Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a form of martial arts that involves intense physical activity. However it comes with a lot of benefits. It improves physical fitness. This is due to the fact that there is a lot of strength training involved as well as cardio. This will improve your overall health and will help you to keep your weight in check. It is a lot of fun. When you join the taekwondo classes, you will get to meet many people whom you will interact with. The friendly fights are a good way of forming acquaintances as well as improving on your skill. You will be able to acquire an increased sense of self-confidence and self-esteem. You will no longer shy away from physical activities because you feel you cannot handle them. In addition, due to the fact that your body will become lean and toned, you will have a positive self image. Taekwondo teaches you self-defence and therefore you will be confident enough to fight off your attackers if faced with a dangerous situation. This technique of self-defence is especially useful to women and children since they are mainly targeted because they are believed to be weak and helpless. Taekwondo also demands great discipline. It will help you to build your character and will ultimately help you to cope with different situations that you may face in life. It promotes mental health by helping you to let off steam in a positive manner. When you enroll for the taekwondo classes, the kicking and punching will help you to relieve any built up anger and stress.                              PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

If you are curious about finding a school for taekwondo classes, the following are some great tips that will guide you to find one: Look for a variety of schools that offer the classes. Each school has different styles and therefore you should choose the one that is comfortable for you. Once you have selected a few chosen schools, aim to attend different classes in each one of them. Visit the belt tests, the sparring classes and even the black belt classes. The main reason for this is because you want to see how the classes progress. There are some classes that become harsher as they progress. If you are planning on enrolling your child for the classes, it might have a negative impact on them. Your own safety is something that you should consider when you chose a school. What efforts do they take to ensure that their students are safe? Are there any warm ups or stretches? Learn the overall cost of the classes. Remember that if you do not plan on practicing taekwondo for many years, a cheap multi-year contract would not be suitable for you. Instead, you should go for the more expensive monthly contracts. This way, when you are faced with other commitments and you have to drop out, you will not lose so much money.                                PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

