Awesome Tae Kwon Do Facts!

• Tae Kwon Do is used by the South Korean military 
• Tae Kwon Do is Korea's national sport
• Training in Tae Kwon Do disciplines one's body to control breathing
• Tae Kwon Do training consists of blocks, kicks, punches, open-handed strikes, and sweeps
• A good strength and conditioning program is vital to one's success in Tae Kwon Do
• Tae Kwon Do is an Olympic sport 
• Concentration, combat philosophy, self-defense and physical fitness is key in Tae Kwon Do
• Tae Kwon Do is seen in Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme films 
• Tae Kwon Do originated in Korea 2000 years ago 
• The founder of Tae Kwon Do is General Choi-Hong Hi, a 9th degree grandmaster 
• Tae Kwon Do is practiced in 188 countries worldwide 

Tae Kwon Do is a great way to stay fit/active while learning self-defense at the same time. It increases one's flexibility, stamina, and mental/physical strength. Every Tae Kwon Do school is different in the sense that it focuses on different areas, but it's morals/values are never changed. The most important aspect of Tae Kwon Do that one receives is it's values that is applied in everyday life. Besides that, Tae Kwon Do involves learning cool kicks as well as flips and sweeps. Check out the video above to see a Tae Kwon Do master demonstrating his skills at a tournament!

The Superman Punch!

George St. Pierre Superman Punch

My favorite technique of all time is the infamous superman punch. It goes by many other names such as cobra punch, falcon punch, jumping punch and diving punch.

In the picture above, the previous welterweight champion in UFC, George St. Pierre, is performing the superman punch. As you can see, he resembles the comic book hero, Superman, punching in air.

However, do not be fooled! Just because it resembles that of an unrealistic comic book series does not mean that the superman punch is ineffective. This technique involves a fake front leg kick which is quickly snapped back to create incredible momentum. At the same time, the attacker is in air while throwing a powerful punch that dives into their opponent. 

Many use this skill to obtain knockouts. It is a POWER movement due to the lunge your body creates when snapping the leg back. Personally, I use this technique as an counter-attack move. I find it useful when in the clinch. I like to push away from the opponent and do a reversal superman punch which is unorthodox. The superman punch is a flexible skill that can be used in almost every scenario. 

The Roundhouse Kick

http://www.raynerslanetkd.com/ARTICLES_RoundhouseVturningkick.html

Above is a perfect example of the roundhouse kick. The technique behind this simple kick is fascinating. As you can see, the bottom foot is turned 180 degrees, which allows the individual to have more acceleration, power, and speed. One can imagine the kick to be like a whip, snapping at the edge of impact. 

In Tae Kwon Do, there are two styles of the roundhouse kick. The 'old school' method involves the kick to be delivered with the ball of the foot and the body leaning into the momentum of the kick. The 'new school' method does not involve the body leaning into the kick and uses the in-step of the foot to hit. 

Personally, I like to take different aspects from each method. When I do a roundhouse kick I like to lean my whole body into the force of the kick, while using the in-step of my foot to strike the target. The reason is because I prefer power over speed. If a person preferred speed over power, they wouldn't lean into the kick as much. 

I believe roundhouse kicks are the most utilized kicks in any martial arts that involves striking. They are used for thigh kicks, body kicks and even head kicks. When administered with enough strength, the roundhouse kick can cause broken ribs, legs and even neck injuries.