Taekwondo Shepperton

While not intending to be in any way ageist, Taekwondo can be rather physical and is generally more suited to younger people in Shepperton, it is especially good for children who will learn to be self-disciplined and respecting of others. Older adults who are not all that fit and active might find it a tad too taxing. Quite a few of the older adults who do Taekwondo in Shepperton, started when they were younger. The less agile of you might find that Tai Chi which is a bit softer is more suitable.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently created of the martial arts, with its early beginnings in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial arts specialists in Seoul founded some schools known as "kwans", combining various martial arts techniques. Taekwondo, which was eventually called, mainly consists of high-kicking manoeuvres, particularly spinning/jumping kicks, rapid kicking techniques and head kicks.

With more than sixty million students worldwide and quite a few in Shepperton, Taekwondo has become very popular. Heading along to your local Shepperton Taekwondo club or class is a great way to get involved in this sport which has even been in the Olympic Games since the Sydney Games of 2000. While you may not aspire to Olympic competition, there's no reason why you cannot become a master of this exhilarating martial art and have some fun in the process.

For the people of Shepperton who like the idea of learning a martial art, a major priority is the aspect of self-defence. Since this is a key concept of Taekwondo, it is easy to appreciate the attraction of this specific sport. With the additional benefit of learning self-restraint and having a deep-rooted respect for others, registering for a local Shepperton Taekwondo class seems to be a no brainer.

Whilst it will instill you with self-confidence being aware that you have those self-defence skills in your locker, the odds are you'll never have to test them outside of an organised Taekwondo class.

What to Expect From Your First Lesson

If you elect to register for a Taekwondo class in Shepperton, the very first thing you'll wish to know is what will transpire on the first class and what will the trainer be expecting of you. Different Taekwondo masters in the Shepperton area will contrive differing routines for this first introductory lesson but you can expect to do a 20 minute warm-up to loosen your muscles and get the blood coursing, learn a couple of Poomse (forms, go through some practical training (kicks, hand attacks, blocks and stances), do some sparring, and last but not least, a warm-down.

The UK governing body of the sport is British Taekwondo and if you would like to sign up with a Taekwondo club in Shepperton, you will also be required to register with this respected organization. You'll be able to learn about equality and safeguarding, news, first aid, safe practices, events, beginning a new Taekwondo club, coaching courses, members and clubs, coaches and tournament referees, and more on British Taekwondo's website, or find out the latest news stories on their Twitter or Facebook page.

Competitions

Tournaments and competitions are a significant part of the overall Taekwondo experience, and all of the various styles across the globe hold tournaments where Taekwondo exponents get together to battle it out. Hard contact is hardly ever permitted in any of these tournaments which mainly incorporate breaking, patterns and sparring. Sparring only is permitted in Olympic and WT tournaments, whilst specified hand attacks are tolerated in ITF events.

Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is probably best known for its spectacular kicks, the following are a few of the standard kicks you'll be taught as a novice: Front Kick, Crescent Kick, Push Kick, Back Kick, Side Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Axe Kick. Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", that are used to repulse the different attacking movements, are known as Makgi. Using the hands and parts of the arm, they're held in particular positions. Specific attacks require particular "blocks", but blocks can also be changed into counter-attacks by combining reciprocal punches or kicks. The main "blocks" (makgi) include: Palm Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Low Block, Rising Block, Double Forearm Block, Single Forearm Block, Nine Block, Knife Hand Block and Upper Block.

Safety Equipment

Matches controlled by British Taekwondo guidelines require various pieces of protective gear to be worn, these include: a groin guard, shin guards, forearm protectors, a red or blue head guard, hand protectors, red/blue body armour (hogu) and a gum shield. This is vital owing to the forceful kicking moves being practiced.

Beginners Taekwondo Shepperton

It matters not who you are or what you're ranking is in Taekwondo, at one stage you were a complete novice, fearing failure and knowing nothing. We've all started like this and can only improve and learn through practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Shepperton are the right place to begin that learning journey and to acquire the basic principles so you can build confidence and move forward in your Taekwondo experience. Almost all beginner classes are geared up to be friendly and fun, delivering a gradual introduction to the fundamental Taekwondo principles and developing a firm base moving forward.

Taekwondo Patterns (Forms)

Forms are a pivotal element of Taekwondo and are vital if you're going to master this intriguing activity. A few basic "forms" have to be grasped from the outset and more challenging forms have to be perfected so as to move through the various belts. A Taekwondo form is characterised by various facets such as stance, technique and direction.