Taekwondo, which originated in Korea, has a 5,000 year history and is designed to unify body, mind, and life. It teaches much more than just physical fighting skills.
The reality of our life today is that violence may come upon you at any time, walking down any street or country road; or even in your own home. Would you be prepared for such an attack? Or would you become a victim?
Many people turn to martial arts, because they can equip them with the knowledge to defend themselves. If you’re reading this, you've probably decided to start down this path. But with such a confusing array to choose from, how do you know which are the best martial arts for you?
Taekwondo, which originated in Korea, has a 5,000 year history and is designed to unify body, mind, and life. It teaches much more than just physical fighting skills. When doing Taekwondo, the goal is to make your mind peaceful, synchronize your mind with your movements, and then extend this harmony to your life and the larger world. If we analyze the word Taekwondo, we find that “Tae” means foot, leg, or to step on, “Kwon” means fist or fight, and “Do” means the way or discipline. Basically, it uses all parts of the body that are represented by fists and feet to stop fights and build a more peaceful world.
Taekwondo has gone through many changes over the years, and today is an official Olympic sport. While it has much in common with other Oriental martial arts, it also differs from them in significant ways. It is very dynamic physically, with active movements that include a large number of foot skills.
Once you've decided that Taekwondo might just be one of the best martial arts for you to learn, it’s time to choose a school. A special type of martial arts school that teaches Taekwondo is called a “Dojang” or “Kwan.” (It should not be called by any of the various names used by other oriental martial arts, because Taekwondo is distinctively Korean.)
One of the first questions you’ll want to ask is whether the prospective school has a good reputation. Talk to current students and hear what they have to say about it. Talk to the instructors to get an idea of their philosophies; do they match yours? Then, of course, there’s the all-important matter of the instructors’ competence. Pay most attention to the head instructor. This person should be not only very skilled in his art, but also a good teacher and more concerned with his students’ progress than with making money. You should do a criminal background check on this person, because unfortunately many people who have martial arts training, but couldn't make it in the business world, decide to open their own school…and martial arts schools and their instructors aren't regulated by the government. You have to be your own detective! A true master will have a very high level of skill, but also a strong aura of humility about him, and a deep desire to help others.
Taekwondo is an ancient art which can help you in many aspects of your life if you find the right fit for you.
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