Taekwondo Burntwood

Since Taekwondo has fairly high physical requirements, it's possibly more suited to the younger people of Burntwood. That's not to say that older individuals can't take part in this kind of activity, but simply that there could be other martial arts that are more suitable for the less agile among us. Tai Chi would be a perfect illustration.

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

With over 60 million practitioners worldwide and quite a few in Burntwood, Taekwondo has become very popular. Since the Sydney Games (2000) Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport and if you want to give it a go, joining a local Burntwood Taekwondo club or class is a good way to get involved. There is no reason why you cannot reach a high standard in this thrilling sport, even if you have no desire to compete in the Olympics.

For a lot of folks in Burntwood, it is the self-defence element of Taekwondo that holds the most appeal. And in these times of increased violence, particularly in city and town centres, it is little surprise that this sits high on people's priority lists. It is a key element of Taekwondo that you're able to gain more confidence in your capacity to defend yourself while at the same time learning to respect those around you and practice self-restraint.

While it is a great experience to practice and master these self-defence skills in the protected environment of your local Burntwood Taekwondo club, with any luck you will never have the need to use them in the outside world.

Your First Class

If you have just booked your very first Taekwondo lesson, you will be wondering what to expect. This may vary depending on which Burntwood school you go to, but will usually involve the following. An initial warm up lasting fifteen to twenty minutes, some technical training which will involve learning some blocking techniques, stances, kicks and hand attacks, an introduction to some forms (Poomse), a few tips on sparring including timing, movement and the targeting of attacks, and lastly a warm down to relax and stretch tired muscles.

Anyone wanting to join a Taekwondo class in Burntwood must also register with British Taekwondo which is the official regulating body of the sport in Britain. You will be able to learn about safe practices, coaching courses, news, beginning a new Taekwondo club, events, first aid, coaches and referees, equality and safeguarding, clubs and members, and more on British Taekwondo's website, or find out the latest news on their Facebook or Twitter page.

The Benefits of Taekwondo

There are needless to say, a number of benefits to be had from doing Taekwondo, and listed here are just some which could be of interest to you: Learn self-defence by showing you how to understand instances where self-defence may be required, and enabling you to control these situations in your favour, Augment agility, flexibility and stamina by way of strenuous cardiovascular work-outs, Increase your self-esteem by elevating both physical and mental health, Build confidence by helping you to succeed and to seize control of your life, More self-discipline by thoroughly training your body and mind in the principles and strategies of Taekwondo, Strengthen your body and mind by means of enhanced physical coordination and mental discipline, Reduce anxiety and stress by doing deep breathing exercises.

The Popular Taekwondo Kicks

There are quite a lot of different Taekwondo kicks, here are just eight of them: Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Hook or Whip Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To defend against and stop an incoming attack, blocks (known as Makgi) are implemented. Employing the hands and parts of the arm, they are held in various positions. Each type of attack calls for a specific sort of block, counter-attacks can be produced by combining a block with another punch or kick. The key blocks (makgi) include: Rising Block, Nine Block, Double Forearm Block, Palm Block, Low Block, Single Forearm Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Knife Hand Block and Upper Block.

Taekwondo Forms

Taekwondo forms (also called Poomse or patterns) are identified by certain aspects such as direction, stance and technique. From the start of your Taekwondo experience you are going to be taught some of the standard forms, and so as to progress through the levels (belts) you'll have to master some more advanced ones.

Competitions and Tournaments

Tournaments and competitions are an important element of the overall Taekwondo legacy, and all of the different styles around the world stage competitions where Taekwondo masters come together to compete. Hard contact is hardly ever allowed in any of these competitive events which mostly comprise breaking, sparring and patterns. Sparring only is permitted in Olympic and World Taekwondo (WT) tournaments, whilst certain hand attacks are tolerated in International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) events.

Taekwondo Safety Gear

Safety equipment like hand protectors, a blue/red body guard (hogu), a blue/red head guard, a gum shield, forearm guards, a groin protector and shin guards must be worn in all tournaments overseen by British Taekwondo. Protection from injuries is paramount thanks to the formidable kicking which is part and parcel of this sport.

In Conclusion

We cannot all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I reckon that we wouldn't all want to be. Taekwondo isn't solely about Olympic titles and National Championships. The majority of of us are content to make new friends, meet different people and improve our fitness, and that's exactly how it ought to be. However, as with many matters in life, what you get from it will depend upon what you put into it. Good luck and enjoy!