Taekwondo Sawston

Due to its rather more physical aspects, Taekwondo is perhaps more suited to the younger person in Sawston and is particularly suitable for children as it is great for developing self-discipline and respect for others. It can sometimes be too taxing for older adults unless they are exceptionally fit and active. For those people who take up Taekwondo when they are younger, continuing the experience into adulthood should not be a problem. If you are less agile you could always try something a bit softer such as Tai Chi or Yoga.

Taekwondo is a martial art that mostly involves high-kicking manoeuvres, in particular jumping/turning kicks, rapid kicking techniques and head kicks. It started in Seoul, in southern Korea during the 1940's, when a group of martial arts enthusiasts founded schools called "kwans", which mixed together a number of martial arts practices.

With more than 60 million individuals participating in Taekwondo instruction all over the world, this has definitely become an extremely popular and beneficial pastime, and if you really master this sport you may even one day be eligible for the Olympic Games, of which it's been a part ever since the Sydney Games in the year 2000.

For a lot of folks in Sawston, it's the self-defence aspect of Taekwondo which holds the most appeal. And in these times of increased violence, especially in town and city centres, it really is no surprise that this aspect features high on people's list of priorities. It is a key factor of Taekwondo that you're able to become more confident in your ability to defend yourself while at the same time learning to respect others and learn self-restraint.

Although it will instill you with confidence knowing that you have such self-defence skills in your locker, the likelihood is that you will never have to use them outside of a dedicated Taekwondo class.

Your First Class

Different Taekwondo schools in Sawston will have different thoughts on what enrollees should be covering on their very first class, however to give you a concept of what you can expect most first Taekwondo classes will incorporate a warm-up, a bit of sparring, learning simple forms (Poomse), a brief introduction to kicks, stances, hand attacks and blocks (technical training) and a warm-down to stretch weary muscles and get the body back to a state of balance.

Anyone who joins a Taekwondo club in Sawston has to also become a member of British Taekwondo which is the official regulating body of the sport in the British Isles. By heading to the British Taekwondo website you will be able to obtain info regarding starting a new Taekwondo club, safeguarding and equality, events, first aid, health and safety, coaches and competition referees, members and clubs, news, coaching courses, and many more Taekwondo related issues.

Taekwondo Safety Gear

Contests governed by British Taekwondo guidelines require various pieces of protective equipment to be used, these include things like: shin protectors, forearm guards, hand protectors, a red/blue head guard, a red or blue body guard (hogu), a mouth guard and a groin protector. This is a must because of the powerful kicking actions being employed.

Beginners Classes

It matters not what you're capable of or who you are in the world of Taekwondo, at one stage you were a complete novice, fearing failure and knowing absolutely nothing. We've all started like this and are only able to learn and develop through practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Sawston are the right place to begin that learning journey and to pick up the fundamentals so you can build self-confidence and proceed with your Taekwondo adventure. The majority of beginner classes are geared up to be friendly and fun, providing a gradual introduction to the basic Taekwondo principles and building a solid base for the future.

Taekwondo Forms

Taekwondo forms (also called Poomse or patterns) are identified by specific elements such as technique, direction and stance. From the start you are going to be taught some of the standard forms, and so as to progress through the levels (belts) you'll need to master some more advanced ones.

Taekwondo Kicks

One of the main aspects of Taekwondo is kicking, here is a selection of the best known kicking techniques: Axe Kick (Naeryeo Chagi), Crescent Kick (Bandal Chagi), Front Kick (Ap Chagi), Roundhouse Kick (Dollyo Chagi), Back Kick (Dwo Chagi), Push Kick (Meereo Chagi), Hook or Whip Kick (Huryeo Chagi), Side Kick (Yeop Chagi). Taekwondo Blocks: To defend against the many hand attacks and kicks there are a similarly diverse assortment of blocks (Makgi). They are held in particular positions and use the hands with areas of the arm. Each "block" can be coupled with a kick or punch to establish a counter-attack, and each block is suitable for a particular attack. The most important "blocks" include: Single Forearm Block, Low Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Palm Block, Upper Block, Double Forearm Block, Rising Block, Nine Block and Knife Hand Block.

In Summary

We can't all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess we wouldn't all want to be. Taekwondo isn't just about National Championships and Olympic medals. The majority of of us are content to make new friends, meet different people and improve our fitness, and that is how it ought to be. However, as with many matters in life, what you get out of it will be determined by what you put into it. Good luck and enjoy!