Taekwondo Driffield

As a result of its rather more physical aspects, Taekwondo is maybe more suitable for the younger person in Driffield and is especially suitable for kids as it's wonderful for developing self-discipline and respect for others. Older adults may find it somewhat too challenging unless they are particularly active and fit. Even so, those who persue Taekwondo in Driffield at a young age will discover that they can easily continue with it into older adulthood. The less nimble of you could consider something softer like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently developed of the martial arts, with its early beginnings in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial artists in Seoul established some schools which they called "kwans", combining various martial arts practices. Taekwondo, which was eventually called, mainly consists of kicking manoeuvres, especially rapid kicking methods, head-height kicks and jumping/spinning kicks.

Taekwondo has become really popular in Driffield and around the globe, with over 60 million participants worldwide. Enrolling in a local Driffield Taekwondo club or class is a great way to become involved in this activity which has even been a part of the Olympic Games since the Sydney Games in 2000. Whilst you may not have any ambitions to take part in Olympic competition, there's certainly no reason why you shouldn't become a maestro of this remarkable martial art and have some fun along the way.

In these times of ever-increasing violence, it's hardly surprising that people in locations like Driffield are taking up self-defence classes like Taekwondo to help them to feel safer in their local environment. The self-defence aspect is one of the primary factors of Taekwondo but at the same time it also encourages self-restraint and a deep respect for those around us, which are traits that are frequently lacking in modern day life.

There's a fairly good likelihood that your eagerly learned Taekwondo skills will never have to be tested in your day to day life, but it will most certainly give you reassurance knowing that they are sitting in the background should you ever be in need of them.

What to Expect From Your First Class

For those of you who have never done Taekwondo before, you will no doubt be interested to know just what to expect from your first class. There could be variations to the following, subject to which Driffield Taekwondo school you attend, but you can roughly expect; Fifteen to twenty minutes of warm up exercises to increase heart rate and loosen stiff muscles, a little technical training including learning some kicks, blocks, hand attacks and stances, a look at some forms (Poomse), a look at sparring including movement, timing and the targeting of attacks, and to finish off a warm down with muscle stretching and relaxing.

Taekwondo also of course has got its own official governing body, and in Britain it is British Taekwondo. Anybody wishing to join a Taekwondo club in Driffield has to become a member of this organisation. You will be able to learn about starting a new Taekwondo club, safe practices, first aid, news, equality and safeguarding, coaches and tournament referees, events, clubs and members, coaching courses, and more on British Taekwondo's website, or find out the latest Taekwondo news stories on their Facebook or Twitter page.

The Basic Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is renowned for its formidable kicks, here are the important ones: Side Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick, Crescent Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Axe Kick, Push Kick, Whip or Hook Kick. Taekwondo Blocks: To divert and stop an inbound Taekwondo attack, "blocks" (known as Makgi) are employed. Engaging the hand and parts of the arm, they are held in particular positions. Each form of attack calls for a particular sort of block, counter-attacking movements can be created by integrating a block with a retaliatory punch or kick. The most important "blocks" (makgi) include: Rising Block, Double Forearm Block, Knife Hand Block, Nine Block, Low Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Palm Block, Upper Block and Single Forearm Block.

Taekwondo Forms (Patterns)

Forms are a pivotal part of Taekwondo and are important if you're to excel at this captivating sporting activity. A few basic "forms" should be grasped at the beginning and more elaborate forms must be mastered in order to move through the various belts. A Taekwondo form is characterised by various factors such as direction, stance and technique.

Taekwondo Tournaments

Competitions and tournaments are an important element of the Taekwondo legacy, and all of the various styles across the world stage tournaments and competitions where Taekwondo masters come together to compete. Hard contact is rarely permitted in any of these contests which mainly comprise sparring, patterns (forms) and breaking. Sparring only is allowed in Olympic and WT tournaments, while certain hand attacks are tolerated in International Taekwon-Do Federation events.

Final Thoughts

We can't all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I reckon that we don't all want to be. Taekwondo is not solely about National Championships and Olympic medals. Most of us are happy to improve our fitness, make new friends and meet different people, and that is precisely how it ought to be. However, as with many matters in life, what you get from it will be determined by what you put into it. Good luck and enjoy!