Taekwon-Do

Anyone do TKD in the UK? I practice ITF TKD and was wondering if anyone does as well!
Thanks!

I'm joining a class on Tuesday

I have studied chen taiji and boxing for years and years, but haven't found anyone who does chen taiji here, so I've decided to take up something new!  I love the feeling of enpowerment and being able to defend myself- More than anything, I love the feeling you get after a workout!

I just wanted to update I joined TKD (not ITF but this seems to be a good club esp. for my area) and I am loving it!

Phatbeetle, are you still doing it? What rank/belt/tag are you?

I was pretty surprised that even after a couple of months how things came back to me and quickly. 

I feel the same way you do about defending myself, and love the work outs!

Long story short, no, but once I feel better, I'm getting back in there!!!

Good on you!! Glad you're enjoying yourself. That's great! 

It's good to hear they have TKD in England!!! I love it! I have recently been practicing Cuong Nhu because there isn't a good TKD club in Gainesville but I did TKD for 9 years!

9 years! wow, you certainly have me beat! What dan are you?

I have some family up near Gainesville (FL). Doesn't seem like there'd be too much of anything. lol

I love TKD, this club is WTF not ITF, so it's a bit different, but I already miss my old teachers and class mates even though I'm glad to be practicing again!

 Reinadeluz, what kind of TKD were you? Did you do a lot of sign wave? This club doesn't and I don't want to stop because it makes sense to me and my body is just trained to do it!

9 years! wow, you certainly have me beat! What dan are you?

I have some family up near Gainesville (FL). Doesn't seem like there'd be too much of anything. lol

I love TKD, this club is WTF not ITF, so it's a bit different, but I already miss my old teachers and class mates even though I'm glad to be practicing again!

 Reinadeluz, what kind of TKD were you? Did you do a lot of sign wave? This club doesn't and I don't want to stop because it makes sense to me and my body is just trained to do it!

I started TKD when I was really young (10-11) and just continued doing it until around 20-21! I'm 24 now, and so I'm crazy out of practice but learning a new style is still hurting my sense of what is "right"! I have so many habits ingrained in me from TKD that its a little difficult to change but I still love it. I made it to second dan black belt, I never had time to go for my third dan before I started Uni and thats when it all went downhill!

I practiced Jhoon Rhee TKD in Miami, Fl. I know it isn't very common so I'll probably have to switch over to ITF or WTF whenever I move. I did some olympic style TKD for a little while but it definitely wasn't for me!

I actually never did the "sign wave" thing and I'm not even sure what that is!

The one thing that bothers me about TKD in the US now is how money oriented it is - I tried to join an ATA school but they wouldn't let me wear my black belt unless I joined the "black belt club" and paid them like 500$ (on top of the membership fee!) I couldn't really care less about "status" so I said I would be willing to join as a white belt and just take classes and work on my basics and move on, and then I hit my next balking point - that they wanted me to "graduate" and move up in ranks before they would let me take more advanced classes and that would cost extra! Ugh. Just too much! I just want to practice you know? I've been through the whole rigmarole of grading and moving up and thats not what I'm interested in.

So anyway, right now I'm practicing Cuong Nhu through a university club - no pressure to "move up" and no fees!

I was recently thinking about maybe joining a class in TKD.  Out of curiousity, is it beginner friendly?  I've never done any form of martial arts.

Reindeluz, I know what you mean about ingrained. Your body does it with out you thinking! I'm having that problem now, he's showing new people how to do a low block in 2 moves, but I just can't stop my body from doing it, I can't break it down to two moves! lol

Sine wave is the up and down motion used to create more force/power, these do a better job of explaining than I could:

http://taekwondo.wisebytes.net/000203.html. 
http://www.raynerslanetkd.com/ARTICLES_Patterns_Sinewave.html
http://tkdtutor.com/06Concepts/Power/HipSnapWindingSineWave/HipSnapWindingSineWave02.htm

I also know what you mean about price/money.  I found a lot of clubs near me here are the same. A lot of people said be wary.  I find it rediculous that they wanted you to pay so much to continue your rank!! It costs a lot of time and money to work towards being a black belt and that's just ludicrus. I'm glad you're not training there. Everything costs money in the schools...I can understand that there is a turnover rate, but don't you think there's more of a turnover because of cost?!

The teacher here says I can stay the same rank (green) just work back up to it and then continue forward; but a lot of schools will make you start all over again.  My school in the states was pretty cool, they would take payments for equipment etc. I think he was a great teacher, and everyone there was so nice and helpful. Definately worth the money. I miss it.


Navie, I think it honestly depends on where you train and your teacher. I'm going to be honest,  in the beginning I personally found it very hard, you  use a LOT of muscles, and they're sore for a bit, and a certain level of fitness is required, but the good thing is that I was able to build up to that, doing push ups and all! I also found it a bit frustrating because my body didn't do what I wanted it to, I felt un co ordinated and off balance. But after a while it all just comes to you, you do it without thinking, you become flexible, strong, fit, and balanced. If you have a good teacher they will push you just past what you think you can do, and never push you too far. Also a good teacher will break it down for you and be helpful in teaching the moves.  I love TKD and I can't wait to get my black belt! (lots more training to do though!!!) I wish you the best of luck if you decide to join!