Taekwondo Battle

Taekwondo is an ideal sport for children in Battle, because it teaches self-discipline and a respect for others. Its more physical aspects make it more suited to younger people. Older adults who are not all that fit and active might find it a tad too taxing. For those people who take up Taekwondo when they are younger, continuing the experience into adulthood should not be a problem. Tai Chi or something similarly softer might be more suitab le for the less agile of you.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently developed of the martial arts, with its early beginnings in Korea, South-East Asia in 1945. A number of Korean martial arts specialists in Seoul established some new schools which they called "kwans", combining a variety of martial arts practices. Taekwondo, which it eventually became known as, primarily consists of kicking manoeuvres, especially fast kicking strategies, jumping/turning kicks and head-height kicks.

At present an Olympic sport, Taekwondo has over 60 million followers all over the world, and though you may not have any ambitions to be an Olympic Games sportsman, you can still register for a Taekwondo club or class to learn what will undoubtedly turn out to be a rewarding and intriguing pastime.

For the men, women and children of Battle who wish to learn a martial art, a big priority is the element of self-defence. As this is an important principle of Taekwondo, it's not difficult to appreciate the appeal of this specific sport. With the added bonus of developing self-restraint and having a deep-rooted respect for those around you, enrolling in a local Battle Taekwondo class seems to be an easy decision.

While its great to know that you are able to defend yourself any time you need to, it is hoped that you never need to do this outside of your local Taekwondo club environment.

Your First Taekwondo Class

If you've never tried Taekwondo previously, you could be somewhat concerned as to what to expect on your first lesson. This will vary from club to club but will generally involve all or some of the following. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to increase heart rate and loosen up muscles, a little technical training involving learning some kicks, blocks, stances and hand attacks, discovering some forms (or Poomse), an overview of sparring including attack timing, timing and movement, and finally a warm down to relax and stretch tired muscles.

Everyone who's a registered member of a Taekwondo class in Battle or any place else in the United Kingdom, is also required to join British Taekwondo, which is the governing body of the sport. By going to the British Taekwondo website you will be able to read information on events, safeguarding and equality, safe practices, members and clubs, beginning a new Taekwondo club, referees and coaching, news, coaching courses, first aid, and a lot more Taekwondo related issues.

Taekwondo Beginners Classes

Even the very best exponents of Taekwondo in Battle began their journey as rookies, therefore it's no disgrace to be a beginner at Tae kwon do, or in fact any other activity. The goal of a Taekwondo beginners class is to provide just a few basics, boost self-confidence and develop a solid base for the future. Most importantly of all is that it should be fun, students having a great time are going to learn quicker and be better committed.

Taekwondo Belts (Rank)

In Tae kwon do there is not really any standardisation in regards to belts and grades. It all depends on which style you're considering, since there are such a diversity of Taekwondo rules and styles. They are however, commonly separated into a couple of groupings "junior (colour) belts and "senior" (black) belts. The colour/junior rankings consist of white to red, with from eight to twelve ranks, whilst the black/senior belts usually have nine grades.

Rankings in Taekwondo in the UK are represented by what generally known as "Kup". The top rank is 1st Kup and the lowest rank (beginners) is 10th Kup. As is the case with many of the martial arts, the Taekwondo belt order is indicated by a number of different colours, so the ranks are easily identified. These colours are white, yellow, green, blue and red, with transitional belts with stripes in-between, namely - 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. The 10th Kup (White Belt) is what Taekwondo beginners in Battle will begin with, they'll then progress through the coloured belts, finally achieving the Red With Black Stripe Belt (1st Kup), which will probably take around three to four years of lessons and training.

Taekwondo students in Battle are known as "black belt candidates" after they've succeeded with this challenge, and they will then be faced with moving through a further nine ranks (Dans) if they plan to achieve the supreme accolade Taekwondo Black Belt. Therefore, putting it simply, there are 3 main groups in the Taekwondo belt order, namely Junior, Senior and Black Belt. The Taekwondo Belts in the Junior group are; 10th (White), 9th (White With Yellow Stripe), 8th (Yellow), and 7th (Yellow With Green Stripe). The Taekwondo Belts in the Senior group are; 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 range from 1st to 9th Dan, a process which takes many years. (Tags: Taekwondo Belt Order, Taekwondo Belts Battle, Taekwondo Promotion Battle, Order of Belts in Taekwondo).

Taekwondo - The Benefits

The benefits which may be gained by taking part in Taekwondo sessions in Battle are numerous, amongst the most advantageous are: Turbocharge flexibility, agility and stamina by means of strenuous cardiovascular work-outs, Reduce anxiety and stress with controlled breathing, Build confidence by motivating you to succeed and to take control of your life, Teach you self-defence strategies by showing you how to realize circumstances in which self-defence may be necessary, and enabling you to turn these types of circumstances to your advantage, Greater self-discipline by methodically training your body and mind in the techniques and principles of Taekwondo, Empower your body and mind by means of improved physical coordination and mental discipline, Improve your self-esteem by raising your physical and mental health.

Safety Equipment

In all contests, competitions and events being held under the authority of British Taekwondo, safety gear such as a blue/red body guard (hogu), a groin guard, shin pads, forearm protectors, a gum shield, hand protectors and a blue/red head guard is obligatory. The kicking moves which are part of Taekwondo could potentially cause injury and this helps to make the activity much safer for its competitors.