Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do is a form of Korean Karate. It is unique (as compared to other styles of Karate) in its predominance to kicking; the rationale being that the legs are stronger and have longer reach than the arms and thus should be the weapon of choice. One can see this emphasis in kicking in the martial sport of TKD, which is an official Olympic sport. Many organizations have allowed this sport element to overshadow all other aspects of training, but the GMA curriculum is not as weighted in sparring as others. Other staples of training include forms practice (hyung or kata), or the solo practice of a series of pre-arranged movements to develop the basic skills and attributes, and step-sparring, pre-arranged attacks and defenses that develop awareness of spatial relationships and control as well as introducing self defense theory.



It is sometimes hard to see the immediate self defense value in some of these traditional training modes, but these exercises often develop the key attributes needed not only in self defense but for a healthy, functional life in general.
Benefits often cited include increased stamina, muscular endurance, speed and explosive power, better flexibility, and improved proprioception (body awareness) and coordination.



Due to the nature of the training, TKD is often highly structured, which enables the practitioner to train the mind in addition to the body. The "training culture" develops not only a fighting spirit but also the mental qualities needed for personal growth: respect, focus, discipline, self-confidence, and self-restraint. Classroom etiquette is prevalent, both for cultural appreciation and for purposes of decorum. Highly regimented training requires continued attention, making TKD an appealing martial art for children who need to work on focus and discipline. Older students commonly cite that the mental aspects add to the therapeutic effects and the potential to relieve stress. It also adds an intellectual component that makes the training more interesting. Because of the structured, clearly defined curriculum and etiquette, GMA considers TKD a great foundation martial art. It gives a person a very good idea what the martial arts are about while developing both physical attributes (that carry over into other martial arts and self defense) and mental attributes (that carry over into life in general.) Our Tae Kwon Do program is affiliated with USA Tae Kwon Do and Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters).