Love Taekwondo? 36 Facts Los Angeles's Martial Arts Aficionados Should Know, PART 3

This four-part article series presents 36 different facts people who are interested in Taekwondo should know about this Korean martial art system.

Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series, which presents 36 interesting and important facts about the martial art system taking Los Angeles by storm: Taekwondo! In Part 2, we delved a little deeper into Taekwondo training: learning that it is about more than just mastering combat technique, but that it places equal emphasis on breathing, control, discipline, morality and an understanding of philosophy.

We also discovered that Taekwondo is one of only two martial arts forms that are included in the Olympic games, so Los Angeles residents can look forward to some pretty incredible competition should they take their training to professional heights.

We're halfway through our facts, so let's continue!

Fact # 19: Taekwondo is regarded as a universal art, with people of all ages, genders and from countries all over the world learning this martial art for a great variety of reasons, whether it's for general fitness, cultural identity or self-defense.

Fact # 20: Taekwondo has full medal status in the Olympic Games, so if you dream of taking your involvement in this martial art to professional levels, there is a lot of opportunity for competition and glory.

Fact # 21: Taekwondo specializes in unarmed combat, which enables students to defend themselves using a suite of defensive and offensive (counterattack) moves. Your weapons? Your hands and feet, of course! If this concerns you, don't worry, because with practice and the perfection of technique, you'll be able to chop a solid block of wood or concrete in half using only the straight edge of your hand.

Fact # 22: Taekwondo schools in Los Angeles will train students to develop their strength, dexterity, flexibility and speed through a variety of drills, cardiovascular and resistance exercises. Remember, though: if you want to progress fast, it's essential that you practice at home and work on your fitness in and out of the studio.

Fact # 23: Taekwondo, as a martial art form, was developed over a thousand years ago as a way to enable Korean militia in the army to defend themselves in times of war. It was also intended to keep them physically fit when off the battlefield.

Fact # 24: "USA Taekwondo" is the name of the governing body of this martial art system in America.

Fact # 25: Being the national sport of South Korea, this country has a very large and extremely skilled pool of Taekwondo fighters, which compete in any available national and international tournament, including the Olympic Games. Be prepared to meet them when you step onto the mat!

Fact # 26: If you want to see Taekwondo in action, simply keep an eye out for popular public demonstrations! Many Taekwondo schools, clubs and studios in Los Angeles stage these events so that prospective students can get a better idea of what this martial arts system looks like. It also generates greater public awareness of Taekwondo, which is one of the oldest and most revered combat systems.

Fact # 27: Taekwondo is one of the first martial arts systems to include women. Progressive? We think so!

Stay Tuned for Part 4

Stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series to find out more interesting facts about Taekwondo, which is one of the most popular martial art systems in Los Angeles.