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RIO OLYMPICS COULD BE A REALITY FOR LARBERT TAEKWONDO STAR
- 25 March 2013
Two back-to-back "Grand Slams" are unprecedented
Chief Instructor
Master David Bailey -7th Dan
World Taekwondo Federation
WTF International Poomsae Referee
Head of Team – Taekwondo Scotland
National Poomsae Coach for Scotland
British Poomsae Champion 2012
Veteran Kyorugi British Champion 2011
British Team Player 1983 – 1993
Level 3 – Advanced Fitness Instructor
Qualified Personal Trainer
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What is Taekwondo
Taekwondo as a sport has over 60 million practitioners in 184 countries. It originates from South Korea where the world governing body, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), is currently based.
The modern form of Taekwondo was not agreed until 1955, but the sport has its roots in various Korean forms of martial arts stretching back more than 2,000 years.
The name Taekwondo literally translates as the way of the foot and the fist - tae means to break or attack with the foot, kwon means to break with the fist and do translates as the art or way.
The Sport
Taekwondo first appeared in the Olympics as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
It made its debut as an official Olympic sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Since then it has also featured in Athens 2004 and will be one of the 26 sports in both the Beijing 2008 and the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Taekwondo is certainly not limited to those in superb physical condition. Anyone can take advantage of its benefits when learning proper techniques.
The Martial Art
As an art, taekwondo focuses on a combination of combat techniques and self-defense as well as being a good form of exercise and entertainment.
In taekwondo a system of attacking and defensive movements incorporating punching, kicking and blocking techniques as well as differing stances is done in a set sequence and is referred to as Poomsae. These basic movements bring together all the martial art skills in a graceful yet powerful manner.
Poomsae forms a significant part of the promotion process in taekwondo and practitioners must be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the arrangements before that can progress to the next rank.