Taekwondo Pelton

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

Taekwondo is one of the more recently introduced of the martial arts, with its origins in Korea in 1945. Some schools called "kwans" were established in Seoul by a group of Korean martial arts lovers, blending a number of various martial arts techniques. This later became known as Taekwondo and the main emphasis of the discipline was on kicking movements, especially head-height kicks, rapid kicking styles and spinning/jumping kicks. Nowadays Pelton Taekwondo classes comply with this tradition.

Since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been a competitive Olympic sport. This has made it even more popular worldwide with some 60 million people or more routinely taking classes. And it's by joining a Taekwondo class or club that you can begin your journey of mastering this unique art.

In these days of increasing violence, it's hardly surprising that people in places like Pelton are signing up for self-defence techniques such as Taekwondo to help them feel safer in their everyday life. The self-defence element is one of the primary factors of Taekwondo but at the same time it also encourages self-restraint and a respect for others around us, which are characteristics that are frequently lacking in 21st century living.

Such self-defence techniques may sooner or later come in useful in your day to day life, though it is much more likely that you'll solely be putting them to the test within a monitored class environment. However it is an amazing feeling knowing that you will always be able to successfully defend yourself when you need to.

Your First Taekwondo Lesson

If you come to a decision to register for a Taekwondo club in Pelton, the very first thing you'll be thinking about is what is going to transpire on the very first class and just what will the instructor be expecting of you. Different Taekwondo masters in Pelton will contrive differing routines for this initial introductory lesson but you can anticipate doing a 20 minute warm-up to loosen your muscles and get the blood pumping, learn a few forms (Poomse), go through some technical training (kicks, stances, hand attacks and blocking techniques), do some sparring, and last but not least, warm-down.

Any individual who joins a Taekwondo club in Pelton must also become a member of British Taekwondo which is the governing body of the sport in the United Kingdom. You will be able to get loads of information regarding coaching courses, referees and coaching, news, clubs and members, safeguarding and equality, launching a new Taekwondo club, health and safety, first aid, events, and more, by checking out British Taekwondo's website.

Taekwondo Belts (Rank)

In Taekwondo there's really no standardisation in relation to ranking and belts. It all depends on which style you happen to be looking at, because there are such a lot of Taekwondo styles and rules. They are however, generally divided into 2 groups "junior" or "colour" belts and "senior" or "black" belts. The junior/colour ranks range from white to red, with anything from eight to twelve ranks, while the senior/black belts typically have nine grades.

In the UK Taekwondo has a sequence of ranks (belts) that are generally known as "Kup", these ranks range from Tenth (lowest) to First (highest). If you are eager to know the Taekwondo belt order, it is as follows, and is indicated by a range of colours i.e. white, yellow, green, blue and red, with intermediary belts with stripes, specifically white with a yellow stripe, yellow with a green stripe, green with a blue stripe, blue with a red stripe and red with a black stripe. Students in Pelton starting out in Taekwondo will commence with the White Belt (10th Kup), and advance through the coloured belts until they achieve the 1st Kup (Red Belt With a Black Stripe).

As soon as this training regime has been completed, Pelton Taekwondo students are referred to as "black belt candidates", and they then have to progress through an additional nine Dans (ranks) if they're to achieve the Taekwondo "Black Belt", which is the consummate accolade in this sport. Therefore, Junior Belts, Senior Belts and Black Belts are the three main divisions in the Taekwondo belt order in the UK. The Junior Taekwondo Belts comprise; White (10th), White With Yellow Stripe (9th), Yellow (8th), and Yellow With Green Stripe (7th). The Senior Taekwondo Belts are; Green (6th), Green With Blue Stripe (5th), Blue (4th), Blue With Red Stripe (3rd), Red (2nd) and Red With Black Stripe (1st). The Black Taekwondo Belts go from 1st to 9th Dan which takes a considerable number of years to progress through.

Taekwondo for Beginners

Even the very best exponents of Taekwondo in Pelton had to start as novices, so it's no disgrace to be a complete beginner at this sport, or in fact any other activity. The purpose of a Taekwondo beginner class is to provide just a few basics, increase self-confidence and build a solid foundation for the future. Most importantly of all is that it must be enjoyable, trainees having a great time will learn faster and be better invested.

Safety Gear

Contests regulated by British Taekwondo guidelines require various pieces of protective gear to be used, these include: shin guards, hand protectors, a groin protector, a red/blue head guard, forearm protectors, red/blue trunk armour (hogu) and a mouth protector. This is a must due to the potent kicking actions being employed.

The Main Taekwondo Kicks

There are many different Taekwondo kicking moves, here are just a sample of them: Crescent Kick, Front Kick, Push Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Side Kick, Axe Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Back Kick. Blocks: To defend against and stop an incoming attack, "blocks" (called Makgi) are implemented. Held in particular positions, they use the hands and areas of the arm. Each and every block can be coordinated with a kick or punch to establish a counter-attacking move, and each one is appropriate for a particular attack. The key blocks (makgi) in Taekwondo include: Palm Block, Knife Hand Block, Upper Block, Single Forearm Block, Double Forearm Block, Low Block, Nine Block, Double Knife Hand Block and Rising Block.