Taekwondo Maidstone

Due to its rather more physical aspects, Taekwondo is perhaps more suited to the younger person in Maidstone and is particularly suitable for children as it is great for developing self-discipline and respect for others. Older adults who are not all that fit and active might find it a tad too taxing. Carrying their Taekwondo experience through into older adulthood should not however be a problem for those who start when they are younger. Something a bit softer like Tai Chi might be more suitable for the less agile of you.

Taekwondo is a martial art that mostly features high-kicking manoeuvres and moves, most notably jumping/spinning kicks, head kicks and fast kicking methods. It started in Seoul, in southern Korea in the 1940's, when a group of martial arts specialists established schools called "kwans", which mixed together a number of martial arts practices.

Taekwondo has become really popular in Maidstone and all over the world, with over sixty million enthusiasts worldwide. If you want to get involved in this activity, which is now an Olympic sport, signing up for a Taekwondo club or class in Maidstone is a good place to start. There's no reason why you can't become a master of this exciting martial art, even if you do not aspire to Olympic competition.

For the men, women and children of Maidstone who like the idea of learning a martial art, a major priority is the aspect of self-defence. Because this is an important concept of Taekwondo, it isn't difficult to appreciate the appeal of this unique sport. With the extra benefit of developing self-restraint and having a deep-rooted respect for those around you, registering for a local Maidstone Taekwondo class would seem to be an easy decision.

These self-defence techniques may in due course prove useful in your day to day life, although it is much more likely that you'll solely be using them within a controlled class setting. Nevertheless it is an amazing feeling knowing that you can always defend yourself if you have to.

What to Expect From Your First Lesson

Different Taekwondo clubs in Maidstone will have different guidelines for what students should be covering on their first lesson, however to give you a notion of what to expect most initial Taekwondo lessons will incorporate a warm-up, a bit of sparring, learning basic Poomse (forms), an overview of kicks, hand attacks, stances and blocks (practical training) and a final warm-down to relax weary muscles and get the body back to a state of balance.

The UK's official regulating body of the sport is British Taekwondo and if you wish to sign up to Taekwondo class in Maidstone, you will also be required to become a member of this organization. You will be able to find plenty of info regarding events, coaches and referees, news, health and safety, safeguarding and equality, clubs and members, first aid, coaching courses, starting a new Taekwondo club, and more, by popping along to British Taekwondo's official website.

The Eight Basic Taekwondo Kicks

One of the main features of Taekwondo is kicking, listed here is a selection of the essential kicks: Side Kick, Back Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Crescent Kick, Front Kick, Push Kick, Axe Kick. Blocks: To defend against the numerous hand attacks and kicks there are a similarly diverse range of "blocks" (Makgi). They're held in specific positions and enlist the hand with different areas of the arm. Certain attacks require particular "blocks", but blocks can also be transformed into counter-attacking moves by linking retaliatory punches or kicks. The main "blocks" in Taekwondo include: Double Forearm Block, Nine Block, Knife Hand Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Rising Block, Single Forearm Block, Palm Block, Upper Block and Low Block.

Taekwondo Forms (Poomse)

Mastering Tae kwon do necessitates getting to grips with many disciplines and one of the key parts of Taekwondo is its forms (also called patterns or Poomse). These are sequences of stance, direction and technique which have to be memorized in order for pupils to progress through the different dans (grades/belts).

Taekwondo Belts

When it comes to promotion, ranking and belts there is not actually any standardisation in Taekwondo, since there are many different styles of Taekwondo which each have their own specific system. There are however analogies and they generally consist of a couple of groups of belts "juniors" and "seniors" represented by coloured and black belts respectively, . The senior rankings usually have nine ranks and the junior, eight to twelve grades.

Taekwondo Competitions and Tournaments

A regular Taekwondo competition incorporates patterns, breaking and sparring, in the Olympics only sparring is involved. That being said there can also be some unique categories in particular tournaments such as self-defence and team demonstrations. WT contests are solely soft-contact events, while ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) tournaments permit some hand attacks to the head. There are also a few multi-discipline contests.

Beginners Classes

It does not matter what you're ranking is or who you are in Taekwondo, at some point you were a complete novice, knowing nothing and fearing failure. We have all started like this and can only improve and learn through practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Maidstone are the right place to begin that learning process and to acquire the necessary basics so you can gain self-confidence and move forward in your exciting Taekwondo quest. Most beginner classes are geared up to be fun and friendly, delivering a gradual introduction to the fundamental Taekwondo values and developing a firm base for the future.