1. Back And Side Falls A student can fall anywhere, including on the stairs, being pushed in the streets, or while sparring. Falling properly is therefore important and must be instinctive. The most important things that the student must remember when learning the falling technique is always to keep the head from hitting the ground, spread the force of hitting the ground evenly throughout the body and shouting to force air from the lungs. For the back fall, the students should begin by bringing their hands up in front of their face or their chest. The chin must be tucked into the sternum by bending the head forward. For a smooth fall, the student must curl their body and form a ball. As their upper back makes contact with the mat, they should slap the mat with open palms. The arms should also be at a 45 degree angle from the body. Similar to the back fall is the side fall only this time, the student curls like a ball to one side and slaps the mat with the hand on that side. The other hand should come up and rest on the stomach with the chin tucked into the opposite shoulder. One thing the student should remember is to always remain calm during falls.                                 2. Higher Side And Back Falls At first, students will learn how to absorb the shock of basic falls from a standing position. Once they feel that they are comfortable with the basics, they can then safely begin practicing their self-defence tactics. The students have to be able to absorb the impact of higher falls as they practice techniques that are more advanced. In order to begin, students should begin with small hops and landing back onto their feet before doing the fall. This movement should progress until the student is able to jump into the fall directly. The timing of the slap on the mat and the angle at which the arm is to the body should be accurate enough to prevent the body from injury. These are important elements which must come naturally to the students before they are allowed to perform throws on one another in the more advanced techniques.   3. Forward rolls Forward rolls are probably one of the moves in taekwondo that causes much apprehension among students. This is because they disorient the body and force them to take up uncomfortable inverted body positions. However, students must protect themselves since many attackers are taken into inverted aerials during throws. Smooth rolls are important because they protect the student from real life instances such as bike crashes, or trips on stair cases. In the forward roll technique, the head must always be protected. In order to perform this technique, the student must stand with their feet as wide as their shoulders and their right foot forward. Beside the right foot, the student should place their left hand and in front of the left foot. The right hand will then be placed in between the left foot and the left hand on the mat. The head should look over the shoulder. If the head is not turned during the roll, it may impact the floor and this would defeat the whole purpose of doing the rolls in the first place. With the left foot, the student should push forward and roll on the outside of their right arm, across the back in a diagonal manner and land on their left side. The body should be curled like a ball when rolling. At the end of the roll, the student should shout and slap the mat.                                  4. Front Fall Like all the other falls, the aim should be to protect the torso and the head. In order to learn this fall and perfect it, three steps are involved: learning from the kneeling position, from the standing position and from the jumping position. Learning should take place in these three positions respectively, with each step being perfected before moving on to the next one. The defender should bring both his hands in front of the body with the fingers open. While falling forward, the impact of the fall should be broken by the defender by using his fore arms and the palms of his hands. The elbows should be at a 45 degree angle and the hands should form a triangle like shape in front of the face. To avoid hitting the nose, the defender should turn the face to the side. Once the defender lands on the mat, they should kick their feet out and spring to their feet. The forearms and the feet should be the only parts of the body touching the mat. This fall is very important during sparring. The defender should naturally be able to bring their hands up instinctively and turn their faces the other way in order to prevent their face from hitting the ground.                                    Throws These basic throws can be included in a taekwondo curriculum once the students have mastered the art of falling and are able to sufficiently protect themselves. Throws can be executed from a range of attacks and positions such as sparring situations, punches, chokes, wrist grabs, etc. The following are some of the throws most commonly used in taekwondo:   1. Forward Body Drop/ Floating Drop Once an attacker has thrown a punch, this throw is meant to maintain their forward momentum. The defender may wish not to use any move such as a hard block that may impeded the attacker's forward motion such as a hard block. The block and grab technique is applicable to this throw. The main work of the defender would be to avoid the attacker's strike and at the same time push him forward along the path he created. In order to execute a floating drop, the defender must stand on the opposite side of the hand that is attacking. For instance, if it is the left hand punch, they should block and grab with the right hand and step to the left. The defender will then place their left hand on the attacker's right ear. With the arm high up and in front of them, the defender should make 180 degree turn to face the same direction as their opponent. In order to force the attacker to roll to the ground, they must at the same time twist their opponent's head down and around. The footwork involved in the forward body drop is the primary defense. This move should be performed by the defender stopping in front of the opponent with their first move instead of stepping outside the opponent's momentum. To make the opponent trip over the defender's leg, the defender should make a 270 degree turn into a front stance. The move can be varied such that the defender grabs the opponent's arm and pulls on it. The maximum number of steps allowed in both the throws is two; more than that would not make the movements fluid.                                   2. Major Outer Reap This throw is a sweeping style. Instead of sweeping in between the opponent's legs, the defender sweeps the opponent's front leg from the outside of it. This technique begins with a Judo style grab. This is whereby the opponent will hold the defender's right elbow with his left hand his left lapel with his other hand. The defender will also perform the same move. The defender will then try to push back the opponent's shoulder while pulling down his elbow. These two moves should be performed simultaneously after the defender has moved to the right side of his opponent with his left foot. This throw is applicable in several situations. For instance, it can be applied when the opponent lashes out with a front punch. It is also an effective technique if in a fight the stance is close. Regardless of the attack, as long as it is a grab, the defender should be able to maintain their own balance when trying to throw their opponent with this technique.                                 PREVIOUS PAGE |  NEXT PAGE

Introduction To Taekwondo Demonstrations Taekwondo demonstrations can be used for a variety of purposes such as attracting and encouraging new students to enroll for classes or for sporting purposes. Martial arts associations or other taekwondo clubs may incorporate taekwondo demonstrations so as to attract new students. The demonstrations can be performed in a variety of places such as at university fairs, schools or at a carnival. Some clubs have been known to perform a variety of demonstrations in open places such as the city centre or the middle of town in order to grab people's attention and hopefully, get them to sign up for classes. A demonstration is considered to be successful when new students enroll for classes. This means that the demonstrations have to be appealing to the target audience. This means that each demonstration has to be tailored to exclusively meet each audience. For instance, what may suit university students may not suit kids who are in their early school going years.                                 History Of Taekwondo As A Demonstration Sport On the other hand, it has also been used as a demonstration sport especially in the Olympics. It debuted in the South Korea Olympics in 1998. It was welcomed by spectators because of its fancy techniques. During the time that taekwondo was allowed into the Olympics was also the same time in which women were allowed to participate in Judo. Taekwondo was recognized as an official sport in 2000 during the Sydney Olympics in Australia. Korea recognizes W.T.F as the official governing body for taekwondo in the Olympics. In the 1998 Olympic demonstrations, they included 16 different weight classes. The Olympic committee however limited the number of contestants by including only four categories of weights: fly, light, middle and heavy. Taekwondo demonstrations in the Olympics are largely composed of point sparring techniques. In 2012, out of the 345 contestants that entered the Olympics, only 24 qualified. The 345 contestants competed in Azerbaijan where four members from the UK were automatically put forward to take part in the Olympic Games. Most demonstrations consist of Korean commands that the competitors have to be aware of. The commands are taught in taekwondo schools and the pronunciation may vary. Other than in the Olympics, taekwondo was also accepted as a sport in the Common Wealth Games in 2010. PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

Patterns, also known as forms, form the basic foundation of taekwondo. The patterns in ITF are different from those in WTF but they all have a significant purpose in taekwondo training. The following are some of the reasons as to why learning patterns is important.   1. It provides a foundation for advancement Several concepts and techniques are learned during the beginning of the art. Patterns such as Chon-ji in ITF stress the development of basic movements such as outward and inward blocks, low blocks, reverse punches, etc. This is basically a foundation where other advanced techniques will be based upon.                                  2. It creates body awareness All forms in taekwondo as well as in other martial arts emphasize awareness of the body and precision. Techniques would have no value if they did not have precision. Practice gives the students the chance to practice on precision which is the most important aspect.   3. It helps to develop controlled breathing During form training, students are able to learn about breathing techniques. Proper breathing enhances the lung capacity and contributes positively to their overall health.   4. It helps to reduce stress and helps one to relax All forms in taekwondo help the practitioners to relax by providing them with meditation sessions. This helps to reduce anxiety and stress which may come about as a result of frustration and pressure to learn the various patterns. PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

Several different things are demonstrated in taekwondo. These demonstrations vary according to grades. Each grade has a certain combination of patterns. A variety of techniques are also included from the various grades. In order to illustrate the techniques and patterns, sparring has to take place. Board Breaking is also a part of the demonstrations. What therefore are the things that judges look for when awarding points during demonstrations?   1. Ki-Hap Ki-haping, simply put, is yelling in taekwondo. Many students have wondered how relevant ki-haping is since taekwondo is mostly a physical exercise. However, there are a variety of reasons as to why students of taekwondo ki-hap; some of them being to show the instructor that they are ready, to get rid of inhibitions, to summon energy to the Dojang, etc. In demonstrations, the main reason for ki-haping is to focus the mind, body and heart. Judges look at whether the ki-hap is coming from the inner voice and if the students actually mean it. Some students ki-hap because it is part of their routine.                                2. Stances Another element that judges look at is the stance. Stances are the basic elements of taekwondo and a lot of students overlook this fact. Instead, they focus mostly on the other complicated elements of sparring or poomsae. Stances are very important because they determine whether the technique will be properly executed or it will fall apart. Judges look at how close to the floor your stance is and if it is correct. A low stance gives better balance and allows for proper execution of a technique. Students usually rush through the techniques without properly demonstrating their stances. They would rather show off their speed than their stance; which is another thing that judges look at and deduct points.                                 3. Breathing Judges can easily tell if a student has control over their breathing when demonstrating a poomsae. Some students forget to breathe while others breathe erratically. This leads to poor technique and a lot of tension in the upper body. The power of a move comes from technique, speed and breathing.                                  4. Technique This is the most important aspect that a judge looks at. They look at whether you are able to prepare, execute, and recover. It is what separates a true martial artist from a mediocre one. Moves should therefore be closely analyzed by students during practice. They must understand basic preparations of the technique and how to recover to the original position. There has to be power in the technique and brute force should not be confused for speed. Every technique has to have controlled breathing.                                   5. Remembering movements The poomsae has to be very accurate without mistakes. Incorrect moves or forgotten moves during a technique will automatically score the student low marks or no points at all. Students have to practice and practice until the moves come naturally to them. There is no time to stand and try to recall particular moves during sparring. Therefore the moves must be executed concisely and precisely.                                   6. Taekwondo Spirit Judges look at your spirit. It is mostly reflected in the ki-hap and in the execution of the techniques. Every move should have effect, power and character in the process of being executed. Many demonstrations usually perform poomsaes perfectly but they do have personality or character. This demonstrates a lack of confidence and commitment to taekwondo.                                  7. Position and posture This goes hand in hand with stance. The back has to be vertical at all times during the demonstrations.                               PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

