12 Benefits of Learning Taekwon-Do

Benefit No.1 - Shared Activity

One of the things that you will like about Taekwon-Do is that it is an activity you can share with your friends and family. At ITF SEQ, we have many parents training alongside their children.

Sharing a common interest can be a great way to strengthen family ties or grow a strong friendship and because Taekwon-Do is inter-generational, it allows young and old to interact and share experiences. ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do provides a common interest that can be shared with the family.

Taking an ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do class twice a week, or even just once per week, is an excellent way to have a change of scenery, leave the house and make new friends.

Benefit No. 2 - Goal Setting and Self-Discipline

ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do is not solely about taking on physical challenges. It also strengthens the mind. ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do curriculum involves learning different blocks, strikes, punches, kicks as well as their application and combinations.

These tasks challenge the mind and create a sense of achievement as each goal is attained. In other words, ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do is perfect for those individuals who like setting goals, striving for them and then experiencing that sense of accomplishment when the goal is achieved. For these same reasons, ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do is great in helping parents instill goal setting traits in their children.

When setting your Taekwon-Do goal, you have to employ self-discipline to achieve that goal. Taekwon-Do teaches you and your children that achieving a goal requires commitment, self-motivation and determination to achieve the reward. The lessons of goal setting and self-discipline will extend beyond the training hall and assist you achieve your life goals.

Benefit No. 3 - Ability to Defend Yourself

Taekwon-Do is an unarmed martial art of self defence and therefore ideal for those that want to learn to defend themselves. Taekwon-Do training includes learning to block, dodge and where appropriate, counter-attack.

At ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do, you will learn a range of practical self defence skills in a structured curriculum. These skills will be practiced in class so they become second-nature and if necessary be used without the “deer in the headlights” reaction to an attack.

Benefit No. 4 - Increased Self Esteem and Confidence

Practicing Taekwon-Do on a regular basis with a skilled instructor will increase your self-esteem and confidence. Learning new techniques and combinations gives you a confidence boost because you have achieved something that you may have initially thought was beyond you.

This is particularly relevant for children as they learn a new technique or are promoted to the next belt level. Nothing boosts a child’s self-esteem more than recognition of their achievements by their peers, parents or Taekwon-Do instructors.

At ITF SEQ, all instructors have risen through the Taekwon-Do ranks and understand the importance of recognition for a job well done. These instructors encourage their students and understand improving self-esteem and confidence are just as important as receiving the next belt rank. Taekwon-Do can also help you improve your self-esteem because the training tones muscles and helps in weight loss due to the intensity of the training regime. In other words, you will feel better about yourself because you will look healthy.

Assurance in your ability to defend yourself or your family, as a result of your diligent Taekwon-Do training, is a boost to your confidence. The ability to keep a cool head in a volatile situation is an asset and Taekwon-Do training can be a key element in building self-esteem and confidence.

Benefit No. 5 - Cardiovascular Health

Taekwon-Do training will have you doing many different types of exercise that contribute to a healthy life. Part of your Taekwon-Do training will involve cardiovascular exercise.

An hour long ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do class will push your cardiovascular stamina. Training includes circuit workouts, free sparring, short high intensity sprints and running laps of the training hall. These types of exercise will increase the heart rate, making it stronger to pump blood and oxygen around the body more efficiently.

A stronger heart reduces the risk of heart disease, strokes, heart attacks and arterial disease. In addition, a stronger heart helps reduce cholesterol, moderates blood sugar levels and blood pressure, as well as reducing a person’s resting heart rate. This all leads to living a longer healthier life. Taekwon-Do training can be a key ingredient in cardiovascular health.

Benefit No. 6 - More Focused

People report that as a result of Taekwon-Do training their ability to focus on a task at hand has improved and they are less easily distracted. The repetition training at ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do requires focus and concentration and this may contribute to a Taekwon-Do student’s improved focus in other areas of their lives.

The ability to focus, like any skill, can be learnt and enhanced and Taekwon-Do training is a useful vehicle in which to hone your ability to focus.

Benefit No. 7 - More Flexible

Stretching, which is a key part of Taekwon-Do training, improves your overall flexibility, reduces the likelihood of injury, increases your ability to balance and improves your range of motion.

Stretching at ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do is a key part of your training and is done in a solo fashion as well as with a partner. Both systems have their advantages and ITF SEQ instructors will show you the various stretches to undertake to improve your flexibility.

Benefit No. 8 - Improved Mental Well-being and Stress Reduction

When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins, which interact with the receptors in your brain that triggers a positive feeling in the body. For example, the feeling following a workout is often described as euphoric and can be accompanied by a positive and energising outlook on life.

In addition, regular exercise can positively impact serotonin levels in your brain. Raising your levels of serotonin boosts your mood and overall sense of well-being. It can also help improve your sleep cycles.

A workout at ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do can help your body produce endorphins and serotonin, which can help ward off depression and anxiety. Our classes are also a great stress reliever as you can focus on the class and forget your worries. As an ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do class is a social activity, it helps you feel happier as you are able to socialise with people who have a similar interest to yourself and make new friends. Taekwon-Do can improve not only your physical health but also your mental well-being.

Benefit No. 9 - Improved Muscle Strength

Taekwon-Do training involves a myriad of different weight bearing and strength training exercises. Along with these exercises go the punching, kicking, blocking and flexibility training, which all help to tone and strengthen muscles.

Greater leg, core, lower back and upper body strength are a useful by-product of your Taekwon-Do training. Classes at ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do focus on improving the condition of these muscle groups through a thorough set of exercises.

The muscle strength you develop through your Taekwon-Do training will of course help you in other aspects of your life from playing with your children through to your working life and other sporting activities.

Benefit No. 10 - Increased Bone Density

Weight bearing exercises are important for building bone density, i.e. stronger bones. Taekwon-Do training involves kicking, punching, blocking, jumping and landing, as well as pushing with arms and legs. All of these type of activities are weight bearing exercises and contribute to your body’s ability to build stronger bones.

The impact of these weight bearing exercises on your bones causes your body’s osteoblasts to produce new bone matter. Osteoblasts come from the bone marrow and are related to structural cells. They produce new bone called "osteoid" which is made of bone collagen and other protein.

In simplistic terms, bones grow in a similar way as your muscles grow. The more weight bearing exercise you undertake, such as an ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do class, the stronger your bones become. This can help prevent degenerative bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

Benefit No. 11 - Weight Loss

Taking regular Taekwon-Do classes can assist you burn off excess calories, not only during the class but after the class as well. Exercise such as Taekwon-Do raises your metabolism, which in simplistic terms is a series of chemical processes that your body uses to produce energy.

The more Taekwon-Do you do, the faster your metabolism becomes and the more calories your body burns. Taekwon-Do raises your metabolism and this continues after you finish the Taekwon-Do class.

ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do training is all about cardiovascular and body weight exercises, stretching and being almost constantly on the move. This type of training will increase your metabolism making your body burn more calories, even after you have finished exercising.

Benefit No. 12 - Respect for Seniors and Authority

Taekwon-Do is an excellent activity for teaching children respect for seniors, authority and themselves. This is because ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do classes follow a clear martial art etiquette and the tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control and indomitable spirit.

ITF SEQ instructors are well trained in how to teach Taekwon-Do and will give precise instructions during the class. If a student displays intolerance or lack of respect to their fellow student, the instructor will quickly step in and correct the situation. Therefore, ITF SEQ Taekwon-Do is a first-rate way to teach children respect for seniors, authority and themselves.