taekwondo benefits essay

15 Physical and Mental Benefits of Taekwondo (for All Ages!)

• November 10, 2022

Have you been considering taking up Taekwondo? Maybe you’re still on the fence because you’re not sure if it’s worth your time — or money. 

But when you stop to consider all that you can gain from training in Taekwondo, you’ll quickly realize the martial art is 100% worth it. 

To drive this point home and learn what Taekwondo is good for, let’s look at the 15 health benefits of Taekwondo here!

Table of Contents

1. Learn Self-Defense Skills

2. improve strength and muscle tone, 3. strong bones, 4. greater stamina, 5. better heart health, 6. improve flexibility, 7. weight loss, 8. improve reflexes, 9. confidence and self-esteem, 10. improve focus and concentration, 11. learn discipline, 12. improve goal-setting skills, 13. stress relief and management, 14. social interaction, 15. learn respect, taekwondo advantages and disadvantages.

All right, the first one is pretty obvious. After all, what does Taekwondo teach? Self-defense skills! 

In modern Taekwondo, there is a significant emphasis on the martial art as a sport. No one will encourage you to go around picking fights or deliberately put yourself in unsafe situations. 

However, the original purpose of Taekwondo was self-defense. If you’re paying attention in class, you’re going to learn something that could be useful to you on the street one day. 

Taekwondo focuses a lot on kicking. To perfect their kicks, Taekwondo students must drill the moves over and over for hours. A large part of many Taekwondo classes focuses on improving kicking accuracy and strength.

Well, what do you think happens to your muscles after all that drilling? Yep, they get stronger and you’ll develop more muscle tone. Maybe you’ll finally feel good about wearing a swimsuit at the beach after you’ve spent a few months in your Taekwondo dojang!

Another physical benefit that is not so noticeable is strengthening your bones. About 54 million Americans either have low bone density or have already developed osteoporosis, a bone disease. This means that approximately half of American adults over age 50 are at risk of breaking a bone!

However, you can greatly reduce the risk of this disease by strengthening your bones. You do this through weight-bearing exercises. 

Jumping and other high-impact exercises put stress on your bones, stimulating your body to produce new bone matter. This thickens and strengthens the bones over time. It’s the same idea as putting stress on your muscles causes them to grow stronger. 

When you first start Taekwondo classes, you might find that you tire easily. After just a few kicking drills, you need a minute to rest and catch your breath. 

However, as time passes and you push yourself in training, you’ll find yourself needing fewer and fewer breaks. You might even discover that you can take up jogging as a pastime — and actually like it!

Taekwondo is not strictly a cardio exercise and is not designed to be. However, through running, jumping, circuit training, kicking drills, and other aspects of training, you’ll definitely be getting your heart rate up, and this could be one of the biggest health benefits of Taekwondo. 

Any time you push your heart, you help to strengthen it. And a strong heart is excellent!

A strong heart can push more blood and oxygen throughout your body. Plus, stronger hearts are far less likely to develop heart disease or fall victim to strokes or heart attacks. And since heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US ( 697,000 people each year ) a strong heart means a longer life.

Furthermore, cardiovascular exercise lowers your cholesterol, moderates your blood sugar levels, and lowers your resting heart rate.  

Another of the big benefits of Taekwondo for adults and kids alike is greater flexibility. When you first walk into a Taekwondo class, you might watch nimble athletes kicking dummies at head height and think you would never be able to do that.

But over time, the stretching exercises will work their magic. With time and dedication, you will eventually become one of those nimble athletes aiming your foot right at the training dummy’s face!

How effective is Taekwondo at helping you lose weight? If you put your all into training, it can be very effective!

As we’ve been noting, there are a lot of great exercises involved in Taekwondo training. If you were a bit chubbier than you’d like when you start Taekwondo, you can kiss that extra weight goodbye. 

With dedicated training, those stubborn pounds will melt away — even the ones you’ve struggled to lose your whole life. 

Once students get an idea of the basic techniques in Taekwondo, it’s time to start sparring. As you train in this aspect of Taekwondo, you’ll develop better coordination and reflexes. 

After all, if you don’t want to get kicked or punched, you have to block your opponent’s technique or get out of the way!

Over time, this becomes more and more automatic. Your reflexes improve until eventually, you react without even thinking about it.

We’ve looked at several physical benefits of the sport, but now let’s turn our attention to some of the mental benefits of Taekwondo. Because beyond just getting a good physical workout, the philosophies and principles of Taekwondo also give your mind a good workout. 

One big benefit that most students enjoy is increased confidence and self-esteem. As your body becomes stronger and you begin to like what you see in the mirror, it’s nearly impossible for this not to translate into self-esteem. 

Plus, people seem less scary when you know you could take them in a fight!

What does it take to kick a target in the exact same spot 5 times in a row? How about breaking a board with your bare hands? Or slipping through your opponent’s defense with a stealthy, but powerful, technique?

All of these require extreme focus and concentration. If your mind is jumping all over the place, you’ll never accomplish these tasks. 

Many people don’t realize it, but the focus is a learned skill. Put yourself in situations that require concentration and you develop more of it over time. 

This is one of the best benefits of Taekwondo for kids with ADHD or other similar issues. It helps them learn to hone their focus, perhaps even without medication!

Here’s a big benefit of Taekwondo for students and adults alike.

You don’t get through months or years of Taekwondo classes without learning a bit of discipline along the way. There will be days you don’t want to go to class. There will be moments when another kick seems impossible. 

But every time you push through and do it anyway, you’re learning a little more discipline. This is an instrumental skill that if learned early will drastically alter the course of your life for the better.

Have you always found it difficult to follow through? Perhaps it is on goals you set for yourself or even promises you make to other people. 

Nobody wants to be that flaky, but sometimes it just happens. 

Learning Taekwondo can help with that. The entire process of training is literally setting and meeting one goal after another. You set a goal to stretch to this point, you want to kick to that height, and so on. As with anything, the more you practice a skill, the better at it you become. 

Having a stressful day? It sure feels good to hit a punching bag with all your might on those days! Physical exercise and the act of punching things are both great stress releases. 

Your stressful situation might not change, but how you feel about it certainly will! And often how you feel about it is more important anyway. Stress only takes a toll on your physical and mental health when you feel stressed, not just because you are confronted with a stressful situation. 

Did you know that there are also spiritual benefits of Taekwondo? One of them comes simply from the fact that it is usually a social activity. People come together for training and you might even discover some great friends along the way. 

Social interaction is an inherent need that we all have. There’s a reason solitary confinement is the highest level of punishment used in prisons. It breaks our spirits to go without human interaction for long periods of time. 

Of course, you can learn Taekwondo at home if there isn’t a dojang near you. And these days with the Internet, you can still get some social interaction by joining an online Taekwondo community. 

Finally, one of the basic tenets of Taekwondo is respect. Students are taught respect from day one. They are expected to treat the instructor and other students in a respectful manner. Even the dojang itself is shown respect.

As you learn respect through the physical cues learned in class, the ideal begins to permeate your mind. You begin to develop and show more respect for other people outside of Taekwondo class. This will help you in virtually everything because when you treat people with respect, they will naturally be drawn to you and inclined to help you. 

And, perhaps most importantly, you develop and show respect for yourself. 

Are you getting excited about learning Taekwondo? You should! This list of physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of Taekwondo gives you a small look into what how training can impact your life for the better. 

Though you might be wondering, are there any disadvantages to learning Taekwondo? Well, as with any sport, there is a risk of injury and practicing martial arts in particular can lead to a false sense of security. But joining the right school will limit these disadvantages significantly. 

Curious about a look at what you would be learning? Check out our list of 13 basic stances for Taekwondo beginners here !

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The Science Behind Taekwondo: Understanding the Physical Benefits

The martial art of Taekwondo, a discipline that has transcended its Korean martial roots to become a global phenomenon, is not only a sport but also a comprehensive fitness regimen that promises a multitude of physical benefits. This article delves into the scientific principles underpinning Taekwondo, illuminating how this practice enhances physical health, fortifies the body’s defences, and elevates mental wellbeing.

Introduction to Taekwondo

Originating from Korea, Taekwondo is a martial art characterized by its high-flying kicks and dynamic punches. Translating to “the way of foot and fist,” this discipline combines physical prowess with mental discipline, making it a holistic approach to personal development. Taekwondo is not just a means of self-defence; it is a path to self-improvement, engaging practitioners in a lifelong journey of physical and mental growth.

Physical Benefits of Taekwondo

Enhanced cardiovascular health.

One of the primary benefits of regular Taekwondo practice is improved cardiovascular health. The intense physical activity associated with Taekwondo – including sparring, patterns, and drills – increases heart rate, which in turn strengthens the heart muscle, reduces the risk of heart disease, and improves overall endurance.

Increased Muscle Strength and Tone

Taekwondo provides a rigorous full-body workout. Through its various techniques and movements, practitioners develop increased muscle strength and tone. The repetitive motion of kicks and punches, along with the practice of forms and sparring, builds muscle endurance and strength, particularly in the legs, arms, and core.

Flexibility and Agility

The high kicks and rapid movements essential to Taekwondo demand and foster exceptional flexibility and agility. Regular practice stretches and elongates the muscles, increasing the range of motion and reducing the risk of injury. Agility, or the ability to move quickly and easily, is also enhanced, contributing to better performance not only in Taekwondo but in other physical activities as well.

Improved Balance and Coordination

Executing Taekwondo techniques requires a significant amount of balance and coordination. The practice of standing on one leg while performing a technique, for instance, improves proprioception – the body’s ability to perceive its position in space. This enhances overall balance and coordination, skills that are beneficial in everyday activities.

Mental Benefits of Taekwondo

While the physical benefits of Taekwondo are well-documented, the mental health advantages are equally significant. Practitioners report improvements in focus, stress reduction, and self-esteem, underscoring Taekwondo’s role in promoting mental wellbeing.

The Science of Taekwondo

Biomechanics of kicking and punching.

At the heart of Taekwondo’s physical benefits is the science of biomechanics. The art’s distinctive kicks and punches are not merely about strength; they are about the efficient use of force. Understanding the biomechanics involved in these movements allows practitioners to maximise power while minimising effort and the risk of injury.

Physiological Adaptations

Engaging in Taekwondo leads to several physiological adaptations. Increased cardiovascular efficiency, muscle hypertrophy (growth), and enhanced neural connections for improved coordination are among the changes experienced by dedicated practitioners. These adaptations contribute to the overall physical and mental health benefits associated with Taekwondo.

