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Taekwondo Tournaments Are Not Martial Arts

November 27th, 2011
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Contrary to popular belief, taekwondo tournaments are not martial arts. Tournaments are considered as sport. Taekwondo tournaments are no different from any other sport that athletes participate into.

People engage in sports not only for the awards that they bring but also for the physical and mental aspects that goes with it. Taekwondo tournaments are no different.

These tournaments are encouraged because they bring people together on a regular basis. They allow long-standing friendships to develop and they encourage camaraderie and trust within the schools or countries competing.

They are also the ultimate step in developing self-confidence and confronting weaknesses. For others, they act as displays that feature the technical skills and mastery of taekwondo.

Many black belts travel all over the world competing and promoting taekwondo with some of the senior instructors being prominent officials in world tournaments.

Taekwondo tournaments allow all ages and sexes to compete safely. Strict rules and experienced officials insure that the true spirit of taekwondo is adhered to at all times.

Who can compete in taekwondo tournaments?

Children

Children are drawn to taekwondo because of the exciting tournaments, the fun they get while exercising, and the dream of one day becoming a blackbelt.

There are a lot of children who are being bullied and whose confidence is low, thus making their life miserable. Many parents can attest that their children?s life drastically changed upon participating in one.

They begin to feel part of a group whose first rule is to be courteous to each other and stand by one another and never pick on the weak. These are the children who usually go on to become true taekwondo blackbelts.

With taekwondo comes the confidence in believing in yourself and having a positive frame of mind. Even the children?s school performance has improved since starting training.

The best time to learn about Taekwondo is before you’re in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable Taekwondo experience while it’s still free.

Women

Many women are afraid of walking alone and feel they need to be fit in order to defend themselves. Some women have been in the position of being attacked, or in a threatening situation, at one point in life. This gives them a feeling of no confidence.

At this point they feel the need to change their outlook and they finally do something about it.
Some women love the challenge, especially of out-performing the men. Taekwondo gives them the chance to become a top class athlete once they get to the level of competing in Taekwondo tournaments.

Mature Students

Taekwondo offers physical and mental fitness to students who benefit with the fitness program and the relaxation of healthy exercise.

Many school offers a syllabus that encourages those who are over 40 years of age. With the proper training, they even get promoted to blackbelt and take part in taekwondo tournaments around the world.

Handicapped

The deaf and hard of hearing are actually very good at taekwondo as there is no verbal distraction. Taekwondo gives them an equal place beside their contemporaries. Dyslexic students have had international tournament success.

Ethnic minorities

It can be noted that taekwondo was founded by General Choi Hong Hi to bring people of all cultures together.

This is most certainly achieved as taekwondo is being practiced in more than 100 countries already. In the 1994 World Championships alone, 70 countries competed in the taekwondo tournament.

Where else can you get the chance to practice your craft, travel, visit other cultures and make friends than by participating in taekwondo tournaments.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his soon to be top ranked Perpetual20 training site: Perpetual 20

Taekwondo

The Taekwondo Belt Ranking System

November 26th, 2011
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Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Taekwondo? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Taekwondo.

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 whgo 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 to 6th are have the title Instructor (Sabum).

7th and 8th are Master (Sahyun).

And the 9th degree as the Grand Master (Saseong).

The first Grand Master was General Choi Hong Hi, the founder of Taekwon-Do. The second Grand Master was Rhee Ki Ha, who was promoted to 9th dan by General Choi at the 1997 World Championships in Russia.

At present, there are probably about 20 Grand Masters.

According to General Choi, the reason for nine black belt degrees, is that the number three is a powerful number in the orient. For that reason, three threes must be the most powerful.

It can be noted that the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) has 10 dan grades instead of nine.
The traditional belt colors recognized by the Kukkiwon (headquarters of the World Taekwondo Federation) are white, yellow, green, blue, and red.

The information about Taekwondo presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Taekwondo or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Between solid colors, a central stripe down the middle of the belt reflecting the next full belt color is added to indicate progress in Gup level. For instance, from white the next belt would be white with a yellow stripe.

Some schools instead place a “tip” or belt-end stripe of the next color on a student’s belt to signify a rise in rank.

Other schools opt for two-tone belts, reflecting both the lower rank and the next rank. For example, between the white belt and the yellow belt would be a belt half white, half yellow.

Some schools opt to use a solid color alternative instead of stripes. A common belt-color scheme is: white, yellow, gold, orange, green, purple, blue, brown, red.

