Taekwondo Lanark

Due to its more physical elements, Taekwondo is possibly more suited to the younger person in Lanark and is particularly suitable for children as it is brilliant for nurturing self-discipline and respect for others. Seniors could find it a bit too taxing unless they are particularly active and fit. However those in Lanark who get involved in Taekwondo at an early age, will find that carrying it on into older adulthood is not an issue. Tai Chi or something similarly softer might be more suitable for the less agile of you.

With its origins in 1940's Korea, South-East Asia, Taekwondo is obviously one of the more recently established of the martial arts and entails mainly kicking moves such as head kicks, fast kicking techniques and spinning/jumping kicks. It began when schools called "kwans" were set up by a group of Korean martial artists in Seoul, South Korea.

Now an Olympic sport, Taekwondo has over sixty million enthusiasts worldwide, and whilst you may not aspire to be an Olympic Games sportsman, you can still sign up for a Taekwondo club or class to learn what will no doubt turn out to be a worthwhile and interesting pastime.

The thing about Taekwondo that appears to most interest people in Lanark is the self-defence element of it. And its not a surprise that this features highly on people's list of priorities when you consider the ever rising incidence of violence seen nowadays in town and city centres throughout Britain. The ability to defend yourself while still exercising self-restraint and a respect for others is one of the main benefits of Taekwondo.

With luck you will not ever need to use your newly discovered Taekwondo skills for defending yourself outside of your local club environment, but it is good to know they're there if you need them.

Your First Taekwondo Lesson

If you've never had a go at Taekwondo previously, you may be a little concerned as to what you can expect on your first class. This may vary from school to school but will typically comprise all or some of the following. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to increase heart rate and loosen up muscles, a bit of practical training involving learning some kicks, stances, blocking techniques and hand attacks, learning a few forms, an introduction to sparring including movement, attack timing and timing, and finally a warm down to stretch and relax tired muscles.

Any person wanting to join a Taekwondo class in Lanark has to also become a member of British Taekwondo which is the official governing body of the sport in Britain. You can find loads of information on coaches and referees, first aid, news, events, health and safety, starting a new Taekwondo club, safeguarding and equality, coaching courses, members and clubs, and more, by viewing the British Taekwondo website.

Benefits to be Gained From Taekwondo

You'll undoubtedly be intrigued to learn about precisely what sort of benefits might be achieved by taking part in Lanark Taekwondo training and participating fully in its practices. You can expect to: Lower stress and anxiety with controlled breathing, Boost confidence by inspiring you to seize control of your life and succeed, Toughen up your mind and body by way of increased mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Greater discipline and willpower by thoroughly schooling your body and mind in the strategies and doctrines of Taekwondo, Learn self-defence by helping you to recognise scenarios in which self-defence could be needed, and allowing you to manipulate such scenarios in your favour, Turbocharge stamina, agility and flexibility through intensive cardiovascular work-outs, Enhance self-esteem and concentration by sharpening your mental and physical fitness.

Taekwondo Kicks

Some of the basic Taekwondo kicks that you'll learn to begin with include: Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Hook or Whip Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To fend off the various kicks and hand attacks there are a similarly diverse array of blocks (Makgi). Using the hand and areas of the arm, they are held in specific positions. Every "block" can be merged with a kick or punch to create a counter-attack, and each is suitable for a particular attack. The key Taekwondo blocks (makgi) include: Single Forearm Block, Upper Block, Double Forearm Block, Nine Block, Low Block, Rising Block, Palm Block, Double Knife Hand Block and Knife Hand Block.

Taekwondo Belts (Rank)

In Taekwondo there's not really any standardization with regards to belts and ranking. It is all depending on which style you're considering, as there are such a lot of Taekwondo styles and rules. They are however, generally separated into a couple of groupings "junior" or "colour" belts and "senior" or "black" belts. The colour/junior ranks consist of white to red, with anything from eight to twelve levels, while the senior/black belts normally have 9 grades.

In the UK there are a sequence of ranks in Taekwondo which are generally known as "Kup". The lowest rank is 10th Kup and the highest is 1st Kup. If you're eager to know the Taekwondo belt order, it is as follows, and is portrayed by a range of colours i.e. white, yellow, green, blue and red, with intermediate belts with stripes, specifically white with a yellow stripe, yellow with a green stripe, green with a blue stripe, blue with a red stripe and red with a black stripe. Beginners of Taekwondo in Lanark will start out with the White Belt (Tenth Kup), and progress through the various coloured belts until they achieve the First Kup (Red With Black Stripe Belt)

When this training regime has been accomplished, Lanark Taekwondo trainees become known as "black belt candidates", and they then need to progress through an additional nine ranks if they are to achieve the Taekwondo "Black Belt", which is the supreme distinction in this sport. Therefore, Junior Belt, Senior Belt and Black Belt are the 3 principal classifications in the Taekwondo belt order in the UK. The Junior group of Taekwondo Belts are; White (Tenth), White With a Yellow Stripe (Ninth), Yellow (Eighth), and Yellow With a Green Stripe (Seventh). The Senior group of Taekwondo Belts are; Green (Sixth), Green With a Blue Stripe (Fifth), Blue (Fourth), Blue With a Red Stripe (Third), Red (Second), and Red With a Black Stripe (First). The Black division of Taekwondo Belts comprise First to Ninth Dan rankings, and will involve many years of dedication and training. (Tags: Taekwondo Belt Order, Belt Order Taekwondo, Taekwondo Belts Lanark, Taekwondo Promotion Lanark).

Competitions and Tournaments

There are a multitude of competitions and tournaments in Taekwondo involving all the various styles. They mostly consist of breaking, patterns (forms) and sparring with very little "hard contact". ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) contests do not permit too much contact but sometimes permit hand attacks towards the head. WT (World Taekwondo) and Olympic tournaments allow only sparring. Multi-style contests are also held.

In Summary

So, what are you looking to get from Taekwondo? Well, that is a great question, and the answer will vary for different people. Most participants will just wish to gain more confidence, improve their fitness levels and meet new people. We're definitely not all going to scale the dizzy heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, though maybe you will, you never know? 👊