Taekwondo Morpeth

Taekwondo is quite physically demanding, which means it may be considered more suitable for the younger rather than the older generation in Morpeth. Its teachings of self-discipline and respect for others make it particularly good for children. Older adults trying Taekwondo for the first time often find it too taxing, unless they have kept themselves active. People in Morpeth who take up Taekwondo when they are young find it easy to continue when they get older. If you are less agile you could always try something a bit softer such as Tai Chi or Yoga.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently established of the martial arts, with its early beginnings in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial artists in Seoul founded some schools known as "kwans", combining a number of martial arts practices. Taekwondo, which it eventually became known as, largely consists of kicking manoeuvres, especially head-height kicks, fast kicking styles and jumping/turning kicks.

Nowadays an Olympic sport, Taekwondo has over 60 million followers worldwide, and while you may not aspire to be an Olympic Games athlete, you're still able to sign up for a Taekwondo class or club to learn what will no doubt turn out to be a worthwhile and intriguing pastime.

In these days of ever-increasing violence, it's little surprise that individuals in locations like Morpeth are enrolling in self-defence training like Taekwondo to help them to feel safer in their local environment. The self-defence aspect is one of the primary factors of Taekwondo but it also teaches self-restraint and a deep respect for other people, which are qualities that are largely missing in modern day life.

Your newly mastered Taekwondo skills will most likely never need to be tried and tested outside the monitored environment of a dedicated Taekwondo class, however knowing that you've got them will instill you with confidence.

Your First Class

If you have never done Taekwondo previously, you might be a bit concerned as to what to expect on your very first class. This will vary from club to club but will generally comprise all or some of these. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to loosen up muscles and increase heart rate, a little technical training involving learning some kicks, blocks, hand attacks and stances, learning a few Poomse (forms), a brief introduction to sparring including the timing of attacks, timing and movement, and lastly a warm down to stretch and relax tired muscles.

The UK official regulating body of the sport is British Taekwondo and if you want to sign up to Taekwondo club in Morpeth, you'll also be required to register with this organization. You'll be able to find out about launching a new club, events, equality and safeguarding, coaching courses, news, members and clubs, referees and coaching, safe practices, first aid, and more on British Taekwondo's official website, and find out the latest Taekwondo news on their Facebook or Twitter page.

Taekwondo Belts (Ranking)

Because there are a number of kinds of Taekwondo there's never really been any standard arrangement for allocating belts (levels). What exists however is fairly similar and consists of a couple of belt groupings "senior" and "junior" (black and colour), each of these groupings is divided into grades, 8 to 12 colours in the case of juniors and nine "blacks" for seniors.

Taekwondo Tournaments

Tournaments and competitions are an important element of the overall Taekwondo experience, and all the various styles around the world hold tournaments where Taekwondo masters gather together to compete. Hard contact is hardly ever allowed in any of these competitions which mainly incorporate sparring, patterns (forms) and breaking. Sparring only is allowed in Olympic and World Taekwondo tournaments, while certain hand attacks are tolerated in ITF events.

Taekwondo for Beginners

Trainees starting out on their Taekwondo adventure in Morpeth will initially sign up for a beginners class. Beginners classes are fantastic, since there are no strict demands and everything's done at a relaxed, slow pace. Learning and having fun are the primary aims to start with and trainees who are having a great time have a tendency to learn a lot faster and digest significantly more of what they are being shown. Even Taekwondo masters began as inexperienced novices, so take that very first step and you never know where you'll wind up!

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

Safety gear such as forearm protectors, a groin protector, a red or blue head protector, blue/red body armour, a gum shield, shin guards and hand guards are used in all contests overseen by British Taekwondo. Protection from injury is important on account of the forceful kicking which is an integral element of this sport.

Conclusion

We can't all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess that we wouldn't all want to be. Taekwondo is not just about Olympic medals and National Championships. Most of us are content to improve our fitness levels, meet different people and make new friends, and that is how it ought to be. Yet, as with many matters in life, what you get out of it will depend upon what you invest in it. Good luck!