Tae kwon-Do is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. Tae Kwon-Do is the world's most popular martial art in terms of the quantity of students practicing.  It is also a recognised olympic sport.   Tae Kwon-Do can literally be translated as "the art of kicking and punching".

Tae Kwon-Do combines combat techniques, self-defense, flexibility, strength and stamina training with discipline and respect.   This may help explain why this martial art is used by the South Korean military as part of its training.

As previously said, traditional Tae Kwon-Do stems from military roots with emphasis on killing and hurting the opponent. Modern Tae kwon-Do, however, tends to emphasise control and self-defense principles.

Although there are technical differences between the two main styles of Tae Kwon-Do, World Tae Kwon-Do Federation (WTF) and International Tae Kwon-Do Federation (ITF); the art in general is similar.  It focuses on  a syllabus of blocks, kicks, punches and strikes including various take-downs and sweeps, throws, and joint locks. Tae kwon-Do also incorporates the use of pressure points,  as well as grabbing self-defense techniques.

Students work through a grading format with coloured belts - white, yellow, green, blue, red and finally black.  We start training as a 10th Kup white belt, and with perseverence and continual training, can achieve the coveted title of 1st Dan black belt.

As students move up through the grading ranks; technicality, speed, presicion and difficulty of techniques will progress as the student develops in Tae Kwon-Do.

Gradings take place monthly by 6th Degree Grading and International Instructor Mr K Murdoch.  Gradings alternate between Aberdeen and Peterhead.

Benefits of Tae Kwon-Do for children include:

- Development of leadership skills

- Learn to focus and hence improve school performance

- Combat childhood obesity

 

Benefits of Tae Kwon-Do for adults include:

- Improvement of endurance and strength

- Learn skills to defend yourself

- Fitness

- Weight loss

 

 Miss Bruce and some students at May 2010 grading.