Taekwondo Leicester

Taekwondo is quite physically demanding, which means it may be considered more suitable for the younger rather than the older generation in Leicester. Its teachings of self-discipline and respect for others make it particularly good for children. Unless they are particularly fit and active, older adults may find it too physically taxing. For those people who take up Taekwondo when they are younger, continuing the experience into adulthood should not be a problem. Tai Chi or something similarly softer might be more suitab le for the less agile of you.

The name Taekwondo was only coined in the 1950's, although the sport started life in Korea in 1945. This mix of various martial arts techniques were practiced in some new schools in Seoul called "kwans", set up by a group of Korean martial artists. The focus of Taekwondo, as it later became known, is on kicking movements, in particular rapid kicking styles, jumping/turning kicks and head-height kicks. Now Leicester Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

With over 60 million individuals taking part in Taekwondo sessions all around the globe, this has unquestionably become an extremely popular and worthwhile activity, and if you really master the martial art you might even one day be eligible for the Olympic Games, of which it's been an integral part since the Sydney Games in the year 2000.

For the men, women and children of Leicester who are keen on the idea of learning a martial art, a major priority is the aspect of self-defence. As this is an important concept of Taekwondo, it's not difficult to see the attraction of this unique sport. With the extra benefit of developing self-restraint and having a degree of respect for other people, enrolling in a local Leicester Taekwondo class seems to be a no brainer.

Whilst it will instill you with self-confidence being aware that you have such self-defence skills in your locker, the likelihood is that you'll never need to use them outside of an actual Taekwondo class.

Your First Leicester Taekwondo Lesson

If Taekwondo is not something that you've ever tried before, you'll most likely be wondering what to expect from your initial lesson if you make your mind up to join. Different Taekwondo schools in the Leicester area have different ideas about this but roughly; you will participate in a 15-20 minute warm-up, you'll do some technical training, you will learn some forms (patterns), you'll practice sparring tactics and last but not least you'll do a warm-down to help your body get back into a relaxed state once again.

British Taekwondo is the official governing body of the sport within the United Kingdom, and membership of this organisation is compulsory if you want to join any Taekwondo club in Leicester or nearby. You'll be able to learn about referees and coaching, equality and safeguarding, events, establishing a new Taekwondo club, coaching courses, members and clubs, first aid, safe practices, news, and more on British Taekwondo's website, or find out the latest Taekwondo news reports on their Twitter or Facebook page.

Benefits to be Gained From Taekwondo

The benefits which may be achieved by taking part in Taekwondo sessions in Leicester are numerous, amongst the most significant are: Strengthen your body and mind thru enhanced mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Supercharge stamina, agility and flexibility through intense cardiovascular work-outs, Reduce stress with controlled breathing, Greater discipline by methodically training your mind and body in the strategies and doctrines of Taekwondo, Build up your confidence by encouraging you to succeed and to seize control of your life, Learn self-defence tactics by helping you to recognize situations in which self-defence may be needed, and empowering you to turn these types of circumstances in your favour, Enhance self-esteem and concentration by intensifying your mental and physical fitness.

The 8 Basic Taekwondo Kicks

There are lots of different kicking moves which are used in Taekwondo. Listed here are just a few of the most widely used: Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Hook or Whip Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi). Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", that are used to defend against the different attacking moves, are known as Makgi. They're held in various positions and engage the hands with sections of the arm. Certain attacks require specified "blocks", but "blocks" can also be transformed into counter-attacking manoeuvres by combining retaliatory kicks or punches. The key blocks (makgi) in Taekwondo include: Rising Block, Double Forearm Block, Knife Hand Block, Nine Block, Palm Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Single Forearm Block, Upper Block and Low Block.

Taekwondo Belts (Promotion)

In Tae kwon do there's really no form of standardization with regards to belts and ranking. It is all depending on what style you are looking at, because there are such a lot of Taekwondo rules and styles. They are however, typically split into 2 groups "junior" or "colour" belts and "senior" or "black" belts. The colour/junior rankings range from white to red, with from 8 to 12 rankings, while the black/senior belts typically have nine rankings.

Beginners Taekwondo Leicester

It doesn't matter what you're standing is or who you are in the world of Taekwondo, at one time you were a complete novice, fearing failure and knowing practically nothing. We have all started at that point and are only able to improve and learn through practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Leicester are the best place to begin that learning process and to acquire the basic principles so you can build self-confidence and proceed with your exciting Taekwondo adventure. Almost all beginner classes are set up to be fun and friendly, delivering a gradual introduction to the fundamental Taekwondo values and building a firm foundation moving forward.

Summary

We can more or less guarantee that if you take up Taekwondo you are going to gain more confidence, improve your wellbeing and make new friends. If that is all you take away from it, then all well and good, and you can call it a success! We aren't all aiming to be Jade Jones's or Lutalo Muhammad's, but those of you that are, still need to start with that very first step. Good luck with your journey! 👊