Taekwondo Heywood

While people of all ages in Heywood can of course participate in Taekwondo, it is particularly suited to the younger generation since it can be quite physically demanding, children can especially benefit from its teachings of self-discipline and the respect of others. Older adults who are not all that fit and active might find it a tad too taxing. Quite a few of the older adults who do Taekwondo in Heywood, started when they were younger. If you consider yourself among the less agile, you could try something like Tai Chi which is much softer.

The discipline was developed in Korea in 1945, though it was not given the name Taekwondo until the 1950's. Some new schools called "kwans" were established in Seoul by a group of Korean martial arts fanatics, combining a number of various martial arts techniques. In Taekwondo the emphasis is on kicking, especially fast kicking strategies, head kicks and jumping/turning kicks.Today Heywood Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

With more than sixty million practitioners worldwide and quite a few in Heywood, Taekwondo has become really popular. If you want to get involved in this activity, which is now an Olympic sport, signing up for a Taekwondo club or class in Heywood is a good place to start. While reaching Olympic standard may be aiming a bit high, there is no reason why you can't become a Taekwondo master.

A key aspect of Taekwondo is self-defence, and obviously this is one of the main reasons that people in Heywood join classes and take up the sport. There has been a disturbing escalation of violent conduct over the last few years and this is especially widespread in town and city centres around Greater Manchester and Britain as a whole. The good thing about Taekwondo though, is that it also encourages self-discipline and a deep respect for others, not such common qualities in Heywood these days.

These self-defence techniques may at some time prove to be useful in the outside world, though it's far more likely that you will solely be putting them to the test within a regulated class environment. Nevertheless it is an amazing feeling knowing that you will always be able to defend yourself when you need to.

Your First Heywood Taekwondo Class

If you have never tried Taekwondo previously, you might be a bit anxious as to what can be expected on your first class. This varies from club to club but will typically involve some or all of the following. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to increase heart rate and loosen up muscles, a bit of practical training including learning some hand attacks, kicks, stances and blocks, learning some Poomse (forms), a brief introduction to sparring which will include movement, the timing of attacks and timing, and lastly a warm down to stretch and relax tired muscles.

If you wish to join a Taekwondo class in Heywood, you'll also have to register with the sport's official regulating body, namely British Taekwondo. You can find loads of information about first aid, starting a new club, clubs and members, news, safeguarding and equality, coaching courses, events, referees and coaching, health and safety, and more, by dropping by at British Taekwondo's website.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

There are needless to say, quite a few benefits to be had from doing Taekwondo, and here are just a few that could be tempting for you: Better self-discipline by extensively training your mind and body in the doctrines and strategies of Taekwondo, Build up confidence by inspiring you to seize control of your life and succeed, Improve stamina, flexibility and agility by means of extreme cardiovascular exertion, Reduced stress with controlled breathing, Empower your body and mind by means of improved mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Enhance self-esteem by raising both physical and mental fitness, Teach you self-defence by helping you to recognize situations where self-defence may be necessary, and empowering you to control these types of circumstances in your favour.

Taekwondo Forms

Perfecting Tae kwon do necessitates learning a number of techniques and disciplines and one of the key parts of Taekwondo is its forms (also known as Poomse or patterns). These are types of technique, direction and stance which need to be mastered in order for participants to progress through the various dans (belts/grades).

Taekwondo Belts (Ranking)

When it comes to ranking, belts and promotion there isn't actually any real standardization in Taekwondo, because there are various styles of Taekwondo which each have their own specific arrangement. There are however similarities and they typically consist of a couple of groups of belts "seniors" and "juniors" symbolized by black and coloured belts respectively, . The senior grades usually have nine grades and the junior, between 8 and 12 grades.

Taekwondo for Beginners

It matters not what you're standing is or who you are in Taekwondo, at some stage you were a complete novice, fearing failure and knowing practically nothing. We've all started out at that point and can only develop and learn with practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Heywood are the right place to begin that learning journey and to acquire the basics so that you can build self-confidence and proceed with your Taekwondo experience. Nearly all beginner classes are set up to be friendly and fun, delivering a slow introduction to the fundamental Taekwondo values and developing a solid foundation for the future.

Taekwondo Safety Gear

In all events, tournaments and matches being held under the supervision of British Taekwondo, safety equipment like a gum shield, forearm guards, a blue/red trunk guard (hogu), a blue/red head guard, hand protectors, shin protectors and a groin guard is obligatory. The kicking manoeuvres employed in Taekwondo could potentially cause harm and these measures help make the sport less hazardous for its competitors.

Conclusion

So, what do you want from Taekwondo? Well, that's a good question, and the answer to that will be different for individual people. The majority of participants will just wish to meet new people, improve their fitness levels and gain more self-confidence. We're certainly not all going to scale the heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, although perhaps you will, you never know? 👊