About Legacy TaeKwonDo of Northern Kentucky

From a physical activity perspective, it is an upright martial art, like Karate or Krav Maga,  meaning that most of the techniques are initiated from a standing position. In our program, we do recognize that sometimes physical confrontations end up on the ground, so we choose to include how to fall safely (called break-falling) and how to take down and throw opponents as part of our situational self-defense training. Unlike, Jiu-jitsu, our goal is to come off the ground as quickly as possible to get away or create distance, so we do not do an extensive amount of grappling on the ground. As mentioned previously, kicking is an important element of self-defense to keep distance or strike from a distance. Though we still train some of the deeper stances, like a horseback or back stance, TaeKwonDo has become more known for its taller stances, which allows a defender to transition weight quickly and move from one position to another without televising movements through significant weight shifts. Finally, though it is not unique to TaeKwonDo, we do incorporate a significant number of blocking techniques, blocks that can turn into strikes or grabs as needed, and hand and elbow striking techniques to help students manage close quarters self-defense situations.

Because TaeKwonDo is rooted in a combination of the traditional Korean martial arts from pre-occupation times, as well as the exposure to Japanese and Chinese martial arts, which also have thousands of years of history behind them, TaeKwonDo is mentally engaging through the use of forms (called Poomsae) which employs a sequence of patterns for skills practice and as a form of moving meditation. Thus student benefit from improved memory skills, and a connection of mind and body through intentional movement. These forms allow students, when practices correctly and with intention, to become very skilled without the requirement of a partner. 

From a character development perspective, TaeKwonDo has 5 tenets that students learn and are encourage to practice both in and outside the TaeKwonDo studio: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, Indomitable Spirit. Many styles of martial arts have a code that they incorporate into the personal development of their students. The question that sets one program apart from others is: what do they focus on in the day to day of class instruction? At Legacy Taekwondo, we reference these tenets on a daily basis in our classes, regarding how students are behaving in class, and how they are using them outside our doors. For some programs, character development is something that is supposed to happen “naturally” by extension of practicing the martial art, but in our program, it is an intentional and regular focus from white belt through black belt.

The physical benefits of Taekwondo include self-defense skills. It turns under conditioned individuals into healthy individuals, and challenges healthy individuals to become athletes (even without commitment to competition). Internally, it helps students develops self-confidence and self-discipline. Mentally it helps with memory, focus, pattern recognition, and intentionality of practice and movements.