Taekwondo Tamworth

Due to its rather more physical aspects, Taekwondo is perhaps more suited to the younger person in Tamworth and is particularly suitable for children as it is great for developing self-discipline and respect for others. Unless they are particularly fit and active, older adults may find it too physically taxing. For those people who take up Taekwondo when they are younger, continuing the experience into adulthood should not be a problem. If you consider yourself among the less agile, you could try something like Tai Chi which is much softer.

Taekwondo started 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 turning/jumping kicks, fast kicking styles and head-height kicks.

With over 60 million practitioners worldwide and quite a few in Tamworth, Taekwondo has become very popular. Since the Sydney Games (2000) Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport and if you want to give it a go, joining a local Tamworth Taekwondo club or class is a good way to get involved. While you may not aspire to Olympic competition, there is no reason why you cannot become a master of this exciting martial art and have some fun along the way.

In these days of increasing violence, it's no surprise that people in locations like Tamworth are attending self-defence classes such as Taekwondo to enable them to feel safer in their local environment. The self-defence element is one of the primary benefits of Taekwondo but it also teaches self-restraint and a respect for those around us, which are traits that are often missing in this modern age.

Your newly learned Taekwondo skills will more than likely never need to be tested outside of an actual Taekwondo class, however being aware that you have them will give you peace of mind.

Your First Tamworth Taekwondo Class

If you have never done Taekwondo before you may be a little concerned as to what to expect on your first class. The following will give you an example, but this will vary depending on which Tamworth school you attend. A warm up lasting fifteen to twenty minutes, some technical training which will involve learning some kicks, blocking techniques, hand attacks and stances, an introduction to some Poomse (or forms), a few ideas on sparring including good timing, precise movement and the accurate targeting of attacks, and lastly a warm down to stretch muscles and relax.

Taekwondo of course also has its own official governing body, and in Great Britain it is British Taekwondo. Anybody wishing to sign up with a Taekwondo club in Tamworth must become a registered member of this organisation. You can get loads of information on members and clubs, events, referees and coaching, launching a new club, coaching courses, safe practices, news, equality and safeguarding, first aid, and more, by dropping by at British Taekwondo's website.

The Many Benefits of Taekwondo

There are needless to say, many benefits to be gained from taking part in Taekwondo, and here are just an idea of the ones that might be appealing to you: Develop discipline by methodically schooling your mind and body in the techniques and doctrines of Taekwondo, Build confidence by inspiring you to take control of your life and succeed, Enhance self-esteem and concentration by raising your physical and mental fitness, Teach self-defence techniques by coaching you to understand circumstances where self-defence may be required, and allowing you to turn such situations in your favour, Increase agility, flexibility and stamina by way of intensive cardiovascular exertion, Reduces stress using advanced breath control, Empower your mind and body by way of accelerated mental discipline and physical co-ordination.

Taekwondo Forms (Poomse)

Beginners in Taekwondo don't need to worry excessively about forms (patterns, Poomse) initially, but they'll have to get to grips with some basic ones to start with and move on to more elaborate "forms" as they progress through the various belts (grades/dans). A "form" is indicated by particular elements of Taekwondo including direction, technique and stance. Learning such techniques is a key part of mastering Taekwondo.

Taekwondo Competitions

Taekwondo contests are staged all over the world in all the diverse styles. There's generally not much hard contact but sparring, patterns and breaking. Olympic and WT competitions consist only of sparring, in ITF contests specified hand attacks are permitted to the head. Various other associations hold multi-discipline tournaments.

Safety Equipment

British Taekwondo controlled matches call for specific safety equipment to be worn to safeguard competitors from being injured due to the forceful kicking that takes place. These safety solutions include: a blue or red head guard, a groin guard, a blue/red body guard (hogu), shin guards, a gum shield, forearm guards and hand guards.