Taekwondo Tonbridge

Because of its more physical attributes, Taekwondo is possibly more suited to the younger generation in Tonbridge and is particularly suitable for kids as it's great for developing self-discipline and respect for other people. Older adults might find it a bit too strenuous unless they are particularly fit and active. Even so, those who take up Taekwondo in Tonbridge from a young age will find that they can easily continue with it when they are older. The less nimble of you could consider participating in something softer like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently established of the martial arts, with its early beginnings in Korea, South-East Asia in 1945. A number of Korean martial artists in Seoul established some new schools known as "kwans", merging a variety of martial arts practices. Taekwondo, which it ultimately became known as, mainly involves kicking manoeuvres, particularly head-height kicks, rapid kicking techniques and jumping/spinning kicks.

With over 60 million enthusiasts all over the world and quite a few in Tonbridge, Taekwondo has become extremely popular. Signing up for your local Tonbridge Taekwondo club or class is the best way to get involved in this sport which has even been in the Olympic Games since the 2000 Sydney Games. Whilst you might not aspire to Olympic competition, there isn't any reason why you cannot be a master of this exhilarating martial art and have an amazing time along the way.

A key aspect of Taekwondo is self-defence, and naturally this is one of the primary reasons that individuals in Tonbridge join classes and take up the sport. There has been a worrying escalation of violent behaviour in recent years and this is particularly widespread in town and city centres throughout Kent and Britain in general. The beauty of Taekwondo though, is that it also promotes self-discipline and a deep respect for other people, not such common qualities in Tonbridge these days.

There is a very good chance that your newly mastered Taekwondo skills will never see the light of day in your day to day life, but it will certainly give you self-confidence knowing that they are sitting in the background should you ever need them.

Your First Tonbridge Taekwondo Lesson

If you have never done Taekwondo before, you may be somewhat apprehensive as to what can be expected on your first lesson. This will vary from school to school but will generally comprise all or some of these. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to increase heart rate and loosen up muscles, some practical training including learning some hand attacks, blocks, stances and kicks, discovering some Poomse (forms), an overview of sparring which will include the timing of attacks, movement and timing, and finally a warm down to stretch and relax tired muscles.

Everybody who is a member of a Taekwondo class in Tonbridge or anywhere else in the United Kingdom, is also required to join British Taekwondo, which is the governing body of the sport. By viewing the official British Taekwondo website you'll be able to obtain information about coaches and referees, starting a new club, members and clubs, coaching courses, safe practices, news, events, first aid, equality and safeguarding, and lots more Taekwondo related facts.

Taekwondo Safety Gear

In all competitions, contests and events taking place under the patronage of British Taekwondo, safety equipment like a gum shield, shin protectors, a groin guard, blue or red body armour (hogu), forearm guards, a red/blue head protector and hand protectors is obligatory. The fast kicking manoeuvres which are part of Taekwondo can cause injuries and this helps make this activity much safer for its competitors.

In Summary

The benefits that you get from Taekwondo are going to be proportional to what you invest in it (as applies with life in general). The majority of you will simply wish to make new friends, meet different people and improve your fitness, some may want to take part in competitions or tournaments or perhaps even the Olympics. But remember, we can't all end up being a Jade Jones or a Lutalo Muhammad.