Taekwondo Kirkcaldy

Taekwondo is typically a lot more demanding physically than for example Tai Chi, so unless you're pretty fit and agile you may prefer to find something a little gentler to improve your fitness in Kirkcaldy. Children are clearly the perfect participants for Taekwondo classes in Kirkcaldy, with a lot of fast paced movements taking place and plenty of high kicking.

Based largely around high-kicking manoeuvres like rapid kicking techniques, jumping/turning kicks and head-height kicks, Taekwondo was formulated from the practices of different martial arts, by a group of Seoul martial arts specialists in new schools known as "Kwans" during the nineteen forties and fifties. These "Kwans" were given the names Mooduk Kwan, Songmu Kwan, Changmu Kwan, Jido Kwan and Chungdo Kwan.

Taekwondo has become extremely popular in Kirkcaldy and around the globe, with over sixty million participants worldwide. Getting started with a local Kirkcaldy Taekwondo class or club is a great way to become involved in this sport which has even featured in the Olympic Games since the Sydney Games in 2000. While you might not aspire to Olympic competition, there's certainly no reason why you shouldn't become a maestro of this exhilarating martial art and have a bit of fun in the process.

For many people in Kirkcaldy, it is the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo that has the most appeal. And when you consider the high levels of violence in town and city centres these days, this is hardly surprising. The ability to defend yourself and at the same time exercising self-restraint and a respect for others is one of the key benefits of Taekwondo.

Such self-defence techniques may at some time prove useful in your everyday life, although it's much more likely you will solely be testing them within a regulated class setting. However it's a nice feeling knowing that you will always be able to successfully defend yourself if you have to.

Your First Kirkcaldy Taekwondo Class

If you have never done Taekwondo before you may be a little concerned as to what to expect on your first class. 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 increase heart rate and loosen muscles, a little technical training including learning some hand attacks, stances, blocks and kicks, learning some Poomse (or forms), a look at sparring including good timing, movement and targeting attacks, and lastly a warm down to stretch tired muscles and relax.

Any individual who joins a Taekwondo class in Kirkcaldy must also become a member of British Taekwondo which is the regulating body of the sport in the UK. You will be able to get loads of details of safe practices, referees and coaching, news, first aid, coaching courses, equality and safeguarding, launching a new Taekwondo club, members and clubs, events, and more, by popping along to the official British Taekwondo website.

The Many Benefits of Taekwondo

There are of course, a lot of benefits to be gained from practicing Taekwondo, and here are just an idea of the ones that could be attractive to you: Enhance self-esteem and concentration by intensifying both mental and physical fitness, Augment stamina, flexibility and agility by means of strenuous cardiovascular work-outs, Greater discipline and willpower by thoroughly schooling your mind and body in the strategies and doctrines of Taekwondo, Reduce stress and anxiety by doing deep breathing exercises, Build up confidence by pushing you to succeed and to take control of your life, Toughen up your mind and body thru enhanced mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Learn self-defence tactics by showing you how to identify scenarios in which self-defence could be required, and enabling you to control these kinds of scenarios to your advantage.

Taekwondo Belts

The ranking and belt system can get quite bewildering in Taekwondo since there's no uniform system across the different Taekwondo disciplines. Parallels can be found though, and normally there are two distinct belt groups, signified as "juniors" (colours) and "seniors" (black dans). The number of levels in the junior groupings varies through the styles but is typically between 8 and 12 belts, whilst the senior groupings usually has 9 dans or belts.

Taekwondo Competitions and Tournaments

Tournaments are an important aspect of the Taekwondo experience, and all the different styles across the world stage competitions and tournaments where Taekwondo masters get together to compete. Hard contact is hardly ever permitted in any of these contests which primarily incorporate breaking, patterns and sparring. Sparring only is permitted in Olympic and WT (World Taekwondo) tournaments, whilst certain hand attacks are tolerated in ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) events.