The word ‘Taekwondo’ translates into English as ‘the way of foot and fist’ – an accurate description of the principles behind this Korean martial art. Powerful kicks and punches are, literally, the name of the game, which offers tension, drama and plenty of action.

The basics

The object of Taekwondo is to land kicks and punches on your opponent’s scoring zones: one point is awarded for a valid kick or punch to the torso, two points for a valid spinning kick, and four points for a turning kick to the head.

The action takes place inside an 8m x 8m zone called a court, with each contest made up of three two-minute rounds. Over their standard white uniform, known as a ‘dobok’, competitors wear coloured protective equipment. The competitor wearing blue is referred to as ‘chung’, while the competitor in red is ‘hong’.

The eight Taekwondo events at the London 2012 Games – four weight categories for men, four for women – will be played in a knockout format. The winners of each contest will qualify for the next round, with the two finalists going head to head in the gold medal contest. All competitors who lose to one of the finalists will enter the 'repechage', which will eventually determine the winners of the bronze medals.

Olympic Taekwondo, past and present

Taekwondo made its debut as a demonstration sport at the Seoul 1988 Games, but was not officially added to the Olympic programme until the Sydney 2000 Games. At London 2012, the Taekwondo competition will be held at ExCeL, a multi-purpose events venue that will also host a number of other Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Jargon buster

• Chung: The competitor wearing blue.
• Dobok: A competitor’s uniform.
• Hong: The competitor wearing red.
• Shi-jak: The command to start fighting.
• Gam-jeon: A deduction penalty.

Article taken from www.london2012.com

Training in martial arts can be beneficial for children in a number of ways. Not only do kids develop strength and agility but most notice an increase in confidence and self-discipline, as well. "Martial arts" is a broad term, encompassing a variety of fighting and self-defense practices from Asia and while the variations differ greatly, all offer healthful benefits when learned and practiced mindfully.

Roots of Martial Arts

Martial arts practices and disciplines originate from China, Japan, and Korea, with distinct variations for each style. Understanding the basic concepts of each can help parents and kids decide on the most appropriate style based on each child's individual strengths and goals. In general, martial arts training is designed to help participants gain self-discipline, self-control, and self-confidence and while the martial arts are "fighting" sports, training aims to help kids avoid conflict rather than purposefully engaging in aggressive behaviour. Although popular media may make it seem as though martial arts encourages destructive actions, true representations of martial arts are decidedly non-violent.

Martial Arts Styles

While there are many more categories of martial arts, those often considered best for children include Tae kwon do (from Korea), Kung fu (from China) and Karate, Jujitsu, Judo, and Aikido, all originating in Japan. While detailed information about each type can be best learned from experienced masters, a brief introduction of the above styles includes:

Tae Kwon Do: Meaning "the way of the foot and fist," tae kwon do is considered the most competitive of the martial arts, with impressive displays of high kicks and fancy footwork. Tae kwon do is the national sport of Korea and is the most popular of the martial arts worldwide.

Kung fu: Meaning "well done," kung fu actually encompasses many Chinese fighting arts, focusing a great deal on kicks, sharp blows, chops, throws, and leg sweeps.

Karate: Meaning "empty hand," karate uses both aggressive and defensive moves, but stresses defensive tactics. Karate utilises throwing, punching and blocking, and weaponry can come into play.

Jujitsu: Meaning "compliant art," jujitsu involved considerable sparring and use of weapons.

Judo: Meaning "gentle way," judo is often considered a more moderate version of jujitsu, utilising many wrestling type moves. Training focuses a great deal on mental and moral development, and with it's very safe reputation, judo lessons are often quite popular for children.

Aikido: Meaning "way of harmony," aikido strives to teach the ability to fend off attacks by turning the tables on an aggressor. Aikido is non-competitive and can be rather spiritual in nature.

Participation in Martial Arts

Some children who would not be comfortable participating in traditional team sports find that they really enjoy martial arts. Many parents prefer that their children avoid some of the fierce competition common in team sports, preferring the lessons that are part of martial arts training, such as discipline and mental focus. Children who are small in stature, shy, or suffer from low self-esteem may benefit greatly from well chosen instruction in martial arts, although these kids are by no means the only ones who find participation in martial arts to be meaningful and rewarding. Martial arts helps to not only develop strong bodies, but to develop strong character, too.

Finding Qualified Martial Arts Instructors

As with all lessons designed for children, martial arts instruction should be carefully chosen by parents. A martial arts school should be clean and provide ample space for activity, with all equipment in good condition. Additionally, the attitude of staff members can make all the difference in the world, so interviewing teachers and checking not only their credentials but also seeking the references of previous clients is important. Respectful instruction that stresses self-control and discipline in handling aggression is vital in order to maintain the integrity of the martial arts. When taught by caring, patient, and knowledgeable instructors, students of martial arts may find that the lessons they take away from class help them to manage many areas of their lives with discipline and dignity.

Poomsae (patterns) are a pre-arranged set of movements gradually becoming more complex the more you learn. There is normally ONE poomsae to learn per belt in preparation for your next promotional test. Each poomsae should be practiced by mentally picturing imaginary opponents attacking from all sides.
It is important to practice and improve all poomsae not just the one you are concentrating on for your next grade. Students should practice one poomsae after another with only the breathing junbi exercises in-between. Then the student will truly understand the first steps of poomsae.
Poomsae are truly a way of understanding and practicing every aspect of your martial art; basic technique, breathing control, balance, co-ordination and concentration. The mind and body can work together in striving for perfection of technique that can never be achieved. Taekwondo is meaningless without poomsae.

Have you set your taekwondo training goals for 2011?

Warrior Taekwondo wants to help you start the year off right by reminding you that setting goals is the surest way to see results.

To gain success in taekwondo, you must have a clearly defined goal. It is not enough to say you want to be a black belt; you must know why you want to be a black belt, instructor, master or grandmaster.

How do you reach your goal? Be consistent. Only consistency and perseverance will bring you closer, step by step, to reaching your goal.

Becoming a black belt is not the end, but the beginning of taekwondo training.

To your success!