Taekwondo is a martial art founded in 1955 in Korea. According to the assumptions of its creator, General Choi Hong Chi, it consists in subjecting the body to mind control and self-improvement through regular training. Even in the 1990s, taekwondo was the discipline most often chosen by adepts of martial arts, and today it is also very popular. Read about the history of taekwondo, what rules apply to combat, and learn about the techniques and effects of training it.

Wordtaekwondoconsists of 3 parts: "tae" in Korean means "leg", "kwon" - fist, and "to" - way. This is what the philosophy of taekwondo is based on - continuous work on yourself through training.

Contents:

  1. Taekwondo - history
  2. Taekwondo - the five pillars of taekwondo
  3. Belts (degrees) in taekwondo
  4. Taekwondo - techniques
  5. Taekwondo for kids
  6. Taekwondo - effects of taekwondo training

This martial art can be attended in 188 countries around the world, and it is trained by both children and adults. The lower age limit is 5 years, there is no upper age limit. The most important thing is the will to improve. According to the assumption of the creator of this discipline, taekwondo was supposed to be a means of self-defense, not a martial art, which today, thanks to its huge popularity, has become.

Taekwondo - history

The history of this martial art may have contributed to the fact that so many people want to train taekwondo. Its roots go back to antiquity - the techniques used in taekwondo are based on the old Korean methods of hand-to-hand combat: Soo Bak-Gi and Taek-Kyon. It also includes karate elements. The creator of this technique is To Choi Hong Hi, a North Korean general.

Hong Hi's history is turbulent: he was already expelled from high school for anti-Japanese demonstrations, and sentenced to death for organizing the Korean Independence Movement during World War II. He was released the day before the execution of the sentence. After the war, Hong Hi worked as a self-defense instructor in the US military police, gradually developing the taekwondo technique - in 1955 using the name for the first time. He later began promoting taekwondo through demonstrations around the world, and in 1966 he founded the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF). In 1972, Choi emigratedHong Hi to Canada, there was a split in the South Korean federation, which in turn led to the creation of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). Discipline, thanks to the commitment of its creator and its followers, quickly became practiced all over the world.

Taekwondo has been an Olympic sport since 2000.

Taekwondo - the five pillars of taekwondo

Taekwondo is a martial art with specific moral principles established by master Choi Hong Hi. Among the five "pillars" of taekwondo are:

  1. courtesy and courtesy,
  2. reliability and honesty,
  3. persistence,
  4. composure and self-control,
  5. courage and adamant spirit.
This will be useful to you

Belts (degrees) in taekwondo

As in other martial arts, also in taekwondo there is a hierarchy and the possibility of gaining successive ranks reflecting the level of skills. So there are 10 student degrees and 9 master degrees - the number 9 is considered to be magical in the East. In addition to the grades, participants receive belts - beginners have a white belt, then they train and pass the exams for the next ones. The colors of the stripes have a symbolic meaning in Taekwondo:

  • white belt- winter, the moment when you have to wait for the young talent to develop their skills;
  • yellow belt- shine of sunlight, stimulation to act;
  • green belt- spring, time of rebirth, flowering, development;
  • blue belt- the sky, in its direction, growing plants;
  • red belt- ripeness achieved by fruits that have already bloomed;
  • black belt- means having significant knowledge and skills in taekwondo, as well as resistance to evil and fear. After obtaining the belt of this color, the competitor gains the opportunity to participate in international competitions.

Taekwondo - techniques

Taekwondo is a martial art that consists of 6 main elements. Among them are:

  • sports fight
  • arranged fight
  • formal arrangements
  • smash
  • jump kicks
  • release from handles

Taekwondo: sports fight

A sports fight, as opposed to an organized fight, is based on the fact that the competitor does not know what techniques his competitor will use. It is primarily based on the use of legs - kicks can vary in strength and speed. Using other parts of the body and attacking them on the opponent is limited, among others. by the attire of people practicing taekwondo- they wear protective vests, protectors on the shins, forearms, jaws and genitals, they have a helmet. The taekwondo vest is called HOGO and it is for hitting it that points are awarded during the Olympic competition.

Taekwondo: Arranged Fight

This is a type of fight in which competitors perform predetermined techniques. The aim of organized combat is to get to know oneself and the opponent better, to improve specific solutions, to prepare for situations that may occur in a sports fight, to try techniques that are too ineffective or too dangerous. Arranged fight is also performed during taekwondo shows.

Taekwondo: formal arrangements

Formal arrangements of taekwondo were developed on the basis of many years of experience creating their masters. The movements used in taekwondo are similar to the struggle with two swords: so there are thrusts, cuts and curtains. Taekwondo WTF, educated from the ITF and being one of the Olympic disciplines, has developed 17 formal systems. Among them, we distinguish 9 training patterns: Taegeuk I Jang, Taegeuk Sam Jang, Taegeuk Sa Jang, Taegeuk Oh Jang, Taegeuk Yook Jang, Taegeuk Chil Jang, Taegeuk Pal Jang and Taegeuk Il Jang and 9 master patterns: Koryo, Keumgang, Taebaek, Pyongwon , Sipjin, Jitae, Cheonkwon, Hansoo and Ilyo.

Taekwondo: breakdowns

Another important element of taekwondo is breaking hard objects, e.g. boards. Since the martial art was intended to imitate stabs with a knife, the idea was that the unarmed hand should have a similar strength. In order for the smash to be successful, the hitting surface must be properly prepared, the player should control the power of his body weight impact, and at the same time mentally adjust himself to smashing a specific object.

Taekwondo: releases from the handle

Taekwondo is primarily about hitting a selected point of the opponent's body with a strong and accurate punch - with your leg or hand. As hits can be strong, defending against them should also be effective. Therefore, you can free yourself from the handle not only by impact, but also by sliding, pulling and twisting. If a player also uses a lever, he may gain an advantage, but using this technique is not the easiest one.

Taekwondo: Jumping kicks

As the Korean peninsula is largely mountainous, the Koreans have developed a jumping kick fighting technique that makes it possible to attack someone below by surprise. The demonstrations of taekwondo players who use jump kicks, often with spinning, are very spectacular.

Worth knowing

Taekwondo for kids

Taekwondo trainings for children are intended from the age of 5. Classes develop motor coordination, balance, improve concentration and memory, thanks to which the child acquires the ability to work in a team. The youngest also learn discipline, although the trainings initially take the form of games and movement games with elements of taekwondo.

Trainings for older children cover the basics of self-defense and taekwondo, as well as learning a he althy lifestyle, self-control. Young adepts also take part in the competition for the first time. Trainings for adolescents over 12 years of age focus only on improving skills in taekwondo. You can sign up for classes in most Polish cities.

Taekwondo - effects of taekwondo training

Taekwondo training not only improves the physical fitness of the adept of this martial art. During exercise, all the muscles of the body are used, they become better supplied with blood and fat tissue is lost. As leg surgery is the most important element of training, people who practice taekwondo strengthen the inner thighs.

Taekwondo is also used to develop the strength of the abdominal and back muscles, therefore, to some extent, it can be used to correct posture defects. Taekwondo training also increases the efficiency of the lungs, improves circulation, and dilates blood vessels. The body becomes better oxygenated, which gives us more energy. Taekwondo exercises improve the work of the heart, improve metabolism and make it easier to fall asleep every day.

Meet other martial arts:

  • kung fu
  • aikido
  • judo
  • tai chi
  • Brazilian jiu-jitsu

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