Taekwondo Blaydon

Because Taekwondo has pretty high physical demands, it is perhaps more suited to the younger people of Blaydon. That is not to say that the older generation cannot participate in this particular activity, but simply that there could be alternative martial arts which are more appropriate for the less nimble of us. Tai Chi is the perfect illustration.

Taekwondo started in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial artists in Seoul established some new schools known as "kwans", combining various martial arts techniques. The emphasis of Taekwondo, as it eventually became known, is on kicking manoeuvres, especially fast kicking techniques, head kicks and jumping/spinning kicks.Today Blaydon Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

Taekwondo now has more than 60 million enthusiasts worldwide and has become really popular in Blaydon and throughout the UK. This sport has even featured in the Olympic Games since 2000, and if you would like to get involved, joining your local Blaydon Taekwondo class or club is a great place to start. There's no reason why you can't reach an advanced standard in this exhilarating sport, even if you don't have any desire to compete in the Olympics.

In these times of ever-increasing violence, it's hardly surprising that individuals in areas like Blaydon are enrolling in self-defence classes such as Taekwondo to help them to feel safer in their everyday life. The self-defence element is one of the primary benefits of Taekwondo but at the same time it also promotes self-restraint and a respect for others around us, which are traits that are largely missing in this modern age.

Such self-defence techniques may at some time prove to be useful in your day to day life, though it is far more likely you'll only be testing them within a regulated class setting. Nevertheless it's a nice feeling knowing the fact that you'll always be in a position to successfully defend yourself when you have to.

Your First Taekwondo Class

If Taekwondo isn't an activity that you have ever had a go at previously, you will likely be curious about what to expect from your initial class should you make up your mind to sign up. Different Taekwondo schools in the Blaydon area 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 will learn some forms (patterns), you'll practice sparring techniques and lastly you'll perform a warm-down to get your body back into a relaxed state once again.

Everybody who's a registered member of a Taekwondo club in Blaydon or any place else in the United Kingdom, is also required to join British Taekwondo, which is the official regulating body of the sport. You will be able to find lots of info on clubs and members, first aid, equality and safeguarding, health and safety, referees and coaching, coaching courses, news, events, launching a new club, and more, by viewing British Taekwondo's website.

The Main Taekwondo Kicks

One of the primary features of Taekwondo is kicking, here is a selection of the best known kicking manoeuvres: Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi). Blocks: To divert and stop an incoming attack, "blocks" (called Makgi) are employed. Employing the hand and sections of the arm, they're held in specific positions. Every "block" can be coordinated with a kick or punch to create a counter-attack, and each one is suitable for a certain type of attack. The main blocks include: Nine Block, Low Block, Double Forearm Block, Upper Block, Single Forearm Block, Rising Block, Knife Hand Block, Double Knife Hand Block and Palm Block.

Taekwondo Belts

In the art of taekwondo there is not really any kind of uniformity when it comes to belts and ranking. It is all determined by what style you happen to be reviewing, because there are so many different Taekwondo rules and styles. They are however, commonly split into 2 groupings "junior (colour) belts and "senior" (black) belts. The colour/junior ranks range from white to red, with anything from 8 to 12 grades, whilst the black/senior belts usually have nine levels.

Taekwondo Tournaments and Competitions

Tournaments are a significant part of the Taekwondo legacy, and all the different styles across the globe hold competitions where Taekwondo masters get together to battle it out. Hard contact is rarely allowed in any of these tournaments which mainly incorporate patterns, breaking and sparring. Sparring only is allowed in Olympic and World Taekwondo (WT) tournaments, while some hand attacks are tolerated in ITF events.

Safety Gear

Contests controlled by British Taekwondo policies demand that certain items of protective gear be used, these include: a red or blue head protector, a red/blue trunk protector (hogu), hand protectors, shin guards, forearm protectors, a groin guard and a mouth guard. This is vital because of the powerful kicking attacks being employed.

Conclusion

We can practically guarantee that if you take up Taekwondo you will make new friends, gain self-confidence and improve your fitness levels. If that's all you take away from it, then all well and good, and you can call it a success! We're not all striving to be Jade Jones's or Lutalo Muhammad's, but those of you that are, need to begin with that very first step. Good luck on your adventure!