Integration of Taekwondo in Daily Life

Taekwondo’s benefits extend beyond the dojang (training hall). The discipline, respect, and focus learned through Taekwondo have applications in personal and professional life. Moreover, the physical and mental health benefits contribute to a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle, making Taekwondo a valuable addition to anyone’s daily routine.

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13 Physical and Mental Benefits of Taekwondo (for All Ages!)

Introduction.

It is no secret that learning a martial art can offer a lot of value to a person. Regardless of the martial art you decide to learn and practice, you are going to experience a number of different benefits, both physical and unseen. These range from being able to defend yourself to building up your mental strength and endurance. 

Although most martial arts share similar benefits overall, these benefits may vary because of the different approaches, techniques, and philosophies between them. This isn’t to say that one martial art is better than another, nor is there an “ultimate best” martial art out there. Each one has a unique set of characteristics, and making the most of any specific martial art comes down to which one best suits the student. 

In this article, we are going to discuss what benefits Taekwondo can provide you, and what makes the benefits of this Korean martial art unique when compared to other martial arts. 

1. Improved muscle toning

Starting with one of the most obvious observations you’ll likely experience, Taekwondo focuses a lot on performing different sets of kicks and strikes. After drills have been repeated over and over to get a good understanding of how to perform a move, you’ll likely notice that you will have lost some weight and maybe even put on some muscle mass. Awesome, keep going!

2. Increased stamina

Going along with muscular changes, rigorous training in Taekwondo can help improve your stamina as well. When practicing Taekwondo, it’s important to consider how long you will be able to perform different kicks, blocks, strikes, and other moves. At first, you might find yourself trying to catch your breath after just a few moves or a few minutes of sparring practice, but this feeling will reduce with enough practice over time. 

3. More confidence

They say that part of getting what you want comes from having a positive attitude, and a positive outlook about yourself. When it comes to Taekwondo, this also holds true. Being able to perform some of the most advanced kicks, for example, requires having enough confidence in yourself so that you remain balanced and don’t fall over. Let’s also say that your self-esteem will also become enhanced over time as well, meaning that you will be more committed to continue practicing Taekwondo – even if it gets hard sometimes. 

4. Greater flexibility

You’ve probably noticed that kicks have been mentioned several times already. Yes, they are a big part of Taekwondo (we even wrote a whole article about it here), and performing these moves frequently and properly builds flexibility. Greater flexibility is somewhat unique to Taekwondo, as some martial arts are more focused on strength or endurance. In Taekwondo though, flexibility is just as important. 

5. Incredible concentration

Martial arts, including Taekwondo, is first and foremost a practice of building discipline. Whether you are learning a move for the first time, sparring with a classmate, or even in a self-defence situation, a high degree of concentration is going to be required to get through. A lot of people who go through numerous years of Taekwondo are often surprised when they reflect on the amount of focus they can quickly reach when compared to when they first started learning. 

6. Reflexes you never knew you had in you

Have you ever experienced that feeling where time almost feels slower around you? That feeling where you are able to quickly handle something that would normally be too fast for you to handle is something you can actually train yourself to control and use. This is common in many martial arts and competitive sports, but Taekwondo provides another method to reach that level of reflexes. 

7. More prepared to handle stress

Being able to react and overcome different opponents when sparring, for example, is an excellent case of proper stress management taking place. Practicing Taekwondo helps the student overcome the different mental stresses that are created and observed in both everyday life and during training sessions. Stress management and stress reduction results from the student overcoming and directly challenging fears, from practiced mental focus, and from understanding the sources of stress and how they impact us. 

8. Enhanced cognitive abilities

In recent years, science has discovered the relation between physical activity and cognitive functionality. Essentially, staying physically active and working towards a dedicated discipline often carries a positive impact on our cognitive abilities as well. If you have a child who enrolls in Taekwondo , for instance, don’t be surprised to see that they will be performing better in school later on!

Taekwondo is built on a set of traditions and philosophies that are still practiced to this very day. Starting from the very first class, the student is being trained to show respect to their peers, their instructors, and with anyone else they encounter outside of their classes too.

10. Better socialization skills

This one is not mentioned often enough in martial arts, but it deserves attention. This topic is multi-faceted, as there are different variables to consider, but here are a couple. Firstly, Taekwondo is not a solo activity. You will be dealing with other people, be it with your fellow classmates and your instructors. Each member of the class is working towards a common goal, but the road to reaching that goal requires a certain amount of communication with your peers. Secondly, as you interact with more people, both in your Taekwondo classes and outside of class, it isn’t uncommon to develop a better understanding of how other people behave and act in certain situations. These abilities and others can greatly help those who might find it hard to socialize with others. 

11. Leadership abilities

All of the characteristics of a discipline like Taekwondo help form good leadership abilities. From communication, to mental endurance, to integrity, and many other things, you will have a better capability of working with others and leading them towards a common goal. 

12. Accepting and recovering from failure

Being the best at Taekwondo, or any martial art for that matter, isn’t about always winning. In many philosophies behind martial arts, it’s imperative to understand that sometimes you will experience failure. The real lesson is in how to recover when you experience failure, and to understand that humility and a sense of humbleness is not only a tool, but an essential component for overcoming that failure. 

13. Improved ability to plan and follow-through

Taekwondo is a discipline that takes time to learn and become proficient at. As a new student enters a class for their first time, they are also entering into a long-term plan that they have knowingly or unknowingly envisioned for themselves. That plan is on attaining new skills and devoting time to practicing a discipline. Each step of the way has specific goals, is measurable, is achievable and realistic, and can be looked at over time. You may have heard of SMART goals before, and you’ll notice that Taekwondo not only has SMART goals, but it also teaches you how to create and follow through on any SMART goal you set out to do. 

As with many martial arts, Taekwondo is a fantastic method for improving yourself in many ways. Whether you are trying to before more fit, or learn how to be a good leader, or how to socialize, Taekwondo gives you the opportunity to improve on these aspects and many more. If you’re someone who’s serious about improving themselves for any number of reasons, then why not consider Taekwondo? Here’s an article on the many different kicks you would learn and see in Taekwondo. Soon enough, you too can be performing these moves!

What are the benefits of Taekwondo?

For children, Taekwondo can help them:

• have the self-confidence and strength to better deal with bullies
• develop the self-discipline and self-control to not bully others
• combat childhood obesity
• learn to focus and improve school performance
• set and achieve short term and long term goals
• become role models and develop leadership qualities

For adults, the variety and individual challenge of Taekwondo can also help them:

• achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle

• improve endurance, strength and overall fitness

• increase the likelihood that you will exercise regularly

• develop the skills to defend yourself

Besides being a lot of fun and a great form of self-defense, the exercise you get from Taekwondo (aerobic/cardio, strength training, flexibility) benefits every part of the body, including how you feel about yourself, the health of your heart, the strength of your muscles and the density of your bones.

When you exercise your body produces endorphins, which are chemicals that make you feel more peaceful and happier. Exercise can help some people sleep better and help with mild depression and self-esteem. Plus, exercise can give you a real sense of accomplishment from having achieved goals.

Exercising to maintain a healthy weight also decreases your risk of developing certain diseases, including type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, which used to be found mostly in adults but are becoming more common in teens. Exercise also helps prevent osteoporosis (weakening of the bones, making them more prone to breaking in later life especially among women).

Taekwondo encourages the development of positive character traits such as respect for others and self, self-control, patience, perseverance, self-confidence, a “can do” mindset, and a non-violent attitude.

Students learn to step up to challenges, overcome obstacles and become role models for others.

Almost any one can do it … children, teens and adults. You don’t need to be in shape first. In fact, many beginner students have never exercised regularly before trying their first Taekwondo class. Of course, we encourage you to talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise program.

Taekwondo … a great form of exercise and self-defense, plus a whole lot of fun!

What are you waiting for? Find a Taekwondo America school near you today!

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Taekwondo Essay Examples

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art that has gained worldwide popularity. Many students practice Taekwondo as a way to improve their physical and mental health while also learning discipline and self-defense techniques. If you’re looking to write a college essay about Taekwondo, there are many interesting topics and ideas to explore.

One popular topic for a Taekwondo essay is the benefits of practicing this martial art. You can discuss how Taekwondo helps with physical fitness, such as improving strength, flexibility, and balance. You can also explore the mental benefits, such as increased focus and self-discipline, as well as how practicing Taekwondo can boost confidence and self-esteem.

Among various Taekwondo essay ideas, one of the mpst popular is the history and philosophy behind this martial art. You can delve into the origins of Taekwondo, its evolution, and how it differs from other martial arts. Additionally, you can explore the philosophy of Taekwondo, such as the principles of respect, perseverance, and self-control.

If you’re looking for Taekwondo essay examples, you can find inspiration from personal experiences. You can discuss how practicing Taekwondo has helped you overcome challenges, build relationships, or achieve goals. You can also explore how Taekwondo has impacted your life and what you have learned from the practice.

When writing a college essay about Taekwondo, it is important to follow the proper essay format. The essay should have a clear introduction, body paragraphs that support your ideas with evidence, and a conclusion that summarizes your key points.

Overall, there are many interesting topics and ideas to explore when writing a Taekwondo essay. Whether you focus on the physical or mental benefits, the history and philosophy, or personal experiences, make sure to showcase your passion and dedication to this martial art.

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Why Taekwondo is the Ultimate Fitness Solution

Published by gary voysey on september 2, 2023 september 2, 2023, i. introduction:.

Welcome to the world of Taekwondo , a Korean martial art renowned for its plethora of physical and mental benefits . This article aims to delve into the various gains you can achieve through practicing Taekwondo. Whether you’re considering joining Taekwondo classes near me or you’re a seasoned practitioner, read on to discover the transformative power of this martial art.

Table of Contents

Ii. improved physical fitness:, muscle toning and stamina.

Muscle Toning : Taekwondo involves a range of movements that work various muscle groups, leading to improved muscle tone. The kicks and punches you execute are not just about power; they’re also about control. This control engages your muscles, providing a full-body workout that can significantly improve muscle tone.

Stamina : The high-energy routines boost your stamina, making you more resilient in daily activities. As you progress in your Taekwondo training , you’ll find that the routines become more complex and demanding, requiring sustained energy and endurance.

Flexibility and Cardiovascular Health

Flexibility : The art of Taekwondo requires dynamic movements, enhancing your flexibility. High kicks, low stances, and rapid turns are all part of the repertoire, each contributing to your overall flexibility.

Cardiovascular Health : The aerobic nature of Taekwondo training improves heart health. The constant movement and exertion increase your heart rate, providing excellent cardiovascular exercise.

