Put simply, Taekwon-Do (founded 1955) or the ‘Art of Hand and Foot’ is a Korean martial art which utilises scientifically devised hand and foot techniques to provide a unique system of unarmed self defence. The founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi, refined and developed these movements and through extensive scientific research and development, Taekwon-Do has evolved into one of the most effective martial arts in the world. Today, Taekwon-Do has become one of the most popular martial arts in the world because anyone, regardless of age, gender, and size, can benefit from its training.
Benefits of Taekwon-Do
Taekwon-Do offers a wide array of physical and mental benefits for people of all ages. As well as learning to defend yourself there are many other benefits:
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You will develop overall fitness: strength, endurance and flexibility - your body will develop the ability to perform fast and powerful movements.
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It helps you to develop a good physique by promoting the loss of excess weight, and developing muscle definition.
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Through training you will develop self-discipline & gain self-confidence, which will naturally extend into your personal and social life and improve your quality of life.
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Children in particular can benefit from Taekwon-Do by developing good coordination, concentration and spatial awareness at an early age. Our Tigers & Dragons Programme is specially designed to promote core skills in a fun and friendly environment while helping children to develop courtesy, discipline and self confidence.
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There is also a social benefit as you meet new people and make new friends - and it’s fun!
Do I Need Any Previous Martial Art Experience?
No previous experience is necessary. All you need is the desire to learn! Our beginners’ classes are tailored for new students with no previous martial art training. However, we welcome students of other martial arts who want to learn Taekwon-Do.
Do I Have To Be An Athlete To Train?
No. Everyone trains at his or her own level. If you are not used to hard physical training, that’s fine. You will find that your strength, endurance, and flexibility increase steadily as you work out. (However, if you have any medical conditions that we should know about, please let us know and include details on your application form). We welcome students of all backgrounds and abilities. Taekwon-Do can be rewarding for anyone who wants to train.
What Will I Learn?
The Teen/Adult beginners’ programme (13 yrs +) is essentially an introduction to Taekwon-Do, consisting of stretching and exercise, basic Taekwon-Do techniques and movements, pad & target work, some basic self-defence techniques, and the philosophy of the art.
The Childrens’ Programme (6-12yrs) is a specially tailored syllabus for younger members, and uses age-appropriate class content to prepare younger members for Taekwon-Do. Within the class, the children are split into 2 groups by age: the ‘Tigers’ group for 6- 8 year olds, and the ‘Dragons’ group for 9-12 year olds. See
Children's Classes below for details.
What Should I Wear?
Loose fitting clothing which allows freedom of movement is best. Please do not wear any jewellery, watches etc during class.
Do I Need A Uniform?
Not right away. Official ITF/RITA Taekwon-Do uniforms are only available through the school and cost €50.00 (plus postage). These uniforms are durable and last for many years. The official uniform comes with ITF & RITA crests as well as the official Taekwon- Do logo on the back & free white belt. We will let you know when you need to get a uniform.
How Much Does It Cost?
Do I Need To Register With The National Association?
Yes, all students must register with the Republic of Ireland Taekwon-Do Association (R.I.T.A.) and the International Taekwon-Do Federation (I.T.F.) using the following link:
https://form.jotform.com/RITAITF/registration. Upon registering, you will receive your grading licence and a free student handbook as well as being eligible to participate in all R.I.T.A. organised events such as gradings, tournaments, courses and seminars.
Annual association fees are €40.00 for children up to 12, €55.00 for 13-17 year olds, and €65.00 for Seniors (18+) and these are up for renewal on the 1st October each year. [Family Rates are also available]
New students may attend up to three classes as a guest before they must register with the R.I.T.A. Guest students must complete the online guest form at the following link for each guest class that they attend:
https://form.jotform.com/RITAITF/guest.
After the third guest class, if you’re not registered, you cannot train!
Will I Progress Through Various Colour Belts?
Yes, Gradings are the promotion examinations through which the student progresses up through the grades and are held approximately every three months (for teenagers & adults). Our ‘Dragons’ & ‘Tigers’ childrens’ programme for 6 to 12 year olds has a different structure in terms of training goals and assessment which is more appropriate to the students age.
Under the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF) regulations, grading exams may only be conducted by 4th Degree Black Belt holders and above who have qualified as International Instructors. The Chief Examiners to the Galway Taekwon-Do School are Mr Martin Mahoney, 5th Degree Black Belt, and Mr Tim Collins, 5th Degree Black Belt, who are ITF certified International Instructors and Examiners.
Are There Competitions?
Yes, the RITA runs several well organised tournaments around the country each year, and students are encouraged to take part (although participation in tournaments is optional). We also travel away to competitions abroad. When the student reaches Black Belt level, they can try out for the national team and represent Ireland in European & World Championships (as many of our students have already done).
