Taekwondo Longbenton

Many people in Longbenton would imagine that the fast punching, high kicking movements demanded by Taekwondo are more appropriate for younger children. There is no doubt that the younger generation are more equipped to cope with the physical demands of this high energy sport, but this isn't to say that people of any age cannot take part. It should however be said that if you're fairly agile you will definately get more enjoyment out of Taekwondo.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently introduced of the martial arts, with its beginnings in Korea, South-East Asia in 1945. A group of Korean martial artists in Seoul established some new schools which they called "kwans", incorporating a variety of martial arts practices. Taekwondo, which it eventually became known as, largely involves kicking manoeuvres, especially jumping/spinning kicks, fast kicking techniques and head-height kicks.

Now an Olympic sport, Taekwondo has over sixty million practitioners all around the world, and while you might not aspire to be an Olympic Games medalist, you can still join a Taekwondo class or club to master what will no doubt prove to be a worthwhile and intriguing activity.

For a lot of people in Longbenton, it is the self-defence element of Taekwondo that has the most appeal. And in these times of increasing violence, particularly in city and town centres, it's little surprise that this features high up on people's list of priorities. It is a key element of Taekwondo that you are able to gain more confidence in your capability to defend yourself and at the same time learn to respect those around you and practice self-restraint.

There is a very good chance that your eagerly mastered Taekwondo skills will never need to be tested in your day to day life, but it will unquestionably give you reassurance knowing that they are sitting in the background should you ever be in need of them.

Your First Class

If you haven't tried Taekwondo before, you may be interested to find out exactly what is going to take place on your first lesson. There may be variations to the following, depending on which Longbenton Taekwondo school you go to, but you can roughly expect; A warm up of fifteen to twenty minutes to increase your heart rate and reduce stiffness in your muscles, a little technical training comprising some hand attacks, blocking techniques, kicks and stances, learning some Poomse (or forms), a few ideas on sparring including good timing, precise movement and the accurate targeting of attacks, and last but not least a warm down to stretch weary muscles and relax.

Anybody wanting to join a Taekwondo class in Longbenton must also register with British Taekwondo which is the governing body of the sport in the British Isles. You'll be able to find out about coaching courses, events, first aid, referees and coaching, clubs and members, beginning a new Taekwondo club, news, safeguarding and equality, safe practices, and more on British Taekwondo's website, and find out the latest news on their Twitter or Facebook page.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

The benefits which may be gained by participating in Taekwondo training in Longbenton are numerous, amongst the most noteworthy are: Turbocharge agility, stamina and flexibility by way of strenuous cardiovascular exertion, Enhance self-esteem by raising your physical and mental fitness, Lower stress and anxiety by doing deep breathing exercises, Toughen up your mind and body by enhanced physical coordination and mental discipline, More self-discipline by extensively educating your body and mind in the strategies and concepts of Taekwondo, Learn self-defence by coaching you to understand occasions in which self-defence might be necessary, and empowering you to manipulate these types of situations in your favour, Grow in your confidence by motivating you to succeed and to seize control of your life.

Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is perhaps most recognized for its nimble-footed kicking manoeuvres, here are some of the basic kicks you will learn as a novice: Side Kick, Whip or Hook Kick, Front Kick, Axe Kick, Crescent Kick, Push Kick, Back Kick, Roundhouse Kick. Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", which are used to repulse the different attacks, are called Makgi. Held in diverse positions, they engage the hands and areas of the arm. Each and every block can be merged with a kick or punch to create a counter-attack, and each is appropriate for a certain type of attack. The most important blocks (makgi) in Taekwondo include: Knife Hand Block, Single Forearm Block, Double Forearm Block, Upper Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Nine Block, Palm Block, Low Block and Rising Block.

Taekwondo Forms (Patterns)

Mastering the art of Taekwondo will involve getting to grips with many techniques and disciplines and one of the pivotal parts of Taekwondo is its forms (also called patterns or Poomse). These are types of direction, stance and technique which have to be memorized in order for pupils to progress through the various dans (belts/grades).

Beginners Taekwondo Longbenton

With any sport or activity we need to start somewhere, and Taekwondo's not any different. Even the best Longbenton Taekwondo masters were complete beginners at one point. So, exactly what can you expect as a total novice at Taekwondo? Beginner classes should give their enrollees sufficient training to teach them the basic principles and allow them to gain confidence as they move forward. A perfect beginners class must be fun as well as educational, when folks are enjoying themselves they are more committed and will learn faster.

Summary

We can pretty much guarantee that if you participate in Taekwondo you'll gain self-confidence, improve your levels of fitness and make more friends. If that is all that you get out of it, then that is great, you can call it an achievement! We're not all looking to be Jade Jones's or Lutalo Muhammad's, but those of you that are, still need to start with that very first step. Good luck on your journey! 👊