Taekwondo Halesowen

While not intending to be in any way ageist, Taekwondo can be rather physical and is generally more suited to younger people in Halesowen, it is especially good for children who will learn to be self-disciplined and respecting of others. Unless they are particularly fit and active, older adults may find it too physically taxing. However those in Halesowen who take up Taekwondo at a young age, will find that carrying it on into older adulthood is not a problem. If you consider yourself among the less agile, you could try something like Tai Chi which is much softer.

Taekwondo started in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial arts fanatics in Seoul established some new schools called "kwans", where they practiced a combination of martial arts techniques. The emphasis of Taekwondo, as it eventually became known, is on kicking manoeuvres, especially rapid kicking techniques, head-height kicks and jumping/spinning kicks.Today Halesowen Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

With more than 60 million individuals taking part in Taekwondo sessions all over the world, this has certainly become a popular and beneficial activity, and if you become really expert at the martial art you may even one day be eligible for the Olympic Games, of which it's been an integral part since the 2000 Sydney Games.

The thing about Taekwondo that seems to most appeal to people in Halesowen is the self-defence aspect of it. And its not surprising that this is on people's list of priorities when you consider the rising levels of violence seen these days in town and city centres throught the United Kingdom. Being able to defend yourself is a key factor of Taekwondo, but this is tempered by learning self-restraint and a respect for others.

While its good to know that you can defend yourself when you need to, it is hoped that you never need to test this outside of your local Taekwondo club environment.

Your First Class

If you've booked your first class but have never attempted Taekwondo before, you will be wondering what to expect. Most Taekwondo schools in Halesowen follow a similar pattern, but there may be variations to the following. 15-20 minutes of warm up exercises to loosen stiff muscles and increate your heart rate, a little technical training including learning some blocks, stances, hand attacks and kicks, learning some forms (or Poomse), some tips on sparring including movement, timing and attack targeting, and to round off a warm down to stretch muscles and loosen up.

Taekwondo of course also has its own regulating body, and in the UK it is British Taekwondo. Every person wishing to join a Taekwondo club in Halesowen have to become registered members of this organisation. You will be able to get plenty of details of clubs and members, safe practices, events, equality and safeguarding, coaches and tournament referees, establishing a new Taekwondo club, first aid, news, coaching courses, and more, by visiting British Taekwondo's website.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

The benefits which may be gained by participating in Taekwondo instruction in Halesowen are countless, amongst the most advantageous are: Improve stamina, agility and flexibility through extreme cardiovascular exertion, Enhance self-esteem and concentration by raising your mental and physical powers, Empower your mind and body by means of increased physical coordination and mental discipline, Build your confidence by helping you to take control of your life and succeed, Reduce anxiety and stress by doing deep breathing exercises, Develop discipline and willpower by methodically educating your body and mind in the doctrines and techniques of Taekwondo, Teach self-defence techniques by coaching you to understand circumstances where self-defence might be needed, and enabling you to turn these circumstances to your advantage.

Taekwondo Forms (Patterns)

Novices just starting their journey in Taekwondo do not need to worry too much about forms (patterns, Poomse) at the outset, however they will have to familiarise themselves with some important ones to begin with and advance to more elaborate forms as they move up the belts (dans/grades). A "form" is signified by certain elements of Taekwondo including direction, technique and stance. Getting to grips with these sequences is a key part of perfecting Taekwondo.

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

In all competitions, events and contests being held under the control of British Taekwondo, safety gear such as shin protectors, a gum shield, forearm guards, a red or blue body protector (hogu), a blue/red head protector, hand protectors and a groin protector is mandatory. The kicking moves which are part of Taekwondo may cause injuries and this helps make the sport less hazardous for its competitors.

Conclusion

What you get out of Taekwondo will be directly related to what you invest in it (as applies with life on the whole). Many of you will purely want to make new friends, meet different people and improve your fitness levels, some may want to take part in competitions or tournaments or maybe even the Olympic Games. But remember, we cannot all end up being a Jade Jones or a Lutalo Muhammad.