Introducing taekwondo
Taekwondo is just one of the many incredible martial arts forms being practice in martial arts academies around the country. When choosing taekwondo as your martial art of choice, you are embarking on a journey that will prove to be enriching on the mat and in your life.
What is taekwondo?
Taekwondo (stylized as TaeKwonDo or TKD) is a Korean martial art developed in the years following World War II. Taekwondo is a portmanteau of three Korean words – tae (“foot”), kwon (“fist ” or “fight”), and do (“way”). Taekwondo takes from various ancient Korean and Chinese traditions, as well as the Okinawan tradition of karate. It is one of the world’s most popular martial arts and it is the core form of martial arts taught at all Powerhouse Martial Arts & Fitness academies.
What is the difference between taekwondo and karate?
Sometimes, taekwondo is referred to as “karate”. This is understandable; “karate” is often used as an umbrella term for any martial art. However, karate—which is a Japanese martial art—is far different than taekwondo.
Where taekwondo focuses mostly on kicks and leg actions, karate mostly focuses on hand strikes and upper body movement. Forms and postures between the two martial arts are markedly different.
Taekwondo training features and benefits
Taekwondo emphasizes head-height kicks, jumping kicks, spinning kicks, sidekicks, and striking. A typical Powerhouse taekwondo lesson will include kicking drills, striking drills, and speed targets. These drills will help you improve your motor skills and flexibility.
At Powerhouse Martial Arts & Fitness, we combine taekwondo drills with strength and conditioning drills to provide for a complete workout. Altogether, we created a system that can improve your physical fitness and keenness and provided a needed boost to your cardiovascular health and weight loss.
Taekwondo also can improve your balance, coordination, and flexibility. As noted in a 2014 study, taekwondo athletes exhibit good endurance, upper- and lower-body strength, increased flexibility, and anaerobic power. Because taekwondo is a defensive martial art, it is a natural fit for self-defense training.
This martial art, however, is far more than just kicking and striking; honor, humility, perseverance, respect, and loyalty are some of the key tenets of taekwondo and the Powerhouse system. Taekwondo emphasizes good citizenship and self-discipline.
People at any age can benefit from taekwondo training; in fact, some of our students started training in Powerhouse taekwondo as young as 4 years old. For kids, taekwondo martial arts training can help strengthen bones, strengthen muscles, and improve coordination and balance. The martial art can also help children become more focused, more self-disciplined, and more respectful of authority.
Taekwondo as a sport
Throughout the years, taekwondo has also developed into a competitive sport. At Powerhouse Martial Arts & Fitness, we hold local, statewide, and nationwide tournaments. These tournaments, collectively called the Powerhouse Championship Series, offer competitive and learning opportunities. At Powerhouse Martial Arts & Fitness, we encourage students to enrich their taekwondo training experience through the spirit of competition.