There is no standardization in belt colors in the United States or elsewhere.

In Australia, many schools use white, yellow, blue, red and black. In these schools progression through gup levels is signified by white stripes near the tip if the belt, so white or yellow I, yellow II & III, blue I, II & III, red I, II & III, then red belt with black tip for Cho Dan Bo (sort of black belt in-training) and black for Cho Dan (1st Dan).

Another system in use in Australia is White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Brown, Black, with intermediate kups/gups being indicated by a stripe of the higher color. This is usually 1/4 to 1/2 inches wide and is going across the belt, close to one of the end.

This is usually called a ‘tip’. For example, 3rd kup is blue belt, brown tip.

Rank advancement records are kept by the school of origin and often by the style’s association headquarters.

Black Belt ranks are recognized as:

1st – 3rd, Instructor.

4th – 6th, Master.

7th – 9th, Grand Master.

In the past, tenth dan has been reserved as a posthumous award. But in recent years it has seen presentation to a few living, Korean recipients.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit his Perpetual20 training site for great bonuses: Perpetual20

Taekwondo

The Evolution of American Taekwondo Association

November 24th, 2011
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The American Taekwondo Association (ATA) is the first North American organization dedicated to the martial arts discipline of taekwondo. It is also the founding organization of other international affiliates that include the World Traditional Taekwondo Union (WTTU) and the Songahm Taekwondo Federation (STF).

In 1980, the American Taekwondo Association became the first martial arts organization to launch a centralized computer record keeping system. This innovation enabled the organization to maintain rank histories and other important information about the thousands of its members.

The history of the ATA was set on a new and unique course in 1983 when, at a Certified Instructor Camp in Little Rock, Eternal Grand Master introduced the Songahm system of Taekwondo.

The Songahm system represented the culmination of years of study by Eternal Grand Master Lee. The ATA had used the Chang Hun Taekwondo forms since 1969 — and the “Pinan” forms prior to that — but he had noticed something missing in the forms.

That same year, the American Taekwondo Association began publishing a tabloid entitled “ATA News” which has evolved into the international magazine ?The Way of Taekwondo?, published quarterly to keep Taekwondo students informed about upcoming events, appraised of new programs and knowledge about the physical and mental aspects of Taekwondo.

Today, the association already has over 1,500 licensed schools and clubs.

Although the first class was taught years ago, the focus of the program is still the same up to now. That is to provide students the highest quality martial arts training available in a safe and encouraging learning environment that people of all ages can relate and take pleasure in.

Instructors and trainers combine excellent student instructor ratios with modern training facilities. This has helped establish the American Taekwondo Association schools and clubs as the leaders in the martial arts industry.

Each instructor is a graduate of an instructor program and has undergone more than thirty years of research and development. These instructors are beside the students all the time to guide them into reaching their individual goals.

The programs.

Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Taekwondo? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

There are several programs to cater to a variety of purpose, ranging from basic martial arts, self-defense, esteem and life skills building, etc.

Over the years, the American Taekwondo Association has come to realize that there are many reasons for studying Songahm Taekwondo.

The people behind this have worked long and hard to develop programs that will help realize these goals rather than forcing the students into one, linear area of study and practice.

The Taekwondo martial art itself is always evolving. That is why there is a continuous need to develop new programs and update the existing programs to ensure that students have as much access to the different aspects of Taekwondo as possible.

Some of the programs being offered are:

1. Black Belt Academy. This is dedicated to enhancing your physical capabilities and maximizing your self-defense skills

2. Karate for Kids. A comprehensive Taekwondo instruction for students who are wanted to start at a young age.

3. Tiny Tigers. This program is developed specifically for preschool age children ages 2 to 6.

4. Protech Training. The more advanced martial arts training. This program includes training in weapons and highly specialized self-defense tactics.

From its humble beginning, the American Taekwondo Association and its affiliated organizations is beginning to register over 300,000 members worldwide, including 53,000 black belts and 3,000 certified instructors.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Taekwondo

There is More to a Taekwondo School Than Meets the Eye

November 20th, 2011
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When choosing the Taekwondo school that is right for you, you have to look at important things that will serve as your basis for deciding on one.

1. The environment you will be learning and training.

Do not be impressed by how big the school is. Size does not matter as long as you feel comfortable in there.

Also, do not be amazed by large number of trophies. Although they may indicate a very successful and competitive Taekwondo school, they could also just be showing off. Check carefully first.

You may not want to invest your time and money in a school that do not allow you to watch their classes. Without seeing a class, you will not be able to get a good feel for the school.

Do not be afraid to ask questions. Forget about looking stupid or asking the wrong questions. They are going to be teaching and training you and you may want to get any concerns or considerations you have out before you commit to anything.

Look for another Taekwondo school if you feel bullied or threatened in any manner in the school you are in.

2. The people that will become your partners.

Try to watch some classes without participating and then ask to participate. See if the behavior of the students changes by the fact that there is a new person in their class.

What follows is a quick checklist, to which you can add your own points, based on what you consider important.

Looking up these things will give you a solid ground to choose from:

Are the students good?

This is a measure of the quality of the students and their primary skill at martial arts. Picture yourself with these people. Are they attentive, respectful and interested in being there? If yes, then they are definitely good signs.

The information about Taekwondo presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Taekwondo or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Is there a combination of upper and lower ranks?

This is not obvious without belt rankings, etc. It is usually a good sign if advanced, intermediate and beginning students are practicing together.

Check the approach of the higher ranked students. Their help will probably be very important in your advancement in the Art you choose.

There are some Taekwondo schools that have classes separated by rank though. So better inquire.

3. The instructor.

You need to have some basic trust in the individual when you have just begun.

The instructor is the person who is going to be guiding your development as a martial artist. You need to feel comfortable with him or her, and feel secure in receiving instruction from them.

Do the students get personalized attention?

This will be a good judge of how valuable your time will be. If there is a good amount of instructor to student attention there will be more value for you.

4. The logistics of the school.

The best way to determine if a Taekwondo school is being reasonable is to compare what they offer for their prices.

Find out if there are extra charges for going up in rank, find out if there are organizational dues, tournament fees, mat fees, etc.

There may be other considerations you want to look at and specific questions you have about an instructor, school, organization, or style you are looking at.

Find out the questions you want answered and you will find the perfect Taekwondo school for you.

That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

About the Author
About the Author By Janet Matthews, feel free to visit her site on how to manage Student Loan Debt

Taekwondo

Tae Kwon Do Hall of Fame Relived

November 7th, 2011
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Most experts believe that up to this day, there has been no one who can match Mike Warren in the sport of tae kwon do. He was known for his speed and his outstanding kicking combinations. His ring generalship has placed him in the same category as Mohammed Ali. During the year 1973, he gave his audience a shock when he was at the first World Tae kwon do Championships in Korea. Until now, it has been considered the best thing the audiences have seen. Some people even call him a genius.

Joe Hayes is another person who shook the whole world with this stunning skill in tae kwon do. He has mirrored the skills of Joseph Hayes. He won second place in the 1st World Taekwondo Championships held in Korea in 1973. He has dominated the competition in the whole North America continent during the 60?s and the 70?s. He has been known for his reverse punch which up to know is still talked about by many people. It was unstoppable and unforgettable to this moment. His aerial kicks during the fight were astonishing too. His devastating kicks left the audiences amazed and stunned.

During the late 70′s, a major television program in America aired a slow motion clip of Joe Hayes in mid-flight spinning which they compared to the clip of the legendary ballet dancer Rudolph Nureiev, which was also done in mid-flight. In fact, Bruce Lee even admired Joe Hayes skills?, which resulted to his being inducted into the 1972 Black Belt Hall of Fame.

Who does not know Albert Cheeks? When talking about the greatest tournament competitors, his name is really popular and it will be the first to come to other people?s mind. Cheeks is the senior black belt of the famous and the late Ki Whang Kim who has dominated the heavey-weight division and has won the overall grand championship in the numerous events of the past years.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Taekwondo story from informed sources.

Along with the other players? Mike Warren and Joseph Hayes, he competed with the team that won the overall silver medal at the championships in Korea.

Skipper Mullins was considered a good kicker. Although a lot of people think that Mike Warren was the greatest kicker, Mullins was believed to sit right next to him and he was called the kicker when there were no kickers. and he was also known as the original kicker.

Skipper fought occasionally on the East Coast and he has dominated the competition throughout Texas and also the Southwest in the early 60?s and 70?s. he was also rated regularly as the part of the top ten in U.S. he was also selected to be one of the top ten fighters for all season. It was proved in the Survey at the Belt Black Magazine in 1987. He then was also inducted to be in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Without these champions, tae kwon do would not have been known all over the world. They have worked hard for every training they underwent to they just make themselves worthy to be included in the tae kwon do hall of fame. They will always be admired and remembered by many people and enthusiasts. They have contributed a lot and their success should be passed on so that tae kwon do hall of fame will not only be history.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Taekwondo

World Taekwondo Federation – Keeping the Tradition Alive

November 2nd, 2011
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The best course of action to take sometimes isn’t clear until you’ve listed and considered your alternatives. The following paragraphs should help clue you in to what the experts think is significant.

