Taekwondo Farnham

While not wanting to discourage any specific age group, it should be said that Taekwondo is more suited to younger people in Farnham, being fairly physically demanding. Its encouragement of self-discipline and respect for others make it especially appropriate for children. Older adults who are not all that active and fit might find it a tad too tough. For those folks who take up Taekwondo when they are younger, continuing the adventure into older adulthood shouldn't be an issue. The less agile of you might find that Tai Chi which is a bit less demanding, is more suitable.

Taekwondo was only developed fairly recently in Korea (1945). In Seoul, a group of Korean martial arts fanatics established some new schools which they named "kwans", practicing a combination of martial arts techniques. Kicking manoeuvres, especially rapid kicking strategies, turning/jumping kicks and head-height kicks are the main emphasis of Taekwondo, as it eventually became known.

Ever since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been a competitive Olympic sport. This has added to its popularity worldwide with some sixty million people actively taking classes. And it is by signing up to a Taekwondo class or club that you are able to begin your adventure of learning this exciting martial art.

Of all the numerous benefits of learning this sport, it's the self-defence element of Taekwondo that the people of Farnham find most interesting. This is not difficult to believe when you take into account the high levels of violence experienced in town centres on a daily basis. However, exercising a good helping of self-restraint and having respect for others goes hand in hand with the self-defence principles of Taekwondo.

There's a pretty decent chance that your newly mastered Taekwondo skills will never have to be used in your everyday life, but it will most certainly give you a secure feeling knowing that they are there should you ever be in need of them.

Your First Farnham Taekwondo Class

If Taekwondo isn't an activity that you have ever tried previously, you will probably be wondering what to expect from your first class should you make up your mind to sign up. Different Taekwondo schools in the Farnham area have varying ideas about this but roughly; you'll participate in a fifteen to twenty minute warm-up, you'll do some technical training, you'll learn some patterns (forms), you will practice sparring techniques and finally you'll do a warm-down to get your body back into a relaxed state once more.

Everyone who is a member of a Taekwondo class in Farnham or any place else in the UK, is also required to join British Taekwondo, which is the regulating body of the sport. By viewing British Taekwondo's website you can read information about coaching courses, coaches and competition referees, members and clubs, establishing a new club, safe practices, first aid, news, events, safeguarding and equality, and a lot more Taekwondo related issues.

Taekwondo Forms (Patterns)

Folks just starting out Taekwondo don't have to fret excessively about forms (patterns, Poomse) at the outset, however they'll have to get to grips with some important ones for starters and progress to more challenging "forms" as they move up the various belts (dans/grades). A "form" is indicated by certain aspects of Taekwondo including stance, direction and technique. Learning these sequences is a vital part of perfecting Taekwondo.

Tournaments

Competitions are a significant element of the Taekwondo legacy, and all the diverse styles around the world hold competitions where Taekwondo masters band together to battle it out. Hard contact is rarely allowed in any of these contests which primarily comprise breaking, sparring and patterns (forms). Sparring only is permitted in Olympic and WT (World Taekwondo) tournaments, while certain hand attacks are tolerated in International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) events.

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

British Taekwondo contests require specific safety equipment to be worn to safeguard competitors from injury as a result of the potent kicks that occur. This safety gear includes: shin pads, blue/red trunk armour (hogu), a blue or red head protector, a mouth guard, a groin guard, forearm protectors and hand guards.