What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is an ancient Korean form of martial art developed 2,000 years ago as a form of unarmed self-defense. Literally translated – “Tae” refers to foot or kicking, “Kwon” indicates hand or striking, and “Do” means art or method.
The philosophy behind Taekwondo is that the practitioner should be able to stop an attacker immediately with one well-focused punch, strike, or kick to a vital area. This philosophy is clearly evident when observing a demonstration of Taekwondo. The power and spirit that is generated is awesome. A Taekwondo practitioner can maintain his or her peace of mind by having confidence in themselves without fear.
What is the difference between Taekwondo and other martial arts?
The various styles of martial arts are often compared by their use of “hard” or “soft” techniques. Taekwondo is a combination of “hard” and “soft”, which utilizes more kicking and less violent techniques than other martial arts. By comparison, Kung Fu is a “soft” style, while Karate is a “hard” style.
Taekwondo is the only martial art that is an official Olympic medal sport, other than Judo, which makes it a more elite martial art among others. It is the most widely practiced martial art in the world and is one of the easiest and safest to learn.
Any martial art can work for you; however, the quality of instruction is far more important than “which style”. The instructor’s attitude, facilities, and atmosphere should all be considered in your process of school selection.
Who can take Taekwondo lessons?
Just about anyone! At KTA, you will find an age range from 5-year-old children to adults well into their 60s! Your age and your physical make-up are not a factor at KTA since we work with each individual according to his or her pace and ability.
Why study Taekwondo?
Although self-defense is the reason many people study Taekwondo, there are numerous other reasons: fitness, confidence, self-respect, self-discipline, easing tension, and relieving pressure. Whatever reasons one primarily studies Taekwondo, he or she soon becomes aware of many benefits of the training, both expected and unexpected. Taekwondo students feel healthy and physically fit and they are confident that they are learning to defend themselves. This quiet confidence filters through to all phases of their daily lives. As they progress in Taekwondo, students acquire a greater respect for themselves and for others.
Why learn self-defense?
A study of daily news will answer that question. The fact is, there is an assault every 90 seconds in the United States! Hopefully, you will not be the next victim, but isn’t it better to be prepared to cope with a situation if it does arrive?
