Taekwondo Ulverston

While not intending to be in any way ageist, Taekwondo can be fairly physical and is generally more suited to younger people in Ulverston, it's particularly good for children who will learn to be self-disciplined and respecting of others. Older adults trying Taekwondo for the first time often find it too tough, unless they have kept themselves active. However those in Ulverston who take up Taekwondo at a young age, will find that continuing into older adulthood isn't an issue. If you are less agile you could always try something a bit softer such as Tai Chi or Yoga.

Taekwondo is one of the more recently introduced of the martial arts, with its early beginnings in Korea in 1945. A number of Korean martial arts specialists in Seoul established some schools which they called "kwans", incorporating many different martial arts techniques. Taekwondo, which it ultimately became known as, mainly involves high-kicking manoeuvres, particularly rapid kicking techniques, jumping/turning kicks and head-height kicks.

Since the Sydney Olympic Games in the year 2000, Taekwondo has been a competitive Olympic sport. This has made it even more popular worldwide with some sixty million people or more regularly taking classes. And it's by joining a Taekwondo club or class that you are able to begin your adventure of learning this thrilling martial art.

The thing about Taekwondo that seems to most appeal to people in Ulverston is the self-defence aspect of it. This is not surprising when you consider the rising levels of violence seen in town and city centres these days. Being able to defend yourself is a key factor of Taekwondo, but this is tempered by learning self-restraint and a respect for others.

Hopefully you will never be required to use your newly perfected Taekwondo techniques for defending yourself outside of your local club environment, however it is good to know they're there if you need them.

Your First Class

If Taekwondo is not a sport that you have ever had a go at previously, you'll most likely be wondering what you should expect from your initial class should you make your mind up to join. Different Taekwondo schools in Ulverston have different ideas about this but in brief; you'll take part in a fifteen to twenty minute warm-up, you will do some technical training, you'll learn some forms (patterns), you are going to practice sparring tactics and last but not least you will do a warm-down to get your body back into a state of relaxation once again.

Taekwondo of course also has its own governing body, and in the United Kingdom it is British Taekwondo. Everyone wishing to join a Taekwondo club in Ulverston must become members of this organisation. You will be able to find a lot of information regarding health and safety, equality and safeguarding, events, news, coaches and referees, coaching courses, members and clubs, launching a new Taekwondo club, first aid, and more, by heading to British Taekwondo's official website.

Taekwondo Kicks

One of the main elements of Taekwondo is kicking, listed here is a selection of the best known kicks: Roundhouse Kick, Crescent Kick, Push Kick, Side Kick, Whip or Hook Kick, Axe Kick, Front Kick, Back Kick. Taekwondo Blocks: Taekwondo "blocks", which are used to repulse the different attacks, are called Makgi. Held in diverse positions, they involve the hands and parts of the arm. Certain attacks necessitate particular blocks, but "blocks" can also be transformed into counter-attacks by combining reciprocal punches or kicks. The principal Taekwondo blocks (makgi) include: Rising Block, Upper Block, Palm Block, Double Knife Hand Block, Knife Hand Block, Single Forearm Block, Double Forearm Block, Low Block and Nine Block.

Competitions

Taekwondo competitions are staged all over the world in all of the diverse styles. There is generally not a whole lot of hard contact but patterns (forms), breaking and sparring. Olympic and World Taekwondo (WT) contests comprise only sparring, in ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) tournaments specific hand attacks are allowed to the head. Various other organisations stage multi-discipline contests.

Beginners Classes

With any sport or activity we've got to start someplace, and Taekwondo is exactly the same. Even the topmost Ulverston Taekwondo exponents were complete rookies at one point. So, what should you be expecting as a complete beginner at Taekwondo? A beginners class should give its students sufficient coaching to give them the fundamentals and enable them to develop self-confidence as they progress. The perfect beginners class ought to be fun as well as instructional, when folks are having fun they are more invested and will learn much faster.

Safety Gear

British Taekwondo competitions call for specific safety gear to be worn to protect competitors from personal injury due to the powerful kicking that occurs. These safety items include: shin pads, a blue or red body protector (hogu), a gum shield, a blue/red head guard, hand guards, forearm guards and a groin guard.