Taekwondo St Agnes

While people of all ages in St Agnes can of course participate in Taekwondo, it is particularly suited to the younger generation since it can be quite physically demanding, children can especially benefit from its teachings of self-discipline and the respect of others. Older adults may find it somewhat too taxing unless they are particularly fit and active. Carrying their Taekwondo experience through into older adulthood should not however be a problem for those who start when they are younger. If you consider yourself among the less agile, you could try something like Tai Chi which is much softer.

Taekwondo is a martial art that primarily features high-kicking moves and manoeuvres, most notably jumping/spinning kicks, head-height kicks and rapid kicking techniques. It began in Seoul, in southern Korea in the 1940's, when a group of martial arts specialists founded schools called "kwans", which blended a variety of martial arts practices.

Since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been a competitive Olympic sport. This has made it even more popular around the world with some 60 million people or more regularly participating in classes. And it is by joining a Taekwondo club or class that you can commence your adventure of mastering this fascinating martial art.

The thing about Taekwondo that appears to most interest people in St Agnes is the self-defence aspect of it. And its not a surprise that this sits prominently on people's list of priorities when you take into account the ever rising incidence of violence seen these days in town and city centres throughout the United Kingdom. Actually one of the key benefits of Taekwondo is learning to defend yourself whilst exercising self-restraint and a respect for others.

Your eagerly mastered Taekwondo skills will likely never have to be put to the test outside of an organized Taekwondo class, however being aware of the fact that you've got them will instill you with confidence.

What to Expect From Your First Class

If you have never dome Taekwondo before, you may be interested to know exactly what is likely to happen on your first class. The following will give you an example, but this will vary depending on which St Agnes school you attend. A warm up of fifteen to twenty minutes to increase your heart rate and reduce stiffness in the muscles, some technical training involving learning some hand attacks, kicks, stances and blocks, some work on forms or patterns (Poomse in Korean), some tips on sparring including good timing, movement and targeting attacks, and lastly a warm down to stretch muscles and relax.

Taekwondo also of course has got its own regulating body, and in Great Britain it is British Taekwondo. Everyone wishing enroll with a Taekwondo club in St Agnes have to become members of this organisation. By checking out the official British Taekwondo website you can find information about members and clubs, coaching courses, health and safety, events, safeguarding and equality, first aid, establishing a new club, news, referees and coaching, and lots more Taekwondo related issues.

The Many Benefits of Taekwondo

The benefits which can be achieved by participating in Taekwondo instruction in St Agnes are countless, among the most significant are: Develop discipline and willpower by thoroughly schooling your mind and body in the principles and strategies of Taekwondo, Toughen up your body and mind by means of increased physical coordination and mental discipline, Boost confidence by motivating you to seize control of your life and succeed, Improve stamina, agility and flexibility by means of intensive cardiovascular effort, Improve feelings of self-esteem by sharpening both mental and physical powers, Teach self-defence techniques by showing you how to recognize circumstances where self-defence might be required, and enabling you to turn such situations in your favour, Lessen anxiety with controlled breathing.

Safety Gear

In all contests, tournaments and events being staged under the patronage of British Taekwondo, safety equipment like a groin guard, forearm protectors, a blue/red head protector, a gum shield, a red/blue trunk protector (hogu), hand guards and shin protectors is compulsory. The kicking techniques used in Taekwondo could potentially cause injuries and this safety measure helps to make the sport safer for its competitors.

Beginners Taekwondo St Agnes

It matters not who you are or what you're capable of in the world of Taekwondo, at one stage you were a complete novice, fearing failure and knowing absolutely nothing. We've all started out like this and are only able to learn and develop with practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in St Agnes are the place to start that learning process and to acquire the basics so that you can build confidence and move forward in your Taekwondo adventure. The majority of beginner classes are geared up to be fun and friendly, offering a slow introduction to the fundamental Taekwondo principles and developing a solid base for the future.

The Main Taekwondo Kicks

Kicking techniques play an important role in Taekwondo, here are a list of the more basic ones: Axe Kick, Front Kick, Side Kick, Hook or Whip Kick, Push Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Back Kick, Crescent Kick. Taekwondo Blocks: To stop and defend against an inbound attack, blocks (called Makgi) are implemented. Held in particular positions, they use the hands and sections of the arm. Certain attacks require particular blocks, but "blocks" can also be transformed into counter-attacks by combining retaliatory punches or kicks. The most used "blocks" include: Low Block, Rising Block, Double Forearm Block, Upper Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Nine Block, Knife Hand Block, Single Forearm Block and Palm Block.

Taekwondo Patterns (Forms)

Forms are a key part of Taekwondo and are crucial if you are to excel at this fascinating martial art. A few basic "forms" must be learned from the beginning and more advanced forms will have to be mastered in order to advance through the various levels. A Taekwondo form is characterised by various aspects such as technique, direction and stance.

To Summarize

So, what are you hoping to get from Taekwondo? Well, that is a great question, and the answer to that will be different for individual people. The majority of participants will purely wish to gain more self-confidence, meet new people and improve their levels of fitness. We're certainly not all going to scale the heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, although maybe you will, who knows? 👊