Taekwondo Basingstoke

While not intending to be in any way ageist, Taekwondo can be rather physical and is generally more suited to younger people in Basingstoke, it is especially good for children who will learn to be self-disciplined and respecting of others. It can sometimes be too taxing for older adults unless they are exceptionally fit and active. People in Basingstoke who take up Taekwondo when they are young find it easy to continue when they get older. Tai Chi or something similarly softer might be more suitab le for the less agile of you.

With its beginnings in 1940's Korea, South-East Asia, Taekwondo is certainly one of the more recently established of the martial arts and involves primarily high-kicking movements such as fast kicking styles, turning/jumping kicks and head-height kicks. It began when schools known as "kwans" were established by a bunch of Korean martial arts specialists in Seoul, South Korea.

At present an Olympic sport, Taekwondo has over sixty million enthusiasts worldwide, and though you might not have any aspirations to be an Olympic Games medalist, you can still enroll in a Taekwondo club or class to learn what will undoubtedly turn out to be a fascinating and fulfilling pastime.

While there is much to be gained by doing Taekwondo, it is the self-defence aspect that most Basingstoke people are interested in. This is not hard to believe when you take into account the high levels of violence experienced in town and city centres on a daily basis. The ability to defend yourself and at the same time exercising self-restraint and a respect for others is one of the key benefits of Taekwondo.

These self-defence techniques may at some point come in useful in your everyday life, though it's far more likely you'll solely be testing them within a monitored class setting. Nevertheless it is an amazing feeling knowing that you'll always be in a position to successfully defend yourself if you have to.

Your First Taekwondo Lesson

If you've never had a go at Taekwondo before, you may be a little apprehensive as to what can be expected on your first lesson. This may vary from club to club but will usually comprise all or some of the following. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to increase heart rate and loosen muscles, a little practical training including learning some blocks, hand attacks, stances and kicks, learning a few forms (or Poomse), a brief introduction to sparring including movement, timing and attack timing, and finally a warm down to relax and stretch weary muscles.

The UK official governing body of the sport is British Taekwondo and if you want to join a Taekwondo club in Basingstoke, you'll also be required to become a member of this respected organization. You can find out about first aid, starting a new club, clubs and members, health and safety, coaches and referees, events, safeguarding and equality, coaching courses, news, and more on British Taekwondo's official website, or find the latest news on their Facebook or Twitter page.

Taekwondo Patterns (Forms)

Forms are a key part of Taekwondo and are essential if you're to excel at this thrilling martial art. Several basic Taekwondo forms have to be grasped at the start and more complex forms have to be perfected so as to advance through the various levels. A Taekwondo form is categorized by a number of variables such as direction, technique and stance.

Basingstoke Taekwondo for Beginners

Even the finest exponents of Taekwondo in Basingstoke had to start as novices, so there's no shame in being a complete beginner at Taekwondo, or for that matter any other activity. The goal of a Taekwondo beginners class is to teach a few of the basics, increase confidence and build a firm foundation moving forward. Most important of all is that it should be fun, trainees having fun will learn quicker and be better invested.

Safety Gear

Safety gear such as a blue or red head protector, a gum shield, shin pads, red or blue body armour (hogu), hand protectors, forearm guards and a groin protector must be worn in all matches regulated by British Taekwondo. Protection from injury is imperative on account of the forceful kicking that is an integral part of this activity.