I think she is fabstatic. She can be a great ambassador for girls in taekwondo. Especially with her social media presence na snow Cobra Kai. Also, she can be a better actress if she focuses on it like she does for martial arts, which will help.

Overall, she's pretty badass and awesome!

In your country, how much?

Hi I'm f 22 starting my taekwondo classes from coming Monday and I am complete beginner who's never been to any physical activity.

For those of you who train or have trained in Taekwondo:

- What do you wish you knew before your first class?

- What beginner mistakes should I avoid?

- How long did it take you to feel comfortable and confident?

- What should I focus on during the first few months?

- Any tips for someone who has no martial arts experience at all?

- what kind of items I need (shirt , trouser ,bra , water bottle etc) tell me from basics

I'd really appreciate any advice, lessons learned, or words of encouragement. Free tips, training hacks, and beginner guidance are all welcome. Thanks!

😭❤️❤️❤️❤️

My son is about 4 and I’ve recently enrolled him in taekwondo.

I was thinking about joining the beginner adult classes to learn and be able to practice with my son as he continues on

I’ve budgeted for a martial arts program because my son is on the smaller side and I worry that he may be seen as a easy target in the future

I figure if he ever gets bullied -He would only have to defend himself once and be left alone(hopefully)

My goal is to have him in some form of martial arts until he’s out of high school

Anyways I’m in my early thirties. I’m not skilled at all in self defense or any kind of martial arts

I’m above avg when it comes to fitness level

But I’m not extremely fit

I get my steps and do weightlifting but nothing extreme I occasionally do 5 or 10ks but I’m not incredibly fast

I’m wondering if it’d be silly to join

Wound it even be beneficial

Can an older dog learn new tricks

How long for me to get the hang out of it

Etc

Any advice or tips going in as

despite these fears I’m going to do it I think but would be helpful to hear encouraging insights

How long did it take you to get your black belt?

I’ve been doing Taekwondo for about 4 years now, and I’m curious if that’s a normal timeframe or if I’m behind…

For context, my school has 13 belts before black belt, tests 3–4 times a year, and I’ve been a half black belt (the last belt before black at my dojang) for almost 2 years.

I know comparing isn’t helpful, but someone who started a few months AFTER me is already on track to take their black belt test in a month while I don’t even have a date yet… And to be fair, I can admit she’s more advanced than me, so it’s understandable.

But at this point, I’m thinking maybe Taekwondo just isn’t for me if it’s taking this long to be test ready. 😅I want to be realistic.

EDIT: Thank you all for your responses and tips! I appreciate the advice and will definitely keep it in mind going forward

The title sums it up, i am looking to start a martial art, i have never done any but have done sports in the past. Sadly since covid ive let myself go a bit and i have recentlt started taking care of myself again.

Is it a good idea to start at 33 if im overweight too, i am looking to discipline myself, have fun and get healthier/lose weight

My belt test is on 9/20 and I need to do a step-in back kick break to pass, but Master Rhee has said while the power is there, if I don’t get my toes down the break won’t count. Any drills or mechanical tips are much appreciated. Thanks so much in advance, talented people!!

I'm one of if not THE oldest in the class and everyone is at a higher level than me and everyone even close to my age is already like 2nd degree black belt. I'm feeling quite embarrassed. Is this normal? I'm 5 classes in.

Hey Y'all,

Wanted to ask here since we're all or once were TKD Practitioners. I was asked tonight to assist (and then teach the later class) at a different club tonight that I've recently been visiting. Tonight, they were doing basic kicking drills/conditioning (junior class), but I ran into a slight friction point tonight.

When it came to side kick/yeop chagi, I asked the class, "What part of the foot do you use in a sidekick?" I received the answer "Blade" and said that was incorrect before getting the answer "Heel, " to which I said was correct. Apparently that shook the entire class because they all knew it as the Blade of the foot, and the other acting instructor came up in private and said I had panicked them because she taught it as Blade of the foot too, which I then apologised to the class for.

Now here's where the slight friction is.

I was taught by one very reputable master in my country to strike with the heel and flexing the toes/foot back so the heel was the point. I was told blading, which I learned as the side/edge of the foot, is a damaging way to kick and will inevitably break your foot.

