Taekwondo Cleckheaton

It must be asserted that Taekwondo can be very challenging physically, which can intimidate the older and less nimble folks in Cleckheaton from getting involved. To be honest, the most frequent participants of Taekwondo classes are children and younger people, but unquestionably older individuals who are in decent physical condition can easily take part and benefit considerably from this sport.

Based mainly around kicking moves and manoeuvres like rapid kicking styles, jumping/spinning kicks and head kicks, Taekwondo was created from the practices of various diverse martial arts, by a group of Seoul martial arts experts in new schools known as "Kwans" during the nineteen forties and fifties. These "Kwans" had the names Mooduk Kwan, Songmu Kwan, Jido Kwan, Chungdo Kwan and Changmu Kwan.

Ever since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been a competitive Olympic sport. This has added to its popularity around the world with some 60 million people or more routinely participating in classes. And it's by enrolling in a Taekwondo club or class that you can start your journey of learning this unique martial art.

In these times of ever-increasing violence, it is no surprise that individuals in areas like Cleckheaton are signing up for self-defence training such as Taekwondo to enable them to feel safer in their local environment. The self-defence aspect is one of the key benefits of Taekwondo but it also teaches self-restraint and a deep respect for others around us, which are traits that are largely lacking in modern day life.

Your eagerly mastered Taekwondo skills will likely never have to be tested outside of a dedicated Taekwondo class, however being aware that you have them will instill you with confidence.

Your First Taekwondo Class

If you have never had a go at Taekwondo before, you might be a bit concerned as to what you can expect on your very first class. This may vary from school to school but will typically involve all or some of these. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to loosen up muscles and increase heart rate, some technical training involving learning some kicks, stances, blocking techniques and hand attacks, discovering some forms (or Poomse), an overview of sparring which will include timing, movement and the timing of attacks, and finally a warm down to stretch and relax weary muscles.

If you want to join a Taekwondo class in Cleckheaton, you'll also have to become a member of the sport's official regulating body, namely British Taekwondo. By going to British Taekwondo's website you will be able to read info regarding coaching courses, news, safe practices, events, launching a new club, clubs and members, safeguarding and equality, first aid, coaches and tournament referees, and lots more Taekwondo related facts.

Benefits to be Gained From Taekwondo

The benefits that can be gained by taking part in Taekwondo lessons in Cleckheaton are numerous, amongst the most advantageous are: Improve feelings of self-esteem by intensifying both mental and physical health, Beef up confidence by helping you to succeed and to take control of your life, Teach self-defence by helping you to understand instances where self-defence might be required, and enabling you to control such situations to your advantage, Greater self-discipline by thoroughly educating your mind and body in the principles and techniques of Taekwondo, Reduced stress and anxiety using advanced breath control, Strengthen your mind and body by improved physical coordination and mental discipline, Improve stamina, flexibility and agility through strenuous cardiovascular effort.

Taekwondo Competitions

A typical Taekwondo tournament features patterns (forms), sparring and breaking, where the Olympics is concerned only sparring is involved. That said there can also be a few special events in certain tournaments such as self-defence and team demonstrations. World Taekwondo competitions are strictly soft-contact affairs, whilst ITF competitions allow some hand attacks to be aimed at the head. There are also some multi-discipline contests.

Taekwondo Beginners Classes

Students setting out on their Taekwondo experience in Cleckheaton will at first enroll in a beginners class. Beginners classes are great, since there's not any pressure and things are done at a relaxed, slow pace. Having fun while learning is the primary intention at the start and students who are having a good time tend to learn a lot faster and digest considerably more of what they are being shown. Even Taekwondo masters began as clueless novices, so take that very first step and you never know where you'll wind up!

Safety Gear

In all events, tournaments and contests being held under the auspices of British Taekwondo, safety gear such as hand protectors, shin guards, a red/blue body guard (hogu), a groin protector, a mouth guard, forearm guards and a red or blue head guard is mandatory. The fast kicking tactics employed in Taekwondo may cause serious injuries and these precautions help to make this activity less risky for its competitors.

Summary

So, what are you hoping to get from Taekwondo? Well, that's a good question, and the answer to that will vary for different people. The majority of participants will purely look to gain more self-confidence, meet new people and improve their levels of fitness. We're certainly not all going to scale the dizzy heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, although maybe you will, who knows? 👊