Taekwondo Sittingbourne

While people of every age group in Sittingbourne can obviously participate in Taekwondo, it is especially suited to the younger generation since it can be rather demanding physically, children can especially benefit from its teachings of self-discipline and the respect of others. It could prove too tough for some seniors, but should not be an issue for those who are already active and fit. Quite a lot of the older adults who do Taekwondo in Sittingbourne, got involved in the sport when they were younger. If you consider yourself amongst the less agile, you could try something like Tai Chi which is much less demanding.

Taekwondo originated in Korea in 1945. Some exciting new schools called "kwans", merging various martial arts techniques were established in Seoul by a group of Korean martial arts lovers. The focus of the discipline was on kicking movements, especially head-height kicks, jumping/spinning kicks and rapid kicking styles, and it was later given the name; Taekwondo, roughly meaning "the way of the foot and fist". Today Sittingbourne Taekwondo classes stick to this tradition.

The number of Taekwondo practitioners worldwide, now exceeds sixty million. Since the Sydney Games (2000) Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport and if you want to have a go, heading along to your local Sittingbourne Taekwondo class or club is a great way to get involved. There's no reason why you can't become a master of this exhilarating martial art, even if you do not aspire to Olympic competition.

For the men, women and children of Sittingbourne who like the idea of learning a martial art, a major priority is the aspect of self-defence. Considering that this is a pivotal principle of Taekwondo, it's not difficult to appreciate the appeal of this specific sport. With the extra benefit of learning self-restraint and having a deep respect for those around you, enrolling in a local Sittingbourne Taekwondo class seems to be an easy decision.

While it is a great experience to practice and master these self-defence skills in the protected environment of your local Sittingbourne Taekwondo club, with any luck you won't ever need to use them in the world outside.

What to Expect From Your First Lesson

If you have never done Taekwondo before, you may be a little apprehensive as to what to expect on your very first lesson. This may vary from school to school but will typically consist of some or all of the following. A fifteen to twenty minute warm up to loosen muscles and increase heart rate, some technical training involving learning some kicks, hand attacks, stances and blocking techniques, studying some Poomse (forms), an overview of sparring which will include attack timing, movement and timing, and finally a warm down to relax and stretch tired muscles.

Taekwondo also of course has its own regulating body, and in the British Isles it is British Taekwondo. Everyone wishing enroll with a Taekwondo club in Sittingbourne have to become members of this organisation. You'll be able to find out about events, coaches and competition referees, coaching courses, equality and safeguarding, members and clubs, first aid, news, safe practices, establishing a new Taekwondo club, and more on the British Taekwondo website, and find the latest news reports on their Facebook or Twitter page.

The Benefits of Taekwondo

The benefits which may be achieved by taking part in Taekwondo training in Sittingbourne are many and varied, among the most noteworthy are: Beef up confidence by helping you to succeed and to take control of your life, Better self-discipline by methodically training your mind and body in the tactics and doctrines of Taekwondo, Strengthen your body and mind by means of improved mental discipline and physical co-ordination, Help with self-defence techniques by helping you to understand scenarios where self-defence might be necessary, and allowing you to manipulate these kinds of scenarios to your advantage, Lessen anxiety and stress with controlled breathing, Increase self-esteem by raising both mental and physical powers, Increase stamina, flexibility and agility through intensive cardiovascular exertion.

Taekwondo Patterns (Forms)

Perfecting Tae kwon do will involve learning many disciplines and one of the key parts of Taekwondo is its forms (also called patterns or Poomse). These are sequences of technique, direction and stance which have to be memorized in order for pupils to move through the different dans (belts/grades).

Taekwondo Belts (Promotion)

In Taekwondo there is really no uniformity in regards to grades and belts. It all depends upon what style you are looking at, since there are so many different Taekwondo styles. They are however, generally split into 2 groupings "junior" or "colour" belts and "senior" or "black" belts. The junior/colour rankings range from white to red, with from 8 to 12 levels, while the senior/black belts usually have nine levels.

Taekwondo for Beginners

Students starting out on their Taekwondo experience in Sittingbourne will at first enroll in a beginners class. Beginners classes are fantastic, as there are no rigid demands and everything's carried out at a slow, relaxed pace. Learning and having fun are the main objectives at first and students who are enjoying themselves are inclined to learn a lot faster and absorb more of what they are being taught. Even Taekwondo masters started off as clueless novices, so take that first step and you never know where you will finish up!

Taekwondo Safety Equipment

In all tournaments, matches and events being staged under the supervision of British Taekwondo, safety equipment like forearm protectors, a blue/red body guard (hogu), a mouth protector, shin protectors, a groin guard, a blue or red head protector and hand guards is mandatory. The kicking movements which are part of Taekwondo can cause harm and this safety measure helps to make this sport less hazardous for its competitors.

In Conclusion

So, what do you want from Taekwondo? Well, that's a good question, and the answer will vary for different people. The majority of participants will just look to improve their fitness levels, gain more self-confidence and meet new people. We are not all going to reach the heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, although perhaps you will, who knows? 👊