Just started Taekwondo

shakenbake

Well, I've been threatening to do it for years ... I'm 33 now and have a bit of catching up to do

I know it isn't acclaimed to be the best art for self defense but I've always loved how beautiful the aesthetics of the moves look. The first class was interesting because I didn't even know how to hold a first properly and I'm still sore after it. I'm back running again now will get back into a weights routine. One thing I've got serious issues with is my flexibility ... it's BAD!! I've picked up a couple of yoga DVD's to help out there ... but if anyone could throw some helpful advice at me, I'd appreciate it !

mark.leonard

Get Stephen Kurz's book on flexibility. I find it the best available for TKD flexibility.

yomchi

shakenbake wrote: »

Well, I've been threatening to do it for years ... I'm 33 now and have a bit of catching up to do

I know it isn't acclaimed to be the best art for self defense but I've always loved how beautiful the aesthetics of the moves look. The first class was interesting because I didn't even know how to hold a first properly and I'm still sore after it. I'm back running again now will get back into a weights routine. One thing I've got serious issues with is my flexibility ... it's BAD!! I've picked up a couple of yoga DVD's to help out there ... but if anyone could throw some helpful advice at me, I'd appreciate it !

Nice one!
Where are you training! Don't worry about the self defence aspect of it - read Marks article about training for self defence

I find Tomas Kurz good on dynamic flexibility - www.stadion.com

Best of luck

Hephaestus

shakenbake wrote: »

I know it isn't acclaimed to be the best art for self defense

I'd considered taking up WTF TKD recently but didn't for this reason. ITF seems to be more full contact though

Don't worry about the self defence aspect of it - read Marks article about training for self defence

Linky? I'd be interested in havin a read.

yomchi

Hephaestus wrote: »

I'd considered taking up WTF TKD recently but didn't for this reason. ITF seems to be more full contact though



Linky? I'd be interested in havin a read.

It was in a past edition of Irish Fighter. I don't think it's available on line. Maybe he'll post a copy up.

mark.leonard

http://www.stadion.com/column.html

expediateclimb

Found this website to be good when learning about the different type's of streching involved in martial arts aswell as other sports

www.flashmavi.com

There's a link to the various stretching exercises that you can do aswell as a routine you can follow. I found the PNF Streching very helpful personally

yomchi

mark.leonard wrote: »

http://www.stadion.com/column.html

He means your article Mark!

TKD SC

Jon - PM sent to you! (on a different matter to this thread!)

Unpossible

I'd considered taking up WTF TKD recently but didn't for this reason. ITF seems to be more full contact though

I thought ITF was semi-contact and WTF full contact or have I gotten it completly wrong?

Edit; forgot my real question, do they sell Kurz's books in easons? or could I order it there? I don't have a credit card so cannot get it online.

yomchi

Unpossible wrote: »

I thought ITF was semi-contact and WTF full contact or have I gotten it completly wrong?

Edit; forgot my real question, do they sell Kurz's books in easons? or could I order it there? I don't have a credit card so cannot get it online.

You are technically correct.

I've never seen them in Easons, or Chapters for that matter. I've ordered off his website before with no problems.

Hephaestus

Unpossible wrote: »

I thought ITF was semi-contact and WTF full contact or have I gotten it completly wrong?

Bad choice of words on my part.

I guess what I was trying to say is that ITF TKD seems to emphasize more on self defence.

Anywho, I'm no expert on TKD so I'll say no more. Dont want to upset the TKD guys & girls:P

Tim_Murphy

Unpossible wrote: »

I thought ITF was semi-contact and WTF full contact or have I gotten it completly wrong?

I use the tactic Jon just did all the time when I don't want to admit something. When he said "You are technically correct", he should just have said "You are correct."

I sees what you're at Jon.

Unpossible

Jon wrote: »

You are technically correct.

Beaurocrat No 1.0 wrote:

The best kind of correct

:pac:

Hephaestus wrote:

Anywho, I'm no expert on TKD so I'll say no more.

I know next to nothing about it, hence my confusion.

yomchi

Tim_Murphy wrote: »

I use the tactic Jon just did all the time when I don't want to admit something. When he said "You are technically correct", he should just have said "You are correct."

I sees what you're at Jon.

Don't get me started on the rules :pac:

Lex Luthor

Sorry to jump in on this thread, but there seems to be different organisations for TKD in Ireland.

Can anyone explain the differences?

RITA/ITF/INTA ???

yomchi

Lex Luthor wrote: »

Sorry to jump in on this thread, but there seems to be different organisations for TKD in Ireland.

Can anyone explain the differences?

RITA/ITF/INTA ???

Very quickly - When the founder of Taekwon-Do died the ITF split into 3 groups. Eac groups has national representation in each/most countries.

In Ireland the RITA represent the ITF group controlled by North Korea, the INTA represent another group that operated out of Vienna and became known as ITF-V, the third group under the founders son is represented in Ireland by ITF Ireland which is an umbrella group for many other ITF schools.

They all do the same system of TKD, just different leaders for different reasons.

Unpossible

Seems a shame, is there any chance of them re-uniting?

yomchi

Unpossible wrote: »

Seems a shame, is there any chance of them re-uniting?

No chance! Too much money and pride involved.

Lex Luthor

Jon wrote: »

Very quickly - When the founder of Taekwon-Do died the ITF split into 3 groups. Eac groups has national representation in each/most countries.

In Ireland the RITA represent the ITF group controlled by North Korea, the INTA represent another group that operated out of Vienna and became known as ITF-V, the third group under the founders son is represented in Ireland by ITF Ireland which is an umbrella group for many other ITF schools.

They all do the same system of TKD, just different leaders for different reasons.

Thanks for the breakdown Jon.

Would you know if the belts that are awarded by the RITA in Ireland are recognised by the INTA if a student was to move from one organisation to the other?

TKD SC

Jon wrote: »

the third group under the founders son is represented in Ireland by ITF Ireland which is an umbrella group for many other ITF schools.

I heard that they're a very dodgy crowd

yomchi

Lex Luthor wrote: »

Thanks for the breakdown Jon.

Would you know if the belts that are awarded by the RITA in Ireland are recognised by the INTA if a student was to move from one organisation to the other?

Yes indeed they are. Infact from my understanding, both the RITA and INTA would have an amicable relationship.

Black Swan

shakenbake wrote: »

One thing I've got serious issues with is my flexibility ... it's BAD!! I've picked up a couple of yoga DVD's to help out there ... but if anyone could throw some helpful advice at me, I'd appreciate it !

Develop a habit of stretching during the day and night, not just before or after practice. For example, if you spend a lot of time with your laptop at home, watching the telly, or reading, don't sit in a chair or be a couch potato, but rather sit on the floor in a stretch. At first it's a real pain, and you may have to shift from one position to another a lot, but after a few months you will not even realise you are doing it.

Lex Luthor

Blue_Lagoon wrote: »

Develop a habit of stretching during the day and night, not just before or after practice. For example, if you spend a lot of time with your laptop at home, watching the telly, or reading, don't sit in a chair or be a couch potato, but rather sit on the floor in a stretch. At first it's a real pain, and you may have to shift from one position to another a lot, but after a few months you will not even realise you are doing it.

I'd have to agree here...I haven't trained at TKD for over 20yrs partly due to moving away from the club and I did my back an injury a few years after that.

But due to doing my back, I have had to stretch daily to keep it from niggling and I would say I am as flexible now as a 37yr old as I was when I was a teenager, if not more