Taekwondo Exmouth

Since Taekwondo has fairly high physical demands, it is perhaps more suitable for the younger generation in Exmouth. That is not to say that elderly people can't get involved in this kind of activity, but simply that there could be alternative martial arts that are more appropriate for the less agile of us. Tai Chi is a perfect example.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently introduced of the martial arts, with its root beginnings in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial arts specialists in Seoul founded some schools which they called "kwans", incorporating a number of martial arts practices. Taekwondo, which was ultimately called, largely entails kicking manoeuvres, especially fast kicking styles, jumping/turning kicks and head kicks.

Ever since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport. This has made it even more popular throughout the world with some sixty million people regularly taking classes. And it is by enrolling in a Taekwondo class or club that you can commence your quest of mastering this remarkable art.

For a lot of people in Exmouth, it is the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo that has the most appeal. And in these days of increasing violence, particularly in town and city centres, it's no surprise that this aspect features high up on people's list of priorities. It is a key element of Taekwondo that you are able to gain more confidence in your capacity to defend yourself and at the same time learn to respect other people and practice self-restraint.

Such self-defence techniques may at some point prove to be useful in your everyday life, although it's much more likely you will solely be testing them within a controlled class setting. Yet it is an amazing feeling knowing the fact that you'll always be in a position to defend yourself when you need to.

Your First Taekwondo Class

If you've never done Taekwondo previously, you may be a bit anxious as to what you can expect on your first lesson. This varies from school to school but will normally consist of some or all of these. A 15-20 minute warm up to increase heart rate and loosen muscles, a bit of practical training involving learning some stances, blocking techniques, kicks and hand attacks, discovering some Poomse (forms), a quick introduction to sparring including movement, the timing of attacks and timing, and finally a warm down to stretch and relax tired muscles.

Any individual wishing to join a Taekwondo club in Exmouth must also become a member of British Taekwondo which is the official governing body of the sport in the British Isles. You will be able to find plenty of details of events, clubs and members, coaches and referees, news, launching a new club, coaching courses, first aid, safe practices, safeguarding and equality, and more, by visiting British Taekwondo's website.

Taekwondo Forms (Patterns)

Mastering Tae kwon do will involve learning many disciplines and techniques and one of the pivotal elements of Taekwondo is its forms (also called patterns or Poomse). These are types of direction, stance and technique which have to be mastered in order for participants to move through the different dans (grades/belts).

Taekwondo Belts (Rank)

In Taekwondo there is really no standardisation in relation to grades and belts. It is all dependent upon what style you happen to be looking at, because there are such a lot of Taekwondo styles. They are however, generally separated into 2 groups "junior (colour) belts and "senior" (black) belts. The colour/junior rankings range from white to red, with from 8 to 12 grades, while the black/senior belts usually have 9 rankings.

Tournaments and Competitions

There are a multitude of tournaments in Taekwondo involving all the different styles. They mainly involve patterns, breaking and sparring with little or no hard contact. International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) competitions do not allow substantial contact but do allow hand attacks towards the head. World Taekwondo (WT) and Olympic competitions only allow sparring. Multi-style contests are also held.

In Conclusion

We can't all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess 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 improve our fitness levels, make new friends and meet different people, and that is precisely how it should be. However, as with many things in life, what you get from it will depend upon what you invest in it. Good luck and enjoy!