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III. Empowerment Through Self-Defence Skills:

Learning practical self-Defence techniques is one of the key benefits of practicing Taekwondo . Mastering these skills not only boosts your self-confidence but also enhances your personal security.

Basic Strikes : Learn how to execute powerful punches and kicks. These are the building blocks of Taekwondo and serve as your primary means of self-Defence. Mastering these techniques can give you a significant advantage in dangerous situations.

Defensive Maneuvers : Techniques like blocking and dodging are taught to evade attacks. These skills are crucial for personal safety and can be applied in real-world scenarios where self-Defence is necessary.

IV. Enhanced Mental Focus and Self-Confidence:

Taekwondo double kick pads.

V. The Role of Discipline and Goal Setting:

Taekwondo instills discipline through structured training and a deep respect for instructors. Goal setting is integral for continuous improvement.

Structured Training : A well-defined curriculum guides your progress. This structure helps you understand your growth path, making the learning process more manageable and less overwhelming.

Goal Setting : Achieving belt ranks serves as milestones in your Taekwondo journey . These goals provide a tangible measure of your progress, motivating you to strive for the next level.

VI. Stress Relief and Holistic Well-Being:

One of the overlooked benefits of Taekwondo is its role in stress relief. The focused training sessions serve as a mental escape, contributing to holistic well-being.

Mindfulness : The practice encourages being present in the moment. This focus can act as a form of meditation, allowing you to escape the stresses of daily life and achieve a state of mental clarity.

Endorphin Release : Physical activity releases endorphins, elevating your mood. The “feel-good” hormones act as natural stress relievers, making you feel happier and more relaxed after each session.

Building Habits

VII. Fostering Respect, Courtesy, and Character:

Taekwondo places a strong emphasis on values.

Respect for Others : Bowing and polite language are customary. This instills a sense of respect not just for your instructors but also for your peers. This respect extends beyond the dojo, influencing your interactions in daily life.

Character Development : The martial art teaches virtues like integrity and humility. The discipline and respect you learn in Taekwondo can significantly contribute to your personal character, making you a better person both inside and outside the dojo.

VIII. Social Interaction and Community Building:

Joining Taekwondo classes near me offers a social environment where you can make friends and build a sense of community. The dojo is more than just a place for physical training; it’s a hub for social interaction and personal growth .

Teamwork : Group activities and sparring foster teamwork. In Taekwondo, you’re not just working on your own skills; you’re also part of a team. Whether it’s a group exercise or a sparring session, the activities are designed to promote collaboration and mutual support . This sense of teamwork can be incredibly empowering and adds a social dimension to the training.

Common Goals : The class collectively aims for improvement, creating a sense of shared purpose. Everyone is there to better themselves, and this common goal creates a strong sense of community. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced student, you’ll find that the collective pursuit of improvement creates a supportive and motivating environment.

The benefits of practicing Taekwondo are manifold, affecting both your physical and mental states. From muscle toning to stress relief, Taekwondo offers a holistic approach to well-being.

IX. Call to Action:

We’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, or questions. Feel free to comment below. Looking for a place to start? Search for Taekwondo classes near me to begin your journey.

Special Offer for Parents:

Are you a parent looking to provide your child with a holistic experience that offers both physical and mental benefits? Look no further! We invite you to sign up your child for a FREE trial class at Swift Current Christian Taekwondo . Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to introduce your child to the world of Taekwondo and witness firsthand the transformative power of this martial art.

There you have it! An in-depth look into the benefits of Taekwondo . Why not take the first step and enroll in a Taekwondo training class today?

Gary Voysey

Master Voysey has been practicing martial arts for over 30 years. He is currently a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo

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The Healthy for Life Taekwondo Pilot Study: A Preliminary Evaluation of Effects on Executive Function and BMI, Feasibility, and Acceptability

Kimberley d. lakes.

1 Division of Development and Behavior, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine

Tracy Bryars

2 Healthy for Life Program, St. Jude Medical Center; Fullerton, California

Swetha Sirisinahal

Nimrah salim, sara arastoo, natasha emmerson, daniel kang.

3 Elite Fitness Taekwondo, Irvine, California

4 Il Do Taekwondo, Irvine, California

Chang Jin Kang

There is growing consensus that exercise improves cognitive functioning, but research is needed to identify exercise interventions that optimize effects on cognition. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate Taekwondo implemented in public middle school physical education (PE). Two classes were randomly assigned to either: five sessions per week of PE or three sessions of PE and two sessions of Taekwondo. In PE sessions, evidence-based curriculum to address the Presidential Core Fitness Guidelines and California Physical Fitness Tests was implemented. Taekwondo sessions included traditional techniques and forms taught in an environment emphasizing respect and self-control. Sixty students were evaluated at baseline and during the last week of the intervention (nine months later). Differences in mean residualized change scores for parent-rated inhibitory behavioral control yielded a significant, large effect size ( d =.95, p =.00), reflecting greater improvement among Taekwondo students. Results from an executive function computer-administered task revealed greater accuracy on the congruent trial ( d = 2.00, p = .02) for Taekwondo students. Differences in mean residualized change scores for BMI z scores yielded a moderate, non-significant effect size ( d = − .51, p = .16). The majority of Taekwondo students reported positive perceptions of Taekwondo and perceived self-improvement in self-control and physical fitness. Results suggest that Taekwondo is an exercise program that improves cognitive functioning and is both feasible and acceptable to implement in a public school setting.

Among the many benefits of exercise, cognitive benefits are receiving increasing attention among scientists and society at large. Davidson, Amso, Anderson, and Diamond’s (2006) definition of executive function describes critical cognitive abilities, which could be potential targets in studies of the impact of exercise on cognitive functioning. These include holding information in mind and manipulating it to inform actions (working memory), exercising self-control (inhibition), and adapting behavior to meet situational demands (cognitive flexibility). These executive functions may be among the major human capacities that contribute to positive outcomes. In an observational study of 1,000 children recruited at birth and followed for 32 years, Moffit et al. (2011) found that measures of self-control in early childhood predicted physical health, substance dependence, personal wealth, and criminal outcomes in adulthood. They concluded that success depends largely on self-control, making it an important target for measurement and intervention. Moreover, they documented a robust self-control gradient that suggests that universal interventions are warranted.

Universal school-based interventions have tremendous potential to reach large numbers of children. Given growing concerns about children’s fitness and the rise of childhood overweight and obesity, school-based interventions that address physical fitness and executive functions simultaneously may provide a timely, efficient response that could change the trajectories of children at risk for health (overweight and obesity), academic, and behavior problems, which are interrelated and affected by executive functioning ( Moffit et al., 2011 ; Diamond & Lee, 2011 ). There is growing evidence that moderate to vigorous (aerobic) exercise promotes enhanced cognitive functioning (e.g., Davis et al. 2007 ; Tomporowski, Miller, Davis, Miller, & Naglieri, 2008 ). A meta-analysis documented an effect size of .32 on cognitive outcomes following exercise interventions, with middle school students showing the greatest improvements (Sibley & Etnier, 2003). Cognitively-engaging aerobic physical activity that incorporates planning, problem-solving, responding and adjusting to novel stimuli (set-shifting), and complex motor movements appears to have stronger effects on executive function processes than physical activity consisting of primarily repetitive movements, such as distance running and swimming, which require limited cognitive demands ( Best, 2010 ). Prior research suggests that increased oxygen saturation, angiogenesis, and levels of neurotrophins in the brain may account for exercise-induced improvements in cognitive performance, and benefits associated with changes in neural activity may be further enhanced by goal-directed physical activity that involves effortful mental engagement ( Hillman et al., 2008 ; Tomporowski et al., 2008 ). Reviews of the effects of exercise on cognition note that an important priority should be the study of specific exercise interventions that optimize effects on cognition ( Best, 2010 ; Hillman, Erikson, & Kramer, 2008 ; Diamond & Lee, 2011 ). Exercise interventions that may optimize effects on cognition include certain forms of dance, gymnastics, and martial arts, which share a focus on choreographed, complex physical movements.

An exemplar martial art is Taekwondo, a globally popular Korean martial art that is recognized as an Olympic sport. Traditional Taekwondo is an art refined over generations that engages students in a process whereby they work to improve themselves cognitively (e.g. building capacity to focus), physically (e.g., building physical flexibility, fitness, strength, and precision in motor movements), emotionally (e.g., learning to meditate, controlling negative emotions), and socially (e.g., practicing respect toward others and individual responsibility). Embedded in Taekwondo is a mature philosophy of behavior that emphasizes self-control, respect, integrity, perseverance, goal-setting, and focus. At the core of Taekwondo is an approach to exercise built on complex physical activity that involves planning, problem solving, and set shifting. The cognitive complexity of physical activity in Taekwondo practice is illustrated in poomse (“forms”) , which are a series of choreographed physical movements performed with technical precision in a particular order. At the beginner level of training, forms are relatively simple, having fewer and less technically difficult movements (for example, one lower-level form has 36 individual movements, including blocks and kicks, that follow a directional pattern requiring the student to turn multiple times in four different directions). In a serious of scaffolded steps, over a period of several months, a student practices his or her new form, practicing inhibitory control and exercising working memory. Practicing poomse ( Figure 1 ) exercises working memory by requiring the student to keep a series of steps and movements in mind and to execute them with precision in a particular order. For example, when a student first learns a form, the instructor may demonstrate the first six movements (e.g., performing a particular block while in a specific stance), practice those six movements alongside the student so she can follow, and then watch the student perform the six movements, providing prompts only when needed. The student will need to memorize the movements, keeping in mind not only the series of steps, but also the precise manner in which each is executed. While executing each step, she is also practicing inhibitory control by focusing her attention on her actions and evaluating and correcting herself when needed. When she has mastered these first six movements, the instructor will add another number of movements, continuing the process until the student can execute the entire form correctly. At each stage of progression (recognized by moving to higher levels that are noted by different belt colors), forms become more challenging (increasing both the number of steps or movements and the complexity and physical difficulty of the movements), and the Taekwondo student is expected to be able to perform all previously learned forms as well as new forms. The culmination of the experience of learning new forms and techniques is a ceremony where accomplishments are recognized among a community of instructors, peers, and family with a promotion accompanied by a certificate and new color belt.

