What can I do to prepare for tae kwon-do classes?

Question

I just started taking tae kwon-do classes, and by far am the worst in the class, at 29 my body just never did this stuff before! What can i do to be ready for classes and not be so far behind? Also is it better at first to do less reps of perfect high kicks or less reps of lower kicks that are not so powerful? i feel like i wont be ablt to get this down right! thanks!!!

Answer 1

The best things you can do for your body and the class is to build up your flexibility, endurance/stamina, condition your body, and to practice everything you're taught.

For flexibility, practice your stretching. Always try to make sure the stretches don't get felt in your joints. Start off slow, and ease your way through the stretches. Remember to relax and take your time with stretches. As Bruce Lee said: The experienced fighter knows to stretch for longer periods of time. A good video for intro on stretching from a martial artist: http://youtube.com/watch?v=rLr8BIs_l3k

As for stamina/endurance, simply practice different exercises on a regular schedule. Remember to increase the amount of these exercises on a gradual basis. Some good ones includes jogging for a continuous time (dont walk and then jog and then walk on and off...keep a pace) and try to beat your time by using a stop watch. Other include: jump roping (very good for balance and stamina), leg lifts, sit ups, bicycles, pushups (regular and then later knuckle and diamond and fingertip pushups), jumping jacks, squats, crunches, and various other exercises that can be done with dumbbells.

As for the your question about the kicks, try doing both. In fact, you should practice all your moves simultaneously, because that way you can not only perfect their forms faster, but their speed as well, and then with speed, you get power.

First make sure you have the proper form, and then when you are sure that your form is up to par, then practice your kicks again and again, and make sure you do them right each time. When you notice that your kicks are getting too sloppy because you're quite tired, take a break, because you don't want your body to get used to doing kicks that are sloppy.

Try this: Stand in one place, kick in one direction. Turn your body a quarter of a circle, kick, then another quarter of a circle, then kick, another quarter, then another kick. Then go in reverse direction. Do a certain amount, and increase this as your sessions go along. Make sure you do the exercise for all kinds of kicks (roundhouse, sidekick, forward, low, high, etc.)

Don't worry about being the worst student in the class. I have been the newest student in my MA class since I last joined a year ago, and recently my master told me I had become the best fighter in the class. All it takes is a drive, a determination , and you will succeed as a result of it.

Good luck with your class. Hope I could help.

-Some Guy.

Answer 2

You are lucky in that TKD is sponsored by South Korea and there is more documentation on TKD than almost any other martial art.  

1.  Stay Limber

2.  Practice your forms.

3.  Remember slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

4.  Practice your kicks on a bag, get your mechanics down.

5.  Practice holding a table or desk with one hand and do some side kicks slowly with the foot opposite the one holding the desk.  Work this little exercise.

Answer 3

First! Don't be so hard on yourself. Believe me when I say there are people in your own class that more than likely experienced what your going through. So persevere and see it trough. It's always toughest in the beginning no matter what art you study or exercise you do. In a few weeks your body will get used to it. Make sure you warm up properly prior to starting the class. Raising your core temperature is very important prior to stretching. As for the kicks, practice good form, regardless of the number of reps always practice good form. Whether high or low always practice good form. Normally when you try to kick higher the form usually suffers and your power is not as strong. So then you practice the kick a little bit lower with perfect form. Then raise your kicks higher as your form and power improves. This just takes time. The longer you stick to it the more you'll enjoy it and the better you will get. Just takes the desire to improve. Good luck in your training. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

taekwondo is a kicking martial art so strech your groin and thigh muscles alot also alot of simple situps and pushups would help just keep active.

Answer 5

give me your phone  number lol.......practice and everything will come

Answer 6

Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice.................

Don't give up, you'll nail it one day. When I started, It took me 9 months of constant stretching to do the splits. Concentrate on getting it correct, don't worry about the repetitions, power over speed.

Answer 7

Stretch and practice in a safe environment.

Answer 8

You have just started! Dont expect to be perfect straight away. Practise getting the technique right 1st, then as you improve, add height & power.

Answer 9

stretch at least once a day for 20 minutes, when your body is warm (i.e. like after a shower).  Get a heavy bag or a punching bag of some sort and practice your kicks, start with lower kicks, make sure your form is right-bring your knees and legs up to your chamber before unleashing the kick