Taekwondo Stansted Mountfitchet

Because of its rather more physical aspects, Taekwondo is possibly more appropriate for the younger person in Stansted Mountfitchet and is particularly suitable for kids because it is wonderful for developing respect for others and self-discipline. More elderly individuals may find it somewhat too demanding unless they are particularly fit and active. However, those folks who persue Taekwondo in Stansted Mountfitchet from a young age will discover they can easily continue with it into older adulthood. The less agile of you might consider participating in something softer like Tai Chi.

With its root beginnings in 1940's Korea, Taekwondo is obviously one of the more recently introduced of the martial arts and entails mainly kicking moves such as rapid kicking techniques, head kicks and jumping/spinning kicks. It began when schools called "kwans" were set up by a bunch of Korean martial arts specialists in Seoul, South Korea.

The total number of Taekwondo practitioners worldwide, now exceeds 60 million. Joining a local Stansted Mountfitchet Taekwondo club or class is a good way to get involved in this sport which has even featured in the Olympic Games since the Sydney Games of 2000. 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.

A key element of Taekwondo is self-defence, and naturally this is one of the main reasons that individuals in Stansted Mountfitchet sign up to classes and get involved in the sport. There has been a disconcerting escalation of violent practices in recent years and this is particularly widespread in town and city centres throughout Essex and the British Isles in general. The fantastic thing about Taekwondo though, is that it also encourages self-discipline and respect for others, not such widespread attributes in Stansted Mountfitchet these days.

Your eagerly learned Taekwondo skills will most likely never have to be proven outside the regulated atmosphere of an organised Taekwondo class, however being aware that you have them will instill you with self-confidence.

What to Expect From Your First Lesson

If Taekwondo isn't an activity that you have ever had a go at before, you will probably be curious about what to expect from your initial lesson should you make up your mind to join. Different Taekwondo schools in the Stansted Mountfitchet area have varying ideas about this but roughly; you'll participate in a fifteen to twenty minute warm-up, you will do some technical training, you'll learn some forms, you are going to practice sparring strategies and last but not least you'll warm-down to help your body get back into a relaxed state again.

The UK governing body of the sport is British Taekwondo and if you want to sign up to Taekwondo club in Stansted Mountfitchet, you'll also be required to become a member of this respected organization. By checking out the official British Taekwondo website you will be able to find info regarding news, equality and safeguarding, first aid, safe practices, coaching courses, launching a new Taekwondo club, coaches and referees, events, members and clubs, and lots more Taekwondo related facts.

Taekwondo Belts (Ranking)

Since there are various different styles of Taekwondo there's never been any standardized system for allocating belts (ranks). What does exist however is pretty similar and is made up of a couple of belt groups "senior" and "junior" (black and colour), each one of these groups is split into ranks, 8 to 12 colours in the case of juniors and 9 "blacks" for seniors.

In the UK Taekwondo has a sequence of ranks (belts) which are generally known as "Kup", these ranks range from Tenth (lowest) to First (highest). As is the case with many of the martial arts, the Taekwondo belt order is portrayed by a range of different colours, so the ranks are easily recognised. These colours are white, yellow, green, blue and red, with transitional belts with stripes in-between, specifically - white with a yellow stripe, yellow with a green stripe, green with a blue stripe, blue with a red stripe and red with a black stripe. Beginners of Taekwondo in Stansted Mountfitchet will begin with the White Belt (10th Kup), and proceed through the different coloured belts until they attain the Red Belt With a Black Stripe (1st Kup).

After successfully completing this challenge, Taekwondo trainees in Stansted Mountfitchet are considered as "black belt candidates" which requires them to move through another nine ranks (Dans) up until they eventually achieve the accolade of "Black Belt". Hence, the Taekwondo belt order can be grouped into three divisions; Junior Belts, Senior Belts and Black Belts. The Junior group of Taekwondo Belts comprise; White (Tenth), White With a Yellow Stripe (Ninth), Yellow (Eighth), and Yellow With a Green Stripe (Seventh). The Senior group of Taekwondo Belts are; Green (Sixth), Green With a Blue Stripe (Fifth), Blue (Fourth), Blue With a Red Stripe (Third), Red (Second), and Red With a Black Stripe (First). The Black division of Taekwondo Belts comprise First to Ninth Dan rankings, and involves many years of dedication and training.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

There are needless to say, lots of benefits to be gained from doing Taekwondo, and the following are just some that might be attractive to you: Toughen up your body and mind through improved physical coordination and mental discipline, Build up your confidence by inspiring you to succeed and to take control of your life, Help with self-defence strategies by helping you to realize occasions in which self-defence could be required, and empowering you to control such circumstances in your favour, Increase your self-esteem by intensifying your physical and mental powers, Better discipline and willpower by thoroughly training your body and mind in the doctrines and strategies of Taekwondo, Lessen anxiety with controlled breathing, Turbocharge flexibility, stamina and agility by means of strenuous cardiovascular effort.

Taekwondo Safety Gear

Competitions governed by British Taekwondo guidelines demand that specific items of protective gear be worn, these include: hand protectors, forearm guards, a red/blue trunk protector (hogu), shin protectors, a mouth guard, a blue or red head protector and a groin guard. This is important because of the powerful kicking movements being practiced.

Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is recognized for its dynamic kicks, here are the basic ones: Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi). Blocks: To defend against and stop an inbound Taekwondo attack, blocks (called Makgi) are implemented. They're held in various positions and engage the hand with areas of the arm. Every block can be merged with a punch or kick to create a counter-attack, and each block is suitable for a certain type of attack. The primary blocks include: Rising Block, Single Forearm Block, Knife Hand Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Palm Block, Double Forearm Block, Nine Block, Low Block and Upper Block.

Taekwondo Forms

Forms are a pivotal element of Taekwondo and are essential if you're going to master this captivating martial art. A few basic forms should be grasped from the beginning and more elaborate forms have to be perfected so as to move through the various ranks. A Taekwondo form is categorized by various points such as stance, technique and direction.