Comparing Taekwondo with Other Styles of Martial Arts

Taekwondo is compared with Karate, Aikido, Tai Chi and Kung Fu in the following table.

The study conducted to obtain the results above showed that "the risk of injury in Taekwondo was three times that in Shotokan karate, and the risk of multiple injuries was nearly fourfold" (Zertaruk, M. N., Violan, M. A., Zurakowski, D., & Micheli, L. J., 2005, p.31). 

What Master Kang's school does

The following is an outline of the stretching and warm-up routine my home school (Master Kang's dojo). This routine is very effective and should be used as a guide at the beginning of Taekwondo practices.

Jumping Jacks	Do approximately 50
Jogging	Jog around the dojo for about 5 minutes
Line Drills: we perform these drills in a straight line, up and down the length of the dojo	Run from one end of the mat to the other Karaoke Warm-up (minimal power) front kicks Warm-up (minimal power) round kicks Lunge stretches up and down the floor High-knees Flutter kicks
Stretching: These are performed for approximately 20 seconds each	Neck tilts Neck rotations Arm circles Hip rotations Knee rotations Bending knees (two counts up, two counts down) Ankle rotations Side stretch Hamstring stretch Back kick stretch

Areas of Injury in Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a very popular sport; however, as discussed in earlier blogs, there are many risks to practicing this sport!

One of the first and foremost concern is concussions! Other parts of injury include arms, legs, trunk and groin area.

      Table 1: Region of Injury (Zetaruk, M. N., Violan, M. A., Zurakowski, D., & Micheli, L. J., 2005)

The above chart is from a study conducted on Taekwondo athletes during training/competition. Out of the 49 members that participated in the study, 30% sustained head/neck injuries, such as concussions. 40.8% incurred injuries in their upper extremity, 57.1% in their lower extremity, 18.4% in the groin area and 24.5% at their trunk.

An Example of What Happens When Rules Are Not Followed

Injury due to reckless sparring 

Nick's shin after a brutal sparring match

Above is an example of what happens when hard-contact sparring occurs during practices. According to Nick, this area suffered a fracture and was swollen. The swelling was as big as the size of his knee cap. 2.5 weeks after impact this area turned red/black, possibly due to blood clots. 

Importance of Following the Rules and Regulations

As lame as it sounds, in order to practice this sport safely, it is imperative to abide by the sports' rules and regulations!

For example, you should only practice your belt forms. The curriculum is designed so that you progress efficiently and safely through the ranks of Taekwondo. Just like you can't start learning multiplication before learning how to add, you can't progress on to advanced techniques before mastering the basic skills.
Remember to stay hydrated during before, after and during training sessions!

What does each belt color signify?

In Taekwondo, each belt represents a different stage in the students level of skill and training.
Here's a chart that explains what each belt color signifies.

         (http://www.bluecottagetkd.com/guppatterns.html)

Ways to increases flexibility

The key to increasing flexibility is to stretch DAILY!

The more often you stretch, the looser you muscles become.

Some key stretches in gaining flexibility: