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What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is an ancient form of Martial Arts (unarmed
combat) practiced for many centuries in the Orient, and
came to be perfected in its present form in Korea. It is
not only an effective, weaponless art of self-defense, but
also a competitive sport and a good method of maintaining
all-round fitness.
Taekwondo is famous not only for
it's highly skilled leg techniques but for it's speed and
tremendous power, as seen in demonstrations.
There are basically two styles of Taekwondo, namely ITF
and WTF i.e. International Taekwondo Federation and World
Taekwondo Federation respectively.
ITF-Taekwondo is a more traditional style, whereas
WTF-Taekwondo has a stronger emphasis on competitive
sparring and is the style you commonly see in the
Olympics.
We practice ITF- Taekwondo, as originally developed in Korea in 1955
by General Choi Hong Hi.
Irrespective of the particular style of Taekwondo
practiced, you will find that there are four common
disciplines that when combined form the art. These
disciplines are Patterns, Sparring, Self-Defense and
Destruction (a.k.a. breaking techniques).
The Tenets of Taekwondo
At the very heart of Taekwondo are the five Tenets,
which help to provide a sort of code of ethics. The
five Tenets of Taekwondo are:
- Courtesy (Ye Ui). To be thoughtful and considerate of others.
Taekwondo students should be polite, and show consideration for others.
- Integrity (Yom Chi). Integrity describes how you should interact with others.
To be honest and good, earn respect and trust.
- Perseverance (In Nae). This basically stands for your internal drive.
Challenges allow us to improve ourselves and should therefore not be avoided.
- Self control (Guk Ki). To have control of your body and mind.
A Taekwondo student should practice controlling his actions and reactions.
- Indomitable spirit (Baekjool Boolgool).
To have courage in the face of adversity. A Taekwondo student should never be dominated by, or have his spirit broken by another.
What can Taekwondo offer you?
Whether you're a young 6 year old, or a more mature 60+
year old there is no doubt you can benefit from regular
training in Taekwondo.
If you are looking to increase your fitness level,
improve flexibility, or build a more healthier and toned
body then Taekwondo is definitely for you. We
provide training that has been scientifically designed to
help you get fit, supple, and stay naturally toned.
No matter if you're an experienced Martial Artist
or complete novice, you'll find we have something to offer
you. From performing patterns (a set sequence of
techniques), and sparring (sort of pretend
fighting...wearing protective pads) to self-defense and
breaking techniques (amaze your friends by breaking pieces
of wood!)
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