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METRO WORKOUT

Kick-start with Taekwondo

Photo: H. Vibhu

Oriental moves Taekwondo is a high-speed Korean martial art

I’m excited. Trying out Taekwondo, as a workout option, was something I always wanted to do. Akshay Kumar does it regularly they tell me. So do many Kochiites as part of their fitness regimen, informs Jeevaraj P.K, personal trainer and a national referee in the sport.

I’m at the Regional Sports Centre to try and figure out this Korean martial art as a fitness alternative. “Of course it can be done to keep fit but you can use it for self defence, for combat and for a specialised one-to-one fight.” I’m amused at the thought of me kicking, punching and locking an opponent in a fierce fight…

To begin with we are at the ‘dojang’, the place where Taekwondo is practised. I wear the ‘dobok’, the white uniform of the sport, and now I’m ready. I bow reverentially to my master, here Jeevaraj and we begin. It is a long 45 minutes of warm-up, which tones up the body from head to toe, in rotating movements with stress on breathing. We then move on to stretches and then come the kicks, which are the core of this martial art. We do the ‘raised kick’, which is lifting the leg and hit at a target. Here the target is a cushioned bat held by a fellow student. We thus practise in pairs and move on to side kicks. “We use both the legs in the sport. In fact, in Taekwondo the legs are exercised the most and hence it is very beneficial for toning the abdomen and hips,” says Gowind Krishna, a gold medallist in the sport, and who trains at the RSC.

After learning the kicks, we move on to a combination of kicks called ‘taegeuk’. Then we try the three steps sparring, which is a self-defence combination. I learn all about this and then Jeevaraj settles down to let me know what a Taekwondo fitness regimen will require. The warm up can be reduced to a 20 minute workout, followed by stretches. “Don’t compromise on stretches,” he says. “The kicks, both raised and side kicks, can be done followed by a few combinations before the cooling off which are again stretches and the warm up exercise. The whole regimen can be a 45 minute to an hour workout, three times a week, says Jeevaraj.

Gowind Krishna says, “This art is for all ages. Everybody here trains together and as we master the different degrees we move on to a higher level. It is the safest martial art as we use guards to protect every part of the body. But for fitness you don’t need any of that.”

We end the tutoring with a bow. With it I have learnt a new and refreshingly different art, something that’s very quick and needs concentration. It tests you for speed and alertness, for flexibility and strength. I know if I do it regularly I can have that dream wash board tummy and envious reflexes.

Bottomline: It calls for speed, concentration and flexibility. It’s good for women to tone up pelvic muscles after child birth.

Downside: It requires a high degree of physical fitness and there are several levels to be crossed to become a pro. It’s not as popular as other sporting activities yet.

Jeevaraj P. K. can be contacted at 98473 63565 or at the RSC office.

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