Taekwondo Kidlington

It needs to be said that Taekwondo can be pretty physically challenging, which can unnerve the less nimble and more elderly people in Kidlington from taking this up. To be truthful, the most frequent people participating in Taekwondo classes are children and younger people, but certainly older people who are in good physical health can easily participate and get benefits from this sport.

Taekwondo is a martial art that mainly comprises kicking manoeuvres, in particular spinning/jumping kicks, head kicks and rapid kicking styles. It started in Seoul, in southern Korea during the 1940's, when a group of martial arts enthusiasts established schools known as "kwans", which mixed together a number of martial arts practices.

With over 60 million people participating in Taekwondo classes all around the globe, this has certainly become a popular and beneficial pastime, and if you really master this martial art you might even one day be eligible for the Olympic Games, of which it's been a part ever since the 2000 Sydney Games.

For many people in Kidlington, it is the self-defence element of Taekwondo that is the most appealing. This is not surprising when you take into account the ever rising levels of violence seen in city centres nowadays. Being able to defend yourself is a key factor of Taekwondo, but this is tempered by respecting others and exercising self-restraint.

Whilst it will instill you with self-confidence knowing that you have these self-defence skills in your locker, the chances are you will never be required to test them outside the regulated setting of an actual Taekwondo class.

Your First Lesson

If you haven't attempted Taekwondo before, you might be intrigued to know just what is likely to occur on your first lesson. Most Taekwondo schools in Kidlington follow a similar pattern, but there could be some variation to the following. A warm up lasting fifteen to twenty minutes, a little technical training including learning some hand attacks, kicks, stances and blocks, learning the first forms or patterns, a look at sparring including good timing, movement and targeting attacks, and lastly a warm down to prevent cramping and muscle spasms.

Everyone who is a member of a Taekwondo club in Kidlington or any place else in the British Isles, is also required to join British Taekwondo, which is the governing body of the sport. By going to British Taekwondo's website you will be able to read details on first aid, equality and safeguarding, beginning a new Taekwondo club, events, coaches and referees, news, members and clubs, safe practices, coaching courses, and many more Taekwondo related facts.

The Basic Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is famous for its wide range of kicking moves, above and beyond any other martial art. Here are just a selection: Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To fend off the many hand attacks and kicks there are a similarly diverse selection of "blocks" (Makgi). They are held in various positions and use the hands with different sections of the arm. Each type of attack calls for a specific type of block, counter-attacking movements can be created by integrating a block with another punch or kick. The main blocks in Taekwondo include: Double Knife Hand Block, Palm Block, Low Block, Rising Block, Single Forearm Block, Nine Block, Double Forearm Block, Upper Block and Knife Hand Block.

Taekwondo Patterns (Forms)

Taekwondo forms (also called patterns or Poomse) are distinguished by certain aspects such as direction, stance and technique. From the beginning of your Taekwondo journey you will get to grips with a few of the important forms, and in order to progress through the rankings (belts) you will have to master some more advanced ones.

Taekwondo Belts (Promotion)

The ranking and belt structure can get very confusing in Taekwondo because there is no standardized system across the different Taekwondo styles. Parallels can be found however, and commonly there are two distinct belt groupings, signified as "juniors" (colours) and "seniors" (black dans). The number of levels in the junior group varies over the disciplines but is usually somewhere between eight and twelve belts, while the senior's groupings commonly has nine dans or belts.

Taekwondo Tournaments and Competitions

A standard Taekwondo tournament features breaking, sparring and patterns, in the Olympics only sparring is included. With that being said there can also be a few special events in specific competitions such as self-defence and team demonstrations. WT (World Taekwondo) contests are strictly soft-contact affairs, whilst International Taekwon-Do Federation tournaments permit some hand attacks to the head. There are additionally some multi-discipline contests.

Taekwondo for Beginners

Students setting out on their Taekwondo adventure in Kidlington will at first register for a beginners class. Beginners classes are terrific, since there are no rigorous demands and everything is carried out at a casual, slow pace. Having fun whilst learning is the principal goal at first and trainees who are having fun have a tendency to learn a lot faster and absorb significantly more of what they are being told. Even Taekwondo masters began as inexperienced novices, so take that first step and who knows where you'll finish up!

To Summarize

We can practically guarantee that if you take up Taekwondo you are going to make new friends, gain self-confidence and improve your wellbeing. If that's all you get out of it, then all well and good, you can call it an achievement! We're not all vying to be Jade Jones's or Lutalo Muhammad's, but those of you who are, need to start with that initial step. Good luck with your journey!