Taekwondo Margate

As Taekwondo has pretty high physical demands, it's possibly more suitable for the younger generation in Margate. That isn't to say that older individuals can't get involved in this popular activity, but simply that there might be alternative martial arts that are more suited to the less nimble among us. Tai Chi is a perfect illustration.

Taekwondo is a martial art that mainly features high-kicking moves and manoeuvres, in particular jumping/turning kicks, head kicks and rapid kicking strategies. It started in Seoul, in southern Korea in the 1940's, when a number of martial arts enthusiasts founded schools known as "kwans", which blended a variety of martial arts techniques.

Taekwondo now has over 60 million practitioners worldwide and has become very popular in Margate and throughout the UK. Signing up for a local Taekwondo club or class in Margate is a great way to get involved with this activity which is now an Olympic sport. There is no reason why you cannot reach a high standard in this exhilarating sport, even if you haven't any desire to compete in the Olympics.

For many people in Margate, it is the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo that has the most appeal. You should not be surprised by this, when you take into account the high incidence of violence seen in today's town and city centres. The ability to defend yourself and at the same time exercising self-restraint and a respect for others is one of the key benefits of Taekwondo.

Your newly mastered Taekwondo skills will likely never need to be tested outside the monitored environment of an organized Taekwondo class, however knowing that you have them will give you peace of mind.

What to Expect From Your First Lesson

If you have not attempted Taekwondo before, you might be intrigued to know exactly what is likely to happen on your first class. The following will give you an overview, but this could vary from school to school. A warm up lasting fifteen to twenty minutes, some technical training such as learning some hand attacks, blocks, kicks and stances, a look at forms or patterns, a look at sparring including timing, movement and the targeting of attacks, and to round off a warm down with muscle stretching and loosening up to prevent cramping and spasms.

Any person who joins a Taekwondo club in Margate has to also become a member of British Taekwondo which is the regulating body of the sport in the British Isles. By viewing British Taekwondo's website you will be able to find facts about first aid, coaching courses, beginning a new Taekwondo club, news, members and clubs, events, coaches and referees, safeguarding and equality, health and safety, and a lot more Taekwondo related issues.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

There are of course, a lot of benefits to be had from doing Taekwondo, and listed here are just a selection of the ones that may be appealing to you: Toughen up your body and mind by enhanced mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Help with self-defence by showing you how to understand occasions where self-defence may be needed, and allowing you to manipulate these circumstances in your favour, Reduces stress with controlled breathing, Build up confidence by encouraging you to succeed and to take control of your life, Increase feelings of self-esteem by intensifying your physical and mental powers, More discipline and willpower by methodically schooling your body and mind in the principles and strategies of Taekwondo, Supercharge flexibility, stamina and agility by means of intensive cardiovascular effort.

Taekwondo Forms (Poomse)

Taekwondo forms (also referred to as patterns or Poomse) are identified by specific aspects such as stance, direction and technique. From the start of your Taekwondo experience you'll get to grips with some of the important forms, and so as to advance through the various levels (belts) you'll need to master some more complicated ones.

Taekwondo Belts (Rank)

In Tae kwon do there's really no form of standardisation in regards to ranking and belts. It all depends on which style you happen to be looking at, as there are so many different Taekwondo styles. They are however, generally separated into two groups "junior (colour) belts and "senior" (black) belts. The junior/colour rankings range from white to red, with anything from eight to twelve rankings, whilst the black/senior belts commonly have nine levels.

Beginners Classes

As with any sport or activity we need to begin somewhere, and Taekwondo is not any different. Even the best Margate Taekwondo masters were total novices at one time. So, what can you expect as a complete novice at Taekwondo? Beginner classes should give their pupils ample coaching to teach them the basics and enable them to develop confidence as they progress. The perfect beginners class must be enjoyable as well as educational, when students are enjoying themselves they're more engaged and are going to learn much faster.

Safety Equipment

Matches governed by British Taekwondo rules require various items of protective equipment to be used, these include: a groin protector, shin pads, forearm guards, a red or blue head guard, hand protectors, red or blue body armour and a gum shield. This is important owing to the potent kicking moves being practiced.

Summary

We can't all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess we don't all want to be. Taekwondo is not solely about National Championships and Olympic titles. The majority of of us are content to improve our levels of fitness, make new friends and meet different people, and that's how it should be. However, as with most matters in life, what you get out of it will depend upon what you invest in it. Enjoy! 👊