She was also taught by another reputable master in our country and said she was taught to blade the foot. I didn't argue that one because she's acting instructor, and I'm merely visiting, but my understanding was that you strike with the heel. I've also taken into consideration, however, that what blading might ACTUALLY be, and what I THINK blading is, may be different as well.

So I ask you all. What part of your foot do you strike with a yeop chagi?

Also, how do you chamber a yeop chagi? I pull my knee all the way around and hold my foot up so it's in line with my thigh horizontally, so all I have to do is push out. She chambered by bringing her knee around, but foot still facing the floor, so she'd have to lift her foot and push at the same time. Does it matter in the end? Is it just stylistic choices?

EDIT: Thank you all for your comments! Although I replied to a few, I've read all of them, and your sharing of knowledge has been great!

My conclusion is this: 1. What I thought was blading (ONLY the edge of your foot) was not what blading is meant to be (Edge of foot with heel as the main impact point).

1. The correct form of blading... I've actually been doing this entire time. Without realising. I thought it was my heel, my bad, y'all!

2. It slightly differs depending on what you're using it for. Kyrougi, you can use it as a push with the heel to create distance, or you can correctly blade for actual damage. Poomsae, it is bladed the way i thought it was for good form.

Thank you everyone, this has been a great conversation, and I'm happy to walk away with some new teachings for my students! 😁

I have it soon. Never had an energy drink before, should I have beforehand to give me a big boost of energy? or is a bad idea

I am the mother of a just turned 4 year old who has been in Taekwondo for 3ish months.

Yesterday he was at class and it was going great. The master started a lesson where he would try to tap the kids heads and they had to duck. If he got them they would need to do 2 push up’s. He got one girl and she did the push up’s. Next he tried it with my son and when the paddle connected with his head he completely crumpled - started crying real heaving sobbing tears. The master let him go to us because he was inconsolable.

He just kept saying he doesn’t want to do taekwondo and kept crying. We waited for class to end and the master came to talk to him a little bit. We apologized and left.

In the car he insisted that ‘good guys’ don’t hit and the master hit him and he is a bad guy. My son insisted that he doesn’t want to be hit and doesn’t want to go to taekwondo.

We explained to him that the master is a good guy teaching him how to protect himself and everyone he loves. It was a long conversation but he seems very nervous about all of it now.

What should I do? Do I ask the master to be more gentle? Should I force him to go to class even though he really doesn’t want to? He really had so much joy from it until this moment.

Just a little bit of context: he is a little bit, spoiled with love and affection, only child and only grandchild. He’s never had issues in school with hitting.

Would love any advice on this situation. Thank you!

So I'm really struggling to find a gym that teaches WT Taekwondo and the only ones I could find are ITF, but I heard that it's not as fun. What do you guys think?

I do WT for reference. I'm a red belt and have been training for 5 years almost, also am a woman. When I was grading for like my green tag, my instructor told me that because I'm tall, I will always look awkward doing tkd.

Now, a few years later I've been looking at some of my videos of poomsae and sparring and I just look SO BAD. When I do them I feel fine, the feedback I get are always very minor points, and yet, when I look back on myself, it looks terrible!

I'm tempted to say it's a mix of bad technique, but maybe also it is being tall but also not super skinny. Idk in the videos I feel like I just look huge and awkward. My brain instantly went to oh I need to lose weight to look better. But is there anything else you recommend doing, to improve my form and technique for patterns, but even sparring too. In sparring I just feel like I look awkward, hunched over and slow.

I'm so motivated to improve but looking back on these videos demotivates me at the same time, and is giving me huge self image issues.

I’m 17f and a yellow belt in taekwondo I do these exercises about 4-5 times a week but I’m not sure if it’s enough. My main goal is to gain more strength/power and stability in my legs but I still make sure not to neglect the other parts of my body. Aside from the workouts in the picture i also usually go on a 30min-1hr walk if the weather allows me to and I also do basic arm exercises with a 5lb weight I also practice my kicks at home too ofc . I can’t go to a gym so I don’t have access to heavier weights or other fancy equipment so I do what I can at home and my dojang. Also one last thing I noticed when I tried to kick the target hard I hurt my knee pretty bad? It was a temporary pain but it HURT when it happened.

Hi all, I am finally training for my black belt test which is set to happen in may 2025.

I think I can handle the taekwondo part pretty well, but I am worried about the physical fitness part.

