Taekwondo Wellesbourne

While in no way intending to be ageist, Taekwondo can be fairly physical and is generally more appropriate for younger people in Wellesbourne, it's particularly good for children who will learn to be self-disciplined and respecting of others. Older adults may find it somewhat too challenging unless they are particularly fit and active. For those people who take up Taekwondo when they are younger, continuing the adventure into older adulthood should not be a problem. The less agile of you may find that Tai Chi which is a bit softer, is more suitable.

Based mainly around high-kicking moves and manoeuvres like fast kicking styles, head-height kicks and spinning/jumping kicks, Taekwondo was developed from the techniques of different martial arts, by a group of Seoul martial arts specialists in new schools known as "Kwans" in the 1940's and 1950's. These "Kwans" had the names Chungdo Kwan, Mooduk Kwan, Changmu Kwan, Songmu Kwan and Jido Kwan.

Ever since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport. This has made it even more popular throughout the world with some 60 million people or more regularly taking part in classes. And it is by signing up to a Taekwondo class or club that you can start your adventure of learning this remarkable martial art.

For the men, women and children of Wellesbourne who want to learn a martial art, a big priority is the element of self-defence. Because this is an important principle of Taekwondo, it's not difficult to appreciate the appeal of this specific sport. With the added bonus of developing self-restraint and having a deep-rooted respect for others, enrolling in a local Wellesbourne Taekwondo class would seem to be an easy decision.

There is a very good likelihood that your eagerly learned Taekwondo skills will never see the light of day in the outside world, but it will undoubtedly give you peace of mind knowing that they are sitting in the background should you ever be in need of them.

Your First Wellesbourne Taekwondo Lesson

If you decide on registering for a Taekwondo club in Wellesbourne, the first thing you'll need to know is what is going to happen on the very first lesson and what will the tutor be expecting of you. Different Taekwondo masters in the Wellesbourne area will compile differing routines for this first lesson but you can anticipate performing a 15-20 minute warm-up to loosen your muscles and get the blood coursing, learn some basic forms (Poomse), go through some technical training (kicks, blocking techniques, hand attacks and stances), do a bit of sparring, and to finish, a warm-down.

If you wish to join a Taekwondo club in Wellesbourne, you'll also have to become a member of the sport's regulating body, namely British Taekwondo. You can find out about coaching courses, news, events, health and safety, starting a new Taekwondo club, first aid, coaches and referees, clubs and members, equality and safeguarding, and more on British Taekwondo's website, and find out the latest news on their Facebook or Twitter page.

Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is recognized for its powerful kicks, here are the basic ones: Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To repulse the various hand attacks and kicks there are a similarly diverse assortment of blocks (Makgi). They are held in particular positions and engage the hands with different sections of the arm. Specific attacks call for particular "blocks", but "blocks" can also be changed into counter-attacking moves by the combination of retaliatory kicks or punches. The most important "blocks" (makgi) in Taekwondo include: Single Forearm Block, Low Block, Palm Block, Rising Block, Knife Hand Block, Upper Block, Double Forearm Block, Nine Block and Double Knife Hand Block.

Wellesbourne Taekwondo for Beginners

It does not matter what you're standing is or who you are in the world of Taekwondo, at one stage you were a complete novice, knowing nothing and fearing failure. We've all started out at that point and are only able to develop and learn through practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Wellesbourne are the place to begin that learning journey and to pick up the necessary basics so you can gain confidence and move forward in your Taekwondo quest. Almost all beginner classes are set up to be friendly and fun, providing a gradual introduction to the basic Taekwondo values and developing a firm foundation for the future.

Taekwondo Belts (Promotion)

The ranking and belt system can get rather confusing in Taekwondo as there isn't any recognised arrangement throughout the diverse Taekwondo styles. Similarities can be found however, and generally there are 2 distinct belt groupings, represented as "juniors" (colours) and "seniors" (black dans). The number of rankings in the junior groupings varies across the styles but is usually somewhere between 8 and 12 belts, while the senior group commonly has nine dans or belts.

In the UK Taekwondo has a sequence of ranks (belts) that are generally known as "Kup", these ranks go from 10th (lowest) to 1st (highest). The Taekwondo belt order, like most of the martial arts is portrayed by a number of different colours, these colours are white, yellow, green, blue and red, with intermediate belts with stripes, namely 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 in Wellesbourne starting out in Taekwondo will commence with the 10th Kup (White Belt), and advance through the colours until they earn the 1st Kup (Red Belt With a Black Stripe).

After successfully completing this challenge, Taekwondo students in Wellesbourne become "black belt candidates" which sees them progressing through another nine ranks (Dans) up until they achieve the ultimate accolade of "Black Belt". So, Junior Belts, Senior Belts and Black Belts are the three principal groups in the Taekwondo belt order in the UK. 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 division 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 group of Taekwondo Belts comprise First to Ninth Dan rankings, and involves many years of dedication and training.

Final Thoughts

So, what are you hoping to get from doing Taekwondo? Well, that's a great question, and the answer to that will vary for different people. The majority of participants will purely look to meet new people, gain more self-confidence and improve their levels of fitness. We're not all going to reach the dizzy heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, although maybe you will, who knows? 👊