CERN Taekwondo

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Introduction to Taekwondo

Taekwondo /ˌtaɪˌkwɒnˈdoʊ/ (Korean 태권도 (跆拳道) ) is a martial art originating in Korea. It combines combat and self-defense techniques with sport and exercise. In 1989, taekwondo was the world's most popular martial art. Gyeorugi (pronounced [kjʌɾuɡi]), a type of sparring, has been an Olympic event since 2000. Taekwondo as a martial art is popular with people of both genders and of many ages. Physically, taekwondo develops strength, speed, balance, agility, flexibility, and stamina. In Korean, tae (태, 跆) means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon (권, 拳) means "to strike or break with fist"; and do (도, 道) means "way", "method", or "path". Thus, taekwondo may be loosely translated as "the way of the foot and the hand."[3] The name taekwondo is also written as taekwon-do, tae kwon-do or tae kwon do by various organizations. Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

In contrast to some other martial arts, Taekwondo focuses on kicking techniques - attacking the body or head, especially in sparring competitions. It can be super exciting to practice and watch, and has become famous not only through its inclusion in the Olympics but also through popular shows such as America's Got Talent.

Training basics

A normal training session lasts 90 minutes and begins with 20-30 minutes of warmup, in the form of various cardio exercises, some strength training and lots of stretching. The next ~45 mins focuses on one or more aspects of Taekwondo, and is different every session. Sometimes we focus on perfecting kicks/blocks/punches/stances; other times we do sparring or self defense or poomsae - sequences of moves. Some lessons also feature "kiopka" - breaking of wooden boards (or reusable plastic boards) using the hands or feet. A range of difficulties in all moves is catered for, from beginners to experts. The final ~10 minutes is a cooldown - more stretching!

Sparring

The techniques of Taekwondo are centered around sparring - known as "kireugi"- it is, after all, a Martial Art! Sparring in Taekwondo is focused on kicking - to the body and head - nothing below the belt. The aim is to score points with good stylish kicks - with bonus points for spinning kicks and kicks to the head. At CERN we supply head and chest protectors; regular practitioners are expected to purchase their own arm/leg protectors and mouthguard. CERN, through its association with Il Gi Dojang, takes part in kireugi competitions for all levels, in Switzerland and internationally.

Poomsae

Choreographed sequences of blocks/attacks/kicks are known as "poomsae". Poomsae are also a type of "fight" - against an imaginary adversary. There are 8 basic poomsae, corresponding with the belts at different levels, starting from white and reaching black. Once black belt is reached ("first dan") there are more intricate poomsaes, again corresponding to the increasing black-belt grades - up to 9th dan. Poomsae are normally done by a single person but there are also pair and team events. Again, CERN, through its association with Il Gi Dojang, takes part in poomsae competitions for all levels, in Switzerland and internationally.

Self defence

Taekwondo includes two types of self-defence: "hanbon kireugi" (one-attack sparring) and "hochinsul". Hanbon kireugi is very formal, from the positions of the two participants, to the method of attack (most often a body-level punch) and the pre-planned responses. Hochinsul is the practice of responding to grabs to the arms/body/head and overpowering the attacker. The responses in both forms includes kicks, punches, other attacks, the use of pressure points etc. As the Taekwondo student becomes more experienced, the techniques become more complex. But even as a beginner, the reaction of the defender is key!