Taekwondo Chapeltown

Taekwondo is quite physically demanding, which means it may be considered more suitable for the younger rather than the older generation in Chapeltown. Its teachings of self-discipline and respect for others make it particularly good for children. It could prove too taxing for some older adults, but shouldn't be a problem for those who are already fit and active. For those people who take up Taekwondo when they are younger, continuing the experience into adulthood should not be a problem. The less agile of you might consider something softer like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo came from Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial artists in Seoul established some new schools known as "kwans", blending various martial arts techniques. Kicking manoeuvres, especially jumping/turning kicks, head kicks and fast kicking techniques are the main emphasis of Taekwondo, as it ultimately became known. Nowadays Chapeltown Taekwondo classes abide by this tradition.

Popular worldwide Taekwondo now has more than 60 million enthusiasts. If you want to get involved in this activity, which is now an Olympic sport, heading along to a Taekwondo class or club in Chapeltown is a great place to start. There is no reason why you cannot reach a high standard in this exciting sport, even if you have no desire to compete in the Olympics.

In these times of ever-increasing violence, it is little surprise that individuals in locations like Chapeltown are getting involved in self-defence training like Taekwondo to enable them to feel safer and more secure in their everyday life. The self-defence aspect is one of the primary benefits of Taekwondo but it also encourages self-restraint and a respect for those around us, which are traits that are often missing in this modern age.

Whilst it will instill you with self-confidence knowing that you have those self-defence skills tucked away inside you, the chances are that you'll never have to test them outside of an organised Taekwondo class.

Your First Chapeltown Taekwondo Lesson

If you decide to register for Taekwondo training in Chapeltown, the very first thing you will need to know is what is going to occur on the first class and what exactly will the teacher be expecting of you. Different Taekwondo masters in the Chapeltown area will devise diverse routines for this initial lesson but you can expect to do a 15 minute warm-up to get the blood pumping and loosen your muscles, learn several Poomse (forms, cover some technical training (hand attacks, blocks, kicks and stances), do a certain amount of sparring, and finally, warm-down.

The United Kingdom's official governing body of the sport is British Taekwondo and if you would like to sign up with a Taekwondo club in Chapeltown, you will also be required to register with this respected organization. You'll be able to find out about events, safe practices, establishing a new Taekwondo club, coaching courses, clubs and members, news, first aid, coaches and tournament referees, safeguarding and equality, and more on British Taekwondo's website, and find the latest Taekwondo news stories on their Twitter or Facebook page.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

When you are getting started with Taekwondo classes in Chapeltown you will be wanting to get a few benefits to make the entire enterprise worthwhile. So we should look at a few of the many benefits that you could gain from doing and learning Taekwondo. Toughen up your mind and body by way of enhanced physical coordination and mental discipline, Lessen stress using advanced breath control, Build up your confidence by encouraging you to seize control of your life and succeed, More discipline and willpower by thoroughly schooling your body and mind in the doctrines and tactics of Taekwondo, Learn self-defence by helping you to understand instances in which self-defence might be necessary, and enabling you to turn these types of scenarios in your favour, Increase stamina, flexibility and agility by way of intensive cardiovascular exertion, Improve self-esteem and concentration by maximizing both mental and physical powers.

Taekwondo Kicks

Some of the basic Taekwondo kicks you will learn initially include: Push Kick, Back Kick, Crescent Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Front Kick, Axe Kick, Whip or Hook Kick, Side Kick. Taekwondo Blocks: To defend against and stop an incoming Taekwondo attack, blocks (known as Makgi) are employed. Held in particular positions, they employ the hand and different sections of the arm. Each form of attack necessitates a particular kind of block, counter-attacking moves can be created by integrating a block with another kick or punch. The most important "blocks" include: Single Forearm Block, Palm Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Upper Block, Knife Hand Block, Low Block, Nine Block, Double Forearm Block and Rising Block.

Taekwondo Forms

Taekwondo forms (also referred to as patterns or Poomse) are characterized by particular activities like stance, technique and direction. From the outset you'll be taught a few of the standard forms, and so as to progress through the various rankings (belts) you'll have to learn some more complicated ones.

Taekwondo Belts (Rank)

The belt and ranking structure can get very confusing in Taekwondo since there isn't any standardized structure across the diverse Taekwondo styles. Likenesses do exist however, and normally there are two distinct belt groups, signified as "juniors" (colours) and "seniors" (black dans). The number of levels in the junior groupings varies through the styles but is typically somewhere between 8 and 12 belts, whilst the senior's group normally has nine dans or belts.

Taekwondo Competitions and Tournaments

A typical Taekwondo competition includes breaking, patterns (forms) and sparring, in the Olympics only sparring is involved. That said there can also be some special categories in certain competitions such as team demonstrations and self-defence. WT contests are solely soft-contact events, whilst International Taekwon-Do Federation contests permit some hand attacks to the head. There are also several multi-discipline competitions.

Final Thoughts

We can't all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess we wouldn't all want to be. Taekwondo is not solely about National Championships and Olympic titles. The majority of of us are happy to make new friends, meet different people and improve our levels of fitness, and that is precisely how it should be. Yet, as with most matters in life, what you get from it will be determined by what you put into it. Good luck! 👊