YES IT IS

Taekwon Do is suitable for all ages, both men and women and children, we have members from 8 to 63 years old.  Due to its progressive nature and grading system you get fitter as you progress, so you don't have to be fit to start.

First and foremost, you probably want to learn self-defence, to feel more confident as you walk down the street and in the unfortunate instance where you might have to use it that you are able to defend yourself effectively– people study martial arts for a variety of other reasons as well and Taekwon Do caters for all these:

• To get fitter

• Meet new people

• Stress relief

• Escapism

• Gain confidence

• Undertake a new hobby or skill

• Improve attitude and personal standards

• Improved moral code, respect and integrity

• Have fun learning a new skill

WHAT STYLE?

The main difference between most martial arts style is focus. ITF Taekwon-Do has a focus on kicking and striking movements as well as release techniques and takedowns and is very relevant to the modern self-defence challenges, while others like Kendo and kung fu focus on a particular weapons and are more of an artistic form rather than an effective self-defence system. 

Each martial art is also on a scale of formality to informality. Formality is a measure of emphasis on things like training etiquette, ceremony, style of dress, method of addressing seniors etc. Many Korean styles such as Taekwon Do are more formal. On the far end of the informal scale you might have a kickboxing class at a local gym.

We feel our more formal style will build character and shape a strong state of mind, develop self-discipline and improved personal standards that carries over into day to day life. 

The following is a list of styles, there are many variations on the following, but this is meant as a guide to make you aware of the diversity of the martial arts:

• ITF TaeKwon-Do (Taught at Warwick & Leamington TKD)

• WTF TaeKwondo (a sport derivative)

• Kendo / Kumdo

• Aikido

• Karate

• Jujutsu

• Kung Fu

• Silat

• Ninjutsu

• Tai Chi / Bagua / Hsing-yi

• Arnis / Kali / Escima

• Capoeira

• Kickboxing

• Boxing

• Krav Maga

CHOOSING A SCHOOL

The following are a list of things you should look for when choosing a school or instructor:

• When you call the school, are all your questions answered, and answered honestly? Sometimes someone will answer the phone that may not be able to answer all your questions. They should pass you on to someone who can or have someone call you back.

• Every school out there should offer a free trial class before you sign up. How else can you determine if you want to study there! We do offer a free introductory class.

• When you visit the school, is the practice safe, or are students allowed to train in dangerous ways or without proper supervision? We have numerous highly proficient Instructors at every class.

• Do students and teachers show respect toward everyone? This extends beyond formal bowing and address to making sure everyone is learning and nobody is being abused. Respect in class and discipline is ingrained in to our students from the start, it is the foundation of our ethos.

• Be prepared that many schools these days require a contract like a health club. Make sure you are clear on the terms of the contract if you do decide to sign one, and do not be afraid to walk out if you are uncomfortable with the terms.  We do not have any such contract.

• Be very wary of cult-like schools that try to up-sell you to intensified black belt programs and the like. While some of these may be legitimate, there are many scam artists and fake black belts out there. You should be very clear about what you are paying for up front.

• Are the Instructors experienced, do the instructors and senior students display a lot of skill in the art they are teaching? This may be hard to determine since great martial artists are often very subtle. However, the teacher and students should display knowledge and skill, which might be more obvious, not all black belts are equal!! Please take a look at our Instructor profiles which demonstrates the vast experience at our club.

• Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something about the school doesn’t sit right with you, then it probably isn’t right. Look out for the fast talking salesman who tries to sweep your concerns under the rug.

If you choose a school that you enjoy, you study with a teacher you like, and train with students that inspire you – you are likely to stick with your martial art. The longer you stick with it – the better you’ll get. Hopefully you will discover a very positive lifelong journey.

If you still choose our club after reading the above and after your research, we very much look forward to meeting you and hopefully assisting you in your aspirations and your journey to a converted Black Belt.