FAQs
Taekwondo in a Korean Martial Art that has developed over a long period of time based on skills used for combat and self-defense; combining ideas from other Korean martial arts like Hapkido and Taekyon, and also, notably, Karate, probably contributed to by historical Japanese influences in Korea. Taekwondo stands out from other martial arts for its dynamic and advanced kicking skills; using kicks around 70% of the time and using other techniques such as punches, blocks and take-downs about 30% of the time. Some of the kicks in Taekwondo use a jumping or spinning approach because many early practitioners had to fight calvary and knock horesmen off their steads. It was named "Taekwondo" in 1955, and has since spread across the world to emerge as a dynamic sport using a point-scoring system for victory rather than debilitating blows to the opponent. This developmental process of Taekwondo has made it a rich and complex martial art/sport, a highly competitive arena both on the mat and as a physical activity option, and an inclusive and rewarding activity accessible to people regardless of their background or ability. Taekwondo is the most popular single martial arts style worldwide, with over 70 million practitioners and is an Olympic sport.
We generally accept students from five years old, and we don't have specific classes for children under five years old at the moment. Some of our Instructors will accept younger students into their classes depending on the situation of the family training, and the child's ability to follow instructions, focus and participate. If you have a child under five that you wish to enroll in your local club, please contact us for more information.
We believe no-one is ever "too old" to participate in Taekwondo, and our club welcomes people of all ages and abilities. Adult participants are quite often the most driven and dedicated, and achieve great results with their training, many making it a lifestyle for the years to come. If you are starting out as an adult, you will already know how to work hard and apply yourself, so just keep in mind your personal limitations (physical or otherwise) and set realistic goals with your instructor to avoid disappointment or injury.
As with all sports, there are costs involved in participating in Taekwondo. For Taekwondo these include annual insurance, regular training, equipment and grading expenses. Our club is a not-for-profit organization and we offer competitive rates. We don't have any lock-in contracts. Some classes offer pre-paid discounts which will be rebated if you need to stop training for some reason. As class times, duration and costs vary, please contact us if you would like to know more about the rates or offers available in your local area.
Taekwondo has been noted for its benefits to children and their development in many ways. There is a growing body of evidence and research to support claims that Taekwondo has changed many children's behaviour, school grades, concentration levels, etc. Long-term participation has been linked to maintenance of a neutral (calm) mood both within the training period and outside of it. “Both Kurian (1994) and Konzak, and Boudreau (1984) assessed personality characteristics following extended martial arts training and found that students with extended training had increased self-awareness, self-reliance, confidence, assertiveness, relaxation, alertness and calmer mood”. (Brown, 2004). There are also many reports of improved motor-coordination, self-control, less anger and anxiety, and better navigation of social situations in Autistic children as being attributable to Taekwondo participation. This may be attributable, not only to the benefits of Taekwondo as a form of 'exercise', but also to the discipline, control, and ethical nature of the Dojang combined with family support.
Taekwondo is an ideal form of exercise – combining anaerobic and aerobic, locomotive, strength, balance, stability, and lengthening training. Exercise has been linked to a range of health benefits and Taekwondo features highly in the scale of activities. It regulates your metabolism, makes your muscles and bones stronger, improves the immune system, and counter-balances the negative effects of stress hormones. Exercise decreases your risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes by improving your cardio-vascular system, and has been shown to improve cognitive performance, as compared to those who are sedentary. Taekwondo with its demands for speed and power while covering distance, using the legs for high kicks (our largest muscle groups) is a high aerobic exercise - which also means high-calorie burning exercise! [Values from the Mayo Clinic Exercise for Weight Loss Chart: www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercsie/SM00109]
We recognise Taekwondo qualification from other WT affiliated clubs. Outside of this, if you have trained with a Taekwondo club or other martial art, you will need to talk to your Instructor and perhaps attend a Yun Hap grading, and our grading instructors will assign an equivalent rank related to the curriculum of our club. Please be aware that for non-taekwondo experience, this may mean starting from white belt.
With regular, continuous training and hard work, it takes at least 3~4 years for students to attain their black belt. Please keep in mind that this will vary depending on the individual.