Why Choose Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. The name translates as ‘The Way of Hand and Foot’, and it is practiced widely all over the world as an art and as a sport.
Barnet Taekwondo Club is a full member of Chungdokwan GB. Chungdokwan is one of the original schools (kwans) of Taekwondo set up in Korea just after World War II. Through its membership of Chungdokwan GB, Barnet Taekwondo Club is also affiliated to the World Taekwondo Federation and Sport England. The club instructors have professional indemnity and public liability insurance through the British Taekwondo Council, who provide instructor training and CRB checks.
There are many advantages to Taekwondo training. No matter your starting point, it will improve your physical fitness and strength. Great emphasis is placed on stretching and flexibility, and you will find that you become increasingly supple as you train. You will gain physical skills and knowledge of self defence techniques. Beyond that, Taekwondo training develops self confidence and respect for self and others.
The fundamental principles underpinning the practice of Taekwondo are the five tenets: etiquette, modesty, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit. Cultivating these qualities and exploring their meanings are an invaluable part of achieving success in Taekwondo.
Taekwondo has several main elements. Patterns (poomse) are series of movements that allow the development and practice of good technique and focus. Sparring, the sport element of Taekwondo, allows practitioners to test themselves and their techniques against their opponents, whether in practice bouts in class or in formal competition. Destruction, i.e. the breaking of boards and other objects, is perhaps the showiest element of Taekwondo in appearance, but requires absolute precision and focus to be successful. Lastly, Taekwondo is also a method of self defence, and at Barnet Taekwondo we spend time on ‘street-style’ fighting and self defence techniques as well as more formal or sports-focused styles.
It is important to become a well-rounded martial artist, and so training sessions and gradings incorporate all of these elements. However, one of the advantages of Taekwondo is that you can follow your individual interests and talents, whether these lead to you concentrate on the traditional skills or on the more competitive sporting elements.
Barnet Taekwondo Club provides a fun atmosphere in which you can discover and develop your skills.