Child practicing a Taekwondo form. (Photo Credit: Haiou Yang)

Prior research ( Ainsworth et al., 2000 ) has classified Taekwondo as a physical activity of vigorous intensity based on its rate of energy expenditure, with a metabolic equivalent (MET) intensity level of 10 (expressed as the ratio of its work metabolic rate to a standard resting metabolic rate of one unit/MET). Although the numerous functional benefits associated with martial arts, particularly Taekwondo, have received more empirical attention among adults, there is growing systematic evidence for the physical ( Kim, Stebbins, Chai, & Song, 2011 ), motor ( Fong, Tsang, & Ng, 2012 ), and cognitive and behavioral ( Lakes & Hoyt, 2004 ) benefits of Taekwondo for children and adolescents. Lakes & Hoyt demonstrated a positive impact of a school-based Taekwondo intervention on executive functions in elementary school students. They randomly assigned half of the homeroom classes in an elementary school (207 students) to a Taekwondo intervention, and the other half served as a control. The intervention group participated in traditional Taekwondo during 2 of their 3 weekly physical education (PE) sessions; their third session was standard PE. The control group participated in standard PE for all 3 of their weekly PE sessions. Lakes & Hoyt used multi-method, multi-informant pre and post intervention assessments to evaluate outcomes. The Taekwondo group showed significant improvements in the areas of observer-rated cognitive, affective, and motor regulation; children in the Taekwondo group also improved more on an executive function task and were rated by their teachers as demonstrating more improvement in prosocial behavior. Gains were greater for those with poorer executive function pre-intervention and for older (5 th and 6 th grade) children. The intervention was brief – three months long – and was conducted in a private school in an affluent community where children’s baseline scores indicated very few problem behaviors. Thus, it was notable that improvements were found given the limitations of the sample.

The Present Study

This study was developed as a community-based participatory research project. The lead researcher had worked with a successful community-based intervention program, Healthy for Life, as a part of the community engagement efforts of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at UC Irvine. Healthy for Life was formed as a community initiative to enhance public nutrition and physical education in schools where obesity and overweight rates were the highest. Healthy for Life had successfully provided training for PE teachers as well as nutrition education (providing educational information to parents and students) for eight years. In addition to training PE teachers, Healthy for Life also provided equipment as well as guest kickboxing instructors to enhance PE classes. Initially, the researcher worked with Healthy for Life to help evaluate program outcomes and examine potential areas to increase the program’s impact. Their positive experiences with kickboxing led to an interesting research question – if kickboxing were replaced with traditional Taekwondo training, could students improve their executive function and behavior as well as their physical fitness?

Together, academic and community partners developed the current pilot study to address the feasibility and acceptability of implementing Taekwondo into PE in a public, low-income middle school as well as to investigate the effects of Taekwondo in a Title 1 (low-income) middle school over a full academic year. In addition, the study was designed to test and evaluate the use of a research assessment protocol in a school setting and to examine preliminary outcomes. This extends the research of Lakes & Hoyt (2004) by examining executive function and health outcomes in a diverse population of students (older children from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds), over a longer period of time (nine months instead of three months), in larger PE classes (close to 50 students instead of 16), and in a different Taekwondo system (i.e., the intervention would be taught by different instructors than those in the prior study). In addition, a direct measure of executive function ( Davidson, Amso, Anderson, & Diamond, 2006 ) and physical measures were added to the assessment protocol.

Predicted outcomes were based on two hypotheses. Hypothesis 1: Students in the Taekwondo group would demonstrate greater improvement in executive functions than children in the PE control group. Hypothesis 2: Students in both groups would demonstrate equivalent improvements in physical fitness. During the community planning process, community members asked if Taekwondo, because of its inclusion of activities perceived to be less aerobic and more cognitive (e.g., learning a form), might have a weaker effect on overweight and obesity. Researchers and Taekwondo instructors expected that this would not be the case as Taekwondo includes intervals of high aerobic activity and, thus, hypothesized that physical outcomes would be equivalent to those obtained through PE.

Participants and Randomization Design

The study was implemented at a public middle school in Southern California. The participating middle school had two grade levels (7 th and 8 th ) and more than 600 students. The school’s 2011 accountability report indicated that among its 7 th grade students, only 32.6% met all six of six fitness standards established by the state of California (in the areas of aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extension strength, upper body strength, and flexibility), based on a health-related fitness assessment tool (FITNESSGRAM).

Each student at the participating school participated in daily PE (5 PE classes per week, each approximately 40-45 minutes in length). The school agreed to implement Taekwondo as a component of their PE curriculum (in two of the five PE sessions across the week) for one academic year for this study. Two PE classes were selected for the study based on the following criteria: 1) both classes were taught by the same PE teacher to ensure that their weekly PE sessions (five for the control group and three for the Taekwondo group) contained the same curriculum with the same instructional style; 2) the classes occurred consecutively in the morning (about 10:15 and 11:00 a.m.) to minimize effects due to the time of day; 3) the classes were both in the participating grade level (7 th grade); and 4) assignment to either PE section was expected to be random and not dependent on other factors that might impact sample characteristics. The two selected classes were randomly assigned to either Taekwondo or an enhanced PE condition. Research participation was optional.

At the beginning of the school year, researchers asked parents of children in the two classes for permission to study the program effects by sending study information home for their review. Consent and all parent rating forms were provided in the three most common languages spoken by the parents of participating children: English, Vietnamese, and Spanish. Ninety-eight students were enrolled in the two classes at the beginning of the school year; 81 students (83% of the enrolled students) participated in the evaluation. Parents of 60 of these 81 students provided consent for their child’s participation in individual assessments to measure outcomes, although some provided only partial consent (e.g., consent for physical measurements, but not psychological or vice versa). Parents of the unconsented students did not respond to information sent home; feedback from their teacher indicated that in some situations, parents were unable to respond (e.g., due to incarceration) and some students were living with friends or extended family. In addition, although recruitment materials and consent documents were provided in the three most common languages in the community, some parents needed materials in additional languages and because of resource limitations, translation was not available in those languages. After parental consent was obtained, students provided assent for their participation. Demographic characteristics of participants are summarized in Table 1 .

Note. Attention and Behavior Control means at baseline were measured using the SWAN parent rating scale. Reported means are based on a 7-point scale, where 7 represents exceptional attention or behavior control and 1 represents severe impairment. Differences between groups at baseline were significant for baseline attention and behavior means ( p = .04); therefore, baseline SWAN scores were used as covariates in all executive function analyses.

Power Analysis

Power analysis was based on an anticipated effect size on behavioral outcome measures of d = .40 ( Lakes & Hoyt, 2004 ). With an N of 75 per group, to detect an effect of this size, power would be 95% ( Cohen, 1988 ). Therefore, this pilot study lacked sufficient power to measure effects with statistical significance, but was expected to be sufficient to note trends in improvements that could be studied in a subsequent larger study. Thus, the analytic plan focused on the computation of effect sizes and confidence intervals ( Cummings, 2012 ) in addition to statistical significance testing.

Study Procedures

The PE group received standardized PE with activities that included stretching, running, and exposure to various sports and games. Students in this condition participated in these activities for all five of their weekly PE sessions. Prior to the start of the year, the PE teacher participated in training provided by the Healthy for Life program. A two and half hour training session with a PE Master Trainer provided the teacher with an evidence-based, age-appropriate physical activity curriculum and equipment to address the Presidential Core fitness Guidelines as well as the California Physical fitness Tests. As part of the Healthy for Life program, the Fitness for Life Curriculum ( www.fitnessforlife.org ) was provided to supplement the current district PE curriculum. The same teacher taught PE classes using this same Fitness for Life Curriculum in both the PE (5 sessions) and TKD (3 sessions) conditions. Contracted Taekwondo masters (i.e., instructors who had earned a fifth degree black belt) taught the two weekly Taekwondo sessions in the TKD condition. The Taekwondo instructors had extensive experience teaching Taekwondo to children, both in their private studios and in a local, private school where they had previously taught Taekwondo as physical education.

The Taekwondo group practiced traditional Taekwondo techniques (e.g., stances, blocks, strikes, and kicks) and poomse (forms) in a physically active setting with a focus on mindful practice. The environment was structured to emphasize respect, including bowing to the instructor as well as fellow students and reporting to class in a traditional uniform, which was provided to participants at no cost. Training was scaffolded and provided opportunities for mastery experiences and recognition of accomplishment. Learning Taekwondo involves: a) planning steps necessary to execute a movement or series of movements, b) self-monitoring movements, c) self-evaluating performance, and d) self-correcting by adjusting movements to mirror techniques demonstrated by the instructor. In traditional Taekwondo, sparring (one-on-one matches to practice self-defense) is not taught to students until they achieve a particular belt level and earn the instructor’s trust in their capacity to use their training only for self-defense (versus aggression toward others). In the 9-month intervention, students would not achieve the necessary level to spar; therefore, the one-on-one sparring that many people think of when they think of martial arts was not part of the intervention. Over the nine-month period student progressed two levels (from white to orange belt and from orange to yellow belt) in Taekwondo (most Taekwondo systems have at least 10 color belt levels prior to earning a black belt).

Assessment Procedures and Instruments

The research design included a multimethod approach to measuring outcomes. Cognitive outcomes were measured using a computer test of executive function (at post-test only) as well as parent ratings of student’s attention and behavior control (at both pre- and post-test). Physical outcomes were measured using a pediatrician’s assessment (at both pre- and post-test), and program acceptability was measured using a participant questionnaire (at post-test only). At both time-points, parent questionnaires were delivered to parents in a stamped envelope with a request to return all forms within one week. Executive function computer task assessments and physical measurements were conducted during school hours at the school; the pediatrician and assistants were not made aware of group assignment. Students and parents received incentives ($5 each) for completing outcome measures at each time-point.

Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD and Normal Behavior (SWAN)

The SWAN (Lakes, Riggs, & Swanson, 2011) is a rating scale completed by parents or teachers to measure attentional and behavioral control (available at www.adhd.net ). The SWAN has 18 items that load on two factors, each with 9 items: Attention and Hyperactivity/Behavioral Control. On each item, the child is rated on a 7-point scale (far below average, below average, slightly below average, average, slightly above average, above average, and far above average). Examples of attention items include: “Gives close attention to detail and avoids careless mistakes,” “Sustains attention on tasks or play activities,” “Listens when spoken to directly,” “Organizes tasks and activities,” “Engages in tasks that require sustained mental effort,” and “Ignores extraneous stimuli.” Behavioral control items include: “Modulates motor activity,” “Modulates verbal activity,” “Reflects on questions (control blurting out answers),” and “Sits still (controls movement of hands/feet or controls squirming).” In this study, the SWAN was scored so that higher scores indicated greater inhibitory control.

The SWAN was provided to parents in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The psychometric properties of scores derived from the English and Spanish versions of the SWAN have been studied in prior research (e.g., Swanson et al, 2012; Lakes, Riggs, & Swanson, 2011), but the Vietnamese version was translated specifically for this intervention study. In this sample, the internal consistency of scores obtained using the SWAN was strong: .97 and .95 for the Attention and Hyperactivity (Behavioral Control) scales, respectively.