Is There A Philosophy Of Taekwon-Do?
Yes. As Taekwon-Do has its origins in the East, there is a certain amount of philosophy which is part and parcel of the art. At its heart, Taekwon-Do has five tenets or core principles. These are Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit.
Any Other Questions?
If you have any other questions or require any further information, please feel free to ask us through our
Contact page.
What is the Tigers and Dragons Programme?
The Tigers and Dragons Programme was developed specifically for teaching Taekwon-Do to 6 – 8 year olds (Tigers) and 9 – 12 year olds (Dragons). The programme teaches children the skills they will need to learn Taekwon-Do when they are older, such as fitness, flexibility, strength and jumping ability. They learn these skills through games and other fun activities. They also learn the moral culture of Taekwon-Do, such as respect for others, discipline and integrity.
Benefits of Taekwon-Do for Young People
In today’s society, the ability of a young person to defend him/herself is very important. But far more important are the tools the young person will need to develop into a well-rounded adult. Therefore, children learn respect, courtesy, and self-control while participating in a good exercise programme. As students of Taekwon-Do, they build self-confidence and self-esteem while they progress in the art. Each of these characteristics
improves attitudes and it has been shown time and again that children who train in Taekwon-Do tend to improve in their studies due to the concentration and self-discipline that is developed. Our objective is to help young people improve in all facets of their lives.
As they successfully accomplish and reach for new goals, their confidence level grows,their self-esteem is enhanced and the need to be self-disciplined becomes an accepted standard as part of their training. There are visible rewards as well as these intangible benefits for students. The visible
rewards include different coloured belts that are symbols of ever increasing proficiency in Taekwon-Do, the encouragement to continue when things seem difficult and the verbal acknowledgement of goals achieved and awards earned. Each of these enhances the young person’s character and contributes to his/her self worth as well as promoting a sense of responsibility and maturity.
When/Where Are The Classes Held?
The Tigers and Dragons classes run every Wednesday from 19:00 to 20:00 at Renmore Community Centre (H91 W259).
Classes for the 2024/2025 school year will commence on Wednesday 11th of September 2024 and we will be enrolling new members throughout the month of September. The classes are divided into two groups by age for 6 – 8 year olds (Tigers) and 9 – 12 year olds (Dragons).
How Much Does It Cost?
First three classes are free.
The Tigers and Dragons Programme runs concurrently with the school year and is divided into three terms. The cost of the classes is €90 per term per child. Family rates are also available. Fees should be paid by electronic transfer into the school’s bank account (details below) at the start of each term.
Account details:
Account Name: Galway Taekwon-Do School
IBAN: IE81BOFI 903912 65409376
Do I Need To Accompany My Child To Class?
All children attending classes must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Seating will be provided in the hall. This is a requirement to allow the school to comply with child protection policies.
Any Other Questions?
If you have any other questions or require any further information, please feel free to ask us through our
Contact page.
When/Where Are The Classes Held?
Beginners classes for teenagers and adults are held in the Renmore Community Centre, Renmore, Galway (H91 W259). Monday 19:00 - 20:00 and Wednesday 20:00 - 21:00.
Our next beginner programme is in September 2024 and we will be enrolling new members throughout the month of September.
Please
contact us before attending to confirm that we have space in the class for new members.
Training twice a week is strongly recommended. If you will be missing for any class(es), please inform your instructor in advance as a matter of courtesy.
How Much Does It Cost?
First three classes are free.
Training subscriptions are paid per calendar month.
Junior (up to 17 years) & 3rd Level students - €45.00 per month (two classes per week).
Senior (18 years +) - €50.00 per month (two classes per week).
Discounted Family rates are also available.
Fees should be paid directly into the Galway Taekwon-Do School bank account (details below), by setting up a recurring electronic payment through your online banking. However, you can pay as you go for the first few weeks of training (€8 per class).
Please note the following for members paying monthly fees:
- N.B. You MUST include the member’s name as the payee’s reference when setting up the transfer – otherwise we will not be able to identify whose payment it is.
- Bank transfers should be set up to recur monthly so that your training fees are paid within the first 10 days of each calendar month.
- Members whose fees are not up to date will not be permitted to train.
Account details:
Account Name: Galway Taekwon-Do School
IBAN: IE81BOFI 903912 65409376
In order to keep your place in the class, fees must be paid monthly, whether you are training or not (unless you inform your instructor in advance that you will be absent for some months). Members who are absent from training without informing the instructor for 2 or more months may lose their place in class.
Any Other Questions?
If you have any other questions or require any further information, please feel free to ask us through our
Contact page.