Taekwondo Romiley

While not wanting to discourage any particular age group, it has to be said that Taekwondo is more suited to younger people in Romiley, being quite physically demanding. Its teachings of self-discipline and respect for others make it especially appropriate for children. It could prove too taxing for some older adults, but shouldn't be a problem for those who are already fit and active. Carrying their Taekwondo experience through into older adulthood should not however be a problem for those who start when they are younger. If you are less agile you could always try something a bit softer such as Tai Chi or Yoga.

Taekwondo is a martial art that primarily involves kicking manoeuvres, in particular rapid kicking techniques, turning/jumping kicks and head kicks. It started in Seoul, in southern Korea during the 1940's, when a number of martial arts specialists founded schools known as "kwans", which merged a variety of martial arts practices.

Since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been a competitive Olympic sport. This has made it even more popular around the world with some sixty million people actively attending classes. And it's by joining a Taekwondo class or club that you are able to begin your quest of learning this fascinating activity.

A key aspect of Taekwondo is self-defence, and not surprisingly this is one of the main reasons that people in Romiley get involved in classes and get involved in the sport. There's been a worrying increase in violent conduct in recent times and this is particularly rampant in town and city centres around Greater Manchester and Great Britain in general. The beauty of Taekwondo though, is that it also promotes self-discipline and respect for other people, not such widespread characteristics in Romiley these days.

Your eagerly mastered Taekwondo skills will most likely never have to be put to the test outside of a dedicated Taekwondo class, however being aware that you've got them will instill you with confidence.

Your First Lesson

If you've never had a go at Taekwondo before, you could be a little anxious as to what can be expected on your first lesson. This will be different from school to school but will typically consist of all or some of the following. A 15-20 minute warm up to increase heart rate and loosen muscles, a bit of practical training including learning some kicks, stances, hand attacks and blocking techniques, studying a few forms, an overview of sparring which will include movement, attack timing and timing, and finally a warm down to stretch and relax tired muscles.

Any person who joins a Taekwondo class in Romiley has to also register with British Taekwondo which is the official governing body of the sport in the United Kingdom. You will be able to get a lot of information about coaches and referees, news, coaching courses, safe practices, clubs and members, safeguarding and equality, events, launching a new Taekwondo club, first aid, and more, by heading to British Taekwondo's official website.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

There are of course, quite a few benefits to be gained from participating in Taekwondo, and here are just some which might be of interest to you: Toughen up your body and mind by means of enhanced mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Enhance self-esteem by maximizing both physical and mental fitness, Reduced anxiety and stress with controlled breathing, Develop self-discipline by methodically educating your body and mind in the techniques and concepts of Taekwondo, Increase stamina, agility and flexibility through intensive cardiovascular exertion, Grow in your confidence by motivating you to succeed and to seize control of your life, Teach self-defence techniques by helping you to identify occasions where self-defence may be necessary, and enabling you to control such situations in your favour.

The Eight Basic Taekwondo Kicks

Some of the basic Taekwondo kicks you will master initially include: Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Hook or Whip Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To defend against the many kicks and hand attacks there are an equally diverse array of blocks (Makgi). They are held in specific positions and use the hand with sections of the arm. Certain attacks call for particular blocks, but blocks can also be transformed into counter-attacks by the combination of reciprocal punches or kicks. The main "blocks" (makgi) in Taekwondo include: Upper Block, Double Forearm Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Low Block, Palm Block, Single Forearm Block, Nine Block, Knife Hand Block and Rising Block.

Taekwondo Forms (Poomse)

People just starting their journey in Taekwondo don't need to worry too much about forms (patterns, Poomse) in the early days, however they'll have to learn some basic ones to start with and advance to more complex forms as they move through the various belts (grades/dans). A "form" is indicated by particular elements of Taekwondo including direction, stance and technique. Learning these techniques is a key part of perfecting Taekwondo.

Taekwondo Competitions and Tournaments

There are an array of contests in Taekwondo involving all the diverse styles. They mostly consist of breaking, patterns and sparring with very little "hard contact". ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) competitions do not allow excessive contact but may permit hand attacks towards the head. World Taekwondo (WT) and Olympic tournaments allow only sparring. Multi-style tournaments are also held.

In Conclusion

We cannot all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess we wouldn't all want to be. Taekwondo is not purely about National Championships and Olympic titles. Most of us are happy to improve our levels of fitness, meet different people and make new friends, and that's how it should be. However, as with many matters in life, what you get from it will be based upon what you put into it. Enjoy! 👊