The Art of Taekwondo

taekwondo

The korean martial art of taekwondo, like all sports and other endeavors, requires discipline to succeed. Whether you are practicing your kicks in class or sparring with a fellow competitor, you must focus on your technique, set goals and practice discipline to meet those goals. The same applies to all other areas of life, from getting a good job to raising a family or fighting for a cause. Ultimately, the goal is to attain unity and peace, which is why the art of taekwondo is not only physical, but also mental.

Unlike boxing, which emphasizes punches, taekwondo is all about kicking. That’s why you see taekwondo fighters do such incredible jump and spinning kicks.

In competition, fighters wear protective gear to score strikes against each other and are judged on the amount of force they deliver to their opponent. The force is measured by sensors that are attached to the fighter’s body protectors. For example, a kick to the head is only scored when it is delivered with a certain amount of force, and different sensors are calibrated to measure different amounts of force for each weight division.

A match consists of three two-minute rounds and the first fighter to score points wins. A match may also go into a “golden point” round if the fighters are tied at the end of the three rounds. A fighter can earn a bonus point for a kick to the head that incorporates a spinning technique.