Taekwondo Lytham St Annes

Because of its more physical aspects, Taekwondo is maybe more appropriate for the younger person in Lytham St Annes and is especially suited to kids as it's wonderful for developing self-discipline and respect for other people. Older adults might find it somewhat too demanding unless they're particularly active and fit. However, those who take up Taekwondo in Lytham St Annes at a young age will find they can easily carry it on into older adulthood. The less agile of you might think about something softer like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo was only developed quite recently in Korea (1945). Some innovative new schools called "kwans" were established in Seoul by a group of Korean martial arts fanatics, blending a number of various martial arts techniques. In Taekwondo the emphasis is on kicking, especially rapid kicking methods, head kicks and jumping/turning kicks. Today Lytham St Annes Taekwondo classes stick to this tradition.

With more than sixty million people taking part in Taekwondo sessions all over the world, this has certainly become an extremely popular and worthwhile pastime, and if you become really expert at this sport you may even one day be eligible for the Olympic Games, of which it's been an integral part ever since the 2000 Sydney Games.

In these days of ever-increasing violence, it's hardly surprising that individuals in locations like Lytham St Annes are signing up for self-defence training such as Taekwondo to enable them to feel safer and more secure 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 other people, which are qualities that are largely lacking in 21st century living.

Your eagerly mastered Taekwondo skills will most likely never need to be put to the test outside the monitored setting of a dedicated Taekwondo class, however being aware of the fact that you have them will instill you with self-confidence.

Your First Lytham St Annes Taekwondo Lesson

If you have never dome Taekwondo before, you may be interested to know exactly what is likely to happen on your first class. This will vary from school to school but will usually involve some or all of the following. A warm up of fifteen to twenty minutes to increase your heart rate and reduce stiffness in the muscles, a little technical training which will involve learning some stances, kicks, blocking techniques and hand attacks, an introduction to forms or patterns, a look at sparring including timing, movement and the targeting of attacks, and lastly a warm down to relax and stretch muscles.

Everybody who's a registered member of a Taekwondo club in Lytham St Annes or any place else in Britain, is also required to join British Taekwondo, which is the governing body of the sport. By viewing the British Taekwondo website you will be able to read info regarding coaches and referees, coaching courses, safe practices, events, first aid, news, establishing a new Taekwondo club, equality and safeguarding, members and clubs, and lots more Taekwondo related facts.

Taekwondo Kicks

One of the main elements of Taekwondo is kicking, here is a selection of the essential kicks: Front Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Back Kick, Side Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Crescent Kick, Push Kick, Axe Kick. Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", that are used to fend off the different attacking movements, are called Makgi. They're held in various positions and enlist the hands with different sections of the arm. Every block can be merged with a punch or kick to create a counter-attacking move, and each one is appropriate for a specific attack. The key "blocks" include: Palm Block, Rising Block, Knife Hand Block, Upper Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Double Forearm Block, Single Forearm Block, Low Block and Nine Block.

Taekwondo Competitions and Tournaments

There are a whole host of competitions and tournaments in Taekwondo involving all the diverse styles. They primarily consist of patterns, breaking and sparring with almost no hard contact. International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) contests don't allow excessive contact but may allow hand attacks to the head. World Taekwondo and Olympic competitions only allow sparring. Multi-style competitions are also held.

Conclusion

We cannot all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I reckon that we don't all want to be. Taekwondo isn't solely about Olympic titles and National Championships. The majority of of us are happy to meet different people, improve our levels of fitness and make new friends, and that's exactly how it ought to be. Yet, as with most matters in life, what you get from it will be determined by what you invest in it. Good luck and enjoy!