Taekwondo Yateley

Taekwondo can be quite physically demanding, therefore it may be considered more suitable for the younger rather than the older generation in Yateley. Its teachings of self-discipline and respect for others make it especially good for children. It could prove too tough for some older adults, but should not be a problem for those who are already fit and active. However those in Yateley who take up Taekwondo at an early age, will find that continuing into older adulthood is not difficult. The less agile of you might like to consider something less strenuous like Tai Chi.

The name Taekwondo has only been used since the 1950's, although the discipline started life in Korea in 1945. In Seoul, a group of Korean martial arts fanatics established some new schools which they named "kwans", practicing a combination of martial arts techniques. The emphasis of Taekwondo, as it eventually became known, is on kicking manoeuvres, especially turning/jumping kicks, head kicks and fast kicking styles.Today Yateley Taekwondo classes follow this tradition.

Taekwondo has grown to be really popular in Yateley and around the globe, with over 60 million participants worldwide. Getting started with a local Yateley Taekwondo club or class is a good way to get involved with this sport which has even been a part of the Olympic Games since the Sydney Games in 2000. Whilst you may not aspire to Olympic competition, there's certainly no reason why you cannot become a master of this enjoyable martial art and have some fun along the way.

In these days of escalating violence, it is hardly surprising that people in locations like Yateley are taking up self-defence classes such as Taekwondo to help them feel safer and more secure in their everyday life. The self-defence aspect is one of the key benefits of Taekwondo but it also encourages self-restraint and a deep respect for other individuals, which are traits that are often missing in this modern age.

These self-defence techniques may in due course prove useful in your everyday life, although it's more likely that you will solely be testing them within a regulated class environment. Yet it is a nice feeling knowing that you'll always be in a position to defend yourself when you have to.

Your First Lesson

Different Taekwondo clubs in the Yateley area will have different ideas about what pupils should be covering on their first lesson, however to give you a notion of what you can expect most first Taekwondo lessons will include a warm-up, a bit of sparring, learning basic patterns (Poomse), an introduction to stances, kicks, hand attacks and blocking techniques (technical training) and a final warm-down to stretch weary muscles and return the body to a state of relaxation.

Any individual wishing to join a Taekwondo club in Yateley has to also become a member of British Taekwondo which is the official regulating body of the sport in Great Britain. You'll be able to learn about safe practices, first aid, events, news, launching a new club, coaching courses, safeguarding and equality, members and clubs, coaches and referees, and more on British Taekwondo's official website, or find out the latest news stories on their Facebook or Twitter page.

The Main Taekwondo Kicks

Taekwondo is renowned for its impressive kicks, listed here are the basic ones: Hook or Whip Kick, Axe Kick, Back Kick, Push Kick, Crescent Kick, Side Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Front Kick. Taekwondo Blocks: To repulse the many kicks and hand attacks there are a similarly diverse selection of blocks. Using the hand and different sections of the arm, they're held in diverse positions. Each kind of attack calls for a particular kind of block, counter-attacks can be produced by combining a block with another punch or kick. The most used blocks include: Low Block, Knife Hand Block, Palm Block, Upper Block, Nine Block, Double Forearm Block, Rising Block, Double Knife Hand Block and Single Forearm Block.

Taekwondo Competitions

There are a whole host of competitions and tournaments in Taekwondo involving all the different styles. They primarily involve sparring, breaking and patterns with not much hard contact. International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) contests do not allow substantial contact but may permit hand attacks towards the head. WT and Olympic tournaments only allow sparring. Multi-style contests also take place.

Beginners Taekwondo Yateley

It doesn't matter who you are or what you're standing is in the world of Taekwondo, at one time you were a total novice, fearing failure and knowing practically nothing. We have all started like this and are only able to learn and develop with practice. Beginner Taekwondo classes in Yateley are the right place to start that learning process and to acquire the necessary basics so you can build self-confidence and move forward in your Taekwondo experience. Nearly all beginner classes are geared up to be fun and friendly, delivering a slow introduction to the basic Taekwondo principles and developing a solid foundation for the future.

In Summary

So, what are you hoping to get from doing Taekwondo? Well, that is an excellent question, and the answer will be different for individual people. Most participants will purely wish to meet new people, gain more confidence and improve their levels of fitness. We're certainly not all going to reach the dizzy heights of Jade Jones or Lutalo Muhammad, though perhaps you will, who knows?