Taekwondo Hindley

Many people in Hindley would assume that the high kicking, fast punching movements demanded by Taekwondo are more appropriate for young kids. While the younger generation may find the physical demands of Taekwondo easier to cope with, there's nothing at all to stop people of any age taking part. It should however be said that if you are fairly agile and fit you will definately get more enjoyment out of Taekwondo.

Taekwondo is a martial art that mostly involves high-kicking manoeuvres and moves, in particular spinning/jumping kicks, rapid kicking techniques and head kicks. It started in Seoul, in southern Korea in the 1940's, when a number of martial arts specialists founded schools called "kwans", which blended various martial arts practices.

Taekwondo now has over 60 million practitioners worldwide and has become very popular in Hindley and throughout the UK. This sport has even featured in the Olympic Games since 2000, and if you want to get involved, joining a local Hindley Taekwondo club or class is a good place to start. There is no reason why you cannot reach a high standard in this thrilling sport, even if you have no desire to compete in the Olympics.

For the men, women and children of Hindley who like the idea of learning a martial art, a top priority is the aspect of self-defence. Since this is an important concept of Taekwondo, it is easy to appreciate the appeal of this unique sport. With the additional bonus of developing self-restraint and having a deep-rooted respect for other people, getting involved in a local Hindley Taekwondo class seems to be a no brainer.

Your newly mastered Taekwondo skills will most likely never need to be proven outside of a dedicated Taekwondo class, however being aware of the fact that you've got them will give you peace of mind.

Your First Class

If you have booked your first lesson but have not tried Taekwondo before, you may be wondering what to expect. This could vary subject to which Hindley school you go to, but will normally include the following. A warm up lasting 15 to 20 minutes, a little technical training comprising some stances, blocking techniques, kicks and hand attacks, an introduction to patterns or forms, a few tips on sparring including movement, timing and attack targeting, and lastly a warm down to prevent cramping and muscle spasms.

If you wish to sign up to a Taekwondo club in Hindley, you'll also have to register with the sport's governing body, namely British Taekwondo. You'll be able to find out about events, coaching courses, first aid, clubs and members, referees and coaching, safe practices, safeguarding and equality, establishing a new Taekwondo club, news, and more on British Taekwondo's website, or get the latest news reports on their Twitter or Facebook page.

Taekwondo - The Benefits

When you are signing up for Taekwondo classes in Hindley you'll be intending to get some benefits to make the entire adventure worth the effort. So let us examine some of the positive benefits that you may get from learning and practicing Taekwondo. Increase self-esteem and concentration by intensifying both mental and physical powers, Empower your mind and body thru increased physical coordination and mental discipline, Teach you self-defence by showing you how to understand instances where self-defence might be needed, and allowing you to turn these types of scenarios to your advantage, Reduces anxiety using advanced breath control, More discipline by thoroughly training your mind and body in the tactics and principles of Taekwondo, Boost confidence by inspiring you to succeed and to take control of your life, Supercharge agility, stamina and flexibility by way of strenuous cardiovascular exertion.

The Main Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo has more or less the greatest range of kicks in all of the martial arts. Here are some: Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Whip or Hook Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To defend against the various hand attacks and kicks there are a similarly diverse selection of "blocks". Held in diverse positions, they employ the hand and areas of the arm. Certain attacks necessitate specified blocks, but blocks can also be changed into counter-attacking manoeuvres by combining reciprocal kicks or punches. The key blocks include: Rising Block, Upper Block, Knife Hand Block, Low Block, Palm Block, Nine Block, Double Forearm Block, Double Knife Hand Block and Single Forearm Block.

Taekwondo Belts (Ranking)

In regards to belts, promotion and ranking there isn't actually any standardisation in Taekwondo, because there are many different styles of Taekwondo each of which has their own system in place. There are however parallels and they generally consist of 2 groupings of belts "seniors" and "juniors" symbolized by black and coloured belts respectively, . The senior ranks generally have nine levels and the junior, 8 to 12 grades.

Taekwondo Beginners Classes

It matters not who you are or what you're capable of in the world of Taekwondo, at some point you were a total novice, knowing nothing and fearing failure. We have all started like this and can only develop and learn with practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Hindley are the place to start that learning journey and to pick up the basic principles so you can gain self-confidence and proceed with your exciting Taekwondo experience. Most beginner classes are set up to be friendly and fun, providing a slow introduction to the basic Taekwondo principles and developing a solid foundation for the future.

Safety Gear

In all events, tournaments and matches taking place under the auspices of British Taekwondo, safety gear such as shin protectors, red/blue trunk armour, a groin protector, hand protectors, a mouth guard, a red/blue head guard and forearm guards is mandatory. The fast kicking manoeuvres used in Taekwondo can cause serious injuries and these preventative measures help make this activity less risky for its competitors.

In Conclusion

So, what do you want from doing Taekwondo? Well, that's a great question, and the answer will vary for different people. The majority of participants will just look to meet new people, improve their fitness levels and gain more self-confidence. We are not all going to scale the dizzy heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, though perhaps you will, you never know? 👊