Taekwondo

INTRODUCTION

Taekwondo is the most popular martial art practiced in the world today. With the name broken down, "tae" means "foot", "kwon" means "hand", and "do" means "the way or the art". It is simple description for a system that teaches an incredible array of direct and controlled hand technique to complement its arsenal of efficient and powerful kicks. Combining these techniques with traditional Korean teaching methods that emphasize discipline, self-control and improvement of self, it is no wonder why Taekwondo boasts an international membership of more than 30 million members in over 156 countries.

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The origins of Taekwondo are as varied as its range of techniques. However, unlike other martial arts, the art of Taekwondo is constantly evolving. Traditional Taekwondo emphasizes developing incredible strength and speed, allowing relatively small men and women to crush bricks with single strikes and topple bulls weighing hundreds of pounds with flying kicks. While developing speed and power is still an important part of martial arts training, modern-day Taekwondo almost universally involves Olympic-style sparring (controlled point-fighting games using protective equipment), and explosive demonstrations showcasing self-defense situations using Taekwondo techniques, rhythmic and coordinated forms (poomse), and breaking techniques using dynamic flying and spinning kicks and powerful hand-techniques.

 

BENEFITS OF TAEKWONDO

 

​Self-Discipline

Any martial art form requires self-discipline and determination. Tae kwon do offers a variety of movements, patterns, strikes, kicks and punches that keep the mind stimulated and the body strong. Learning to control your movements, perfect your forms and memorize patterns takes concentration and focus.

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​Exercise

 Tae kwon do provides all-around exercise benefits, from stretching to aerobic moves. Regardless of your current physical fitness level, beginners in tae kwon do learn basic moves that gradually strengthen and tone the body, increase flexibility and stamina and improve endurance. Each pattern in tae kwon do builds on the basics of the pattern before it, gradually offering the student increasing mental and physical challenges. Muscle toning and strengthening, joint range of motion, balance and endurance improve as you perfect your tae kwon do skills and aptitude. As your exercise levels and skills progress, you have more energy, strength, coordination and endurance.

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Self-Defense

Tae kwon do focuses on kicks and strikes with the feet and hands, but also offers the opportunity to learn blocking and evasive moves that may help extricate you from a dangerous situation. As you progress through tae kwon do training, you'll advance from defensive positions and blocking moves to the most advanced stages of the martial art form that condition your body and enhance your alertness levels to avoid or deal with and confront a variety of circumstances, using mild, moderate or severe force, as required by the situation.

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Coordination and Flexibility

Many of the moves in tae kwon do require a certain degree of flexibility and range of motion. For example, tae kwon do moves require core and spinal strength for upright kicking moves. Range of hip and shoulder motion is also important, as is balance. Whether balancing on one foot, performing a front or side kick, or striking, many moves require your legs and arms to work together to either defend or attack.

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REFERENCE
www.livestrong.com

 

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