Taekwondo London
London Taekwondo: If you are planning to take up a new hobby that will enable you to learn self-defence, strengthen your body and mind, bolster your self-respect and boost your confidence, you might consider Taekwondo as a possible candidate. This more modern martial art has rapidly grown in popularity since being developed in the 1940's in Korea.
When speaking about Taekwondo, most people in London consider that this is a pursuit for younger children. Keeping up with the physical demands of the sport might be easier for the younger generation, but this does not mean that people of all ages can participate in, and enjoy the many benefits of this activity. You do however need to be fairly fit to fully enjoy all the intricacies of Taekwondo.
Taekwondo started in Korea in 1945. This blend of various martial arts techniques were practiced in some new schools in Seoul called "kwans", founded by a group of Korean martial artists. The focus of Taekwondo, as it eventually became known, is on kicking movements, in particular head-height kicks, turning/jumping kicks and rapid kicking styles. These days London Taekwondo classes comply with this tradition.
Taekwondo now has over sixty million practitioners worldwide and has become really popular in London and throughout the United Kingdom. Signing up for a local London Taekwondo club or class is a great way to get involved in this sport which has even featured in the Olympic Games since the 2000 Sydney Games. There is no reason why you cannot become a master of this thrilling martial art, even if you don't aspire to Olympic competition.
It seems that the most interesting element of Taekwondo is self-defence. And its not a surprise that this features highly on people's list of priorities when you consider the ever increasing amounts of violence seen nowadays in city centres throughout Britain. Learning to defend yourself while applying self-restraint and a respect for others is a key principle of Taekwondo.
Hopefully you will never be required to use your newly discovered Taekwondo skills for defending yourself outside of your local club environment, however it is good to know it is there if you need it.
What to Expect From Your First Class: If you have made up your mind to learn Taekwondo and are heading to your first class, you'll be curious as to what will happen. This will vary from class to class but will generally entail some or all of the following. A warm up of 15 to 20 minutes to increase your heart rate and reduce any stiffness in the muscles, a bit of technical training comprising some kicks, blocks, stances and hand attacks, some work on forms or patterns, some tips on sparring including good timing, movement and targeting attacks, and to finish off a warm down to stretch muscles and relax.
The Popular Taekwondo Kicks: There are quite a few different Taekwondo kicks, here are just a few of them: Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi).