Taekwondo Dumfries

Taekwondo is typically much more physically demanding than for example Tai Chi, so unless you're pretty agile and fit you may prefer to partake in something a bit gentler to improve your fitness levels in Dumfries. Children are certainly an ideal participants for Taekwondo classes in Dumfries, with lots of fast paced movements going on and a great deal of high kicking.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently developed of the martial arts, with its origins in Korea in 1945. Some schools called "kwans", mixing various martial arts techniques were established in Seoul by a group of Korean martial arts fanatics. The emphasis of Taekwondo, as it later became known, is on kicking movements, in particular rapid kicking techniques, jumping/turning kicks and head kicks. Today Dumfries Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

Taekwondo now has over 60 million enthusiasts worldwide and has become extremely popular in Dumfries and throughout the UK. This sport has even featured in the Olympic Games since 2000, and if you want to get involved, joining your local Dumfries Taekwondo club or class is a great place to start. There isn't any reason why you can't reach an advanced standard in this exhilarating sport, even if you haven't any desire to take part in the Olympics.

Of all the numerous benefits of learning this sport, it is the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo that the people of Dumfries consider most alluring. And in these days of increased violence, especially in city and town centres, it's no great surprise that this features high on people's priority list. However, exercising self-restraint and a respect for others goes hand in hand with Taekwondo's self-defence principles.

While it will instill you with confidence being aware that you have such self-defence skills in your locker, the chances are that you'll never have to test them outside the controlled setting of an organised Taekwondo class.

Your First Lesson

If you have booked your first class but have never done Taekwondo before, you may be wondering what to expect. This will vary from school to school but will usually involve some or all of the following. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to loosen muscles and increase heart rate, some technical training comprising some kicks, stances, hand attacks and blocking techniques, an introduction to forms or patterns, some tips on sparring including movement, timing and the targeting of attacks, and lastly a warm down to prevent cramping and muscle spasms.

If you wish to join a Taekwondo class in Dumfries, you'll also have to become a member of the sport's regulating body, namely British Taekwondo. You can find plenty of details on beginning a new club, coaching courses, referees and coaching, members and clubs, first aid, events, news, health and safety, equality and safeguarding, and more, by popping along to British Taekwondo's website.

The Many Benefits of Taekwondo

You'll probably be interested to discover exactly what sort of benefits may be gained by taking part in Dumfries Taekwondo sessions and participating fully in its activities. You can expect that you will: Lower anxiety with controlled breathing, Teach self-defence by helping you identify situations where self-defence may be necessary, and allowing you to control these kinds of situations in your favour, More discipline and willpower by comprehensively schooling your mind and body in the techniques and concepts of Taekwondo, Build up your confidence by pushing you to seize control of your life and succeed, Increase self-esteem by sharpening your physical and mental health, Toughen up your body and mind by means of increased physical coordination and mental discipline, Improve flexibility, stamina and agility by way of intensive cardiovascular effort.

Taekwondo Patterns (Forms)

Forms are a key part of Taekwondo and are crucial if you are to master this popular sporting activity. Some basic "forms" should be learned from the beginning and more elaborate forms have to be perfected in order to progress through the various ranks. A Taekwondo form is distinguished by various variables such as direction, stance and technique.

Taekwondo Competitions and Tournaments

A regular Taekwondo tournament features patterns (forms), sparring and breaking, as far as the Olympics is concerned only sparring is involved. That being said there can also be some special events in certain competitions such as self-defence and team demonstrations. WT (World Taekwondo) contests are solely soft-contact affairs, while ITF tournaments permit some hand attacks to be aimed at the head. There are additionally a few multi-discipline contests.

Taekwondo Beginners Classes

As with any activity or sport we've got to begin someplace, and Taekwondo's no exception. Even the leading Dumfries Taekwondo masters were complete beginners at one time. So, exactly what can you expect as a complete beginner at Taekwondo? Beginner classes should give their enrollees ample instruction to give them the basic principles and enable them to gain self-confidence as they progress. A perfect beginners class should be enjoyable as well as educational, when folks are enjoying themselves they're a lot more committed and are going to learn faster.