Taekwondo Derby
Derby Taekwondo: If you've been looking around Derby for some ideas for a new hobby, you might want to consider Taekwondo as a candidate. Practising this skill will help you to bolster your self-respect, learn some self-defence moves, strengthen your mind and body and build your confidence. Since its beginnings in Korea during the 1940's, this more modern martial art has continued to grow in popularity.
When many people in Derby think about Taekwondo, they picture young children performing energetic punching and kicking manoeuvres. Keeping up with the physical demands of the sport may be easier for the younger and fitter generation, but this does not mean that people of any age can take part in, and enjoy the many benefits of this activity. You will however get much more enjoyment out of Taekwondo if you are relatively fit.
Taekwondo was only developed fairly recently in Korea (1945). Some innovative new schools called "kwans", merging various martial arts techniques were established in Seoul by a group of Korean martial arts devotees. The emphasis of Taekwondo, as it ultimately became known, is on kicking manoeuvres, in particular rapid kicking styles, turning/jumping kicks and head-height kicks. Now Derby Taekwondo classes observe this tradition.
Taekwondo has become very popular in Derby and all around the world, with over sixty million students worldwide. Ever since the Sydney Games (2000) Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport and if you want to give it a go, heading along to a local Derby Taekwondo class or club is an easy way to get involved. Whilst nobody would seriously expect you to reach Olympic standard, you could certainly be one of the best Taekwondo exponents in Derby.
The thing about Taekwondo that appears to most interest people in Derby is the self-defence aspect of it. You should not be surprised by this, when you bear in mind the high incidence of violence seen in today's city and town centres. In fact one of the main principles of Taekwondo is learning to defend yourself whilst exercising self-restraint and a respect for others.
Your First Taekwondo Lesson: If you have just booked your very first Taekwondo lesson, you will be wondering what to expect. This can vary depending on which Derby school you go to, but will generally involve the following. A warm up of 15 to 20 minutes to increase your heart rate and reduce stiffness in your muscles, a bit of technical training comprising some blocking techniques, stances, hand attacks and kicks, a look at some forms (Poomse), a look at sparring including good movement, timing and attack targeting, and finally a warm down to stretch muscles and loosen up.