Taekwondo

Taekwondo (also spelled Tae Kwon Do or Taekwon-Do) is the most popular of the Korean martial arts. It is also one of the world's most commonly practiced sports. The World Taekwondo Federation's form of Taekwondo is currently an Olympic sport.

Features

List of Taekwondo Techniques by Belt

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taekwondo is famed for its employment of kicking techniques, which distinguishes it from martial arts such as Karate or certain southern styles of Kung Fu. The rationale is that the leg is the longest and strongest weapon a martial artist has, and kicks thus have the greatest potential to strike without retaliation.

Related Topics:
Karate - Kung Fu

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taekwondo as a sport and exercise is popular with people of both sexes and of many ages. Physically, Taekwondo develops strength, speed, balance, flexibility, and stamina. An example of the union of mental and physical discipline is the breaking of boards, which requires both physical mastery of the technique and the concentration to focus one's strength.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The five tenets of Taekwondo (courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control, indomitable spirit) reflect that Taekwondo is a mental discipline as well as a physical one. Taekwondo helps students develop improved awareness, confidence, focus, discipline, memory, and respect. Some schools even have student creeds or oaths that describe Taekwondo's goals for personal improvement.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although each Taekwondo club or school will be different, a Taekwondo student can typically expect to take part in most or all of the following:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Learning the techniques and curriculum of Taekwondo
• An aerobic workout, including stretching
• Self-defense techniques
• Poomse, or patterns -- either tuls, hyungs, palgwes, or tae geuks
• Sparring, including step-sparring and/or free-style
• Relaxation exercises
• Breaking (using techniques to break boards for martial arts demonstrations)
• Regular exams to progress to the next rank
• A focus on discipline, honor, etiquette, respect, and self confidence.

Some Taekwondo instructors also incorporate the use of pressure points as well as self-defense techniques borrowed from other Korean arts, such as Hapkido and Yudo.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~