Hearts & Flowers Executive Function Test

The Hearts & Flowers test ( Davidson, Amso, Anderson, & Diamond, 2006 ; Diamond, Barnett, Thomas, & Munro, 2007) measures executive functions, including attention, inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. This measure was administered to students individually by a researcher using a touch-screen laptop computer in a private office at the school. All students completed the test on the same laptop computer and were instructed to place their hands in the same position in front of the screen in order to maintain equal distances from the screen for all students. Students wore noise-reducing headphones to block outside noise. Completion of the test (consisting of three blocks of trials) required about 8 minutes per student, including set-up, instructions, and practice. In the first block (Congruent), students were asked to press a button on the screen on the same side as the stimulus (heart). Following practice, there were 12 trials in which the heart appeared on either the left or right side of the screen. For the second block (Incongruent), students were asked to press the button on the opposite side of the stimulus (a flower). After practice, there were 12 trials. The final block (Mixed) consisted of 33 trials in which a student was presented with either a heart or flower; students were required to inhibit automatic responses, retain rules in working memory, and quickly shift between rules to press the correct button. Performance was evaluated using accuracy scores and median response time (in milliseconds) for each of the three blocks. The first trial of each block was omitted from analysis for both accuracy and response time scores. Accuracy scores were based on the percentage of correct responses in a given block (number of correct responses divided by the number of trials). To reduce the effects of outliers, a median response time was calculated for each block ( Davidson et al., 2006 ); analysis was based on response times for correct responses only.

Physical Measurements

A pediatrician conducted a physical evaluation on each student. Standard, calibrated scales for weight and stadiometers for height were used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI was determined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 growth charts for ages 2-20 years and by gender. Height and weight were obtained from each participating student and their BMI was calculated. According to the CDC, students were identified as overweight with a BMI in the 85 th – 94 th percentile and students with a BMI ≥ 95 th percentile were identified as clinically obese. If a student was identified as clinically obese (BMI ≥ 95 th percentile), had elevated blood pressure for age, gender and height percentile, had acanthosis nigricans (physical sign of insulin resistance/prediabetes) or had other medical concerns, parents were informed by the pediatrician and encouraged to obtain further medical assessment by their physician or local clinic. Prior to analysis, standardized z -scores were computed for each student’s BMI.

Acceptability Questionnaire

Acceptability of the intervention was evaluated by asking Taekwondo students to complete an evaluation developed for this study. Students responded to seven questions using a 6-point Likert scale (1=Strongly disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Slightly disagree, 4=Slightly agree, 5=Agree, and 6=Strongly Agree). Items are listed in Table 3 .

Note. Students responded using a 6-point Likert scale (1=Strongly disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Slightly disagree, 4=Slightly agree, 5=Agree, and 6=Strongly Agree). The number reported is the median response, and the standard deviation (SD) is shown in parentheses.

Data were collected from multiple sources using a multimethodological approach (e.g., self-report questionnaire, computerized performance task, parent questionnaire, physical measurements), and were merged into a primary database to facilitate efficient data management. SPSS (version 20) was used for all analyses.

To test Hypothesis 1, exercise condition (group) served as the primary predictor variable with measures of executive function as dependent variables. BMI z -scores served as the outcome variable to test Hypothesis 2. For SWAN scores and BMI z -scores, ANCOVAs were used to test for differences between groups, with pre-intervention scores included as covariates in the analyses. For all measures except the executive function computer task, post-test scores were regressed onto their corresponding measures of pre-test scores to obtain unstandardized residualized change scores. Effect sizes were computed by subtracting the mean residualized change score for the control group from the mean residualized change score for the intervention group and dividing by the average of the standard deviations for the intervention and control group means. Cummings’ (2012) ESCI (Exploratory Software for Confidence Intervals: www.thenewstatistics.com ) was used to compute 95% confidence intervals. Data obtained from the executive function computer test were analyzed using the two-group post-test only randomized design; these analyses were limited to students who had baseline data for parent-rated executive function (SWAN scores). ANCOVA was used to test for differences between groups, with SWAN total scores included as a covariate to adjust for baseline differences in executive function. A logarithmic transformation was used on congruent trial accuracy scores of the executive function computer task to reduce skewness. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d ) were computed by subtracting the control group mean from the intervention group mean and dividing by the pooled standard deviation. N’s varied across measures (and are noted in the tables) due to partial consents and missing data (i.e., for some students residualized change scores could not be computed because they were absent during either the pre or post testing sessions). Nonsignificant results from ANCOVAs should be interpreted cautiously, as our power analysis indicated that it would be unlikely that we would detect significant differences given the sample size of this pilot study.

Frequencies were computed for demographic data and responses to the acceptability questionnaire. As the acceptability questionnaire yielded ordinal data, the median was selected as the most appropriate statistic to report ( Clegg, 1998 ). Open-ended responses on the questionnaire were analyzed using qualitative thematic methods ( King, 1998 ; Crabtree and Miller, 1999 ); researchers independently reviewed the qualitative data to identify themes as they emerged in the data. Researchers then met to review the data and discuss the themes. In accordance with qualitative procedures, supporting examples of themes are provided in the results.

Hypothesis 1: Parent-Rated Inhibitory (Attentional and Behavioral) Control

Mean residualized change scores for attentional control and behavioral control are reported in Table 2 . Differences in mean residualized change scores for attention and behavioral control yielded moderate to large effect sizes ( d ’s = .62 and .95 for the attention and behavior control scales, respectively). Differences between groups were statistically significant for the behavioral control scale ( p < .001). These findings indicated greater improvement among students enrolled in Taekwondo compared to the PE control group (see Figure 2 ).

Parent-Rated Attentional and Behavioral Control: 95% Confidence Intervals for Mean Residualized Change Scores. N=22 (n’s = 9 and 13 for the TKD and PE groups, respectively). TKD = Taekwondo group. PE = Comparison group. Attentional and Behavioral Control were measured using SWAN Parent-Rated Attention and Hyperactivity/Behavior Control subscale scores, respectively. Means are based on residualized change scores (residuals from regression of post-test scores on pre-test scores for each measure). CI = Confidence Interval.

Note. N’s = 22 for parent ratings, 27 for the executive function computer task, and 32 for BMI z-scores. Attentional and Behavioral Control means and standard deviations ( SDs ) are based on residualized change scores (residuals from regression of post-test scores on pre-test scores). EF Task means and SDs are based on performance at post-test controlling for baseline Attentional and Behavioral Control Total Scores. d = (mean treatment group − mean comparison group)/ sd pooled . CI = Confidence Interval.

Hypothesis 1: Executive Function Task Performance (Inhibitory Control, Working Memory, Cognitive Flexibility)

Results for the Congruent, Incongruent, and Mixed trials (see Table 2 , Figure 3 ) indicated greater accuracy among Taekwondo students ( d ’s = 2.0, 1.43, and 2.33), and the difference between groups was statistically significant for (log-transformed) accuracy on the congruent trial ( p = .02). Differences in response times were not statistically significant; though not significant, the effect sizes indicated a small effect for faster response times on the congruent trial and moderate to large effects for slower response times on the incongruent and mixed trials among Taekwondo students.

Executive Function Task Performance: 95% Confidence Intervals for Mean Accuracy Scores by Group. N=27 (n’s = 11 and 16 for the TKD and PE groups, respectively). TKD = Taekwondo group. PE = Comparison group. C = Congruent, I = Incongruent, and M=Mixed Trials from the Hearts and Flowers Executive Function Task. CI = Confidence Interval.

Hypothesis 2: BMI z -scores

Differences in mean residualized change scores for BMI z -scores ( Table 2 ) yielded a non-significant, negative, moderate effect size ( d = − .51, p = .16), indicating a trend toward larger BMI reduction among students in the Taekwondo group.

Feasibility and Acceptability of the Program

School personnel remained supportive of and enthusiastic about Taekwondo throughout the academic year and expressed a willingness to continue the intervention contingent upon funding. There were no adverse events reported over the course of the intervention. The primary administrative challenge was that some students needed to change their course schedule and, as only one class at the school received Taekwondo, course schedule changes impacted their ability to participate. As a result, several students who completed an initial assessment did not complete the intervention. At the start of the second semester, administrators found it challenging when enrolling students in their second semester classes to keep all the Taekwondo students in one PE class. However, they managed to arrange schedules to accommodate the completion of the intervention and keep the students together for their Taekwondo intervention. In the second semester, control group students were placed in several different PE classes (i.e., were no longer in one combined class), but all had the same Fitness for Life PE curriculum throughout the year. In the future, school administrators noted that it would help if several classes in the same school at the same grade level were assigned to Taekwondo to allow for more flexibility in scheduling.

Acceptability of the intervention to students was evaluated by asking all students in the Taekwondo class ( n =46) to complete a questionnaire. Results are presented in Table 2 . There were no significant difference in responses between boys and girls. Two additional questions asked for open-ended feedback on what students enjoyed most and least about the program. Qualitative themes and supporting student comments are summarized in Table 3 .

Effects on Executive Function and Behavior

The first hypothesis of this pilot study was that students in the Taekwondo group would demonstrate greater improvement in executive functions than children in the PE control group. Improvements in parent-rated inhibitory behavioral control were noteworthy ( d = .95, p < .001), indicating that improvements promoted in Taekwondo training generalized to other contexts. Similarly, improvements in parent-rated attention control were also observed ( d = .62, p = .23), but were not significant, which is not surprising given the limited power in this pilot study. These effect sizes were larger than the effects on teacher-rated behavior and attention reported in prior Taekwondo research ( d ’s = −.23 and −.20 for the whole sample, and d ’s = −.45 and −.24 for boys only, for teacher-rated conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention, respectively; Lakes & Hoyt, 2004 ). Parent-rated improvements in executive function were confirmed by student performance on an executive function test; large effect sizes were observed for accuracy on all three tasks. Although this difference was statistically significant for only one of the three tasks, this was to be expected given the small sample size in this pilot study. Interestingly, response times for the three task suggested that Taekwondo students were slightly faster on the congruent trial, but slowed down (presumably to inhibit automatic responses and improve accuracy) on the incongruent and mixed trials. Differences in response times should be interpreted cautiously, though, as none were statistically significant.

