Taekwondo Redditch

Due to its rather more physical aspects, Taekwondo is perhaps more suited to the younger person in Redditch and is particularly suitable for children as it is great for developing self-discipline and respect for others. It can sometimes be too taxing for older adults unless they are exceptionally fit and active. Quite a few of the older adults who do Taekwondo in Redditch, started when they were younger. The less agile of you might consider something softer like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently established of the martial arts, with its beginnings in Korea, South-East Asia in 1945. A number of Korean martial arts specialists in Seoul founded some new schools known as "kwans", combining many different martial arts practices. Taekwondo, which was ultimately called, mostly entails high-kicking manoeuvres, particularly fast kicking techniques, head-height kicks and turning/jumping kicks.

With over 60 million practitioners worldwide and quite a few in Redditch, Taekwondo has become very popular. Joining a local Taekwondo club or class in Redditch is a good way to get involved with this activity which is now an Olympic sport. While the chances of you getting to Olympic standard are pretty slim, there is no reason at all why you cannot master this thrilling martial art.

In these times of increasing violence, it is no surprise that individuals in places like Redditch are getting involved in self-defence techniques such as Taekwondo to help them to feel safer in their everyday life. The self-defence aspect 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 lacking in 21st century living.

Your newly mastered Taekwondo skills will most likely never need to be proven outside the monitored atmosphere of a dedicated Taekwondo class, however being aware of the fact that you've got them will instill you with self-confidence.

Your First Lesson

If you have never done Taekwondo before you may be a little concerned as to what to expect on your first class. This will vary from school to school but will usually involve some or all of the following. A warm up of fifteen to twenty minutes to loosen your muscles and increase your heart rate, a bit of technical training covering some kicks, blocking techniques, hand attacks and stances, learning some forms (or Poomse), some ideas on sparring including good timing, precise movement and the accurate targeting of attacks, and lastly a warm down to relax and stretch muscles.

Anyone who joins a Taekwondo class in Redditch has to also register with British Taekwondo which is the governing body of the sport in Great Britain. You will be able to get lots of details about referees and coaching, news, health and safety, launching a new club, equality and safeguarding, members and clubs, coaching courses, events, first aid, and more, by heading to the official British Taekwondo website.

The Benefits of Taekwondo

There are needless to say, many benefits to be had from participating in Taekwondo, and here are just a few that could be interesting for you: Toughen up your body and mind by increased physical coordination and mental discipline, Teach you self-defence techniques by helping you identify scenarios in which self-defence might be necessary, and empowering you to turn such circumstances to your advantage, Boost confidence by motivating you to seize control of your life and succeed, Enhance feelings of self-esteem by elevating your mental and physical health, Reduced anxiety and stress with controlled breathing, Greater discipline by exhaustively educating your body and mind in the concepts and strategies of Taekwondo, Augment agility, stamina and flexibility by means of extreme cardiovascular effort.

Taekwondo Patterns (Forms)

Taekwondo forms (also called Poomse or patterns) are categorized by certain facets like technique, direction and stance. From the outset you are going to get to grips with a few of the basic forms, and so as to move through the grades (belts) you'll need to master some more complex ones.

Tournaments and Competitions

Competitions and tournaments are a significant part of the overall Taekwondo experience, and all of the different styles around the world stage tournaments where Taekwondo masters get together to compete. Hard contact is rarely permitted in any of these competitions which mostly incorporate breaking, patterns (forms) and sparring. Sparring only is permitted in Olympic and WT tournaments, while some hand attacks are permitted in ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) events.

Taekwondo Beginners Classes

Even the finest exponents of Taekwondo in Redditch set out as newbies, therefore there's no disgrace in being a total beginner at Taekwondo, or any other activity for that matter. The goal of a Taekwondo beginners class is to teach a few basics, raise self-confidence and build a firm foundation moving forward. Most importantly of all is that it must be enjoyable, trainees having fun will learn quicker and be more invested.

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

British Taekwondo controlled tournaments require specific safety gear to be worn to safeguard contenders from personal injury due to the powerful kicks being used. This safety gear includes: a groin protector, blue/red trunk armour, shin guards, forearm protectors, a gum shield, a blue or red head protector and hand protectors.