It is very exciting to watch taekwondo as the competitors can become very competitive. Taekwondo may be an aggressive sport but it is not deadly and the moves are not meant to harm the participants. In fact, the Muay Thai fights are considered to be more dangerous than taekwondo. The competitions are different for children when compared with those for adults. Children are not allowed to deliver kicks to the head while adults are allowed. Most of the students practice the art mostly for competitions and not to attack other people. Full protective gear is a must during competitions. The stylists also need to have attained a certain level of experience in order to take part in the competitions. Furthermore, they are paired according to their level of skill. For instance, a black belt cannot be paired with a white belt. Taekwondo has a lot of importance in our everyday lives. This is because it has been linked to a number of health benefits that are not only physical but also psychological. Practitioners of taekwondo claim that their standards of life have dramatically improved ever since they started practicing the art. Their overall mental health and social well being has also improved. The following are some of the benefits that one should expect to gain when they join taekwondo classes:
Physical Fitness
The following things can be achieved through training in taekwondo:
1.It helps you to get rid of bad cholesterol
Bad cholesterol in our bodies is linked to a variety of diseases Health experts are not entirely sure how exercises lower the bad cholesterol in our bodies but they have a rough idea. When we lose weight, we lower the level of cholesterol in our bodies. People that are overweight have high amounts of lipoprotein which is linked to heart diseases. Taekwondo involves a lot of physical activities. It also includes lots strength training, and other exercises. This will help the body to lose a significant amount of extra weight and thus lower the bad cholesterol in the body.
2.Improve the sleep patterns
Physical exercises help one to improve their quality of sleep, that is, it becomes deeper, longer and with fewer interruptions. Most people battle insomnia by getting insomnia medication. However, exercises work better because they are more natural and more effective. Taekwondo involves a lot of physical exercises which increase the heart beat and significantly wears out the body. This result in better sleep at night and one will wake up feeling fresh and revitalized in the morning.
3.It helps one to tackle obesity
Rarely will you ever see an obese person in a taekwondo class. In fact, you will never see an obese person in a taekwondo class. This is because taekwondo teaches the students how to maintain their bodies by doing intense work outs. Obesity has been linked to a variety of health complications such as diabetes, cancer, strokes and cardiovascular problems.
4.Diabetes
When one is overweight, their body becomes less sensitive to insulin their risk of developing diabetes. Through exercises in taekwondo, a person is able to prevent the onset of diabetes or avoid its development all together.
5.It helps with balance
In taekwondo training, the students are taught all about how to maintain their posture and improve on their stance. This is all in an effort to improve their balance. As we age, we tend to lose our balance easily. The risk of falling over and injuring ourselves is quite high. Through taekwondo training, we will be able to improve our balance even as we advance in age.
6.Improves bone strength
As women age, their bones become brittle and weak. Some men also experience this problem. Vigorous exercises such as those found in taekwondo can help to improve bone density. Health experts believe that you can increase your bone density by doing exercises. Strength training, which is mostly incorporated into taekwondo, is a good way for older people to improve the density of their muscles. People who suffer from low bone density can also benefit from balance and posture exercises.
7.Improves the immune system
Exercises have been known to boost the body's immunity by up to ten times thus helping to fight off diseases. The body is able to fight off simple viruses and bacteria which are known to cause colds, flues, coughs, etc. Exercise also helps to keep diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis and heart diseases at bay. Other health complications such as asthma also seem to improve when one participates in exercise programs. It improves blood circulation in the body and this helps to get rid of toxins in the body while at the same time increasing the level of anti bodies and white blood cells.
8.Helps to keep depression at the bay
Taekwondo is an activity that helps practitioners to channel all their negative energy in a positive way. Therefore if one is stressed or depressed, they can be able to deal with it by engaging in the art. The physical exercises that are involved help to slow down the release of the stress causing hormone while encouraging the body to release endorphins. Endorphins are known to reduce pain while improving a person's mood.
9.It helps to improve stamina and endurance
Sometimes our bodies feel worn out from doing basic day to day activities. However, through the training offered in taekwondo, our energy levels rise significantly and we are able to do tons of activities without feeling tired. In addition, you will no longer wake up tired and cranky.
10.Improves flexibility
Taekwondo is not just a physical activity that specializes in strength training only. It also includes a variety of stretching exercises specifically meant to improve flexibility. Those that practice the art can still touch their toes even at 70 years of age.