Taekwondo Sandhurst

While not wanting to discourage any particular age group, it has to be said that Taekwondo is more suited to younger people in Sandhurst, being quite physically demanding. Its teachings of self-discipline and respect for others make it especially appropriate for children. Older adults who are not all that fit and active might find it a tad too taxing. People in Sandhurst who take up Taekwondo when they are young find it easy to continue when they get older. The less agile of you might find that Tai Chi which is a bit softer is more suitable.

With its beginnings in 1940's Korea, Taekwondo is certainly one of the more recently formulated of the martial arts and consists of mainly high-kicking moves such as jumping/turning kicks, head-height kicks and rapid kicking styles. It began when schools called "kwans" were set up by a bunch of Korean martial artists in Seoul, South Korea.

With more than sixty million people engaged in Taekwondo classes all over the world, this has definitely become an extremely popular and beneficial pastime, and if you become really good at this sport you might possibly one day qualify for the Olympic Games, of which it has been a part since the Sydney Games in the year 2000.

A key aspect of Taekwondo is self-defence, and doubtless this is one of the main reasons that people in Sandhurst join classes and take up the sport. There's been a worrying escalation of violent practices in recent years and this is especially common in town and city centres throughout Berkshire and the UK in general. The fantastic thing about Taekwondo though, is that it also promotes self-discipline and respect for others, not such familiar characteristics in Sandhurst nowadays.

Whilst it will give you peace of mind being aware that you have these self-defence skills in your locker, the likelihood is you will never need to test them outside the regulated atmosphere of a dedicated Taekwondo class.

Your First Sandhurst Taekwondo Lesson

Different Taekwondo clubs in the Sandhurst area will have different viewpoints on what enrollees should cover on their initial lesson, but to give you a concept of what you should expect most initial Taekwondo classes will include things like a warm-up, some sparring, learning basic forms (Poomse), a quick introduction to hand attacks, stances, blocking techniques and kicks (practical training) and a final warm-down to stretch weary muscles and return the body to a state of balance.

Everybody who's a registered member of a Taekwondo class in Sandhurst or any place else in the United Kingdom, is also required to join British Taekwondo, which is the governing body of the sport. You can read about news, coaching courses, clubs and members, beginning a new Taekwondo club, referees and coaching, safeguarding and equality, health and safety, events, first aid, and more on the official British Taekwondo website, and find out the latest news stories on their Twitter or Facebook page.

Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is well known for its wide range of kicking manoeuvres, over and above any other martial art. Here are just a few: Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To repulse the many kicks and hand attacks there are an equally diverse assortment of "blocks" (Makgi). Employing the hands and areas of the arm, they are held in particular positions. Specific attacks necessitate specified "blocks", but "blocks" can also be turned into counter-attacking moves by the combination of reciprocal punches or kicks. The most important "blocks" (makgi) include: Double Forearm Block, Upper Block, Palm Block, Nine Block, Low Block, Rising Block, Knife Hand Block, Double Knife Hand Block and Single Forearm Block.

Taekwondo Forms (Poomse)

Forms are a pivotal element of Taekwondo and are vital if you're to excel at this intriguing activity. Some basic "forms" must be grasped at the beginning and more complicated forms have to be perfected in order to move through the various levels. A Taekwondo form is characterised by a number of aspects such as technique, stance and direction.

Taekwondo Beginners Classes

It matters not who you are or what you're standing is in Taekwondo, at one time you were a total novice, fearing failure and knowing nothing. We have all started out like this and are only able to develop and learn through practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Sandhurst are the place to start that learning process and to pick up the basic principles so that you can build self-confidence and proceed with your Taekwondo adventure. The majority of beginner classes are created to be friendly and fun, offering a slow introduction to the basic Taekwondo principles and building a firm base moving forward.

Taekwondo Safety Gear

In all tournaments, events and matches being staged under the control of British Taekwondo, safety equipment such as a groin protector, shin protectors, forearm guards, hand protectors, blue/red body armour (hogu), a blue or red head protector and a mouth guard is obligatory. The kicking techniques which are part of Taekwondo could potentially cause serious injuries and these safety measures help make this sport less risky for its competitors.

In Summary

What you get out of Taekwondo are going to be proportional to what you put into it (as is the case with life in general). Many of you will only want to make new friends, improve your fitness levels and meet different people, some might wish to take part in competitions or tournaments or perhaps even the Olympic Games. But bear in mind, we cannot all end up being a Jade Jones or a Lutalo Muhammad. 👊