What is Taekwondo?
There are many Martial Arts in the world. Kids probably know of them thanks to the media and the Internet. Teens especially.
Some of the more popular martial arts classes are;
- Boxing,
- Judo,
- Karate,
- Muy Thai and
- Kung Fu.
The Korean art of Taekwondo has become increasingly popular, throughout the years.
Our Taekwondo for beginners classes for kids are a great place to start. We have a $49 special on right now and you do as many as 16 classes (if you’re prepared to travel around Brisbane a bit).
We want kids to experience the fun and adventure that Taekwondo for kids offers.
(NB: We also have a Taekwondo for beginners adults special on.)
Origins of Taekwondo
Taekwondo’s origins are thousands of years old. Martial arts in Korea have been practised in the forms of
- wrestling (like Ssireum),
- empty-handed fighting (like Hwarangdo, Subak, T’aekkyŏn, Yusul),
- sword-fighting (like Kŏmsul, Kumdo),
- archery (like aging),
- spear-fighting,
- knife-fighting,
- horse riding and
- charioteering.
In 1910, Japan occupied Korea and only Japanese martial art forms were promoted there. At the end of World War II Japan’s colonial rule over Korea ended. In Seoul, the capital of South Korea, several martial arts schools known as “kwans” started mushrooming. Each kwan taught its own unique style like “tangsoodo”, “kongsoodo”, “taesoodo”, “soobahkdo”, “kwŏnbŏp”, “subak”, and “t’aekkyŏn”. In 1955, the kwan leaders agreed on a unifying martial arts name and decided to name the art as “taekwondo”.
Taekwondo Becomes an Olympic Sport
In 1994, Taekwondo became an official Olympic sport. It became a full medal sport at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. This is probably how the popularity of taekwondo for kids first started.
The visibility of Taekwondo has made it a popular choice for people studying Martial Arts in Australia. We are always interested in self-defence and Taekwondo is excellent training for this. As important as defence skills undoubtedly are, here at PITKD, we see the life-skills aspect and teach the tenets of Taekwondo as a priority. Even before the pandemic, many people were expressing tiredness, exhaustion, stress, lack of focus and confidence. The mental game of Taekwondo addresses all of these points.
The 5 tenets of Taekwondo
Courtesy
Courtesy, or 예의 in Korean Hangul (pronounced ye-wee), means showing courtesy to all others in the dojang (training area or school) as well as people you may meet outside of formal Taekwondo training. This is expecially important for children. Included in this tenet is observing correct etiquette and good manners at all times.
Integrity
Integrity, or 염치 in Korean Hangul (pronounced yom-chee), includes not only the general definition of integrity where one is not only able to determine the difference between right and wrong but also being able to stand up for what is ethically correct. Being honest and having strong moral principles is paramount and working hard to be beyond corruption are important aspects of this tenet.
Perseverance
Perseverance, or 인내 in Korean Hangul (pronounced een-nay), simply refers to the willingness of the Taekwondo student to continue to struggle against all odds to reach their goal. This applies to Taekwondo for kids training as well as other aspects of their lives.
Self Control
Self control, or 극기 in Korean Hangul (pronounced gook-gee), means to have control over your thoughts as well as your actions. Maintaining a pure mind as well as a pure body by keeping your emotions in check, particularly in difficult or trying circumstances.
Indomitable Spirit
Indomitable spirit, or 백절불굴 in Korean Hangul (pronounced beckjool boolgool), is difficult to define but generally refers to having the courage to stand up for your beliefs and to stay strong in those beliefs and convictions no matter what the odds against you may be.
It also refers to consistently exhibiting a full 100% effort in all that you do inside the dojang (training area) – and in life.
Now in 2022, as a community, we are more aware than ever that personal health and well-being are utterly crucial to a productive and well-balanced life.
Taekwondo for kids helps promote these positive ideas from an early age. Even if your child drops out after a year, these tenets will already form a part of their personal development.
Belief in Yourself
Children starting Taekwondo training understand their own limitations and recognise what it takes to work past them. The first lesson martial arts teaches kids is
Believe in yourself. You can do more than you think you can.
Kids learn how to teach their body
With a professional instructor delivering correct instruction, maintaining the ‘martial art-ness’ in classes and believing you can, kids are training their bodies to deliver more speed, power and energy to carry out the various techniques and get better.
Kids soon find they can kick harder and faster, punch harder and more efficiently and block accurately with little or no injury themselves.
Self-Discipline
The 2nd lesson that martial arts lessons teach children is that the outcome they get is up to themselves.
Kids can work hard, see themselves improving and progressing and feel good, or give minimum effort, feel dejected (that they’re not improving) and quit.
It’s exactly the same in daily life at school.
Self-discipline is the absolute key to any child’s success in martial arts – or in fact, any area where they want to excel. It is simple to cultivate too.
Kids can practise self-discipline every time they train – at home and in class time (we have a taekwondo for kids $29 special on right now if you are interested).
It’s about pushing through on the bad days, turning up to class even when you’ve had a bad day at school. Kids need to leave the day’s problems at the door and commit to being 5% faster, stronger and better in class than they were the last time.
Growth Mindset
Children with a fixed mindset often feel more anxiety. They believe their abilities come naturally, and so they can feel stuck. Many kids prefer to look for opportunities to show what they are good at right now, rather than tackle the things they find difficult.
Kids with a growth mindset believe that although some skills are difficult right now, they can learn them and be successful if they work hard and persevere. They find time to practise their weak areas whenever they can, monitor slight changes and gradually grow their ability.
Taekwondo for kids is a perfect way to develop this growth mindset in children. Most kids face challenges in one area or another – the obvious ones are developing the ability to jump and break boards. Children can all achieve those things by adopting a growth mindset.
Learning Taekwondo will instill that growth mindset. It shows us what we are capable of when we put in the time and effort. It’s a lesson that once learned, stays with us for life and affects on our entire future.
Other Benefits
The growth, confidence, discipline and self-belief that result from Taekwondo classes for kids puts them on a path to achieving goals in many other areas of life. The resilience and self-reliance that a child can attain are sustainable achievements. In an era when people often seek to self-medicate through drugs, then improving oneself through the mind and body, Taekwondo for kids can bring you many benefits.
So, you’re considering a martial art with a deep history. It can bring forth self-improvement in your child that you may have only imagined. Self-defence is a great thing for children – as is self-confidence, self-discipline and self-belief.
Start your child’s inner development at Pacific International Taekwondo and experience what is possible. Or perhaps enrol your children or teens who could gain from this kind of training.
If you’re in Brisbane area we have 10+ locations you can choose from. Click through the various sections of this website, learn more and then contact us.
Pacific International Taekwondo Brisbane is here to support your child’s fitness and learning goals.
