I think I want to start studying Taekwondo

[nitrogen]

Of all the styles I have looked at, taekwondo seems to suit me best, and is the one I am most interested. Does anyone have any suggestions for me to get started, or how I should go about learning?

[blueangel]

Look to see if there are any local clubs practicing this.

Check out if there are nearby areas that have any activities with this MA in

Check newspapers for news on where to sign up for classes.

Just look around and even maybe at your community centre or library, they all may hold information on where to start learning this.

They will also tell you kit to wear etc

[mmmariap]

Originally Posted by blueangel

Look to see if there are any local clubs practicing this.

I completly agree. Also you need to know what style you want to do. Where I live there is ITF and WTF. I don WTF and would not change to ITF for the life of me. WTF is the olympic style, and so there is actual contact. ITF is a LOT less contact, i mean you can loose points in a trounament for hitting too hard, and coming from a WTF point of view consists of a lot of cheap shots, like punching to the face and backfists/spinning backfists to the face and such. Also, I would suggest actually going to a club, because you can only learn so much from books it's always better to have someone who knows what they're doing showing you what to do and telling you what you're doing wrong.

[Tonic]

I see this written alot, but what exactly are ITF and WTF?

What do they stand for?

[mmmariap]

ITF is International Tae kwon do Federation and WTF is World Tae kwon do Federation. WTF is the olympic style. It's a lot more contact, in ITF you can loose points in a tournament for hitting too hard, in WTF you win points if you knock them out and gain points if they need to an 8 second count. ITF you are alowed to punch to the head and do jumping backfists and the like to the head, WTF you can't. Most people in WTF would call those cheap shots. Anyways I say WTF all the way.

Ok so WTF is what we see at the Olympics.
I didnt get to see much of it at the Olympics on TV, they do not show it often.

Did anyone go to the Olympics to watch it?

[blueangel]

I think that the televison companies consider sports like TKD to be of little importance, (not good for the ratings more like) so they get very little television coverage, other than to say that such and such won this, or so and so broke a record doing that.
But I would like to see the best in the world all going at it hammer and tongue's.

[hurricane_jim]

Taekwondo is quite famous in the mainstream though, it seems to be a word alot of people are familiar with.
Im sure Ive seen it on TV quite a few times?

[Dan Perry]

It is true Taekwondo is the most widely practiced Martial ARt in the World. Although there is a lot to be said for the fast paced sparring associated with WTF style Taekwondo, ITF focus is on control and personal victory through training.
As Taekwondo has evolved, there are a few closed forms systems as well such as the Song-Ahm System of the ATA and the Pilsung System of the NPTA (The NPTA also teaches the traditional Chon-Hon Pattern system.
Look for a good organization, one that can help lead you to the goals that you set.
Be careful of self proclamation and open promise about rank. A solid organization is the best way to fill your Martial Art Training needs

[chipinoh]

My 6-year-old daughter wants to take tae kwon do at the YMCA with some of her friends. Is this too early? Is tae kwan do the most appropriate form for a child?