Taekwondo Rugby

Since Taekwondo has pretty high physical requirements, it's possibly more suited to the younger people of Rugby. That's not to say that older people cannot take part in this activity, but merely that there might be other martial arts that are more suited to the less agile of us. Tai Chi would be the perfect example.

Based mainly around kicking manoeuvres like rapid kicking techniques, jumping/spinning kicks and head kicks, Taekwondo was devised from the techniques of different martial arts, by a group of Seoul martial arts specialists in new schools called "Kwans" in the nineteen forties and fifties. These "Kwans" were given the names Songmu Kwan, Mooduk Kwan, Chungdo Kwan, Jido Kwan and Changmu Kwan.

Taekwondo has become very popular in Rugby and all over the world, with more than sixty million enthusiasts worldwide. Now an Olympic sport, Taekwondo is accessible to anyone, and heading along to your local Rugby Taekwondo club or class is the most effective way to get yourself involved. There's no reason why you can't become a master of this fascinating martial art, even if you don't aspire to Olympic competition.

People in Rugby take up Taekwondo for many reasons but it is the self-defence aspect that appeals to most. This is not hard to believe when you take into account the high levels of violence experienced in town and city centres on a daily basis. Learning to defend yourself while at the same time applying self-restraint and a respect for others is a key benefit of Taekwondo.

Such self-defence techniques may in due course come in handy in your day to day life, though it's more likely that you'll solely be using them within a controlled class environment. However it is an amazing feeling knowing the fact that you can always defend yourself when you need to.

Your First Class

If you have booked your first lesson but have never attempted Taekwondo before, you may be wondering what to prepare for. Most Taekwondo schools in Rugby follow a similar structure, but there could be some variation to the following. A 15 to 20 minute warm up to loosen your muscles and increase heart rate, some technical training comprising some kicks, hand attacks, stances and blocking techniques, learning some Poomse (or forms), a few ideas on sparring including good timing, movement and targeting attacks, and finally a warm down with muscle stretching and relaxing.

Anyone who joins a Taekwondo club in Rugby must also register with British Taekwondo which is the official governing body of the sport in the British Isles. You'll be able to find out about launching a new Taekwondo club, referees and coaching, clubs and members, safeguarding and equality, news, first aid, safe practices, coaching courses, events, and more on British Taekwondo's website, and find out the latest Taekwondo news reports on their Twitter or Facebook page.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

You'll no doubt be intrigued to find out about exactly what type of benefits may be achieved by attending Rugby Taekwondo training and engaging fully in its activities. You could expect to: Improve concentration and self-esteem by raising both physical and mental powers, Develop discipline and willpower by exhaustively educating your body and mind in the strategies and doctrines of Taekwondo, Supercharge stamina, agility and flexibility by means of intensive cardiovascular work-outs, Toughen up your body and mind through improved physical coordination and mental discipline, Help with self-defence by training you to recognize scenarios where self-defence may be necessary, and empowering you to turn such circumstances to your advantage, Beef up your confidence by helping you to take control of your life and succeed, Reduce anxiety and stress with controlled breathing.

Taekwondo Forms

Perfecting the art of Taekwondo calls for getting to grips with a number of techniques and one of the pivotal aspects of Taekwondo is its forms (also called patterns or Poomse). These are sequences of technique, direction and stance which need to be mastered in order for students to move through the various dans (grades/belts).

Safety Equipment

In all events, contests and tournaments being held under the authority of British Taekwondo, safety equipment like forearm guards, hand guards, a groin guard, shin protectors, blue or red trunk armour, a mouth protector and a blue/red head protector is compulsory. The fast kicking techniques which are part of Taekwondo can cause injury and this all helps to make this activity less dangerous for its competitors.