Taekwondo Marlborough

Many people in Marlborough would imagine that the fast punching, high kicking movements demanded by Taekwondo are more appropriate for young kids. Keeping up with the physical demands of the sport may be easier for the younger generation, but this doesn't mean that people of every age can participate in, and enjoy the many benefits of this activity. You will however get more enjoyment out of Taekwondo if you are fairly agile and fit.

Taekwondo is a martial art that primarily involves high-kicking manoeuvres, most notably rapid kicking methods, head-height kicks and jumping/spinning kicks. It started in Seoul, in southern Korea in the 1940's, when a group of martial arts enthusiasts founded schools called "kwans", which merged a variety of martial arts practices.

Nowadays an Olympic sport, Taekwondo has more than 60 million enthusiasts worldwide, and although you might not have any ambitions to be an Olympic Games sportsman, you can still register for a Taekwondo class or club to learn what will no doubt turn out to be a rewarding and interesting pastime.

In these modern times of increasing violence, it's little surprise that individuals in places like Marlborough are attending self-defence training such as Taekwondo to enable them to feel safer in their everyday life. The self-defence element is one of the key factors of Taekwondo but at the same time it also promotes self-restraint and a respect for others around us, which are qualities that are largely absent in this modern age.

Your newly mastered Taekwondo skills will likely never have to be tried and tested outside of a dedicated Taekwondo class, however knowing that you've got them will give you peace of mind.

Your First Marlborough Taekwondo Lesson

If you've booked your first class but haven't tried Taekwondo before, you will be wondering what to expect. This could vary from class to class but will normally involve all or most of the following. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to loosen your muscles and increase your heart rate, a bit of technical training which will involve learning some blocks, kicks, hand attacks and stances, learning some forms (or Poomse), a few ideas on sparring including movement, timing and attack targeting, and finally a warm down to stretch weary muscles and loosen up.

Taekwondo of course also has its own regulating body, and in the UK it is British Taekwondo. Everyone wishing enroll with a Taekwondo club in Marlborough have to become registered members of this organisation. By visiting British Taekwondo's website you'll be able to obtain information about safe practices, coaching courses, launching a new club, clubs and members, news, events, coaches and referees, safeguarding and equality, first aid, and lots more Taekwondo related issues.

Safety Gear

Matches regulated by British Taekwondo guidelines require various items of protective equipment to be used, these include: a red/blue head protector, hand guards, a gum shield, shin pads, a groin protector, forearm guards and a blue or red trunk guard (hogu). This is necessary owing to the vigorous kicking actions being practiced.

Beginners Classes

Students starting out on their Taekwondo experience in Marlborough will first of all register for a beginners class. Beginners classes are awesome, as there are no rigid demands and everything is carried out at a slow, relaxed pace. Learning and having fun are the main aims initially and trainees who are having fun have a tendency to learn much faster and absorb considerably more of what they are being shown. Even Taekwondo masters began as clueless newbies, so take that very first step and you never know where you'll wind up!

Taekwondo Competitions and Tournaments

A regular Taekwondo tournament features breaking, sparring and patterns, in the Olympics only sparring is included. With that being said there can also be a few extraordinary events in particular tournaments such as team demonstrations and self-defence. World Taekwondo contests are strictly soft-contact affairs, while ITF tournaments permit some hand attacks aimed at the head. There are also several multi-discipline competitions.

Taekwondo Kicks

As martial arts go, Taekwondo stands apart as the one with the most kicking strategies. These are just some basic ones: Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi). Blocks: To fend off the various hand attacks and kicks there are a similarly diverse selection of blocks. Using the hands and sections of the arm, they are held in various positions. Certain attacks necessitate particular blocks, but blocks can also be changed into counter-attacks by the combination of reciprocal punches or kicks. The main blocks (makgi) include: Low Block, Palm Block, Knife Hand Block, Double Forearm Block, Rising Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Single Forearm Block, Nine Block and Upper Block.

Benefits to be Gained From Taekwondo

There are needless to say, a lot of benefits to be had from practicing Taekwondo, and the following are just some which might be tempting for you: Teach you self-defence by showing you how to identify instances where self-defence may be needed, and allowing you to control these kinds of circumstances to your advantage, Develop self-discipline by extensively training your mind and body in the techniques and principles of Taekwondo, Lessen stress and anxiety using advanced breath control, Toughen up your mind and body through improved physical coordination and mental discipline, Enhance feelings of self-esteem by heightening your physical and mental powers, Improve stamina, agility and flexibility by means of intense cardiovascular effort, Grow in confidence by encouraging you to take control of your life and succeed.