Taekwondo Hatfield

As a result of its rather more physical attributes, Taekwondo is possibly more suitable for the younger generation in Hatfield and is especially suited to children because it's great for developing self-discipline and respect for others. More elderly individuals may find it somewhat too demanding unless they're especially fit and active. Even so, those folks who persue Taekwondo in Hatfield at a young age will find they can easily continue with it when they're older. The less nimble of you could think about something gentler like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently introduced of the martial arts, with its beginnings in Korea in 1945. In Seoul, a group of Korean martial arts lovers established some exciting new schools which they called "kwans", practicing a blend of martial arts techniques. Taekwondo, which it eventually became known as, mainly entails kicking movements, especially head kicks, fast kicking strategies and jumping/turning kicks. Now Hatfield Taekwondo classes stick to this tradition.

The total number of Taekwondo practitioners worldwide, now exceeds 60 million. This sport has even featured in the Olympic Games since 2000, and if you want to get involved, joining a local Hatfield Taekwondo club or class is a good place to start. There is no reason why you cannot reach a high standard in this thrilling sport, even if you have no desire to compete in the Olympics.

For many folks in Hatfield, it's the self-defence element of Taekwondo which holds the most appeal. And in these days of increased violence, particularly in town and city centres, it is no surprise that this aspect sits high up on people's list of priorities. It is a key factor of Taekwondo that you're able to become more confident in your capacity to defend yourself and at the same time learn to respect those around you and learn self-restraint.

Such self-defence techniques may at some time come in handy in your day to day life, although it's much more likely you will solely be using them within a regulated class environment. Yet it is a nice feeling knowing that you'll always be in a position to defend yourself when you have to.

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 class. The following will give you an idea, but this may vary from school to school. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to loosen muscles and increase heart rate, some technical training involving learning some kicks, hand attacks, blocks and stances, some work on forms or patterns, some ideas on sparring including movement, timing and attack targeting, and lastly a warm down to stretch muscles and relax.

Everyone who's a registered member of a Taekwondo club in Hatfield or any place else in the United Kingdom, is also required to join British Taekwondo, which is the official regulating body of the sport. You'll be able to learn about starting a new club, events, coaches and tournament referees, coaching courses, health and safety, first aid, clubs and members, news, safeguarding and equality, and more on the official British Taekwondo website, and find out the latest news stories on their Twitter or Facebook page.

Tournaments

A regular Taekwondo tournament includes breaking, sparring and patterns (forms), in the Olympics only sparring is involved. That said there are also a few unique categories in specific tournaments such as self-defence and team demonstrations. WT (World Taekwondo) contests are purely soft-contact events, while ITF tournaments permit some hand attacks to the head. There are also a few multi-discipline contests.

In Summary

We cannot all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess we wouldn't all want to be. Taekwondo isn't solely about National Championships and Olympic titles. Most of us are content to improve our levels of fitness, meet different people and make new friends, and that's exactly how it should be. Yet, as with many things in life, what you get from it will depend upon what you put into it. Good luck!