Taekwondo is an ancient Korean martial art. But the sport is not just about kicking and punching. Taekwondo offers several advantages to anyone considering taking up a sport or hobby. It builds confidence, helps your health, provides you with self-defense and instills discipline. Altogether, these advantages provide a compelling argument for taking up taekwondo.
Confidence
Taekwondo can help you to build confidence. According to a study published by "The Sport Journal" in 2004, students of taekwondo gradually increased in confidence as they took lessons. The study found that part of what helped students gain confidence was taking part in public taekwondo demonstrations and performances. Students also gained confidence when preparing a speech about their own history in taekwondo, as part of the promotion to the level of black belt.
Health
According to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, taekwondo helps to increase physical fitness. It includes aerobic activities such as blocking drills as well as anaerobic activities such as sparring. Training activities such as pushups help to build strength, while kicking drills help flexibility. Taekwondo also burns calories at the rate of 5.06 calories per minute. This means that you will burn 50 calories in just under 10 minutes of taekwondo.
Self-Defense
Self-defense was the original purpose of taekwondo, and for many it is its primary advantage. Master Taekwondo instructor Brian Malik, writing at TKD.net, says that taekwondo provides self-defense skills that are important for everyone to learn. It teaches students how to reduce the likelihood of an injury from a fall or attack, and it can help people to escape from potentially life-threatening assaults. Malik notes that taekwondo is not about violence but about avoiding victimization.
Discipline
Taekwondo instills discipline in its students. Students must work for years to hone and perfect their skills. Taekwondo master Chris Perry tells "The Parthenon" that practicing taekwondo is like digging a well. "You can dig five or six feet and you can never achieve the goal you set out to," Perry said. "You will keep on learning. Once you start any martial arts, you should stick with it." This long-term focus helps to build discipline in students.
