Taekwondo Croydon

Taekwondo is typically far more demanding physically than for example Tai Chi, so unless you are pretty fit and agile you might prefer to partake in something a little bit gentler to boost your fitness levels in Croydon. Younger children are certainly an ideal participants for Taekwondo classes in Croydon, with lots of fast movements going on and plenty of high kicking.

Taekwondo started in Korea in 1945. Some new schools called "kwans", combining various martial arts techniques were established in Seoul by a group of Korean martial arts fanatics. The emphasis of Taekwondo, as it eventually became known, is on kicking manoeuvres, especially jumping/turning kicks, head-height kicks and rapid kicking strategies.Today Croydon Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

Popular across the world Taekwondo now has more than 60 million practitioners. Heading along to your local Taekwondo class or club in Croydon is the best way to get involved with this activity which is now an Olympic sport. There is no reason why you can't become a master of this fascinating martial art, even if you do not aspire to Olympic competition.

Of all the many benefits of doing this sport, it is the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo that the people of Croydon find most appealing. And when you consider the high levels of violence in town and city centres these days, this is hardly surprising. Being able to defend yourself is a key factor of Taekwondo, but this is tempered by learning self-restraint and a respect for others.

There is a very good likelihood that your eagerly learned Taekwondo skills will never have to be tested in your everyday life, but it will most certainly give you reassurance knowing that they're there should you need them.

Your First Lesson

If you decide on registering for a Taekwondo club in Croydon, the very first thing you'll wish to know is what will occur on the very first class and what will the instructor expect to see from you. Different Taekwondo masters in Croydon will develop diverse routines for this initial introductory lesson but you should be expecting to do a fifteen to twenty minute warm-up to loosen your muscles and get the blood pumping, learn a couple of Poomse (forms, cover some practical training (kicks, stances, blocks and hand attacks), do a bit of sparring, and last but not least, warm-down.

Taekwondo also of course has got its own official regulating body, and in the United Kingdom it is British Taekwondo. Everybody wishing to join a Taekwondo club in Croydon have to become registered members of this organisation. You can find lots of details about coaching courses, news, safe practices, referees and coaching, first aid, events, safeguarding and equality, clubs and members, launching a new club, and more, by heading to British Taekwondo's official website.

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

In all competitions, events and contests being held under the authority of British Taekwondo, safety gear like a mouth protector, forearm protectors, shin pads, a red/blue head guard, a groin protector, a red or blue body guard (hogu) and hand guards is mandatory. The kicking moves used in Taekwondo can cause injuries and this helps to make the activity less hazardous for its competitors.

Taekwondo Beginners Classes

Even the very best exponents of Taekwondo in Croydon had to start as novices, therefore it's no shame to be a beginner at this sport, or any other activity for that matter. The aim of a Taekwondo beginner class is to provide just a few basics, improve self-confidence and build a firm foundation for the future. Most important of all is that it must be enjoyable, students having a good time will learn faster and be better invested.

Benefits to be Gained From Taekwondo

There are of course, lots of benefits to be gained from doing Taekwondo, and listed here are just some which may be appealing to you: Improve feelings of self-esteem by raising both mental and physical health, Empower your body and mind via increased physical coordination and mental discipline, Boost confidence by encouraging you to seize control of your life and succeed, Better self-discipline by extensively schooling your mind and body in the strategies and concepts of Taekwondo, Help with self-defence by helping you identify circumstances where self-defence might be needed, and allowing you to control these kinds of situations in your favour, Lower stress using advanced breath control, Turbocharge agility, flexibility and stamina by means of strenuous cardiovascular work-outs.

The Taekwondo Kicks

Some of the basic Taekwondo kicks you will learn early on include: Side Kick, Front Kick, Whip or Hook Kick, Axe Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Back Kick, Crescent Kick, Push Kick. Blocks: To stop and defend against an incoming Taekwondo attack, "blocks" (known as Makgi) are used. Held in particular positions, they engage the hands and parts of the arm. Specific attacks necessitate specified blocks, but blocks can also be transformed into counter-attacking manoeuvres by the combination of reciprocal kicks or punches. The key blocks include: Rising Block, Low Block, Double Forearm Block, Single Forearm Block, Palm Block, Nine Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Upper Block and Knife Hand Block.

Taekwondo Forms (Poomse)

Perfecting the art of Taekwondo will involve learning a number of techniques and one of the pivotal aspects of Taekwondo is its forms (also called Poomse or patterns). These are sequences of direction, technique and stance which need to be mastered in order for participants to progress through the various dans (belts/grades).

Conclusion

The benefits that you get from Taekwondo are going to be directly related to what you invest in it (as is the case with life on the whole). Many of you will only want to meet different people, make new friends and improve your fitness, some might wish to progress to competitions or tournaments or possibly even the Olympic Games. But remember, we can't all end up being a Jade Jones or a Lutalo Muhammad. 👊