Taekwondo Dunstable

It should be asserted that Taekwondo can be very demanding physically, which might unnerve the less agile and more elderly people in Dunstable from taking this up. To be truthful, the most frequent people participating in Taekwondo classes are kids and the younger generation, but unquestionably older people who're in great physical condition can easily be involved and benefit from this activity.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently developed of the martial arts, with its beginnings in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial artists in Seoul established some new schools known as "kwans", combining various martial arts techniques. The emphasis of the discipline was on kicking manoeuvres, especially jumping/spinning kicks, fast kicking methods and head kicks, and it was later given the name; Taekwondo, meaning "the way of the foot and fist".Today Dunstable Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

Since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been a competitive Olympic sport. This has added to its popularity throughout the world with some sixty million people or more actively taking classes. And it is by signing up to a Taekwondo club or class that you can start your quest of mastering this thrilling art.

For many people in Dunstable, it is the self-defence element of Taekwondo that holds the most appeal. And in these times of increased violence, especially in town and city centres, it really is little surprise that this aspect sits high up on people's priority lists. It is a key element of Taekwondo that you can become confident in your capability to defend yourself and at the same time learn to respect those around you and practice self-restraint.

These self-defence techniques may in due course come in handy in your day to day life, although it's more likely that you will only be using them within a regulated class setting. Nevertheless it's a nice feeling knowing the fact that you will always be able to successfully defend yourself when you have to.

Your First Class

If Taekwondo isn't a sport that you have ever tried previously, you'll likely be curious about what you should be expecting from your first lesson if you make up your mind to sign up. Different Taekwondo schools in the Dunstable area have varying thoughts on this but roughly; you'll participate in a 15-20 minute warm-up, you will do some technical training, you will learn some forms, you'll practice sparring methods and finally you will warm-down to help your body get back into a state of relaxation again.

British Taekwondo is the official governing body of the sport within the United Kingdom, and membership of this organization is mandatory if you want to join any Taekwondo club in Dunstable or nearby. You can get loads of information about safeguarding and equality, establishing a new Taekwondo club, news, referees and coaching, health and safety, first aid, events, coaching courses, members and clubs, and more, by viewing the official British Taekwondo website.

The Many Benefits of Taekwondo

You'll no doubt be intrigued to learn about exactly what type of benefits might be achieved by attending Dunstable Taekwondo classes and engaging fully in its activities. You may expect that you will: Turbocharge agility, stamina and flexibility through intensive cardiovascular exertion, Enhance self-esteem by sharpening both mental and physical fitness, More self-discipline by methodically schooling your mind and body in the tactics and concepts of Taekwondo, Teach self-defence by helping you to realize scenarios in which self-defence could be necessary, and empowering you to manipulate these circumstances to your advantage, Reduced stress using advanced breath control, Toughen up your mind and body by improved physical coordination and mental discipline, Build up your confidence by encouraging you to succeed and to seize control of your life.

Some Taekwondo Kicks

Of all the martial arts, Taekwondo has the widest assortment of kicking manoeuvres. Among them are: Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Hook or Whip Kick (Huryeo Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To repulse the numerous hand attacks and kicks there are an equally diverse array of blocks. They're held in various positions and engage the hands with different parts of the arm. Each form of attack calls for a particular type of block, counter-attacking manoeuvres can be created by integrating a block with another kick or punch. The main "blocks" include: Upper Block, Palm Block, Nine Block, Knife Hand Block, Single Forearm Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Rising Block, Double Forearm Block and Low Block.

Taekwondo Forms

Novices just beginning their journey in Taekwondo do not have to fret excessively about forms (patterns, Poomse) at the outset, but they will get to grips with some basic ones for starters and move forward to more elaborate "forms" as they progress up the various belts (grades/dans). A form is signified by certain elements of Taekwondo including technique, stance and direction. Learning these sequences is a key part of perfecting Taekwondo.

Taekwondo Tournaments and Competitions

A standard Taekwondo tournament incorporates breaking, patterns and sparring, as far as the Olympics is concerned only sparring is included. With that being said there may also be a few special events in specific tournaments such as self-defence and team demonstrations. WT competitions are strictly soft-contact events, while International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) competitions permit some hand attacks to be aimed at the head. There are additionally a number of multi-discipline competitions.