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Self-Defense Key Moves for White Belts

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In Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do, beginners learn some great moves for self-defense. A lot of these moves are taught as part of the white belt curriculum. When thinking about self-defense, one of the first things that comes to mind is how should you be standing. There are numerous stances in taekwondo, and each has its purpose. The L-Stance , which is taught to beginners, is a great overall stance for self-defense. This is because it is fairly stable both front to back and side to side. This stance also makes it relatively easy to execute kicks with the front leg. White belts are taught some powerful hand techniques which can aid in self-defense. Throwing multiple punches in quick succession at an attacker's face could catch them off guard allowing you to escape. In addition, Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do teaches beginners four different elbow strikes which can be quite effective if an attacker is in close proximity. There are elbow strikes that can be used if an opponent is in front of you, behin...

Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do Resources | MAKA TKD

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Any students attending the free martial arts classes offered by Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do Educational System Inc. in the Pittsburgh area or other areas may find the numerous available online resources to be quite helpful in their taekwondo training. When I first started attending weekly taekwondo classes, I found it difficult to remember all of the techniques that we were learning in class. Oftentimes, as soon as I got home from class, I would practice some of the things we just learned that day as a way to help remember them. In addition, I would spend a little bit of time (15 minutes or so) each day during the week practicing those new techniques. This was quite helpful, but there were many times when I could not remember exactly how to do a particular technique. This is where the numerous Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do resources available online can be quite helpful. There are documents available for download from Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do that list the required knowledge for the different belts that stu...

Uppercut - A Powerful and Devastating Punch

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When fighting at close range, the uppercut can be a devastatingly effective punch. If done with the proper technique, an uppercut to the chin can be quite powerful and can knockout an opponent. In science class we learn that force equals mass times acceleration. Therefore, in order to have a powerful uppercut you need to get your body weight behind the punch or to increase the speed of the punch or some combination of the two. In Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do  classes, the uppercut is required knowledge for a gold belt with a green stripe. If you want to have a powerful uppercut, it is important to get your body weight behind the punch. If you just move your arm up to execute the punch, then it will not be as effective since there is not much weight behind your arm. To execute an uppercut from a fighting stance with your hands in guard (just below eye height) start by bending your knees. You want to bend your knees enough so that your fist is below your opponent's chin. Next, you will begin ...

Free Taekwondo Martial Arts Classes In Pittsburgh

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Are you interested in Martial Arts classes? According to some online sources, classes may cost anywhere from $50 to $200 per month. That may not fit within some peoples budgets. If you are in a similar situation, then there may be a solution for you. Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do Educational System Inc. offers free Martial Arts classes in Pittsburgh. According to their website at sejongtkd.org they were founded by Father Robert Connolly, an Eighth Degree Black Belt. They currently have 19 schools, most of which are in the western Pennsylvania area, with one in the Philadelphia area and one in Wilmington, North Carolina. There is no charge to attend their classes, other than a nominal yearly fee to cover insurance. Se-Jong Tae Kwon Do Educational System Inc. is a domestic nonprofit corporation started in 1990. A complete list of their schools can be found on their website at Se-Jong Schools . The following are some of the schools and locations. If you live to the northeast of Pittsburgh, Se-Jong...

The Importance of Effective Combinations in Martial Arts

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Utilizing effective combinations is very important in martial arts. The Robert Whittaker vs Jared Cannonier fight is a good example of this. This was a 15-minute UFC fight consisting of three 5-minute rounds. One of Mr. Whittaker's most effective combinations in this fight was a left punch, right punch, and then right kick sequence. In our system of Taekwondo this combination would be described as a straight punch, reverse punch, and then a rear leg roundhouse kick from a left side out fighting stance. Mr. Whittaker first attempted this combination when there was 2:52 left in the first round. However, Mr. Cannonier avoided the technique by quickly stepping back. However, seconds later at the 2:40 mark Mr. Whittaker tried again, this time landing the combination. He was able to make partial contact again using this combination with 18 seconds left in the round. Mr. Whittaker did not attempt the combination at all in the second round. Perhaps, this was due to Mr. Cannonier's goo...