Taekwondo Lymington

Taekwondo is an ideal sport for children in Lymington, because it teaches self-discipline and a respect for others. Its more physical aspects make it more suited to younger people. It could prove too taxing for some older adults, but shouldn't be a problem for those who are already fit and active. However those who take up Taekwondo in Lymington at a young age will find they can easily carry it on into older adulthood. If you are less agile you could always try something a bit softer such as Tai Chi or Yoga.

With its beginnings in 1940's Korea, Taekwondo is certainly one of the more recently introduced of the martial arts and entails primarily high-kicking moves such as head kicks, fast kicking styles and jumping/turning kicks. It started when schools known as "kwans" were founded by a bunch of Korean martial arts specialists in Seoul, South Korea.

At present an Olympic sport, Taekwondo has over sixty million practitioners all around the world, and while you might not have any aspirations to be an Olympic Games medalist, you can still register for a Taekwondo club or class to master what will no doubt turn out to be a fascinating and rewarding activity.

For a lot of people in Lymington, it's the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo which holds the most appeal. And in these days of ever increasing violence, especially in town and city centres, it really is little surprise that this aspect sits high up on people's priority lists. It is a key element of Taekwondo that you are able to gain more confidence in your capacity to defend yourself and at the same time learn to respect those around you and practice self-restraint.

Although it will give you peace of mind being aware that you have these self-defence skills in your locker, the likelihood is you will never have to test them outside the monitored setting of an organised Taekwondo class.

Your First Class

Different Taekwondo schools in and around Lymington will have different viewpoints on what learners should cover on their very first class, but to give you an understanding of what to expect most initial Taekwondo lessons will include a warm-up, a bit of sparring, learning simple Poomse (forms), a quick introduction to stances, kicks, blocks and hand attacks (practical training) and a warm-down to stretch weary muscles and get the body back to a state of equilibrium.

The UK official regulating body of the sport is British Taekwondo and if you would like to sign up with a Taekwondo class in Lymington, you will also be required to become a member of this respected organization. By going to British Taekwondo's website you'll be able to find info on coaching courses, first aid, launching a new club, events, equality and safeguarding, coaches and referees, safe practices, news, clubs and members, and lots more Taekwondo related facts.

Taekwondo Tournaments

Competitions are a significant element of the overall Taekwondo legacy, and all of the various styles across the world hold tournaments and competitions where Taekwondo exponents gather together to compete. Hard contact is hardly ever allowed in any of these tournaments which mostly comprise sparring, breaking and patterns (forms). Sparring only is allowed in Olympic and World Taekwondo tournaments, while some hand attacks are tolerated in International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) events.

Taekwondo Forms (Poomse)

Mastering the art of Taekwondo will involve getting to grips with many disciplines and techniques and one of the key parts 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 pupils to move through the different dans (belts/grades).

The Eight Basic Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is well known for its powerful kicks, listed here are the important ones: Crescent Kick, Side Kick, Back Kick, Front Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Whip or Hook Kick, Axe Kick, Push Kick. Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", which are used to fend off the different attacking moves, are known as Makgi. Employing the hands and sections of the arm, they are held in particular positions. Each block can be combined with a punch or kick to create a counter-attack, and each "block" is suitable for a particular attack. The primary blocks (makgi) include: Upper Block, Nine Block, Palm Block, Double Forearm Block, Knife Hand Block, Low Block, Rising Block, Single Forearm Block and Double Knife Hand Block.

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

Competitions regulated by British Taekwondo policies require various items of protective gear to be worn, these include: hand guards, forearm guards, a gum shield, shin guards, a groin guard, a red or blue body protector (hogu) and a blue or red head protector. This is important on account of the powerful kicking movements being employed.

The Many Benefits of Taekwondo

You will no doubt be interested to find out about exactly what kind of benefits may be gained by attending Lymington Taekwondo sessions and engaging fully in its practices. You can expect to: Lower anxiety and stress using advanced breath control, Teach you self-defence by helping you recognise scenarios in which self-defence could be necessary, and enabling you to turn these types of situations to your advantage, Empower your body and mind through enhanced mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Boost confidence by encouraging you to seize control of your life and succeed, Develop discipline by methodically training your mind and body in the techniques and principles of Taekwondo, Increase stamina, agility and flexibility by way of intense cardiovascular work-outs, Enhance your self-esteem by maximizing your physical and mental fitness.