Taekwondo Dover

When many people in Dover visualize Taekwondo, they picture younger children performing energetic punching and kicking manoeuvres. While the younger generation may find the physical demands of Taekwondo easier to cope with, there's nothing to stop people of any age taking part. Being fairly fit is however a prerequisite of Taekwondo.

Taekwondo started in Korea in 1945. Some new schools called "kwans" were established in Seoul by a group of Korean martial arts fanatics, combining a number of various martial arts techniques. The emphasis of Taekwondo, as it eventually became known, is on kicking manoeuvres, especially jumping/turning kicks, fast kicking styles and head kicks.Today Dover Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

The total number of Taekwondo practitioners globally, now exceeds sixty million. Now an Olympic sport, Taekwondo is accessible to everyone, and signing up for your local Dover Taekwondo class or club is the most effective way to get yourself involved. While the odds of you reaching Olympic standard are rather slim, there isn't any reason at all why you can't master this fascinating martial art.

In these days of increasing violence, it is hardly surprising that people in areas like Dover are enrolling in self-defence training like Taekwondo to help them to feel safer in their everyday life. The self-defence element is one of the key factors of Taekwondo but at the same time it also teaches self-restraint and a deep respect for others around us, which are disciplines that are often absent in modern day life.

Such self-defence techniques may in due course prove useful in the outside world, though it is much more likely that you will only be testing them within a supervised class environment. However it is a nice feeling knowing that you will always be able to defend yourself if you have to.

Your First Dover Taekwondo Lesson

If you have just booked your very first Taekwondo lesson, you will be wondering what to expect. There may be variations to the following, depending on which Dover 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 little technical training covering some hand attacks, stances, blocking techniques and kicks, learning some Poomse (or forms), some ideas on sparring including timing, movement and the targeting of attacks, and lastly a warm down to relax and stretch muscles.

The United Kingdom regulating body of the sport is British Taekwondo and if you wish to sign up with a Taekwondo club in Dover, you'll also be required to register with this organization. You'll be able to read about members and clubs, launching a new club, first aid, news, health and safety, safeguarding and equality, events, coaches and referees, coaching courses, and more on British Taekwondo's website, or find the latest Taekwondo news on their Facebook or Twitter page.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

When you are enrolling in Taekwondo classes in Dover you'll be looking to get a few benefits to make the whole thing worth the effort. So let us look at some of the many positive benefits that you may acquire by learning and practicing Taekwondo. Teach self-defence strategies by coaching you to understand circumstances in which self-defence might be needed, and allowing you to manipulate such scenarios in your favour, More discipline by exhaustively educating your body and mind in the techniques and doctrines of Taekwondo, Strengthen your body and mind by means of increased mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Reduced stress using advanced breath control, Improve agility, flexibility and stamina by means of intensive cardiovascular work-outs, Enhance self-esteem by raising both physical and mental powers, Grow in confidence by inspiring you to succeed and to take control of your life.

Taekwondo Belts (Rank)

When it comes to ranking, belts and promotion there is not actually any real uniformity in Taekwondo, since there are many different styles of Taekwondo each of which has their own specific arrangement. There are however likenesses and they usually consist of a couple of groupings of belts "juniors" and "seniors" symbolized by coloured and black belts respectively, . The senior grades normally have 9 tiers and the junior, eight to twelve grades.

Taekwondo Tournaments

Competitions and tournaments are a significant element of the overall Taekwondo experience, and all the different styles around the world stage contests where Taekwondo exponents gather together to compete. Hard contact is rarely allowed in any of these contests which mostly incorporate patterns (forms), breaking and sparring. Sparring only is allowed in Olympic and WT tournaments, whilst some hand attacks are permitted in ITF events.