9 Tips That Students Should Keep In Mind During Demonstrations All students taking part in taekwondo demonstrations are there to earn the highest possible score. In the previous section, some of the things that judges look at during demonstrations were highlighted but what are some of the tips that taekwondo practitioners can use to score points?   1. Your basic technique The first thing that you have to ask yourself is whether a certain technique would work if you were attacked. If in your mind you do not see how it will work, then there is no need to use it. Your kicking technique should be fast, powerful, and high. You must also portray confidence in your techniques by looking up and straight ahead. In addition, you have to listen to instructions given to you by your black belt.                                2. Poomsae You must know all your poomsaes because you might be asked to do any one of them. If you fail to show confidence in a poomsae, you will earn low marks or no marks at all. The poomsae should not be rushed. Take your time to display your stances and execute them with power. Your eyes should always look straight ahead. Most importantly, do not focus on other people. If someone makes a wrong move and you follow them, you also become wrong. It is better to fail for making your own mistakes than to fail by copying someone else.                                 3. One step sparring With one step sparring, it is better to pick five of your best techniques and do them over and over again. Start with the technique that you feel is the fastest for you then put the technique that you feel is the best second. This is meant to show what you can do. Your techniques have to be varied. The foot and hand techniques have to also be used evenly. If you are a new student, jumping and kicking techniques will earn you good points.                                 4. Self-defence Pick out some of your best self-defense techniques and stick to them. It would also be advisable if you tell your opponent exactly how you want them to attack you. Confused instructions will only earn you low marks.                                  5. Free sparring Your weight must be evenly distributed. You must always look directly at your partner. Looking away will make you less aware of their moves and will lose you points.                                  6. Flexibility You must be able to perform your moves smoothly. A side kick to the knee is likely to earn you more marks than a high section kick that does not have power. On the other hand, if you can do these two moves, you are likely to earn more points.                                  7. Your balance To avoid falling, keep your stance low and your weight evenly distributed on the balls of your feet. However, in the event that you fall, just get up and continue as if nothing happened. Making a scene or muttering only prolongs the entire event and will not reflect well on you. It is best to just learn from the experience and move on.                                 8. Your approach Taekwondo is all about discipline and respect. The way you approach the ring says a lot about you. You should bow respectfully and approach with seriousness. The poomsae that you are going to perform should be uttered clearly and confidently.                                   9. Forgetting your movements You might have prepared and practiced several times but pressure and circumstances might cause you to go blank. It would be a good idea to enter as many competitions as you possibly can in order to help you control your nerves. Even taekwondo practitioners at international level had to go through the same thing and with enough experience were able to get over nerves. If you forget your moves half way, it would be courteous to stop, bow down and request to repeat the routine.                                  PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

Introduction To Patterns Patterns form a very important aspect of taekwondo training. In taekwondo, Poomses is another word for patterns or forms in WTF. A set pattern is composed of a series of defensive and attacking movements performed by students on their imaginary opponents. Through the practice of patterns, students are able to learn the various techniques in taekwondo and how to apply them. Patterns have a variety of roles in taekwondo which are all essential to the taekwondo student.   What Are Some Of The Patterns Used In W.T.F? W.T.F uses Poomsaes as patterns. Poomsaes originally came from a Chinese oracle known as I Ching. The I Ching consists of 64 hexagrams. The following are some of the Poomsaes in W.T.F and their meanings:   1. Taegeuk 1 (II Jang) This is the beginning of all Poomsaes and should be performed with the greatness of heaven.                                2. Taegeuk 2 (Ee Jang) This pattern represents the lake. Every lake has its own mysteries and treasures. The movements in these patterns should be performed with the students knowing that every man has their limitations. However, these limitations can easily be overcome. Once a person overcomes their limitations, they can enjoy that joyous feeling that they are in control of their own future.                                 3. Taegeuk 3 (Sam Jang) This pattern symbolizes fire. This is because fire has plenty of energy. Since time immemorial, fire has had a great impact on man by helping him to cook and to scare away wild animals. However, it has also brought with it catastrophes. This pattern should therefore be performed following a certain rhythm with few outbursts of energy.                                  4. Taegeuk 4 (Sah Jang) This pattern symbolizes thunder. The earth absorbs thunder that comes from the sky. Thunder, as we all know, is a very powerful force of nature and therefore, this pattern should be performed with this in mind.                                   5. Taegeuk 5 (Oh Jang) This form represents the wind. The wind is also another powerful force of nature and can sometimes be distrustful. The wind has been known to become so furious that it destroys everything in its path while at other times it has been known to be gentle. This form should be performed with this in mind. The students have to know how to be gentle and how to cause mass destruction with just a single movement.                                    6. Taegeuk 6 (Yook Jang) This form represents water; yet another powerful force of nature. Water has been known to move mountains. The movements in this form should be performed like water does. At one time water stands still while at other times it thrives like a river.                                     7. Taegeuk 7 (Chil Jang) This form represents the mountain. Regardless of the size, mountains will always look majestic. Thus when students perform the movements in this form, they should keep in mind that the movements have to be majestic and need to be praised.                                     8. Taegeuk 8 (Pal Jang) This form represents the earth. Yin is the trigram that is associated with this form. There is still some light even in darkness. Students performing this movements should know that it is the last of the Taegeuk.                                     9. Poomsae Koryo The name Koryo, represents an old Korean dynasty. The people of the Korean dynasty defeated the Mongolians during the Koryo period. The spirit of the Koryo people is reflected in the maneuvers associated with the Poomse Koryo. The movements in this form should reflect the strength and the energy that was used to control the Mongols.                                      10. Poomsae Keumgang Keumgang means diamond. The movements in this form should be as beautiful as the diamond and the Korean mountain (Keumgang-San).                                     PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

