Taekwondo Maldon

While people of all ages in Maldon 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 may find it somewhat too taxing unless they are particularly fit and active. However those who take up Taekwondo in Maldon at a young age will find they can easily carry it on into older adulthood. The less agile of you might find that Tai Chi which is a bit softer is more suitable.

Taekwondo is a martial art that mainly involves high-kicking moves and manoeuvres, in particular head-height kicks, spinning/jumping kicks and rapid kicking styles. It began in Seoul, in southern Korea in the 1940's, when a group of martial arts enthusiasts established schools called "kwans", which blended a number of martial arts practices.

The total number of Taekwondo practitioners worldwide, now exceeds 60 million. Joining a local Maldon Taekwondo club or class is a good way to get involved in this sport which has even featured in the Olympic Games since the Sydney Games of 2000. There is no reason why you cannot become a master of this exciting martial art, even if you do not aspire to Olympic competition.

In these times of escalating violence, it's no surprise that folks in places like Maldon are attending self-defence techniques like Taekwondo to enable them to feel safer in their local environment. The self-defence element is one of the primary factors of Taekwondo but it also teaches self-restraint and a deep respect for others around us, which are traits that are largely missing in this modern age.

There is a pretty good likelihood that your newly mastered Taekwondo skills will never have to be proven in your day to day life, but it will most certainly give you reassurance knowing that they are sitting in the background should you need them.

Your First Taekwondo Class

If Taekwondo isn't a sport that you have ever tried previously, you will most likely be wondering what you should expect from your first lesson should you make your mind up to join. Different Taekwondo schools in Maldon have different thoughts on this but roughly; you'll take part in a 15-20 minute warm-up, you will do a bit of technical training, you will learn some patterns (forms), you'll practice sparring methods and lastly you'll perform a warm-down to help your body get back into a state of relaxation.

British Taekwondo is the official regulating body of the sport within the United Kingdom, and membership of this organisation is mandatory if you would like to sign up with any Taekwondo club in Maldon or nearby. You'll be able to learn about coaches and referees, news, members and clubs, coaching courses, first aid, health and safety, equality and safeguarding, events, establishing a new club, and more on British Taekwondo's official website, or find out the latest news stories on their Facebook or Twitter page.

Benefits to be Gained From Taekwondo

When signing up for Taekwondo classes in Maldon you will be expecting to get a few benefits to make the entire adventure worth the effort. Therefore let's investigate some of the many positive benefits that you could get from doing and learning Taekwondo. Teach you self-defence tactics by showing you how to recognise situations where self-defence might be required, and enabling you to turn these kinds of circumstances in your favour, Beef up your confidence by inspiring you to seize control of your life and succeed, Reduce anxiety by doing deep breathing exercises, Augment stamina, agility and flexibility by way of intense cardiovascular work-outs, Toughen up your body and mind by accelerated physical coordination and mental discipline, Better discipline by thoroughly educating your body and mind in the doctrines and tactics of Taekwondo, Increase concentration and self-esteem by sharpening both mental and physical powers.

The Main Taekwondo Kicks

Some of the basic Taekwondo kicking manoeuvres you will master initially include: Roundhouse Kick, Crescent Kick, Push Kick, Front Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Side Kick, Axe Kick, Back Kick. Blocks: To stop and avert an incoming attack, blocks (called Makgi) are employed. Using the hand and different areas of the arm, they're held in particular positions. Each and every block can be combined with a kick or punch to produce a counter-attacking movement, and each "block" is meant for a specific attack. The key blocks include: Low Block, Single Forearm Block, Rising Block, Nine Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Knife Hand Block, Palm Block, Upper Block and Double Forearm Block.

Taekwondo Belts

The belt and ranking structure can get very bewildering in Taekwondo because there isn't any uniform system throughout the different Taekwondo disciplines. Likenesses can be found however, and usually there are 2 separate belt groupings, signified as "juniors" (colours) and "seniors" (black dans). The number of levels in the junior section varies across the disciplines but is usually between eight and twelve belts, while the senior's section usually has 9 belts or dans.

Taekwondo Competitions

A regular Taekwondo competition includes breaking, patterns and sparring, where the Olympics is concerned only sparring is involved. With that being said there are also a few special categories in particular tournaments such as team demonstrations and self-defence. World Taekwondo contests are strictly soft-contact affairs, whilst International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) contests permit some hand attacks to the head. There are additionally a number of multi-discipline competitions.

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

In all tournaments, matches and events being staged under the auspices of British Taekwondo, safety equipment such as hand protectors, a red/blue head guard, a groin guard, a mouth protector, a red or blue trunk guard (hogu), shin guards and forearm guards is compulsory. The kicking manoeuvres which are part of Taekwondo can easily cause injury and this all helps to make the activity safer for its competitors.