Taekwondo Stirling

While not wanting to discourage any specific age group, it should be said that Taekwondo is more suitable for younger people in Stirling, being fairly physically demanding. Its teachings of self-discipline and respect for others make it especially appropriate for children. Seniors who are not all that active and fit might find it a tad too tough. Carrying their Taekwondo adventure through into older adulthood shouldn't however be a problem for those who begin when they are younger. Tai Chi or something similarly less demanding might be more suited to the less nimble of you.

The name Taekwondo has only been used since the 1950's, although the discipline started life in Korea in 1945. A group of Korean martial artists in Seoul established some new schools known as "kwans", combining various martial arts techniques. This eventually became known as Taekwondo and the main emphasis of the discipline was on kicking manoeuvres, especially head-height kicks, fast kicking methods and turning/jumping kicks.

The total number of Taekwondo practitioners globally, now exceeds sixty million. Since the Sydney Games (2000) Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport and if you want to have a go, signing up for your local Stirling Taekwondo club or class is an easy way to get involved. While nobody would expect you to get to Olympic standard, you can certainly be one of the best Taekwondo exponents in Stirling.

For many folks in Stirling, it is the self-defence element of Taekwondo that has the most appeal. And in these times of ever increasing violence, especially in city and town centres, it is no surprise that this features high on people's list of priorities. It is a key element of Taekwondo that you are able to become more confident in your capacity to defend yourself while at the same time learning to respect those around you and practice self-restraint.

There's a pretty good chance that your eagerly mastered Taekwondo skills will never see the light of day in your everyday life, but it will undoubtedly give you self-confidence knowing that they're there should you ever be in need of them.

Your First Taekwondo Lesson

Different Taekwondo clubs in Stirling will have different ideas about what enrollees should be covering on their very first lesson, but to give you a perception of what you can expect most first Taekwondo classes will incorporate a warm-up, a bit of sparring, learning simple Poomse (forms), an overview of stances, kicks, hand attacks and blocking techniques (technical training) and a warm-down to relax weary muscles and return the body to a state of relaxation.

British Taekwondo is the official governing body of the sport within the UK, and membership of this organization is compulsory if you would like to sign up with any Taekwondo club in Stirling or nearby. You can read about safeguarding and equality, news, first aid, clubs and members, coaches and referees, safe practices, beginning a new Taekwondo club, coaching courses, events, and more on the official British Taekwondo website, and find out the latest news reports on their Twitter or Facebook page.

Taekwondo Belts

Since there are various different kinds of Taekwondo there has never really been any uniform arrangement for allocating belts (levels). What exists is however fairly similar and consists of two belt groupings "junior" and "senior" ("colour" and "black"), each one of these groupings is split into ranks, 8 to 12 colours in the case of juniors and 9 for seniors.

Taekwondo Tournaments and Competitions

Tournaments and competitions are a significant aspect of the overall Taekwondo experience, and all of the diverse styles across the world hold competitions and tournaments where Taekwondo exponents come together to battle it out. Hard contact is hardly ever allowed in any of these competitions which mainly comprise sparring, patterns (forms) and breaking. Sparring only is allowed in Olympic and WT (World Taekwondo) tournaments, while specified hand attacks are tolerated in International Taekwon-Do Federation events.

Beginners Classes

Even the top exponents of Taekwondo in Stirling set out as rookies, so it's no shame to be a total beginner at Taekwondo, or any other activity for that matter. The goal of a Taekwondo beginner class is to provide a few of the basics, increase confidence and build a firm base for the future. Most important of all is that it must be enjoyable, trainees having a good time are going to learn quicker and be better engaged.

Safety Equipment

Tournaments governed by British Taekwondo rules demand that specific items of protective gear be used, these include: a mouth protector, a groin protector, red/blue body armour, shin pads, forearm guards, hand protectors and a blue/red head guard. This is necessary because of the potent kicking attacks being employed.

To Summarize

We can't all be like Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, and I guess we don't all want to be. Taekwondo isn't purely about Olympic medals and National Championships. Most of us are content to improve our fitness levels, make new friends and meet different people, and that's precisely how it ought to be. However, as with many things in life, what you get out of it will hinge on what you put into it. Good luck! 👊