Taekwondo, the way of the foot and hand, is synonomous
with Korean martial arts even though this art has experienced
the influence of numerous conquerors over the past 2000 years.
Similarities to the martial arts of Japan (eg. karate and
jujutsu) and China (Kung Fu) are evident in Taekwondo although
it is the dynamic kicks which sets this martial art apart from
many of the others. The term, Taekwondo, has only been
used in post WWII era and is a byproduct of renewed Korean
nationalism. It's run of popularity in the west began in the
1950's thanks to Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, who established the
first Taekwondo school in the United States.
With its recent inception into Olympic competition,
Taekwondo has taken on a very definative sport feel to it and
that has indeed furthered its popularity, inspite of some
objections from traditionalists. The dynamic kicks of Taekwondo
are especially popular among children. The high kicks carry a
unique element of athleticism which attract the young and
energetic and, quite frankly, this is evident in TV and the
movies. These kicks, when combined with jumps and spins, make
the art even more attractive to kids and to parents who are
looking for an outlet for a child to burn some of that abundant
energy. It is also clear that these same "flashy"
elements provide a child (or adult) with an excellent source of
cardiovascular exercise and coordination training. As we have
indicated, Taekwondo is dominated by (but not exclusive to)
kicking. In fact, when watching a Taekwondo competition, you
will find it virtually void of all hand technique and kicking
techniques dominating the action. Hand-strikes are allowed
although kicks are generally scored higher in the tournaments.
It is often the case that Taekwondo schools practice the art
of board breaking. For starters, board breaking is
practiced among some martial arts clubs to teach students proper
focus of power and it is also a tool to build confidence. For
young children, however, breaking should be initially confined
to pieces of styrofoam, for example. Before jumping to any
conclusions about a club teaching board-breaking, speak to the
instructor about his/her safety precautions. To re-iterate, if
done safely and in progression, board-breaking practice can be a
lot of fun for your child and build some additional confidence.
Those students entering the Taekwondo circles will quickly
find out that there are two "big kids on the block" in
terms of organizations: The International Taekwondo Federation (ITF)
and the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). Although there is a
rivalry on the organizational level, excellent Taekwondo
instruction is found on both sides of the fence. As is usually
the case, it is the instructor at the head of the class, and not
the faceless figure-heads, which make an excellent kids program.
As with most other traditional arts, Taekwondo schools
incorporate the Korean terminology throughout the instruction as
well as principles of non-aggression and character-building. You
will find schools maintaining a traditional eastern flavor and
others which use a western approach which de-emphasizes foreign
terms and philosophy.
Similar to Karate, Taekwondo training incorporates the
practice of forms, which is the equivalent of kata
in karate. These forms are a pre-set series of Taekwondo
movements. Forms in Taekwondo emphasizes the application of
power, balance, fluidity, and proper breathing. Typically, as a
student advances in rank, katas become more complex and longer
in duration.
Sparring is the bread and butter of Taekwondo and has
been showcased competitively to the world at the Olympic Games.
Practitioners wear head, chest, hand, foot, mouth, and groin
protection which allows for complete execution of technique.
Taekwondo schools will usually have chest and head gear at the
students' disposal. Size-specific items such as hand and foot
protection are usually bought by the student as is the groin and
mouth protection for obvious hygenic reasons. Check with the
prosepctive school to find out what your equipment obligations
will be.
