Taekwondo Sheffield

Due to its rather more physical attributes, Taekwondo is perhaps more appropriate for the younger generation in Sheffield and is especially suitable for kids because it's excellent for developing self-discipline and respect for others. Older adults might find it a bit too challenging unless they're especially fit and active. Even so, those folks who persue Taekwondo in Sheffield at a young age will discover that they can easily carry it on when they're older. The less agile of you might consider something softer like Tai Chi.

Taekwondo started in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial arts fanatics in Seoul established some new schools called "kwans", where they practiced a combination of martial arts techniques. This eventually became known as Taekwondo and the main emphasis of the discipline was on kicking manoeuvres, especially fast kicking techniques, head kicks and jumping/spinning kicks.

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 routinely taking part in classes. And it is by signing up to a Taekwondo class or club that you can begin your journey of learning this thrilling martial art.

In these days of increasing violence, it is no surprise that people in areas like Sheffield are signing up for self-defence classes such as Taekwondo to enable them to feel safer and more secure in their everyday life. The self-defence aspect is one of the key benefits of Taekwondo but at the same time it also teaches self-restraint and a deep respect for others around us, which are traits that are often lacking in modern day life.

Your newly mastered Taekwondo skills will more than likely never have to be put to the test outside the regulated environment of an actual Taekwondo class, however knowing that you've got them will give you peace of mind.

Your First Sheffield Taekwondo Class

If Taekwondo isn't something that you've ever tried before, you will likely be curious about what you should be expecting from your very first class if you make your mind up to sign up. Different Taekwondo schools in Sheffield have varying ideas about this but in brief; you will take part in a fifteen to twenty minute warm-up, you will do a bit of technical training, you'll learn some patterns (forms), you are going to practice sparring tactics and lastly you'll warm-down to help your body get back into a state of relaxation once again.

British Taekwondo is the governing body of the sport within Great Britain, and membership of this organization is compulsory if you wish to sign up with any Taekwondo class in Sheffield or nearby. You will be able to find a lot of details of equality and safeguarding, coaches and referees, events, health and safety, coaching courses, first aid, beginning a new club, news, clubs and members, and more, by exploring British Taekwondo's website.

Taekwondo Belts (Rank)

The belt and ranking structure can get quite complicated in Taekwondo since there's no standardized arrangement throughout the different Taekwondo styles. Parallels do exist though, and normally there are 2 distinct belt groups, denoted as "juniors" (colours) and "seniors" (black dans). The number of grades in the junior group varies through the styles but is typically between eight and twelve belts, while the senior groupings commonly has 9 belts or dans.

In the UK Taekwondo has a series of ranks (belts) that are referred to as "Kup", these ranks go from 10th (lowest) to 1st (highest). As with many of the martial arts, the Taekwondo belt order is denoted by a range of colours, so that the ranks can be easily recognised. These colours are white, yellow, green, blue and red, with transitional belts with stripes in-between, specifically - 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 of Taekwondo in Sheffield will begin with the 10th Kup (White Belt), and progress through the coloured belts until they achieve the Red With Black Stripe Belt (1st Kup).

After successfully completing this challenge, Taekwondo students in Sheffield are considered to be "black belt candidates" which sees them proceeding through yet another nine ranks (Dans) until they achieve the ultimate accolade of "Black Belt". Therefore, putting it simply, there are 3 primary sections in the Taekwondo belt order, that is Junior, Senior and Black Belt. The Taekwondo Belts in the Junior group comprise; 10th (White), 9th (White With Yellow Stripe), 8th (Yellow), and 7th (Yellow With Green Stripe). The Taekwondo Belts in the Senior division comprise; 6th (Green), 5th (Green With Blue Stripe), 4th (Blue), 3rd ( Blue With Red Stripe), 2nd (Red), and 1st (Red With Black Stripe). The Taekwondo Belts in the Black group go from 1st to 9th Dan, a process that will take a considerable number of years.

Tournaments

Contests are an important part of the Taekwondo experience, and all of the various styles across the world stage contests where Taekwondo masters band together to compete. Hard contact is rarely allowed in any of these competitions which primarily incorporate sparring, breaking and patterns. Sparring only is allowed in Olympic and WT tournaments, whilst specified hand attacks are tolerated in ITF events.

The Main Taekwondo Kicks

Kicks play a key role in Taekwondo, here are a small selection of the best known ones ones: Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", which are used to repulse the different attacks, are called Makgi. Held in particular positions, they engage the hands and different sections of the arm. Each type of attack necessitates a specific type of block, counter-attacks can be produced by combining a block with a retaliatory kick or punch. The principal "blocks" include: Double Knife Hand Block, Upper Block, Nine Block, Knife Hand Block, Double Forearm Block, Palm Block, Rising Block, Single Forearm Block and Low Block.

The Benefits of Taekwondo

When you're enrolling in Taekwondo classes in Sheffield you will be looking to get some benefits to make the entire enterprise worth the effort. So we should examine a few of the many benefits that you could acquire by practicing and learning Taekwondo. Increase self-esteem and concentration by intensifying your mental and physical powers, More self-discipline by methodically schooling your mind and body in the concepts and techniques of Taekwondo, Reduced anxiety and stress with controlled breathing, Teach you self-defence strategies by helping you recognize occasions in which self-defence could be required, and allowing you to control such circumstances in your favour, Improve flexibility, agility and stamina by means of strenuous cardiovascular work-outs, Toughen up your body and mind by enhanced mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Build up confidence by encouraging you to succeed and to take control of your life.

Taekwondo Forms (Poomse)

People just starting their journey in Taekwondo don't have to worry excessively about forms (patterns, Poomse) at the outset, however they'll learn some basic ones to begin with and move forward to more difficult "forms" as they progress through the belts (grades/dans). A form is indicated by specific areas of Taekwondo including stance, direction and technique. Getting to grips with these techniques is an important part of mastering Taekwondo.