Taekwondo Tipton

While not intending to be in any way ageist, Taekwondo can be rather physical and is generally more suited to younger people in Tipton, it is especially good for children who will learn to be self-disciplined and respecting of others. Older adults trying Taekwondo for the first time often find it too taxing, unless they have kept themselves active. People in Tipton who take up Taekwondo when they are young find it easy to continue when they get older. 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 features high-kicking moves and manoeuvres, most notably turning/jumping kicks, fast kicking methods and head-height kicks. It started in Seoul, in southern Korea during the 1940's, when a number of martial arts specialists founded schools called "kwans", which combined a variety of martial arts techniques.

With over sixty million individuals engaged in Taekwondo classes all over the world, this has certainly become a popular and beneficial pastime, and if you become really good at the martial art you might even one day qualify for the Olympic Games, of which it has been an integral part since the Sydney Games in the year 2000.

For a lot of folks in Tipton, it's the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo which holds the most appeal. And in these times of increasing violence, especially in city and town centres, it's no surprise that this sits high on people's priority lists. It is a primary factor of Taekwondo that you are able to gain more confidence in your ability to defend yourself while at the same time learning to respect other people and practice self-restraint.

Your newly learned Taekwondo skills will likely never need to be put to the test outside of a dedicated Taekwondo class, however being aware that you've got them will give you peace of mind.

Your First Lesson

If you have not tried Taekwondo before, you may be curious to know exactly what is likely to occur on your first class. Most Taekwondo schools in Tipton follow a similar routine, but there might be some variation to the following. A 15-20 minute warm up to loosen your muscles and increase your heart rate, some technical training involving learning some blocking techniques, kicks, hand attacks and stances, an introduction to some Poomse (or forms), some ideas on sparring including good timing, precise movement and the accurate targeting of attacks, and last but not least a warm down to relax and stretch tired muscles.

Taekwondo of course also has got its own governing body, and in Great Britain it is British Taekwondo. Anyone wishing to join a Taekwondo club in Tipton must become a registered member of this organisation. By visiting British Taekwondo's website you'll be able to obtain information on members and clubs, news, first aid, beginning a new Taekwondo club, referees and coaching, events, coaching courses, health and safety, equality and safeguarding, and lots more Taekwondo related facts.

The Many Benefits of Taekwondo

There are of course, plenty of benefits to be had from practicing Taekwondo, and the following are just a few which may be appealing to you: Reduced stress and anxiety using advanced breath control, Toughen up your body and mind via improved physical coordination and mental discipline, Greater self-discipline by exhaustively educating your body and mind in the doctrines and strategies of Taekwondo, Boost confidence by pushing you to take control of your life and succeed, Increase stamina, flexibility and agility through strenuous cardiovascular exertion, Enhance your self-esteem by maximizing both mental and physical fitness, Teach self-defence by training you to recognize instances where self-defence could be necessary, and allowing you to turn these types of circumstances to your advantage.

Taekwondo Kicks

Among the best known Taekwondo kicks that you will master to begin with include: Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi). Blocks: To divert and stop an inbound Taekwondo attack, blocks (known as Makgi) are implemented. They're held in specific positions and engage the hands with different areas of the arm. Each form of attack calls for a particular kind of block, counter-attacking moves can be produced by integrating a block with another kick or punch. The primary "blocks" include: Rising Block, Upper Block, Nine Block, Single Forearm Block, Knife Hand Block, Double Forearm Block, Palm Block, Double Knife Hand Block and Low Block.

Taekwondo Competitions and Tournaments

There are a multitude of tournaments in Taekwondo associated with all the different styles. They primarily comprise breaking, sparring and patterns with little or no hard contact. International Taekwon-Do Federation tournaments don't permit substantial contact but do permit hand attacks towards the head. World Taekwondo (WT) and Olympic tournaments allow only sparring. Multi-style tournaments are also held.

Safety Gear

Competitions regulated by British Taekwondo guidelines require various pieces of protective equipment to be worn, these include things like: a groin guard, hand guards, a blue/red trunk protector (hogu), a blue or red head guard, a mouth protector, forearm protectors and shin pads. This is important on account of the forceful kicking actions being employed.

To Summarize

We cannot all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess that we don't all want to be. Taekwondo isn't solely about Olympic titles and National Championships. The majority of of us are content to improve our fitness levels, make new friends and meet different people, and that is precisely how it ought to be. However, as with many things in life, what you get out of it will depend on what you put into it. Enjoy!