Taekwondo Bath

Due to its rather more physical aspects, Taekwondo is perhaps more suited to the younger person in Bath and is particularly suitable for children as it is great for developing self-discipline and respect for others. It can sometimes be too taxing for older adults unless they are exceptionally fit and active. People in Bath who take up Taekwondo when they are young find it easy to continue when they get older. The less agile of you might consider something softer like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently developed of the martial arts, with its beginnings in Korea in 1945. This combination of various martial arts techniques were practiced in some new schools in Seoul called "kwans", founded by a group of Korean martial artists. The emphasis of the discipline was on kicking manoeuvres, especially rapid kicking techniques, head-height kicks and spinning/jumping kicks, and it was later given the name; Taekwondo, meaning "the way of the foot and fist".

The total number of Taekwondo practitioners worldwide, now exceeds 60 million. Joining a local Taekwondo club or class in Bath is a good way to get involved with this activity which is now an Olympic sport. While nobody would expect you to get to Olympic standard, you can certainly be one of the best Taekwondo exponents in Bath.

In these times of ever-increasing violence, it is little surprise that people in areas like Bath are signing up for self-defence classes such as Taekwondo to help them feel safer and more secure in their local environment. The self-defence aspect is one of the primary benefits of Taekwondo but it also teaches self-restraint and a deep respect for others around us, which are characteristics that are often missing in 21st century living.

While it is good to practice and master these self-defence skills in the controlled environment of your local Bath Taekwondo club, with luck you will never be required to use them in the outside world.

What to Expect From Your First Lesson

If Taekwondo isn't a sport that you have ever had a go at previously, you'll doubtless be wondering what to expect from your initial class if you make your mind up to join. Different Taekwondo schools in Bath have different thoughts on this but in brief; you'll take part in a fifteen to twenty minute warm-up, you will do some technical training, you'll learn some forms, you will practice sparring techniques and last but not least you will warm-down to help your body get back into a state of relaxation once more.

Taekwondo of course also has its own official governing body, and in the British Isles it is British Taekwondo. Everybody wishing to sign up with a Taekwondo club in Bath must become registered members of this organisation. By exploring British Taekwondo's website you will be able to obtain details about events, first aid, safeguarding and equality, news, members and clubs, beginning a new club, safe practices, coaching courses, coaches and referees, and lots more Taekwondo related issues.

The Many Benefits of Taekwondo

There are of course, lots of benefits to be had from taking part in Taekwondo, and the following are just a few that might be tempting for you: Augment agility, flexibility and stamina through intensive cardiovascular work-outs, Strengthen your mind and body via increased physical coordination and mental discipline, Increase self-esteem by heightening both mental and physical health, Grow in your confidence by helping you to succeed and to seize control of your life, More discipline and willpower by exhaustively training your body and mind in the strategies and principles of Taekwondo, Lessen stress with controlled breathing, Learn self-defence by helping you to recognise circumstances in which self-defence might be needed, and empowering you to control these scenarios to your advantage.

The Popular Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo has more or less the largest range of kicking movements in all of the recognized martial arts. The following are just a few: Axe Kick, Crescent Kick, Side Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Front Kick, Whip or Hook Kick, Back Kick, Push Kick. Taekwondo Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", that are used to repulse the different attacking movements, are known as Makgi. Engaging the hand and different parts of the arm, they're held in specific positions. Specific attacks require specified blocks, but blocks can also be transformed into counter-attacking movements by linking retaliatory kicks or punches. The principal Taekwondo blocks (makgi) include: Double Forearm Block, Rising Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Nine Block, Upper Block, Low Block, Palm Block, Knife Hand Block and Single Forearm Block.

Taekwondo Belts

In terms of belts, promotion and ranking there isn't actually any real standardization in Taekwondo, as there are various styles of Taekwondo which each have their own unique arrangement. There are however parallels and they typically consist of a couple of groups of belts "seniors" and "juniors" symbolized by black and coloured belts respectively, . The senior levels generally have 9 grades and the junior, eight to twelve tiers.