Taekwondo Fleetwood

Because Taekwondo has fairly high physical requirements, it is possibly more suited to the younger people of Fleetwood. That is not to say that the older generation can't get involved in this particular activity, but simply that there could be other martial arts which are more suited to the less agile among us. Tai Chi is the perfect illustration.

Taekwondo is a martial art that mainly involves kicking manoeuvres, in particular fast kicking strategies, head-height kicks and jumping/turning kicks. It began in Seoul, in southern Korea during the 1940's, when a group of martial arts specialists established schools called "kwans", which blended a number of martial arts practices.

Ever since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been a competitive Olympic sport. This has made it even more popular worldwide with some 60 million people routinely participating in classes. And it is by enrolling in a Taekwondo class or club that you can commence your quest of mastering this remarkable martial art.

For many people in Fleetwood, it is the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo that has the most appeal. And when you consider the high levels of violence in town and city centres these days, this is hardly surprising. In fact one of the key principles of Taekwondo is learning to defend yourself whilst exercising self-restraint and a respect for others.

Although it will give you peace of mind being aware that you have these self-defence skills tucked away inside you, the likelihood is you will never be required to test them outside the controlled atmosphere of an organised Taekwondo class.

Your First Taekwondo Lesson

For those of you who have never done Taekwondo before, you will no doubt be interested to know what to expect from your first lesson. Most Taekwondo schools in Fleetwood follow a similar pattern, but there may be variations to the following. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to loosen muscles and increase heart rate, a little technical training comprising some hand attacks, kicks, stances and blocks, an introduction to some Poomse (or forms), some tips on sparring including timing, movement and the targeting of attacks, and lastly a warm down to stretch muscles and relax.

Taekwondo also of course has its own official governing body, and in the United Kingdom it is British Taekwondo. Everybody wishing to sign up with a Taekwondo club in Fleetwood have to become registered members of this organisation. You'll be able to find out about safe practices, starting a new club, news, first aid, events, referees and coaching, members and clubs, coaching courses, safeguarding and equality, and more on British Taekwondo's official website, or find out the latest news on their Twitter or Facebook page.

The Taekwondo Kicks

There are a lot of different Taekwondo kicking moves, here are just a selection of them: Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Hook or Whip Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To repulse the various kicks and hand attacks there are an equally diverse assortment of blocks (Makgi). They are held in specific positions and employ the hand with areas of the arm. Each and every block can be coupled with a kick or punch to establish a counter-attack, and each "block" is appropriate for a certain type of attack. The main Taekwondo blocks include: Rising Block, Nine Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Upper Block, Low Block, Single Forearm Block, Double Forearm Block, Knife Hand Block and Palm Block.

Taekwondo Competitions and Tournaments

Tournaments and competitions are a significant aspect of the overall Taekwondo legacy, and all of the different styles all over the world hold contests where Taekwondo masters get together to battle it out. Hard contact is hardly ever permitted in any of these competitive events which primarily incorporate breaking, patterns and sparring. Sparring only is permitted in Olympic and World Taekwondo tournaments, while specified hand attacks are tolerated in ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) events.

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

British Taekwondo matches require certain safety gear to be worn to protect competitors from personal injury as a result of the forceful kicking that transpires. These safety items include: shin protectors, blue or red body armour, a blue or red head guard, a mouth guard, a groin protector, forearm protectors and hand protectors.