The purpose of organizing the World Taekwondo Federation is to circulate and regulate Taekwondo along with its traditional Taekwondo spirit throughout the world.

The Federation seeks to recognize the ideals, “Swiftly, Powerfully and Accurately” through the medium of Taekwondo competition being held around the world.

The World Taekwondo Federation promotes the principles that the Kukkiwon, or the center of traditional Taekwondo, has to be adopted in respect to Taekwondo philosophy, development of techniques and Dan certification.

Organization and membership.

World Taekwondo Federation membership consists of National Taekwondo Associations representing their respective nations or self-governing territories with the recognition of the federation.

The approval of the Executive Council and the General Assembly of the federation is required for one to be accepted as a member. The National Association applying for the membership of the World Taekwondo Federation are required to present their designated application documents together with a letter of recognition from the pertinent National Olympic Committee.

In addition to that, they are also required to hand over a letter that pledges to send out at least three or more competitors to the World Taekwondo Championships and the World Junior Taekwondo Championships.

After all the requirements are met and accepted, the applicants are admitted as provisional members until their admittance are finally approved. Provisional members have no voting right though, but are able to participate in all international Taekwondo competitions approved or promoted by the World Taekwondo Federation.

The federation shall approve only one association for each nation or each self-governing territory on the condition that its NOC having recognition from the IOC has recognized the association.

All the affiliated member National Associations and regional organizations shall represent their respective statutes strictly in compliance with the principles of the federation Rules and Regulations so as not to break any provisions that may be stated.

If you don’t have accurate details regarding Taekwondo, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don’t let that happen: keep reading.

Any member of the National Association may withdraw its membership from the World Taekwondo Federation.

All members are obligated to send out at least three or more competitors to the World Taekwondo Championships and the World Junior Taekwondo Championships.

The membership status of those who do not take part in those competitions for two consecutive years without justifiable reasons including natural calamities are set to be demoted as provisional members.

The demoted members will no longer be able to exercise voting rights in official meetings, though they still retain the right to compete in all official competitions of the federation.

But their full membership status can be restored when they present a document to the World Taekwondo Federation confirming their impending participation in one of the two Championships together with a letter pledging to dispatch at least three or more competitors to the both Championships in the days to come.

Headquarters and official language.

The headquarters of the World Taekwondo Federation is be located permanently in Seoul, Korea.

The official languages are English, French, German, Spanish and Korean.

In case of disagreement over interpretation or translation, the English language version shall prevail. But in case of disagreement over interpretation of technical matters of Taekwondo, the Korean original version will be the one to prevail.

The members of the World Taekwondo Federation have the right to speak their mother language or any language they are comfortable with. But then, their speech should be translated to the five official languages in behalf of the other members.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, proud owner of this top ranked web hosting reseller site: GVO

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is Not Taekwondo Without Its Kicks

October 28th, 2011
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In today’s world, it seems that almost any topic is open for debate. While I was gathering facts for this article, I was quite surprised to find some of the issues I thought were settled are actually still being openly discussed.

You have probably heard this over and over again but you are going to hear it again now? Taekwondo is known for its kicks.

The kicks used in Taekwondo sparring are more striking than in any other martial art. Even though the kicks in poomse are simpler than the ones used in sparring, they can be equally as impressive if executed properly.

Also, a good, solid front kick is more impressive than an impromptu tornado or double roundhouse kick.
What is it that makes a great taekwondo kick?

1. Balance

Balance may not be seem as obvious as you think. And balance is more than just not ending up on the floor. It is a matter of fluidity, of gracefulness, of naturalness.

With a properly balanced kick, the supporting foot does not wobble, the hands do not flail about, and the athlete does not rush to complete the kick.

Also, the athlete begins and ends the technique in the proper stances without having to correct the stances to accommodate the kick.

Practice moving within your stances. When you feel comfortable doing simple things within your stances, you should try to kick from one stance into another.

2. Proper form

Having proper form is a requirement to having a beautiful kick. Proper form may be defined as the correct positions to which the entire body enters as it performs a kick from start to finish.

