Tae kwon do is a martial art and combat sport originating in Korea. It aims to achieve modesty, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit. Through devoted training one can gradually attain mental and physical fitness. By practicing and repeating each step to perfection, we become more patient. Self-confidence is attained through the power of one’s body and the knowledge of how to use it at any place and in any situation. Sparring helps us build humility, courage, alertness, and accuracy and develops self-control. By doing patterns, we increase our flexibility, grace, balance and co-ordination. Through discipline and interaction with others, we learn co-operation and mutual respect. Prejudices are not welcome and we soon learn that racial barriers only stand in the way of our training. Along with developing a healthier, leaner and more flexible body, we also increase endurance through a typical training regime. The health-related effects of training are numerous.

Taekwondo has been under constant evolution for over several thousand years. However, it was not until the 1950s that Taekwondo was standardized and organized by Gen Choi Hong Hi and the sport was brought outside the Korean borders, at first to Vietnam and the US, and later to the rest of the world. Today, Taekwondo is organized in three international federations: the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), with headquarters in Seoul, Korea; the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF), with headquarters in Austria; and the Global Taekwondo Federation (GTF) with headquarters in Korea. Taekwondo has recently been declared an official Olympic sport with the first competitions held during the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in 2000

Tae Kwon Do is a Korean Martial Art. It means The Way of the Hand and Foot. There are four pillars to the art: Toning, Sparring, Forms, and Self Defense.

Tae Kwon Do encompasses muscle toning, stretching and flexibility, increasing strength and stamina through aerobic sparring, and mental challenges through becoming proficient at the patterns or forms.

Most classes start out with warm-ups. These exercises are the calisthenics such as push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, trunk rotations, squat kicks and various stretches. Just the warm-up exercises alone will give you a good workout. Progress is usually quick. Tae Kwon Do will definitely help you to become or to stay limber.

Sparring is fighting in a controlled environment. All participants wear protective gear: helmet, gloves, shin guards and feet guards. Usually you will spar in three minute rounds. Then a minute rest; switch partners, then spar again and repeat. Jab, punch, upper cut, side kick, reverse punch, round house, hammer fist, bob and weave and repeat. It’s an excellent aerobic exercise.

Learning the forms or patterns can be a mental exercise as well as physical. Many of the forms have over 26 different movements. It’s up to you to remember them, in order, and learn them proficiently. In theory, by learning the forms, it’ll help you to become a better fighter. The patterns are complex. If you master forms, when it comes time to spar, you can implement some of these patterns into your match.

Many people enjoy Tae Kwon Do because it is an all inclusive exercise program. It’s fun, it’s challenging, and it’s an excellent way to stay in shape. As with any exercise program, start slowly have fun. If you haven’t participated in much physical exercise in a while, your muscles will definitely be very sore for the first few weeks. Don’t be intimidated by the other students may appear to be in better shape than you.

Remember this, Everyone started out as a white belt. The key is to have a blast and continue to progress. One day a newbie will be looking up to you!