Taekwondo Witham

Taekwondo is an ideal sport for children in Witham, because it teaches self-discipline and a respect for others. Its more physical aspects make it more suited to younger people. Unless they are particularly fit and active, older adults may find it too physically taxing. Carrying their Taekwondo experience through into older adulthood should not however be a problem for those who start when they are younger. The less agile of you might consider something softer like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently introduced of the martial arts, with its beginnings in Korea in 1945. Some schools called "kwans" were established in Seoul by a group of Korean martial arts enthusiasts, incorporating a number of various martial arts techniques. Kicking manoeuvres, in particular turning/jumping kicks, rapid kicking styles and head-height kicks are the primary emphasis of Taekwondo, as it eventually became known. These days Witham Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

Taekwondo has grown to be really popular in Witham and all across the globe, with more than sixty million practitioners worldwide. Joining a local Witham Taekwondo club or class is an excellent way to get involved in this activity which has even featured in the Olympic Games since the Sydney Games in 2000. Though you might not aspire to Olympic competition, there is no reason why you should not become a master of this enjoyable martial art and have some fun along the way.

It is the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo that generally has the most appeal to people in Witham. And if you consider the high levels of violence in town and city centres these days, this is hardly surprising. The ability to defend yourself and at the same time exercising self-restraint and a respect for others is one of the main benefits of Taekwondo.

There is a fairly good chance that your eagerly learned Taekwondo skills will never see the light of day in your day to day life, but it will unquestionably give you self-confidence knowing that they're there should you need them.

What to Expect From Your First Class

If Taekwondo is not an activity that you've ever done previously, you will most likely be wondering what to expect from your very first class if you make your mind up to sign up. Different Taekwondo schools in Witham have different thoughts on this but in brief; you'll participate in a 15-20 minute warm-up, you will do some technical training, you will learn some forms, you will practice sparring methods and lastly you will perform a warm-down to help your body get back into a state of relaxation.

If you wish to join a Taekwondo class in Witham, you'll also have to become a member of the sport's regulating body, namely British Taekwondo. You will be able to get loads of details on coaching courses, health and safety, launching a new club, news, coaches and competition referees, events, members and clubs, first aid, equality and safeguarding, and more, by heading to British Taekwondo's official website.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

You will no doubt be fascinated to understand precisely what sort of benefits may be achieved by taking part in Witham Taekwondo sessions and partaking 100% in its activities. You could expect to: Teach self-defence strategies by helping you to recognize situations where self-defence could be necessary, and enabling you to turn these situations in your favour, Lower stress and anxiety by doing deep breathing exercises, Increase flexibility, stamina and agility by means of extreme cardiovascular exertion, Enhance your self-esteem by elevating both physical and mental powers, Develop discipline and willpower by extensively educating your body and mind in the tactics and doctrines of Taekwondo, Build confidence by helping you to take control of your life and succeed, Empower your mind and body via accelerated physical coordination and mental discipline.

Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is renowned for its powerful kicks, listed here are the basic ones: Push Kick, Axe Kick, Side Kick, Front Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Back Kick, Crescent Kick. Blocks: To defend against and stop an incoming attack, blocks (known as Makgi) are used. Employing the hand and sections of the arm, they're held in particular positions. Each kind of attack calls for a specific style of block, counter-attacking manoeuvres can be produced by combining a block with another punch or kick. The main Taekwondo "blocks" (makgi) include: Knife Hand Block, Palm Block, Double Forearm Block, Nine Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Low Block, Upper Block, Single Forearm Block and Rising Block.

Taekwondo Belts (Rank)

In Taekwondo there is really no standardization with regards to ranking and belts. It is all dependent on which style you're looking at, as there are so many different Taekwondo styles. They are however, generally separated into 2 groupings "junior" or "colour" belts and "senior" or "black" belts. The junior/colour ranks consist of white to red, with anything from eight to twelve ranks, whilst the black/senior belts normally have 9 rankings.

Safety Gear

In all matches, competitions and events being held under the control of British Taekwondo, safety gear such as a gum shield, forearm protectors, hand guards, red or blue body armour, a blue or red head guard, shin guards and a groin guard is mandatory. The fast kicking techniques employed in Taekwondo could potentially cause harm and this all helps make this activity safer for its competitors.