Taekwondo Skelmersdale

Taekwondo is typically far more demanding physically than for example Tai Chi, so unless you are pretty fit and agile you might prefer to find something a little gentler to boost your fitness in Skelmersdale. Children are clearly an ideal participants for Taekwondo classes in Skelmersdale, with lots of fast paced movements taking place and plenty of high kicking.

Taekwondo started in Korea in 1945. This combination of various martial arts techniques were practiced in some new schools in Seoul called "kwans", founded by a group of Korean martial artists. Taekwondo, which it eventually became known as, mostly involves kicking manoeuvres, especially turning/jumping kicks, rapid kicking styles and head-height kicks.

Taekwondo has grown to be very popular in Skelmersdale and all over the world, with more than sixty million participants worldwide. Registering with a local Skelmersdale Taekwondo club or class is a good way to get involved with this sporting activity which has even been included in the Olympic Games since the Sydney Games of 2000. Although you might not have any ambitions to get involved in Olympic competition, there is certainly no reason why you should not become an expert at this exhilarating martial art and have a bit of fun along the way.

In these days of escalating violence, it's no surprise that individuals in places like Skelmersdale are attending self-defence training like Taekwondo to help them feel safer in their everyday life. The self-defence element is one of the primary factors of Taekwondo but it also teaches self-restraint and a deep respect for others around us, which are disciplines that are frequently absent in 21st century living.

There is a pretty decent likelihood that your eagerly mastered Taekwondo skills will never need to be tested in the outside world, but it will unquestionably give you peace of mind knowing that they're there should you ever be in need of them.

What to Expect From Your First Lesson

If you make your mind up to register for a Taekwondo club in Skelmersdale, the very first thing you'll be wondering is what is going to happen on the initial lesson and just what will the tutor be expecting of you. Different Taekwondo masters in the Skelmersdale area will devise differing routines for this initial introductory lesson but you can expect to do a 15 minute warm-up to loosen your muscles and get the blood circulating, learn a few Poomse (forms, go through some practical training (stances, hand attacks, kicks and blocking techniques), do a bit of sparring, and last of all, warm-down.

Anyone wanting to join a Taekwondo class in Skelmersdale must also become a member of British Taekwondo which is the governing body of the sport in the United Kingdom. You will be able to get lots of information on news, referees and coaching, establishing a new Taekwondo club, events, first aid, safe practices, clubs and members, coaching courses, equality and safeguarding, and more, by dropping by at the official British Taekwondo website.

Benefits to be Gained From Taekwondo

The benefits that can be gained by participating in Taekwondo lessons in Skelmersdale are numerous, amongst the most significant are: Toughen up your mind and body by accelerated mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Reduce stress using advanced breath control, Improve self-esteem by raising your mental and physical fitness, Help with self-defence techniques by helping you realize instances where self-defence may be required, and empowering you to control such circumstances to your advantage, Develop discipline by extensively schooling your body and mind in the strategies and principles of Taekwondo, Beef up confidence by encouraging you to take control of your life and succeed, Turbocharge stamina, flexibility and agility by means of intense cardiovascular work-outs.

The Taekwondo Kicks

Some of the basic Taekwondo kicks you will learn initially include: Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Hook or Whip Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To divert and stop an inbound attack, blocks (known as Makgi) are implemented. They are held in various positions and engage the hands with different parts of the arm. Specific attacks necessitate specified "blocks", but "blocks" can also be transformed into counter-attacking manoeuvres by combining reciprocal kicks or punches. The most important blocks include: Single Forearm Block, Upper Block, Low Block, Double Forearm Block, Knife Hand Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Nine Block, Palm Block and Rising Block.

Taekwondo Belts (Promotion)

With there being various types of Taekwondo there's never really been any standardized system for assigning belts (grades). What exists is however fairly similar and consists of 2 belt groups "senior" and "junior" (black and colour), each of these groups is divided into grades, 8 to 12 colours for juniors and 9 "blacks" for the seniors.

Taekwondo Tournaments and Competitions

Taekwondo tournaments and competitions are held across the globe in all the different styles. There's generally not a whole lot of hard contact but patterns (forms), breaking and sparring. Olympic and WT (World Taekwondo) contests comprise only sparring, in International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) competitions specified hand attacks are permitted to the head. Various other bodies stage multi-discipline events.

Taekwondo for Beginners

It matters not who you are or what you're ranking is in Taekwondo, at some stage you were a total novice, fearing failure and knowing absolutely nothing. We've all started out like this and are only able to learn and develop through practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Skelmersdale are the place to begin that learning process and to pick up the necessary basics so you can gain self-confidence and move forward in your exciting Taekwondo adventure. The majority of beginner classes are geared up to be friendly and fun, offering a slow introduction to the fundamental Taekwondo values and building a firm base for the future.

Summary

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