It is wise to talk with your instructor or other certified professional martial artist to learn the more articulate details of proper form. They will have the answers to any questions that you may have.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and Taekwondo experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Taekwondo.

3. Control

The kick in Taekwondo is not supposed to be like that of a whip. It does not have to be so fast that it cannot be seen.

Instead, the kick is to be relished and beheld as the single most attractive feature of Taekwondo.
It is therefore necessary to control the kick. Controlling the kick involves the ability to freeze the kick for a split second at full extension.

This ?freeze? is the life of the kick. It is the most memorable and beautiful part of the kick. Controlling the kick is not that easy though. Usually it involves much concentration and many years of practice.

Form is a must to both control and power. If you are not sure that you are doing the kick with proper form yet, keep working on the form part before you begin working on the control part.

Control takes some muscle development and patience, but it is well worth all the effort in the end.

4. Power

Nothing is worse than seeing someone perform a kick with great form, balance, and control, but with no power.

If this is the case, that person is better off as ballet dancer than a taekwondo practitioner. There is no such thing as an excellent kick that has no power.

Take note that proper form is needed to achieve control. And control is the factor that leads to power.

Bear in mind also that if you try to develop power without mastering the proper control first, it may result to permanent damage to your joints. So be very careful.

The process for developing power in a taekwondo kick is very similar to developing control in that same kick.

About the Author
Charles Smith is an immigration law researcher. If you are looking for professional immigration services in the San Diego area, feel free to visit this San Diego immigration lawyer website. You can get help for green cards, deportation, marriage visas, and citizenship.

Taekwondo

The Most Common Tae kwon Do Gear

October 27th, 2011
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The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

If you want to do tae kwon do, you need to have the right gear for the sports. You should not go out on a practice unprotected because it can cause you serious injuries and even fractures in the different parts of your body.

The lightweight double mouth guard is a tae kwon do gear that provides extra cushion that helps in protecting the upper and lower teeth. There are instructions to follow in order to wear the mouth guard properly. This is helpful so you will no break any of your teeth and help you look nice.

The face cage is a tae kwon do gear that reduces the risk of having a black eye or a broken nose. This is a very important gear that will save your face from getting damaged and crushed. This covers the face with a plastic cage. This is made up of a shock-reducing foam which has a soft vinyl cover to have a comfortable feeling. It has a hook and a loop closure on the back and it also has an elastic band on the top in order to help you ensure a comfortable fit.

The competition head guard provides protection and coverage for the top and the back sides of your head including your forehead. It is well ventilated on the top and it also provides comfort at the sides and at the back.

The full leather headguard helps you go out in full contact. This will make you feel safe during a practice and it makes you feel confident because of the full protection that it gives. It is all in your mind so make sure that you take extra care of it like the rest of your body parts. This is an adjustable head guard, which provides a perfect fit and feel.

The information about Taekwondo presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Taekwondo or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

Of course, you need your forearm and fist protected. Forearm pads protect the knuckles to the elbows and the padding, which is over your fist. It has an elastic sleeve to provide you a secure fit. You may notice the open palm allows techniques like grappling. It is important that you keep you hand and wrist protected because you use it more often than any other part of your body.

If you are in a practice or a competition, you need a tiger balm in order to soothe pains that you got from the training. You need to bring it with you all the time. This is essential, you can just rub it on the affected part, and later you will fell it gently releasing that pain you have inside your body. There are tiger balms that are non-staining, which is advantageous when it comes to comfort.

The Dit Da Jow is also a deep penetrating ointment that you can use after a competition or a practice. You can apply this to all the bruise injuries that you got from the training.

There are also tae kwon do gears that help you strengthen your body and your system. These are essential in helping you feel good in every session or competition. These tae kwon do gears help you keep up with a good practice and will keep you body in good condition and in good mood.

Now that you know the different types of tae kwon do gear, decide which you will be needing first.

Is there really any information about Taekwondo that is nonessential? We all see things from different angles, so something relatively insignificant to one may be crucial to another.

About the Author
By Odell Tankersley, feel free to visit this Send Out Cards affiliate site: sendoutcards

Taekwondo

The Strategic Science In Taekwondo Sparring

October 16th, 2011
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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 and another person another way.

There are several things that will affect your macro strategy:

1. The setting or main goal of the match.

If you are sparring someone who is taking his or her belt exam or if you are sparring in a tournament, your main purpose and strategy for sparring will be different.

