Taekwondo Leek

Since Taekwondo has fairly high physical demands, it's possibly more suitable for the younger generation in Leek. That is not to say that older people can't participate in this popular activity, but merely that there might be other martial arts which are more appropriate for the less nimble of us. Tai Chi is the perfect illustration.

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. Taekwondo, which it eventually became known as, mostly involves kicking manoeuvres, especially head kicks, fast kicking techniques and spinning/jumping kicks.Today Leek Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

With more than 60 million individuals participating in Taekwondo sessions all around the globe, this has certainly become a popular pastime, and if you really master this sport you might possibly one day qualify for the Olympic Games, of which it has been a part since the 2000 Sydney Games.

A key element of Taekwondo is self-defence, and of course this is one of the primary reasons that people in Leek sign up to classes and get involved in the sport. There's been a disconcerting increase in violent conduct in recent years and this is especially widespread in town and city centres around Staffordshire and the nation as a whole. The fantastic thing about Taekwondo though, is that it also teaches self-discipline and respect for others, not such widespread qualities in Leek nowadays.

Although you'll spend a lot of time mastering these vital self-defence skills, with any luck you won't ever need to apply them apart from within your local Taekwondo club environment.

Your First Leek Taekwondo Lesson

If Taekwondo isn't an activity that you have ever had a go at previously, you'll most likely be wondering what you should expect from your initial class if you decide to join. Different Taekwondo schools in Leek have different thoughts on this but roughly; you'll take part in a fifteen to twenty minute warm-up, you will do a certain amount of technical training, you will learn some forms, you will practice sparring tactics and lastly you'll warm-down to help your body get back into a relaxed state once again.

The body regulating Taekwondo in Great Britain is British Taekwondo and anyone wanting to join a Taekwondo class in Leek must also register with British Taekwondo. You can get lots of information regarding referees and coaching, coaching courses, events, news, members and clubs, first aid, equality and safeguarding, starting a new club, safe practices, and more, by viewing British Taekwondo's website.

Taekwondo Kicks

There are numerous different Taekwondo kicking moves, here are just a selection of them: Roundhouse Kick, Side Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Axe Kick, Crescent Kick, Back Kick, Front Kick, Push Kick. Taekwondo Blocks: To defend against and stop an incoming Taekwondo attack, blocks (called Makgi) are implemented. Employing the hand and different areas of the arm, they're held in specific positions. Each "block" can be coupled with a punch or kick to produce a counter-attack, and each "block" is suitable for a certain type of attack. The most used blocks include: Double Knife Hand Block, Rising Block, Knife Hand Block, Palm Block, Low Block, Upper Block, Single Forearm Block, Double Forearm Block and Nine Block.

Taekwondo Forms

Taekwondo forms (also called Poomse or patterns) are identified by particular facets like technique, stance and direction. From the outset you are going to get to grips with some of the important forms, and so as to move through the levels (belts) you'll need to master some more technical ones.

Taekwondo Belts (Promotion)

With there being various different kinds of Taekwondo there has never really been any recognised system for allocating belts (ranks). What exists however is quite similar and comprises 2 belt groups "junior" and "senior" ("colour" and "black"), each of these groupings is divided into levels, 8 to 12 colours for juniors and 9 "blacks" for the seniors.

Tournaments

Taekwondo contests are staged around the world in all the diverse styles. There's generally not a whole lot of hard contact but patterns, sparring and breaking. Olympic and World Taekwondo (WT) contests comprise only sparring, in ITF tournaments specific hand attacks are permitted to the head. Various other bodies stage multi-discipline tournaments.

Taekwondo Beginners Classes

It doesn't matter what you're ranking is or who you are in Taekwondo, at one point you were a complete novice, fearing failure and knowing nothing. We have all started out like this and are only able to learn and improve through practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Leek are the right place to begin that learning process and to pick up the basic principles so that you can gain self-confidence and proceed with your Taekwondo experience. Nearly all beginner classes are set up to be friendly and fun, providing a gradual introduction to the fundamental Taekwondo principles and developing a solid base for the future.

Safety Gear

Safety equipment such as hand protectors, forearm guards, a blue or red head guard, a blue or red body guard (hogu), a gum shield, shin guards and a groin protector have to be used in all competitions overseen by British Taekwondo. Protection from injury is crucial thanks to the vigorous kicks that are an integral element of this sport.

Final Thoughts

So, what are you hoping to get from doing Taekwondo? Well, that is an excellent question, and the answer will vary for different people. Most participants will simply look to gain more confidence, meet new people and improve their fitness. We are not all going to scale the heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, though maybe you will, you never know? 👊