Taekwondo Cumbernauld

Owing to its more physical attributes, Taekwondo is maybe more appropriate for the younger generation in Cumbernauld and is particularly suitable for kids as it's wonderful for developing respect for others and self-discipline. More elderly individuals might find it somewhat too challenging unless they are particularly active and fit. However, those who persue Taekwondo in Cumbernauld from a young age will find that they can easily continue with it into older adulthood. The less agile of you could consider participating in something softer like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo originated in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial arts lovers in Seoul founded some schools called "kwans", where they practiced a blend of martial arts techniques. Taekwondo, which it eventually became known as, mainly involves kicking manoeuvres, especially spinning/jumping kicks, head kicks and rapid kicking techniques. Today Cumbernauld Taekwondo classes stick to this tradition.

With over 60 million fitness enthusiasts taking part in Taekwondo instruction all over the world, this has definitely become an extremely popular activity, and if you really master this sport you may possibly one day be eligible for the Olympic Games, of which it's been an integral part since the 2000 Sydney Games.

In these times of increasing violence, it's no surprise that folks in areas like Cumbernauld are taking up self-defence techniques like Taekwondo to help them feel safer and more secure in their local environment. The self-defence element is one of the primary factors of Taekwondo but at the same time it also encourages self-restraint and a deep respect for others around us, which are qualities that are often missing in this modern age.

There's a pretty decent chance that your newly learned Taekwondo skills will never see the light of day in your everyday life, but it will undoubtedly give you self-confidence knowing that they are sitting in the background should you ever need them.

Your First Cumbernauld Taekwondo Lesson

If you have made up your mind to learn Taekwondo and are heading to your first lesson, you will be wondering what will happen. There may be variations to the following, depending on which Cumbernauld Taekwondo school you attend, but you can roughly expect; A warm up of fifteen to twenty minutes to increase your heart rate and reduce stiffness in the muscles, a bit of technical training including learning some hand attacks, stances, blocks and kicks, an introduction to some forms, a look at sparring including good timing, movement and targeting attacks, and lastly a warm down to stretch muscles and relax.

Anyone who joins a Taekwondo club in Cumbernauld must also become a member of British Taekwondo which is the official governing body of the sport in the United Kingdom. You'll be able to read about first aid, members and clubs, news, coaching courses, events, safeguarding and equality, referees and coaching, starting a new club, health and safety, and more on the British Taekwondo website, or get the latest news on their Facebook or Twitter page.

Some Taekwondo Kicks

Kicking movements serve a significant role in Taekwondo, here are a handful of the more basic ones: Crescent Kick, Back Kick, Axe Kick, Side Kick, Front Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Push Kick, Roundhouse Kick. Taekwondo Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", that are used to defend against the different attacks, are called Makgi. Held in specific positions, they involve the hand and different parts of the arm. Each type of attack calls for a specific kind of block, counter-attacks can be created by integrating a block with a retaliatory kick or punch. The primary Taekwondo blocks (makgi) include: Low Block, Knife Hand Block, Nine Block, Palm Block, Single Forearm Block, Rising Block, Upper Block, Double Knife Hand Block and Double Forearm Block.

Taekwondo Forms (Patterns)

Perfecting the art of Taekwondo calls for getting to grips with many techniques and one of the key aspects of Taekwondo is its forms (also called Poomse or patterns). These are sequences of direction, stance and technique which have to be memorized in order for participants to move through the different dans (grades/belts).

Safety Equipment

Competitions governed by British Taekwondo rules require various pieces of protective gear to be used, these include: a groin protector, forearm protectors, a red/blue body protector (hogu), shin pads, a red or blue head guard, a mouth protector and hand guards. This is important owing to the vigorous kicking movements being practiced.

Competitions and Tournaments

Contests are an important aspect of the overall Taekwondo legacy, and all the diverse styles across the world stage contests where Taekwondo exponents get together to battle it out. Hard contact is hardly ever permitted in any of these competitive events which mostly comprise sparring, breaking and patterns. Sparring only is permitted in Olympic and WT tournaments, while certain hand attacks are permitted in International Taekwon-Do Federation events.

Benefits to be Gained From Taekwondo

You'll no doubt be interested to learn about precisely what sort of benefits might be obtained by taking part in Cumbernauld Taekwondo lessons and engaging 100% in its activities. You may expect to: Enhance self-esteem by heightening your physical and mental powers, Augment flexibility, stamina and agility by way of extreme cardiovascular effort, Reduce anxiety using advanced breath control, More discipline by methodically training your mind and body in the techniques and principles of Taekwondo, Empower your body and mind via accelerated physical coordination and mental discipline, Learn self-defence strategies by helping you to understand situations in which self-defence may be required, and allowing you to control these types of situations in your favour, Build your confidence by pushing you to seize control of your life and succeed.