Before you spar, ask yourself, ?What is my goal? What do I wish to accomplish in this match??

2. Your own personal strengths and weaknesses.

These are very important factors affecting how you spar. If you feel really comfortable with turning back kick, and not with turning hook kick, then you should stick with the turning back kick.

You are likely score if you use a technique with which you are very comfortable.

3. You and your partner?s contradictory physical attributes.

These will greatly define the way in which you spar your partner. You should know which strategy to use to your advantage.

Micro or Exchange Strategy.

If you base what you do on inaccurate information, you might be unpleasantly surprised by the consequences. Make sure you get the whole Taekwondo story from informed sources.

Micro strategy is the strategy that is used for dealing with each of the tiny exchanges that make up a sparring match.

Types of micro strategy are:

1. Open Stance and Closed Stance:

When two people spar each other, each person is in a particular sparring stance: either left foot lead or right foot lead.

When both competitors have the same lead, this is known as closed stance.

If both competitors have different, it is called open stance.

The stances you choose determine which techniques that you can use against your partner to get a clear shot. The whole idea of sparring is to strike your partner where he or she is open.

When attacking or counter-attacking, you must be aware of the stance in which you are fighting. If you ignore the stance, then your attack or counter-attack will be ineffective.

2. The attack.

In an Olympic-style taekwondo sparring, you will have noticed that the competitors? average sparring distance from each other is out of range for any technique to successfully land on either partner.

The whole idea of attacking is to close the distance between you and your partner so that you will be close enough to land a technique.

The most effective attack relies heavily upon footwork and faking and not just mere kicks.

3. The counter-attack.

Most of all points scored in taekwondo competition come from the counter-attacks executed.

The idea of the counter-attack is to surpass your partner?s attack. In other words, you want your counter-attack to be superior to and more devastating than your partner?s attack.

If your partner lands a technique on you, it is imperative that it is immediately counter-attacked with several more devastating techniques.

This way, you will be awarded the point.

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By Bibi Apampa, feel free to visit her top ranked site on how to Retire Rich and Retire Happy at Retire Rich / Retire Happy

Taekwondo

Deciphering Taekwondo

September 28th, 2011
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What is taekwondo?

Taekwondo is a modern martial art, known for its fast, high and spinning kicks.
People have many different interpretations of the name taekwondo. But taekwondo is often interpreted as ‘the way of hand and foot’.

What is the origin of the word ?taekwondo??

The sport had been founded in Korea and is now one of the more popular modern martial arts.

What is taekwondo famous for?

Taekwondo is famed for the use of kicking techniques. These techniques are the ones that distinguish it from other forms of martial arts such as karate or certain southern styles of Kung Fu.

The basis is that the leg is the longest and strongest weapon a martial artist has, and kicks therefore have the greatest potential to strike without retaliation.

Taekwondo as a sport and exercise is very popular among both sexes and of many ages. Physically, taekwondo builds up strength, speed, balance, flexibility, and stamina.

Both physical mastery of the technique and the concentration is essential to be able to focus on one’s strength. An example of this union of mental and physical discipline is the breaking of boards.

Courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit are the five tenets of taekwondo. They reflect that taekwondo is a mental discipline as well as a physical one.

What are the disciplines of taekwondo?

The four disciplines of taekwondo are patterns, sparring, self-defense and break test. It is the mixture of these four disciplines that makes the art called taekwondo.

What are the objectives of taekwondo?

1. To develop an appreciation for taekwondo as a sport and as an art.

Now that we’ve covered those aspects of Taekwondo, let’s turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

2. To achieve physical fitness through positive participation.

3. To improve mental discipline and emotional equanimity.

4. To learn self-defense abilities.

5. To develop a sense of responsibility for one self and others.

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.

Stretching during warm-ups is one way Taekwondo develops flexibility.

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:

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

Is taekwondo dangerous?

Even though taekwondo is a full contact sport where it is allowed to kick to the head, it is not considered dangerous to practice. There is no need to actually win during training.

During competitions, full protection is used to shield the competitors.

To avoid head injuries, competitors are not allowed to take part in a competition for a couple of months they were knocked out by a kick to the head. If the same incident happens again after those months, they will not be allowed to participate for half a year.

Is taekwondo for you?

When you set your mind into practicing the teachings and the disciplines of taekwondo, there is no stopping you from being a master of this craft.

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Arthur Pringles, find out everything about male to female transformations, male to female transitions, salad recipes and salad dressing recipes.

Taekwondo