Effects on BMI z scores

The second hypothesis of this study was that students in both groups would demonstrate equivalent improvements in physical fitness. Although there was no significant difference between groups, there was a moderate effect size suggesting greater physical benefits for the Taekwondo students ( d = −.51 for BMI z -scores). This effect size was larger than the effect size reported in a prior study comparing Taekwondo to PE ( d = .28, indicating greater improvement in physical fitness and coordination among Taekwondo students compared to PE students; Lakes & Hoyt, 2004 ). This is a noteworthy effect given that the control group also was engaged in evidence-based physical activity, including running and playing active games.

Implementation of Taekwondo in Public School Physical Education

Acceptability results, based on direct student feedback about the Taekwondo intervention, should be interpreted in comparison to prior research on middle school attitudes toward PE. Carlson (1994) studied perceptions of PE among a large sample of junior high school students, and found that only 51% had positive attitudes toward PE. Results from students in this study indicate that more students held positive attitudes toward Taekwondo than students of similar age in prior research held regarding PE in general. Interestingly, themes identified in student comments about what they liked most about Taekwondo were consistent with hypotheses regarding the expected effects of Taekwondo training on students. Students identified perceived self-improvement in areas including self-discipline and physical fitness as examples of their favorite aspects of Taekwondo. Students also described enjoying learning challenging new tasks (e.g., obstacle courses, forms). In a review of interventions shown to improve executive functions, Diamond & Lee (2011) noted that a common theme across interventions that have positive effects on executive function was the introduction of incrementally challenging material. Taekwondo incorporates progressively more difficult techniques and forms, and instructors provide scaffolding while students are learning to ensure that appropriate supports are in place so that the student does not become overly discouraged. Some students reported enjoying this process and the sense of accomplishment they felt when they mastered a new skill or form, particularly when their accomplishment was recognized at a test and belt promotion ceremony.

Negative student comments included references to “ hard work ” and were often connected to the perception that students in other PE sections had it easier and were playing games that were less challenging. Overall, negative comments were not unlike those that could be expected with any physical activity intervention designed to promote physical and cognitive health – the exercises were physically and cognitively challenging. Most importantly, some of these comments came from students who had rated their enjoyment of the Taekwondo program highly; while they appreciated the intervention and perceived it as beneficial, they simultaneously disliked “ hard work .” Thus, many recognized that the training was difficult, but still indicated that they would like to continue and perceived it as beneficial. This is important, as one of the challenges in providing quality physical training is motivating students to participate in vigorous exercise. However, some students who commented on the difficulty indicated that they would not be interested in continuing Taekwondo training. In future research, it would be interesting to interview these students to identify whether or not there could be modifications to the Taekwondo intervention or alternative exercise interventions that might be more motivating and equally effective for them.

Limitations and Implications for Future Research

Results from this study and prior research ( Lakes & Hoyt, 2004 ) suggest that Taekwondo is an example of a program of exercise that produces positive effects on executive function. The evidence supports the need for a large-scale, school-based randomized trial to evaluate the effects of Taekwondo in a PE setting on cognitive, behavioral, and physical outcomes. Impact on emotion regulation, though not addressed in this study, should be studied as well, as prior research (Lakes & Hoyt) documented a significant effect of intervention on emotion regulation. It will be important to collect detailed information on the implementation of Taekwondo as well as a PE control to document the amount of time spent engaged in various activities as well as objective measures of physical activity (to monitor heart rate, etc.). Future research should include multiple measurements both during and following the intervention to measure change over time and study whether or not gains are maintained after the intervention has concluded. Limitations of this study included the sample size (which was both smaller than required for sufficient power and affected by recruitment issues related to partial consents and limitation of recruitment to families speaking one of three languages) and implementation in a single school, which were a function of both the nature of the study (pilot and feasibility research) and resources (e.g., limited funding for intervention, measurement, translation, and participant incentives). Moreover, future research should include additional measurements of physical fitness and body composition as well as measures of exercise intensity and rates of participation among individual students.

The implementation of a school-based Taekwondo intervention to strengthen executive functioning is feasible and worthy of consideration by school administrators. The long-term impact of simultaneously improving executive functions and BMI, particularly among students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and at risk for poorer outcomes, could mitigate serious and costly societal and health burdens. This study is particularly timely as financial support and time for PE have been cut in many schools, and results of this research could impact administrator perceptions of the importance of PE and specific exercise approaches that could improve both academic and health outcomes.

• Taekwondo students demonstrated improvements in parent-rated inhibitory control (attentional and behavioral control)
• Taekwondo students’ performance on a computerized executive function task revealed greater accuracy in comparison to control group students
• Results suggest that Taekwondo is an exercise program that optimizes effects on cognitive functioning

Acknowledgments

A Young Investigator Prize for Research in NeuroEducation (Aspen Brain Foundation & New York Academy of Sciences) awarded to the first author supported this research. This research also was supported by funding from the National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant UL1 TR000153, as well as funding from the NIH Loan Repayment Program (L60MD002127). Campus Community Research Incubator funds from this grant were awarded to the two community partners: Healthy for Life and Elite Fitness Taekwondo. In addition, in kind contributions from academic and community partners made this research possible. We thank the participating school, parents, and students for their willingness to contribute their time and feedback. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

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13 Benefits of Taekwondo That Will Make You Want Your Black Belt

If you are into martial arts or would like to get into some kind of fighting sport, you should definitely check out Taekwondo. It is a very old Asian fighting style that relies primarily on striking with the legs as opposed to the hands. It is a sport that exemplifies self-defense, discipline, focus, and good health, and it definitely holds a lot of benefits.

The benefits of Taekwondo are quite numerous, each of which can go a long way in improving both your mental and physical health. Keep reading to find out what all of the benefits of Taekwondo are. We bet that by the time you are done reading this article you will be more than tempted to sign up for the nearest class.

Benefit #1: It Is A Social Activity

One of the things that we really like about Taekwondo is that it is a group activity. This is true both for you and for your children who may be taking a Taekwondo class. Humans are by nature gregarious creatures and that means that we don’t like to be alone, we are herd animals and that is a fact. Being alone, especially for extended periods of time is never fun and it can get quite depressing no doubt.

Taking a Taekwondo class a few times, or even just once per week, is a great way to get out of the house and get a change of scenery. Moreover, a Taekwondo class is a great place to meet new people and make new friends. Having friends is very important because they give us something to fall back in when times are tough, and when it comes to your kids, there is no better time to make friends than when they are young.

Friends are people you can talk to, friends are people to rely on, friends are people that get you into parties and can get you jobs too. The bottom line is that friends are important and a Taekwondo class is a great place to find them.

Benefit #2: Goal Setting & Discipline

Taekwondo is not all about the physical, and as with the case with most martial arts, Taekwondo has much to do with mental discipline as it does with physical discipline. Taekwondo is not an easy thing to learn, and every single set of moves, every strike, and every stance takes a lot of discipline to master.

Learning the various aspects of Taekwondo and perfecting them involves goal setting. You have to set a goal, of say, learning one specific strike, and you have to use self-discipline in order to meet that goal. Taekwondo does a good job at teaching you and your children that nothing in life is easy and that everything, every goal, which you set, requires a whole lot discipline to accomplish.

Money doesn’t fall off of tress, jobs don’t grow out of the ground, and successful relationships don’t just materialize out of thin air. Everything that you do in life takes a whole lot of discipline to accomplish and Taekwondo is a great way to learn how to set and meet goals, as well as having the discipline to meet those goals.

As is the case with Taekwondo, where you might have to practice for countless hours before you master a certain move or strike, once you do master it you can feel great about achieving your goals. This learning of goal setting and self-discipline will go a very long way in your daily life and will help you achieve your life goals with ease.

Benefit #3: The Ability To Defend Yourself

Taekwondo is a great martial art to practice, a martial art that might just come in handy in some rough situations. Of course one of the main purposes of Taekwondo is to teach you various different ways of defending yourself.

Obviously one of the first rules of Taekwondo is to only use it for sport, for sparring, or for self-defense, but never for offensive purposes. Well, sometimes things go south and some people may threaten you. There are bullies and robbers all over this world, and sometimes the only way to deal with them is to physically defend yourself.

Taekwondo is an amazing thing to know in sticky situations and it is by far one of the best forms of martial arts that will allow you to defend yourself. When it comes to a life or death situation, when it is you versus them, Taekwondo will allow you to come away unscathed.

Benefit #4: Increasing Your Self Esteem

Another big benefit that you can get from practicing Taekwondo on a regular basis is that it can go a very long way in increasing your confidence and your self-esteem. First of all, Taekwondo involves learning various different poses, patterns, moves, strikes, and anything else that comes with this martial art.

Every single time you learn a new move and you perfect it, it gives you a confidence booster and it’s as simple as feeling good because you have accomplished something. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to get some praise from the master of the class either.

Taekwondo can also help you improve your self-confidence because it tones your muscles and helps you lose weight, both which happen through the virtue of it being a high-intensity martial art to be practicing. Simply put, when you look better you will also feel better, and there is no better feeling than when you look in the mirror and you see a muscly hunk staring back at you.

Finally, as we mentioned before, a martial art like Taekwondo teaches you how to defend yourself, and knowing that you can hold your own in a tough situation definitely inspires confidence and self-esteem. If you don’t feel very good about yourself, maybe you should try taking some weekly Taekwondo classes as a solution.

Benefit #5: Cardiovascular Health

While Taekwondo is not purely a cardiovascular training art, it does involve certain aspects which train your cardio. Taekwondo is much like any other martial art where you do many different kinds of training which contribute to a healthy body, something which is necessary in order to become a master at any fighting style.

It takes a lot of cardiovascular endurance to be able to get through an hour-long Taekwondo class and you train for that in various ways. Running laps, doing circuit training, and jumping rope are all things which a practitioner of Taekwondo does in order to get into the proper physical shape.

Moreover, while an hour-long Taekwondo class is not the same as going for an hour-long run, the constant physical motion will get your heart pumping at an increased rate. Of course, training your heart through cardiovascular exercise is essential for several different reasons.

First of all, a stronger heart means that it can pump blood and oxygen to your muscles with increased efficiency, something that is important for increasing your physical output. The more blood and oxygen your muscles receive the longer and harder they can work without getting tired.

Furthermore, a strong heart is also very important because it leads to a reduction in heart disease, arterial disease, heart attacks and strokes, it helps keep cholesterol in check, it helps keep blood sugar levels in moderation, it helps keep your blood pressure at a respectable level, and it keeps your resting heart rate lower too. In essence, Taekwondo makes your heart stronger and that means that you will live longer.

Benefit #6: Bettering Your Focus

The next big mental benefit that comes along with practicing Taekwondo is that it can go a very long way in helping you to better your focus. It takes a whole lot of time and constant repetition to master absolutely anything and everything in Taekwondo and that requires a whole lot of focus.

