Heart of England Martial Arts

I.T.F. Taekwon-Do

What is Taekwon-Do

Taekwon-Do is the scientific use of the body in the art of self defence – a body that has gained the ultimate use of its facilities through intensive, physical and mental training. Taekwon-Do is recognised today as not only one of the most effective forms of self defence but also an excellent way of improving fitness and overall health.

Steeped in history Taekwon-Do Originated in Korea and has evolved from more than 2,000 years of martial arts forms including Soo Bak-Gi and Tae Kyon, the Korean art of Foot Fighting. Taekwon-Do developed to its present form in the last century after extensive development by Grandmaster Choi Hong Hi 9th Degree and was officially recognised as the Martial Art of Korea in 1955.

There are many aspects to Taekwon-Do training but the main areas are Patterns, Free Sparring, Pre-arranged Sparring and Destruction.

Patterns are the set sequences of movements designed to mimic a confrontation with an imaginary opponent. The Patterns increase in difficulty and variety of techniques as the student progresses through the grades.

Free Sparring is the process of 2 students in full protective equipment attempting to score points by hitting legal targets on each other with hand and or foot techniques. Sparring at school level is always touch contact only. Part of the assessment of good sparring skills is the student showing controlled levels of contact. Students of different grades will practice together and the senior grade student is always expected to coach the lower grades. This is especially true of juniors new to the art. All too often we hear of situations where students new to sparring have received rough treatment at the hands of higher grades. Be assured that this is not the case at a Heart of England School.

Pre-arranged Sparring is the practice of developing self defence techniques with a partner. The techniques vary from simple set sequences with a partner at white belt to free style one step attack, defence and counter attack at Black Belt. This aspect of training helps with developing fast reflexes and also the ability to read the body language of one's opponent.

Destruction is the power testing of an individual's techniques. Power testing or destruction is performed against reformable plastic boards or against kick shields or pads. Students are not forced to break and anyone under the age of 16 may only power test against kick shields and pads.

With the exception of Pre-Arranged Sparring all the above are categories within competitions. Heart of England students regularly attend regional, national and international competitions. Students are not expected to compete but if they show the inclination and aptitude then Heart of England Instructors are extremely well qualified to train and develop individuals in this aspect of the Art. Mr Gary Bradshaw 6th Degree has coached National Teams at European and World Championships on numerous occasions and many Heart of England Students hold National and International Titles.

What can Taekwon–Do offer you?

Would you like to;

Learn to defend yourself?

Improve Your Health, Fitness and Flexibility?

Have Fun?

Lose Weight?

Relieve Stress?

Have an outlet for all you pent up energies?

Meet new people?

Take part in a competitive sport?

Feel Independent?

Gain Confidence?

Fitness for the mind and body

In our classes you will learn to exercise and work on every muscle group in your body, which is why our art is unique in comparison to any other sport. Important emphasis on concentration, focus, stamina and self-control are what really makes ITF Taekwon-do stand head and shoulders above our rivals. To develop these new skills, you will need to exercise your mind as much as your body. As you develop and progress, the positive effects of this will carry over into the other areas of your life ensuring that you become a much more focused and positive individual.

Exercise Regimes

All classes will start with a warm-up which can be anything from basic joint rotation and stretching exercises to very dynamic aerobic activity involving running, press-ups, squats, sit-ups etc. We don't expect any new student to be a super athlete. If you've not trained for a while or have lead a sedentary lifestyle and are looking to get fit, you could discuss this with the school instructor or alternatively speak to your GP first. Whatever your level of fitness we only expect students to perform to their own potential. All our instructors were white belts once and are more than aware of how difficult it can be to not only learn a new art but to get fit in the process. If you have any particular concerns about an aspect of your health again discuss this with the School Instructor they're there to help!

There really is something for everyone in Taekwon-Do

Juniors –martial Arts can supplement children’s education. Studies have shown that Taekwon-Do gives children an increased sense of responsibility and self-esteem as well as providing a safe environment for them to release their energy and learn self-defence. Taekwon-Do helps children develop into more confident and outgoing adults.

Women – In these modern times when violent attacks are an increasing problem, it has become necessary for women to be prepared to defend themselves. More and more women are turning to Martial Arts in order to gain the knowledge and confidence to defend themselves.

Men – combining the most effective workout principles with 2000 years of Martial Arts technique, Taekwon-Do is the sport and workout of the New Millennium. You will discover along with many others that Taekwon-Do brings a new dimension to sport by providing lifelong fitness motivation.

Adults and juniors will usually train together making it an ideal family activity. We also have all the grades training together and senior grades are expected to help coach and develop lower grades.

Benefits of Taekwon-Do

Exercise has been proven to slow down the aging process. But if you do not enjoy your workout, you may end up aging even faster

Martial Arts can burn over 800 calories in one hour. That is twice the amount of a normal aerobics class

Develop your fitness, increase flexibility and improve blood circulation.

Lose your worries with this great stress busting activity and control and channel your energies into positive personal development. Taekwon-Do can give you a more relaxed outlook on life.

Improve your confidence by knowing that you can defend yourself.

Gain a new circle of friends

No other activity can produce the same positive results on such a personal level

Why not give us a try.

The first lesson is free so you've nothing to lose and everything to gain. You can just turn up or give us a ring beforehand. It's always a good idea to wear comfortable loose fitting clothing and bring a drink. A towel and spare shirt to change into afterwards is also a good idea as you will definitely get a good work out. Look at the schools pages to find the school which most suits you.

Contact Heart of England Co-ordinator Mr Gary Bradshaw on 01773 873757 / 07968 314683 - or email: Heart of England

We look forward to hearing from you.