Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a martial art that originated in Korea 5,000 years ago and it is one of the most systematic and traditional martial arts, that teaches fighting skills and discipline. It is a globally performed martial art, and has gained international reputation, and is an official event at the Olympic Games (World Taekwondo Federation, 2009).
Taekwondo Objectives
- To develop an appreciation for Taekwondo as a sport and as an art
- To achieve physical fitness through participation
- To develop emotional and mental discipline
- To learn self-defence skills
- To develop responsibility with yourself and others
Taekwondo Rules
A match consists of three 2 minute rounds, with 1 minute rest in between. Hand and Foot contact is allowed. Points are scored depending on the attack, with foot attacks scoring higher;
- 1 point for: Punch to the body or head.
- 2 points for: Kick to the body.
- 3 points for: Kick to the head.
Sparring
Sparring in Taekwondo is a form of training, and is used in competitions. It is essentially 'free-form' training, where an athlete can use a variety of either attacking or self defense skills, on an opponent. Scoring in sparring competitions depends on the degree of difficulty of the attack. For example a kick to the head is worth 3 points, in comparison to a kick to the body. Punches score less points than kicks. Sparring in Taekwondo is charactrised by its high kicking and fast hand techniques (Wolrd Taekwondo Federation, 2009).