few of them: Roundhouse Kick, Push Kick, Whip or Hook Kick, Back Kick, Axe Kick, Side Kick, Front Kick, Crescent Kick. Blocks: To defend against and stop an inbound attack, "blocks" (known as Makgi) are used. Using the hand and sections of the arm, they are held in diverse positions. Specific attacks require specified "blocks", but "blocks" can also be turned into counter-attacking movements by linking retaliatory punches or kicks. The most used "blocks" (makgi) include: Double Forearm Block, Upper Block, Low Block, Rising Block, Nine Block, Single Forearm Block, Palm Block, Knife Hand Block and Double Knife Hand Block.

Taekwondo Patterns (Forms)

Taekwondo forms (also called Poomse or patterns) are distinguished by certain activities like direction, technique and stance. From the beginning of your Taekwondo experience you'll get to grips with a few of the basic forms, and so as to move through the grades (belts) you will have to master some more technical ones.

Aberystwyth Taekwondo for Beginners

Students setting out on their Taekwondo experience in Aberystwyth will initially enroll in a beginners class. Beginners classes are terrific, since there are no strict demands and everything is carried out at a slow and casual pace. Having fun whilst learning is the key aim at the start and students who are enjoying themselves tend to learn a lot faster and digest more of what they are being taught. Even Taekwondo masters started off as inexperienced novices, so take that initial step and who knows where you will finish up!

Summary

So, what are you hoping to get from doing Taekwondo? Well, that's a great question, and the answer to that will vary for different people. Most participants will simply wish to meet new people, improve their levels of fitness and gain more confidence. We are certainly not all going to reach the dizzy heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, although perhaps you will, who knows?