Whether you are mastering a grappling move, practicing various strikes and kicks, or if you are trying to break a board, you need to spend a lot of time focusing on one specific task at hand in order to perfect whatever you are trying to master. Focus is not just something that falls out of trees, and just like any other skill that we have, it needs to be practiced and learned.

Taekwondo can definitely teach you to focus on a given task at hand, and that is something which can translate to your everyday life. It takes focus to drive a car, to work at your job, and even to participate in a boring conversation, focus which you can learn through Taekwondo.

Benefit #7: Increase Your Flexibility

Another upside to practicing Taekwondo is that it works to increase your flexibility. This is because before and after you do a Taekwondo class, your instructor will have you go through a series of stretches.

Stretching is of course beneficial because it loosens and limbers your muscles, getting them ready for strenuous activity and greatly reducing the chances of suffering from an injury such as a pulled muscle. Obviously, the more you stretch the longer, more limber, and more flexible your muscles get, thus ultimately increasing the range of motion and also increasing how far you can push your limbs before something goes wrong.

Of course, having better flexibility is also beneficial because it helps to do things like reduce back pain, reduce the chances of injury, increase your ability to balance, and a whole lot more. Being more flexible can even be quite a big attribute in terms of your ability to perform in the bedroom!

Benefit #8: Making You Feel Happier & Better

Yet another big benefit that you can get from practicing Taekwondo on a regular basis is that it makes you feel happier. One of the main ways in which Taekwondo can make you feel happier is because of the nature of any type of exercise. Exercising causes your brain to produce an excess of neurochemicals, the most important of which is serotonin.

Serotonin is a chemical produced by your brain which produces feelings of happiness, joy, elation, and calmness. This is a chemical which makes you feel happier than you usually would. This is something that can help you fight things like depression and anxiety, things which are caused by a lack of serotonin in the brain and an overall imbalance of neurochemicals.

Taekwondo can help to balance those chemicals and that will make you feel happy. Moreover, the simple fact that Taekwondo is a social activity will make you feel happier thanks to the fact that you get to socialize with people and make new friends.

Not to mention that you will be happier with yourself thanks to the fact that you are learning a new discipline and learning to defend yourself as well. Taekwondo is a fantastic martial art that can work to improve not only your physical health but also your mental wellbeing. If you feel anxious or depressed all of the time, Taekwondo can definitely be a solution to your problem.

Benefit #9: Strengthening Your Muscles

The next awesome benefit that you get from doing Taekwondo is that it is a great way to strengthen your muscles. Training for Taekwondo involves a lot of different weight and strength training. All of the punching, grappling, and sparring that you do in order to train for Taekwondo goes a very long way in strengthening and toning your muscles.

After all, it takes quite a bit of strength to take down an opponent that is larger than you are and it takes even more strength to punch through one of those boards, strength that you need to acquire through constant training and sacrifice. Training for Taekwondo also involves doing things like sit ups, push ups, chin ups, and a whole lot of other exercises, all of which will make your muscles bigger and stronger.

Taekwondo is especially good for your leg muscles because it is a type of martial art that puts a ton of focus on kicking, kicks which all require strong leg muscles. To make a long story short, it takes a lot of muscle power to master Taekwondo, muscle power that you will gain through years of training. Having stronger muscles is of course not just good for practicing martial arts, but for various things in your everyday life as well.

Benefit #10: Relieving Stress

Something else that Taekwondo can definitely help you with is to relieve stress. This does partially have to do with the fact that it helps to produce serotonin, something that is known to relieve stress, but it is more than just that.

It does also have to do with the fact that regular exercise helps your brain to produce a type of chemical known as endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are chemicals which naturally occur in the brain and are also one of the active agents in marijuana. These chemicals produce sensations of calmness, relaxation, and can actually help to reduce the perception of pain as well. This is another way in which Taekwondo helps you relieve stress and tension, but that still isn’t the whole story.

Learning to strike involves a lot of training, by which we mean you spend a lot of time punching and kicking a punching bag, a wooden training dummy, or even sparring with real people. Stress is often caused by anger, and a great way to get rid of anger is by punching and kicking a defenseless bag hanging off of the ceiling. If you are always stressed out and feel like the world is out to get you, maybe it would be a good idea to do some preemptive striking and take the fight to the world.

Benefit #11: Bone Building

Taekwondo also has the advantage of being a bone building exercise. This is a martial art that involves a lot of kicking, jumping, pushing with your arms and legs, punching, and landing on your body as you spar with your opponents. All of these actions do technically count as weight bearing exercise. Weight bearing exercises by nature are crucial for helping you build stronger and better bones.

You see, every time you put an increased amount of weight on your bones, or you cause them to receive impact, such as when you do a kick, it causes your osteoblasts to lay down bone matter. Technically speaking, your bones grow in much the same way as your muscles grow, and the more you train them with weight bearing exercises, the stronger they get.

Your osteoblasts lay down new bone matter with every weight bearing exercise, something which makes them thicker, denser, and stronger. There is also the fact that every time you do a kick or a punch, you may slightly damage your bones, just like causing micro tears in your muscles. This small amount of damage then heals up with scar tissue and new bone mass in order to become bigger and better than ever.

Having stronger bones is of course useful in a high-tier martial arts competition, but it also comes in handy in cases of slips and falls. Having stronger bones means that there is less chance of them breaking when you fall, plus it also helps to prevent degenerative bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

Benefit #12: Losing Weight

If you want to get into shape, burn calories, and burn away that pot belly, practicing Taekwondo on a regular basis will definitely help. Now, we don’t have an exact calculation as to how many calories you can burn in 1 class, but the number is up there for sure.

Just think about it, Taekwondo involves repeating stances and fighting patterns, striking the air, training with people in the form of sparring, kicking a bag, doing various cardiovascular and bodyweight exercises and much more. Of course burning through that Big Mac you ate for lunch is one advantage, but once your body runs out of food to turn into energy, it will start burning through your fat reserves, thus helping you lose weight.

There is also the fact that performing regular physical exercise also increases your metabolic rate on a fairly long term basis, thus making your body burn more calories even after you have finished exercising, something which is crucial in terms of weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.

Benefit #13: Learning Respect For Authority

This may not be all that important for you as someone who has gotten past the age of 18 because at this point you should hopefully have already developed some well-rounded respect for authority, but the same is not the case for your children. Taekwondo is a great way to teach your kids respect for authority.

This is because Taekwondo involves taking very clear and precise instructions from a black belt or the master of the dojo. Failing to follow directions or even going as far as to talk back to the master will result in stiff penalties and may even get you kicked out of the class. Martial arts, especially Asian ones such as Taekwondo are all about respecting the elders and learning from the leaders. Not listening or respecting the leader of a martial arts dojo is not tolerated in the least. Therefore Taekwondo is a fantastic way to teach your kids some respect.

Taekwondo truly is a wonderful martial art to practice and a big reason for that is because it is a great form of exercise. This is a fighting sport that can make you better focused, teach you discipline and respect, make you stronger, more flexible, and more heart healthy too, plus a whole lot more. If you haven’t already signed up for your nearest local Taekwondo class, you should seriously give it a go to reap all the benefits of Taekwondo!

Source: https://www.fitandme.com/benefits-of-taekwondo/

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An Overview of Taekwondo, Its Origin, Features and Techniques

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Exploring The Origin of Taekwondo

The effects of taekwondo striking, how martial art can help a child overcome shyness, risks and benefits of martial arts, relevant topics.

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Let your child experience the benefits of World Martial Arts Academy .

THE ADULT & TAEKWONDO

World Martial Arts Academy 's adult programs help you develop and maintain a sound body and mind, and increase your abilities at self-defense.

EXERCISE AND IMPROVE WELL-BEING

Taekwondo strengthens your body and improves your health through physical exercise and conditioning. Isometric and dynamic tension exercises will allow you to gain better muscle tone and more strength. A gradual building process of safe and easy stretching techniques will enhance flexibility, while breathing and concentration exercises lead to sharper reflexes and senses.

The discipline of Taekwondo leads to increase energy, better health and fitness, greater coordination, and higher self-esteem. These qualities are vital to a happier, longer life.

SELF-DEFENSE

The World Martial Arts Academy program helps you recognize and handle situations in which self-defense may be required. Using our completely integrated system, you can learn the techniques you need to defend yourself intelligently in threatening situations. What you learn could prevent you from becoming a victim.

Enroll today. Experience the advantages of World Martial Arts Academy .

Take charge of your life!

Bring out the positive qualities that have always been part of you! Develop patience, confidence, self-discipline, inner calm, and a consistently positive mental attitude

Overcome fear, self-doubt, anger, jealousy, laziness, and bad habits. You can do it! It takes serious, dedicated training, and most of all, it takes the right program.

World Martial Arts Academy offers a carefully planned program of exercise, visualization and instruction that is ideal for self-development, because it exercises all of you!

At WMAA you visualize your goals as you practice effective self-defense techniques. This unique combination of physical and mental training creates breakthroughs in personal transformation!

Why Study The Martial Arts

• Some students want nothing more than practical training to defend themselves.
• Others want a regular exercise schedule to Limber up, build stamina and strength.
• Many come to relieve stress and anxiety built up from the pressures of everyday life.
• Some are interested in competition, and work hard to become champions.

There are other equally important reasons why people study the Martial Arts such as self-awareness, weight and figure control. Whatever the reason, the new student will quickly become aware of the many benefits of training. Martial Arts students feel healthy and physically fit. They are confident they are learning to defend themselves, and this quiet confidence filters through to all phases of their life including home, office and school Furthermore, as students progress in the Martial Arts, they gain a greater respect for themselves and others.

Who Studies the Martial Arts?

People from all walks of life, all races and religions. Young and old alike study Taekwondo. Students include engineers, computer programmers, doctors, lawyers psychologists, small business owners, musicians, college, high school and elementary school students, nurses, housewives and many more. Everyone can benefit from WMAA. Currently there are over 20 million Taekwondo students world-wide.

What is Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is both an ancient Korean Martial Art, and a modern International Olympic sport.

Taekwondo is a mental and physical discipline designed over 2000 years with the ultimate goal being mental and physical health. That is the health of ourselves, our family and our friends.

Taekwondo serves as a means of self-protection, giving one the assurance of being able to do so if the need arises. Our program is styled to keep the body conditioned, and the mind clear. It provides confidence and self-control.

These goals are accomplished through the quality instruction received at WMAA, combined with your strong desire and regular training.

Self Defense / Self Development

Learn to defend yourself through rigorous, comprehensive training. Develop your endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance along with your self-defense techniques.

