Kong Su: Tae Kwon Do
In Oom Yung Doe, Tae Kwon Do is one part of a broader style known as Kong Su that encompasses both Tae Kwon Do and Karate. Through Tae Kwon Do training, which is typically about 70% kicks and 30% upper body attacks, students develop the necessary foundation for speed, strength, coordination, and power. The attacks in Tae Kwon Do are linear, but may come toward an attacker from a variety of different angles. Combined with the explosive power typical in Kong Su, which is balanced 50% kicks and 50% upper body attacks, this means that the attacks can simply overwhelm an opponents guard. The kicking in Tae Kwon Do also promotes good blood flow and other health benefits for practitioners of any age.
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In the video (left) students demonstrate a Kong Su style kicking form. This form helps build skill and ability with the basic fundamentals of a variety of kicks. Going from high kicks to low kicks also builds flexibility and mobility by challenging the body to move in and out of different positions with speed and power. As the practitioner builds skill and confidence with the kicks, the speed at which the form is practiced increases until the kicks can be done as quickly as you could walk across a room.
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See what you can gain through Tae Kwon Do training!
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Strength & Flexibility
Tae Kwon Do builds a tremendous amount of strength in the lower body. The majority of the movements are focused around kicking, which works not only the large muscles in your legs, but also the ligaments and tendons. By developing the larger muscles, students increase raw kicking power, while the smaller muscles and ligaments are challenged through balancing on one foot. Kicking also stretches hamstrings, calves, and other leg muscles improving both flexibility and mobility.
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Self-Defense
Kicking is a powerful tool for self-defense. Because the muscles in the legs are much larger than the ones in the arms, you can generate more strength from a kick than you can from a punch. Tae Kwon Do kicks can also add an element of surprise to a self defense situation. When practiced properly, kicks can be done in a tight space or at a short distance providing an additional avenue of attack that the can catch an opponent off guard. In addition, kicks also provide a longer reach for attacks allowing you to stay out of range of an opponent in a self defense situation.
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Circulation & Longevity
Tae Kwon Do offers several health benefits for the lower body. Proper kicking brings increased blood flow to your legs, thus improving your circulation. This is very important for maintaining a healthy body, especially for students who might spend all day sitting at a desk. By strengthening your lower body, Tae Kwon Do will keep your legs in a good condition, helping fight against the need for walking aids, such as canes or walkers, later in life. Having this wide range of motion, improved balance, and increased agility is a key part of improving your body’s longevity.
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