Taekwondo Mansfield

As Taekwondo has fairly high physical requirements, it is perhaps more suited to the younger people of Mansfield. That's not to say that older individuals cannot take part in this particular activity, but merely that there may be alternative martial arts that are more suited to the less nimble among us. Tai Chi is the perfect illustration.

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

At present an Olympic sport, Taekwondo has more than sixty million followers all over the world, and although you might not aspire to be an Olympic Games athlete, you're still able to sign up for a Taekwondo club or class to master what will no doubt prove to be a fulfilling and intriguing activity.

In these days of escalating violence, it is no surprise that people in locations like Mansfield are attending self-defence techniques such as Taekwondo to help them to feel safer and more secure in their local environment. The self-defence aspect is one of the key factors of Taekwondo but at the same time it also encourages self-restraint and a deep respect for other people, which are disciplines that are largely lacking in 21st century living.

Your eagerly learned Taekwondo skills will most likely never need to be put to the test outside the regulated environment of an organized Taekwondo class, however knowing that you have them will instill you with self-confidence.

Your First Mansfield Taekwondo Class

If you come to a decision to register for a Taekwondo club in Mansfield, the first thing you will be wondering is what will happen on the initial class and what will the instructor expect to see from you. Different Taekwondo masters in Mansfield will devise differing routines for this first lesson but you should be expecting to do a 20 minute warm-up to loosen your muscles and get the blood circulating, learn some basic forms (Poomse), cover some technical training (kicks, hand attacks, blocking techniques and stances), do a bit of sparring, and finally, a warm-down.

Taekwondo of course also has got its own official governing body, and in the UK it is British Taekwondo. Anybody wishing to sign up with a Taekwondo club in Mansfield must become a member of this organisation. By checking out British Taekwondo's official website you will be able to read details on events, equality and safeguarding, referees and coaching, coaching courses, clubs and members, establishing a new Taekwondo club, safe practices, news, first aid, and lots more Taekwondo related issues.

The Eight Basic Taekwondo Kicks

There are a number of different kicking moves that are used in Taekwondo. The following are a selection of the best known: Front Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Crescent Kick, Push Kick, Side Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Back Kick, Axe Kick. Blocks: To defend against and stop an inbound Taekwondo attack, blocks (known as Makgi) are implemented. Employing the hands and different areas of the arm, they are held in various positions. Every block can be merged with a punch or kick to establish a counter-attacking movement, and each "block" is suitable for a particular attack. The primary "blocks" include: Knife Hand Block, Single Forearm Block, Rising Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Low Block, Nine Block, Upper Block, Palm Block and Double Forearm Block.

Taekwondo Competitions

There are a wide variety of tournaments in Taekwondo involving all the various styles. They largely involve breaking, patterns (forms) and sparring with not much hard contact. ITF contests do not allow excessive contact but do allow hand attacks to be aimed at the head. World Taekwondo and Olympic competitions only allow sparring. Multi-style contests also take place.

Beginners Taekwondo Mansfield

Even the very best exponents of Taekwondo in Mansfield set out as rookies, so it is no disgrace to be a total beginner at Tae kwon do, or in fact any other activity. The aim of a Taekwondo beginners class is to teach just a few basics, boost self-confidence and develop a solid base for the future. Most importantly of all is that it should be enjoyable, students having a good time will learn quicker and be more committed.

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

Safety equipment such as shin guards, a red or blue trunk guard (hogu), a groin guard, a red/blue head protector, a mouth guard, hand protectors and forearm guards are worn in all tournaments controlled by British Taekwondo. Protection from injuries is paramount on account of the forceful kicking that's part and parcel of this sport.

Summary

So, what do you want from doing Taekwondo? Well, that's an excellent question, and the answer to that will be different for individual people. The majority of participants will just look to meet new people, gain more self-confidence and improve their fitness levels. We're not all going to reach the dizzy heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, though maybe you will, you never know? 👊