Taekwondo Altrincham

Many people in Altrincham would imagine that the high kicking, fast punching movements demanded by Taekwondo are more suited to young kids. There's 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 every age group cannot participate. Being relatively agile and fit is however a prerequisite of Taekwondo.

Taekwondo is a martial art that mainly involves high-kicking manoeuvres and moves, most notably rapid kicking techniques, turning/jumping kicks and head-height kicks. It began in Seoul, in southern Korea in the 1940's, when a group of martial arts specialists founded schools known as "kwans", which blended a variety of martial arts techniques.

With over sixty million fitness enthusiasts participating in Taekwondo instruction all over the world, this has definitely become a popular pastime, and if you become really good at this sport you might possibly one day be eligible for the Olympic Games, of which it has been an integral part ever since the 2000 Sydney Games.

It seems to be the case that the most interesting aspect of Taekwondo is self-defence. And if you consider the increased levels of violence in town and city centres these days, this is not surprising. Learning to defend yourself while at the same time applying self-restraint and a respect for others is a key principle of Taekwondo.

Such self-defence techniques may at some point come in useful in your day to day life, though it's far more likely you'll only be putting them to the test within a monitored class setting. Nevertheless it is a wonderful feeling knowing the fact that you'll always be in a position to defend yourself when you have to.

Your First Class

If Taekwondo isn't something that you've ever had a go at before, you'll most likely be curious about what to expect from your initial class should you make your mind up to join. Different Taekwondo schools in the Altrincham area have different thoughts on this but roughly; you will take part in a fifteen to twenty minute warm-up, you'll do a certain amount of technical training, you'll learn some forms (patterns), you will practice sparring methods and lastly you will perform a warm-down to help your body get back into a state of relaxation once more.

Taekwondo of course also has its own official regulating body, and in the British Isles it is British Taekwondo. Anybody wishing to sign up with a Taekwondo club in Altrincham must become a member of this organisation. By exploring British Taekwondo's official website you will be able to discover information about coaching courses, equality and safeguarding, first aid, news, health and safety, beginning a new Taekwondo club, referees and coaching, members and clubs, events, and a lot more Taekwondo related facts.

Benefits to be Gained From Taekwondo

There are of course, lots of benefits to be had from participating in Taekwondo, and the following are just some that could be interesting for you: Toughen up your body and mind by way of increased physical coordination and mental discipline, More self-discipline by exhaustively training your body and mind in the tactics and concepts of Taekwondo, Improve self-esteem by heightening both physical and mental health, Reduced anxiety by doing deep breathing exercises, Help with self-defence by helping you to realize instances where self-defence might be required, and allowing you to turn these kinds of circumstances to your advantage, Beef up your confidence by motivating you to take control of your life and succeed, Augment stamina, agility and flexibility through strenuous cardiovascular work-outs.

Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is well known for its formidable kicks, listed here are the important ones: Push Kick, Side Kick, Whip or Hook Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick, Axe Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Crescent Kick. Taekwondo Blocks: To fend off the numerous hand attacks and kicks there are an equally diverse range of blocks. Employing the hands and sections of the arm, they are held in diverse positions. Each type of attack necessitates a particular kind of block, counter-attacks can be produced by combining a block with a retaliatory kick or punch. The primary blocks (makgi) in Taekwondo include: Upper Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Knife Hand Block, Rising Block, Low Block, Palm Block, Double Forearm Block, Single Forearm Block and Nine Block.

Taekwondo Belts (Promotion)

In regards to ranking, belts and promotion there isn't actually any standardization in Taekwondo, because there are a number of styles of Taekwondo which each have their own specific system. There are however parallels and they usually consist of a couple of groupings of belts "juniors" and "seniors" symbolized by coloured and black belts respectively, . The senior levels normally have 9 levels and the junior, eight to twelve ranks.

Safety Gear

Safety equipment such as red/blue trunk armour, hand guards, a groin guard, a blue or red head protector, a mouth protector, forearm guards and shin pads must be worn in all tournaments controlled by British Taekwondo. Protection from injuries is required owing to the forceful kicking that's an integral element of this activity.

Conclusion

We cannot all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess that we don't all want to be. Taekwondo is not just about Olympic titles and National Championships. Most of us are content to meet different people, make new friends and improve our fitness levels, and that's exactly how it ought to be. Yet, as with many matters in life, what you get out of it will depend on what you put into it. Enjoy! 👊