Taekwondo Accrington

Taekwondo is an ideal sport for children in Accrington, 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. Quite a few of the older adults who do Taekwondo in Accrington, started when they were younger. Something a bit softer like Tai Chi might be more suitable for the less agile of you.

Taekwondo is a martial art that mostly comprises high-kicking manoeuvres, most notably fast kicking styles, spinning/jumping kicks and head-height kicks. It began in Seoul, in southern Korea during the 1940's, when a number of martial arts specialists founded schools known as "kwans", which blended a variety of martial arts techniques.

Nowadays an Olympic sport, Taekwondo has over 60 million practitioners all over the world, and while you may not aspire to be an Olympic Games sportsman, you are still able to join a Taekwondo class or club to learn what will no doubt turn out to be a fascinating and worthwhile activity.

For the men, women and children of Accrington who like the idea of learning a martial art, a big priority is the element of self-defence. Considering that this is a pivotal principle of Taekwondo, it is easy to see the appeal of this specific sport. With the extra benefit of learning self-restraint and having a degree of respect for those around you, getting involved in a local Accrington Taekwondo class seems to be an easy decision.

These self-defence techniques may at some time come in handy in the outside world, although it is more likely you'll solely be using them within a controlled class setting. However it is a reassuring feeling knowing that you will always be able to successfully defend yourself if you need to.

What to Expect From Your First Lesson

For those of you who've never done Taekwondo before, you'll no doubt be intrigued to know just what to expect from your first class. The following will give you an idea, but this could vary from school to school. A 15-20 minute warm up, a bit of technical training which will involve learning some hand attacks, blocks, stances and kicks, an introduction to some forms, some tips on sparring including timing, movement and the targeting of attacks, and last but not least a warm down to relax and stretch muscles.

The body regulating Taekwondo in Britain is British Taekwondo and any person wishing to join a Taekwondo class in Accrington has to also register with British Taekwondo. You can get a lot of info regarding events, members and clubs, coaching courses, equality and safeguarding, establishing a new Taekwondo club, first aid, coaches and referees, safe practices, news, and more, by exploring the British Taekwondo website.

The Benefits of Taekwondo

The benefits that can be gained by participating in Taekwondo lessons in Accrington are numerous, among the most significant are: More discipline by thoroughly schooling your mind and body in the doctrines and tactics of Taekwondo, Teach self-defence tactics by helping you recognize scenarios where self-defence may be required, and empowering you to turn these circumstances in your favour, Augment stamina, agility and flexibility through intense cardiovascular work-outs, Toughen up your mind and body via enhanced physical coordination and mental discipline, Improve concentration and self-esteem by heightening both mental and physical health, Build confidence by encouraging you to seize control of your life and succeed, Reduces stress using advanced breath control.

Taekwondo Kicks

One of the main features of Taekwondo is kicking, here is a small selection of the best known kicks: Hook or Whip Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi). Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", which are used to repulse the various attacking moves, are called Makgi. Using the hand and parts of the arm, they are held in various positions. Each kind of attack calls for a specific type of block, counter-attacks can be produced by combining a block with another kick or punch. The primary blocks in Taekwondo include: Upper Block, Nine Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Rising Block, Single Forearm Block, Knife Hand Block, Low Block, Double Forearm Block and Palm Block.

Taekwondo Belts (Ranking)

The ranking and belt system can get pretty bewildering in Taekwondo as there is no standard arrangement throughout the various Taekwondo styles. Analogies do exist however, and typically there are 2 separate belt groupings, denoted as "juniors" (colours) and "seniors" (black dans). The number of rankings in the junior group varies through the styles but is usually somewhere between 8 and 12 belts, whilst the senior section generally has 9 belts or dans.

Tournaments

There are a whole host of tournaments and competitions in Taekwondo associated with all the various styles. They mostly comprise patterns, breaking and sparring with little or no "hard contact". International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) contests don't allow substantial contact but sometimes allow hand attacks to be aimed at the head. World Taekwondo and Olympic contests allow only sparring. Multi-style contests also take place.

Safety Gear

In all contests, events and competitions being staged under the supervision of British Taekwondo, safety equipment like shin pads, a blue or red body protector (hogu), a groin protector, forearm guards, hand guards, a red or blue head protector and a gum shield is mandatory. The fast kicking movements used in Taekwondo could potentially cause serious injuries and these precautions help to make the activity much safer for its competitors.

Conclusion

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