by Jan G.

Created on: June 21, 2009

The limbs are the extensions of our body, as a form of martial art, Taekwondo focused on the use of the legs that reaches furthest without close contacts, hence a great form of defensive skill. Being defensive and aimed to deter an attack, the impact of kicks are rarely for a kill. It has evolved through the years, into a competitive and health sport, even a little impractical with its high and fanciful kicks.

It has gone ahead of most other martial art forms, in formalising a systematic scoring system and fully protecting its participants in doing so. I do not believe in martial arts doing rings of free style, till you drop competitions, firstly it's cruely for the amusement of jeering audiences and nothing more. A true display of techniques and skills while preserving the dignity of fellow martial arts practitioner should be the way. There is no glamour in uncontrolled force, that I would equate to violence, there is no power where there is no control.

Martial arts and taekwondo requires a form of discipline of the body and it is merely a matter of choice to be in a dance class or a taekwondo class. The aggression is controlled and children trained in martial arts are known to have controlled temper when it comes to reacting to physical agression. Understanding that they could do real physical damage to others, they do not provoke. Confident in his own ability to counter physical aggression, martial arts practioners are not easily startled or react out of fear from agression.

From the point of view of fairness and skills, speed and techniques, I admire taekwondo competitors as much as table tennis players who, within the small space and small paddles, executed with precision and focused on scoring. The scoring system is clear for taekwondo sparrings, clear hit of the padded flanks, abdomen or on the head gear. The score is immediately recorded and displayed on the score board.

Pitting against an opponent of the same weight range and belt level, what makes a winner is still the mind. What is factored into any competition martial arts is the agreesion and guts to take chances and seize the opportunity. Sparring being interactive is part mind guessing, part countering. Where there are attacks, there are counter attacks. Like anything else in life, it is about being skilled to see and seize the moment.

Kicks are powerful and graceful, when the pivoting leg takes off from the ground especially, jumping spinning kicks goes into a full spin with the momentum of body movements, and without the restriction of the pivoting leg. It is amazing what we could do with our legs, and I encourage you to observe the art and its beauty like that of a graceful dance.

This is my introduction to Taekwondo.

Learn more about this author, Jan G..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.