I.T.F has 24 patterns which represent 24 hours of the day. The names in these patterns usually refer to people in Korean history or to significant events in Korean history. The following are some of the patterns used in I.T.F.   1. Chon-Ji Tul This form means heaven and earth. It is interpreted as being the beginning of the world or as being the creation of the world. This therefore is the first pattern that a beginner learns in I.T.F.                                      2. Dan-Gul Tul This is a form that was named after the founder of Korea in 2333 B.C. His name was Holy Dan Gun.                                        3. Do-San Tul Ahn Chang Ho (1876-1938), is the pseudonym to Do-San. The 24 movements involved in this form are a representation of his entire life which he dedicated to independence movement in Korea as well as furthering education in the country.                                     4. Won-Hyo Tul This form is named after the Won-Hyo, the monk that introduced Buddhism to the Silla Dynasty in 686 AD.                                      5. Yul-Gok Tul Yul-Gok is the alias for Yi I, a great philosopher. He was also given the nickname "Confucius of Korea". The 38 movements involved in this form are a representation of his birth place.                                       6. Joon-Gun Tul This Pattern consists of 32 movements. This pattern is named after Ahn Joong Gun who is believed to have assassinated the first Japanese governor Hiro Bumi Ito. The 32 movements in this pattern represent the years that Joong Gun lived before he was executed in 1910 at Lui-Shing prison.                                       7. Toi-Gye Tul This pattern consists of 37 movements. It is named after the great neo-Confucian scholar, Yi Hwang. The movements represent where he was born.                                     PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

Introduction to Relaxation and Meditation In Taekwondo Relaxation and meditation in taekwondo helps us to improve our mental well being and to gain control over our stress levels. As mentioned earlier in the previous chapters, taekwondo borrows some techniques from other martial arts. For instance, it was discussed that some of the techniques used in self defense training may be borrowed from other kinds of martial arts such as Kung-Fu, Karate, etc.   Similarly, there are some mediation techniques which are common among martial arts practitioners. For instance, practitioners may choose to use tai chi, which is a form of meditation for Chinese martial arts. Regardless of which kind of meditation technique that a taekwondo practitioner chooses, each one of them has a significant role.                               PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE

There are many reasons as to why relaxation and meditation is used in taekwondo. However, many experts believe that this particular martial art does not really emphasize the use of meditation and relaxation. Regardless of the belief, the following are some of the reasons as to why relaxation and meditation is important in taekwondo:   1. It helps to improve sleep patterns Taekwondo involves a lot of physical activity. Students have to learn how to spar; they have to do strength training, among other things. Health experts believe that the brain is more active at night after an intense physical activity during the day. This might interfere with sleeping patterns and result in the student being moody and emotional the following day. Through meditation and relaxation, the student is able to relax the mind and have peaceful, regular sleep patterns.                                 2. Improves performance When preparing for a fight, the fighter has to be able to make clear judgment of their opponent without being guided by emotions. Taekwondo requires the fighter to respond quickly to their opponents attack or defense without wasting too much time. Through meditation and relaxation, the fighter is able to make correct judgments and improve their overall performance in the tournaments.   3. It helps in training In taekwondo there are many different patterns to learn and mastering them is not easy. It takes time and constant practice to be able to master each pattern. Many students may find themselves getting frustrated as they advance from one level to the next because the patterns become more complicated and difficult to properly execute. Frustration usually evokes our minds to "give up". With a relaxed and calm mind, a student will be able to practice, without giving up, until they can be able to perfect their technique.   4. Helps to deal with pain Pain is another factor that taekwondo students have to deal with. The pain of strength training, the pain of being hit, etc. are all some of the things that a taekwondo practitioner may face every day when they are training. Students are expected to work past the pain and maintain a conscious calculating mind. This is not something that is easy to achieve but with time, it becomes easy. PREVIOUS PAGE  |  NEXT PAGE