Why Tae Kwon Do ?

Lets learn the definition first and later you can decide whether Taekwondo 

suits you or your kids best  ;)

Definitions are courtesy of Wikipedia

(I) THE DEFINITION

Taekwondo (태권도; 跆拳道; Korean pronunciation: [tʰɛkwʌndo])^[a] is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae (태, 跆) means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon (권, 拳) means "to strike or break with fist"; and do (도, 道) means "way", "method", or "art". Thus, taekwondo may be loosely translated as "the art of the foot and fist" or "the art of kicking and punching."

As many other arts, it combines combat techniques, self-defense, sport, exercise, and in some cases meditation and philosophy. In 1989, Taekwondo was claimed as the world's most popular martial art in terms of number of practitioners.^[1] Gyeorugi (pronounced [ɡjʌɾuɡi]), a type of sparring, has been an Olympic event since 2000.

(II)  THE BENEFITS

There are many things that people find that they like about Tae Kwon Do. For many, these reasons are personal and unique to the individual. However, here are some benefits that you can expect to experience with Tae Kwon Do:

• Enhance self-esteem by heightening your physical and mental powers.
• Build confidence by encouraging you to succeed and to take control of your life.
• Develop discipline by thoroughly training your body and mind in the tenets and techniques of Taekwondo.
• Teach self-defense by training you to recognize situations in which physical self-defense may be necessary, and teaching you how to control such situations to your advantage.
• Strengthen your mind and body through increased physical coordination and mental discipline.

HOW YOUR CHILD CAN BENEFIT FROM TAEKWONDO? Taekwondo is a total learning activity.  Lessons are tailored to your child's age and skill level.  Your child begins by practicing basic patterns and forms, board breaking, kicking, blocking, striking, and punching.  These fundamental skills increase your child's physical coordination, flexibility, balance, and mental acumen. Taekwondo develops your child's athletic abilities and self-awareness, and improves the child's capabilities in self-defense. SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF ESTEEM FOR YOUR CHILD This is the main point that I think is the most important thing which I want my kids to develop and build within them. Taekwondo emphasizes moral development as well. Children learn respect for themselves and others, heightened concentration, and increased self-discipline and self-restraint. The self-discipline that develops as a result of learning and practicing the techniques usually carries over into other areas of the child's life. School grades often improve as your child learns to focus on objectives and to work toward achievement. The self-discipline and self-resect which Taekwondo develops can provide your child with the skills and mindset necessary to resist peer pressure. Training in taekwondo boosts self confidence and self esteem. We've seen children become more sure of themselves. And gain the confidence to speak in front of the class. Or perform a difficult pattern in front of a grading panel. They develop the confidence to teach. And to nurture the younger kids. And in doing so they learn patience and kindness.  And over time, we've seen taekwondo kids develop into calm, self-assured young people. Quietly confident in themselves. With high self esteem.   And why's that good? Well. People with high self esteem are less likely to get involved in destructive behavior like drug taking or alcohol abuse. And that quiet assured self confidence means that they are less likely to be bullied at school  :)

In a nutshell, the benefits in pursuing Taekwondo skills are:

Respect, trust and open communication are the foundations of strong families. Taekwondo training promotes values such as honesty, courtesy, loyalty, and cooperation. Each is an essential component in maintaining a good family structure.