Learn to defend yourself, not only physically, but mentally as well. Learn to unite your body in a single effort to achieve your goals. Develop an inner calm. Bring up deep-rooted, long hidden fears and weaknesses, face them, and conquer them. Bring out anger and frustration in a positive environment where you can learn to deal with them effectively. Rise above laziness and inner doubt.

Health & Fitness

Learn to recharge your body with exciting energy. Flush your system clean of Internal poisons that breed illness. Massage and stimulate your body. Create bodies that are sleek, firm, and graceful. Age is no barrier - start at any time of your life.

Response from a Three Year Student

Why study the Martial Arts? I can't imagine why not! It's great exercise, I'm more coordinated, I'm the healthiest I've ever been, and many comment that I look younger. My pulse rate has dropped 20 beats per minute, I'm more energetic and calm. I've gained the self-confidence to know I can overcome anything.

Grandmaster Rho has helped me gain all this, and much more. He has given me the ability to stand strong in the face of any situation by the development of a positive mental attitude.

Classes for Children

We specialize in teaching children starting at age 4. Our intention is to make children feel good about themselves, and be in physical and mental control. Our teaching methods are sensitively tailored to meet the needs of individual learning differences. All children are taught at their own pace and are never pressured to perform beyond their capabilities

In some cases, our school may provide child therapy. For example, from the self-confidence gained learning how to defend themselves, a shy, withdrawn child may become more outgoing and confident, while an aggressive child will become calm and respectful of others. Parents are truly amazed at the positive difference in attitude child develops after beginning c asses at WMAA. A child can walk proud with head held high. Each student learns to say "Yes I can' in life "

Black Belt Club

A Goal of Highest Achievement

World Martial Arts Academy continually studies and improves its education programs. WMAA is providing a 3M Master Plan education: Master of Discipline, Master of Technique, Master of Degree, to the Black Belt Club for their highest achievement.

Families and the Martial Arts

It is one of the most beautiful things in the world to watch parents and children training side by side. Parents glow at their children's accomplishments like the execution of a good side kick, or the breaking of their first board. The greater satisfaction, however, comes the bond of love, friendship, understanding and respect that develops between parent and child. Both parents and children share in each others hardships and accomplishments. Parents feel younger, healthier, and greatly fulfilled, and their children become more mature, confident, and well- behaved. Families in the Martial Arts are very fortunate indeed!

Master's Experience

Many different types of meditation exist. Meditation techniques can be used to peel away stress and frustrations, reduce anxieties and increase your ability to deal with any situation. Stress, when allowed to get out of control (or handled poorly) can be the cause of diseases like high blood pressure or ulcers. You will learn techniques to control stress and build a quiet place in your mind and body, so that you can take the worst that life can throw at you and come away a winner.

12 Benefits of TaeKwonDo Training For Kids

The benefits of TaeKwonDo training will help children boost their self esteem, give them better self discipline and control, help them in social situations, keep them active and  more physically fit, have and show respect for others, teach them the lessons learned from failing, give them goals to shoot for as well better focus and last but not least shows them how to work with others.

Those are just some of the many benefits kids learn when they start training in Taekwondo and as you see,  goes well beyond being taught how to defend oneself.

No martial art is comprehensive or all encompassing; but some martial arts offer a more rounded schooling than others.

Whether your kid is too bossy, too shy, or perhaps just a little hyper, TaeKwonDo can help your child learn many important life lessons. (And, of course, those same lessons apply for all of us, not just kids.)

Here,  I will go more in depth on those reasons and why I think studying the art of TaeKwonDo is beneficial.

TaeKwonDo Benefits for Kids

A Boost in Self Esteem 

Nothing does more for a kids self esteem than to break a board with his fist and or foot. The look on their faces as they break the board and hear the applause from the grownups makes them feel proud of all the hard work they put in up until that point.

A child learns that they are not competing against others, only with themselves. As they progress, they know without a doubt that they have earned those belts.

They learn to  believe they can do it — because they KNOW they can do it

Self-Discipline Self Control 

Taekwondo teaches self discipline and self control by teaching difficult forms and kicks that require intense focus, training, and devotion in order to learn well and to master. Taekwondo also requires you to be precise in your movements which takes alot of control.

Socialization Skills

Kids who don’t always thrive in highly social environments may find it easier to get to know people and make new friends when they’re in a room filled with peers who share a common interest.

If you have a shy or timid child than putting them in a TaeKwonDo class, where they are all start off at the same level,  helps them learn to interact with other kids there own age as they all go through the same process of learning.

Physical Fitness and Activity 

The 3 pieces of the fitness puzzle are strength, flexibility, and endurance. A typical Taekwondo class involves dynamic punching and kicking drills, blocks, core-strengthening exercises such as sit ups, push ups and stretches.

A kid will build stamina and strength through such active movements and for younger children, learning and practicing the forms (specific patterns of defense and attack movements) leads to better motor skills and body control.

Another plus is that by limiting the time a kid is in front of a TV or computer and getting them off the couch encourages them to more active is always a good thing.

Signing up an inactive child for a physically demanding Martial Arts like TaeKwonDo not only discourages the sedentary lifestyle they may be used to, but also gives them an enjoyable activity that encourages them to keep moving.

Learning the Ability to Fail 

In today’s society where everyone seems to get an award regardless of how well they did or did not do, learning to fail, although this may be a harsh term, maybe its better to say comes in 2nd, for example in a Tae Kwon Do sparring event, is a valuable lesson to learn. This way they can talk to their teacher about what they can work and what they can do better for the next time.

One of the first things you will notice when starting TaeKwonDo is the instructor will start to instill in a student the necessity of showing respect to not only the instructor but to their classmates as well, regardless of their skill level.

In a quality TaeKwonDo school you will rarely if ever see a student boasting or showing off. They know better than to flaunt their skills and to make other people around him feel small. They understand that every one has their strengths and weaknesses and they cherish the differences.

Improves Athleticism  

There is a reason why virtually every professional sports team supplements their training with TaeKwonDo or some form of Martial Arts. First, it is amazingly effective in enhancing general coordination because it uses every part of the body in a balanced way: upper body, lower body, right side, left side, lateral movement, and rotational movement are all included.

Goal Setting

Having goals in one of the most important thing one can learn in life and in Tae Kwon Do they do this from the very start. First with the macro goal of getting a black belt but then also the micro goal of going up the belt ranks.

This not only instills in a child a great habit but it also show them with hard work and dedication any goal they set can be achieved. I suppose that if they learn just one thing from their time in Tae Kwon Do, I would say this is by far the most important.

Today’s world is full of distractions, from the Tv to the video games, so by taking a martial art like TaeKwonDo, a child develops the ability to focus at a young age which pays dividends not only today but for their entire life.

In choosing a TaeKwonDo school , look for one that has a distraction-free environments so your child has some time to forget about the outside world and concentrate on their training. Meditation also plays a big role in taekwondo so don’t be surprised if your child’s teacher sets aside time at the beginning or end of class for it.

From sparring to board breaking and to rising up the ranks to by getting a new belt, there are not many things your child will do by themselves in a TaeKwonDo school.

A kid will be constantly working together with his classmates to learn new forms and techniques that helps to form the important skill of teamwork that they will use throughout their lives.

Encouraging Non-Violent Resolution

Thinking that TaeKwonDo instruction promotes violent behavior can be a reasonable assumption if your only experience with Tae Kwon Do comes from television or movies.

However and in fact, TaeKwondo as well as other martial arts have many defensive styles that teach kids peaceful, non-violent conflict resolution skills and emphasize the prudence of avoiding a physical altercation.

Engaged children learn more, faster. Good kids TaeKwonDo programming understands this and balances the responsibilities and traditions of the art with challenges, games, and socially focused events to keep kids engaged in the lessons and the community.

Final Thoughts:

Hopefully at this point you can see the many benefits a kid gets from studying TaeKwonDo. Of course, the other martial arts out there, provide similar benefits but having taken TaeKwonDo for an extended period of time, I can tell you first hand the changes I have seen in kids that have trained in TaeKwonDo for an extended period of time.

I  mention the “extended period of time” because I don’t want one to assume that this transformation happens over night and every child is different.

It will take time, some shorter, others longer,  but you will see subtle changes happening that your child may not even be aware of such as being more respectful to older people  or more kind to others of their same age bracket.

I know, for myself, I am still answering to people that I encounter that are older than I with a “Yes Ma’am” or a “Yes Sir”  that the training I took when I was younger instilled in me.

Benefits: What Did You Gain in Taekwondo?

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Top 3 Lessons Learned on Taekwondo Journey: Essential Insights for Success

Unlock your full potential: how taekwondo can boost your personal growth, the incredible benefits of taekwondo: unleash your potential.

Taekwondo is not just a martial art; it is a way of life. Through the practice of Taekwondo, individuals can gain a multitude of benefits that extend beyond physical fitness. One of the most significant advantages of practicing Taekwondo is the development of discipline and self-control. These qualities are essential for success in all aspects of life, whether it be personal or professional.

By training in Taekwondo, you learn to push your limits and overcome challenges . The rigorous training sessions and demanding techniques taught in Taekwondo build mental and physical strength. This newfound strength translates into resilience and determination, allowing individuals to tackle obstacles with confidence.

The Incredible Benefits of Playing or Learning Taekwondo: A Comprehensive Essay

Aside from discipline and self-control, Taekwondo offers numerous other benefits that positively impact various areas of life. Physical fitness is a primary focus in Taekwondo, as it improves cardiovascular health, flexibility, and overall strength. Moreover, regular practice enhances coordination, balance, and agility.

Furthermore, Taekwondo instills a sense of respect and humility in practitioners . The strict code of conduct and emphasis on respect for instructors and peers cultivates a humble attitude. This respectful mindset extends beyond the training center and influences interactions with others in daily life.

• Perseverance: Taekwondo teaches the value of persistence and not giving up, even when faced with challenges. This lesson is crucial in achieving personal and professional goals.
• Self-defense: Learning self-defense techniques in Taekwondo provides individuals with the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves and others in potentially dangerous situations.
• Goal-setting: Taekwondo encourages setting and achieving goals. This skill is transferable to all areas of life, allowing individuals to strive for continuous improvement.

Personal growth is a fundamental aspect of practicing Taekwondo. Through regular training and self-reflection, individuals discover their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to work towards self-improvement. Taekwondo provides a platform for personal growth by fostering self-confidence, resilience, and mental clarity.

Embracing the teachings of Taekwondo allows individuals to unlock their full potential and become the best version of themselves . The lessons learned on the journey of Taekwondo contribute to personal growth and overall well-being.

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