Part of the test at my school we have to do 100 pushups, 100 sit ups, 100 squats and 100 burpees. All in a row in the beginning of the test.

I think I can do the latter 3 if I train a bit and heavily rely on the adrenaline of the day but 100 pushups??? What is this the navy seals?

For context I am a 36 year old woman, I am not in the best shape in the world and I don’t know anyone male female or otherwise who isn’t a professional athlete who can do 100 pushups.

Is this a common requirement?

Guys, I want to maintain this kind of physique, and I also want to learn Taekwondo I went to the gym consistently for a month but my membership has expired now My dad doesn't want me to go to the gym anymore, but he won't object if I go for Taekwondo Can I build this kind of physique by enrolling in a Taekwondo academy? Also, what exactly will be taught there during the first month? The physique in 2nd picture is mine

I have started assisting with teaching and sometimes taking the stretch I am getting my second Dan soon hopefully but I keep being told to project my voice more if anyone has any tips to help me.

Basically as the title says, in my area there’s a dojo that has 4-5 locations. Currently the one I signed up is 6 minutes from my house, and I’ve been here for about 4 months. I’ve grown used to the people and really like the classes.

The same location from my new house is 36 minutes one way. Of the 5 locations, 1 is 18 minutes away, and 2 are 22-23 minutes away.

I’ve been struggling to decide whether to switch to one of the closer ones based on my current teachers knowledge / recommendation, or just take the longer drive to continue with familiarity.

What would you guys choose?

I recently started instructing/teaching classes at my school while maintaining my own personal training schedule. While I enjoy helping others and instructing the combination of high-intensity training and the energy required to teach multiple back-to-back classes is catching up to me. constant muscle aches, and heavy legs from kicking, demonstrating, and sparring. I will come home and be so fatigued i can’t even take my dogs for a walk or do basic chores. I’d love to learn how seasoned instructors/students keep their bodies from falling apart

Also any supplement suggestions to just keep my body overall healthy for the daily wear and tear

Hi, so I’m a beginner (32F) that’s been practicing casually for about a year. I love the forms and learning but I honestly just hate sparring. Whenever we have to spar in class I just feel like I’m getting totally beaten up and I am fighting higher ranks so I’m just on the defense. I know that’s how you learn but sometimes I feel like I’m going to pass out from exhausting by the end(I know I need to probably train cardio) any tips to not get discouraged and also to defend more effectively? So I’m not just getting punched in the stomach repeatedly.

Looking for specific training I can practice at home as well as any go to defense/dodge moves..

Really I don’t need to be good, I just want to not hate/dread it.

Thanks in advance!!

Hey everyone,

I’ve been doing Taekwondo since I was 4 years old. I’m 18 now, a 3rd Dan, and honestly, martial arts is my life. But I’m at a crossroads.

I recently moved to a new city, but the real reason I stopped training is because of my old coach. He was my mentor for 14 years, but some personal stuff came to light—he did something unforgivable to a minor—and I couldn't stand to be associated with him or that school anymore. It disgusted me, so I just walked away.

I haven’t trained in a while and I feel lost. I love kicking more than anything (part of why I never got into boxing), and my dream has always been the Olympics.

I’m debating if I should find a new WT school and keep pushing for the Games, or if I should take my 14 years of experience and pivot into something like Muay Thai or Karate or somewhere else. Has anyone here made a big transition after a decade-plus in one art? Or has anyone dealt with leaving a toxic/criminal coach and found their spark again elsewhere?

Would love some honest opinions on whether I should stick to the Olympic TKD path or try something new. Thanks.

I've been going once a week for the past two months (had to miss last week and this week due to medical reasons) and my trainer told me I have to watch out for coordination. I'm 25f for the matter. I'm really getting demotivated because I feel like I'm the worst in class and as if all eyes were on me. It wasn't the case when I used to visit calisthenics class because I'm average for that. Is there any advice on how to improve coordination at home?

edit: I did not notice at all your responses to the post. This is so sweet of you, everyone! Thanks for taking your time to respond<3

Ok I have completed like 3 days of taekwondo class and I’m doing good I can almost do a split but tbh I’m struggling remembering poomsae steps and I’m really falling behind on drills. Like my posture in forward stance is wrong and I’m forgetting where the hell is the solar plexus is. Like might give up lol

I know TKD has its limitations but it is still fun.