What you need to know before taking Taekwondo classes.

Taekwondo has become VERY popular over the last decade or so. It is the martial art that most kids go into and it is also an official Olympic sport! Those two reasons are enough to make it worth your while to want to train in it! But is it the right martial art for you? Or is it just a bunch of hype? Let's look into the history and see just exactly what taekwondo really is : Taekwondo (also spelled tae kwon do or taekwon-do) is a martial art originating in Korea. An amalgamation of Chinese, Japanese, and traditional Korean fighting styles, taekwondo has become the world's most commonly practiced martial art, and is the national sport of Korea...

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How to tie your Taekwondo Belt

It is very important for Taekwondo students to know "How to tie Taekwondo belt" properly. Taekwondo students should have pride and respect for their Dobok(suit) as they have for all areas of Taekwondo. How to tie Taekwondo belt: If you have to wrap your belt around your waist more than once,then follow the diagrams from start to finish. If your belt only needs to go around your waist once, start at diagram 5 to the end. Finally......

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The Taekwondo Belt Ranking System

There are traditionally ten color belt levels. They are called gup (or kup) ranks. The nine black belt levels are called degree or dan ranks. Each color of belt, namely white, yellow, green, blue, red, black, have a particular meaning. For example, white signifies innocence; it signifies the student who is just starting with no previous knowledge of taekwondo. The International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) uses a system of 10 kup ranks and nine dan ranks. The colour belt ranks run from 10th kup to 1st kup. The black belt ranks run from 1st dan to 9th dan. The 1st to 3rd dan have the title of Assistant Instructor (Boo-Sabum). The 4th...

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The Strategic Science In Taekwondo Sparring

Looking from the outside, taekwondo sparring may look like random kicks and punches thrown ruthlessly with the objective of injuring the opponent. But from the inside, a sparring match is like a chess game. In chess, you cannot win a game by unthinkingly moving around the pieces anymore than one could win a sparring match by involuntarily throwing techniques. Strategy. The prerequisite to chess as well as to taekwondo sparring! Taekondo sparring strategy comes in two main forms: Macro or Overall Strategy. Macro strategy is composed of overall and generalized aspects about any sparring match that will make you spar one person one way...

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What Is Taekwondo Class Got to Do With It ?

The ultimate goal of every taekwondo class is to input the teachings and principles behind taekwondo. Not to mention, realizing every students’ dream of having that black belt. How do taekwondo classes go about teaching the sport? Some merely require the display of techniques learned since last testing. Others mandate the testing of cumulative knowledge. Testing might necessitate performance in sparring, self defense or do the taegeuk movement own their own time. Some schools test the students on their staying power, requiring many physical activities over prolonged periods of time. Image by A. Dawson via Flickr The amount of time and level...

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