What should I wear/bring?

Wear something loose and comfortable like a T-shirt, jogging trousers or shorts to start with. You will be able to purchase your uniform through the club.

We suggest that you bring a non fizzy drink, preferably water so as not to run the risk of getting dehydrated during and after the lesson.

Am I fit enough?

The classes are designed to be accessible to all people of average fitness. Remember that our job is to make you fit, so even if you feel you are below average don't worry too much. We will ask you a few standard health questions which will alert us to any potential problems. If you do suffer from a condition which may give cause for concern we would ask you to bring a letter from your GP stating that it is safe for you to participate in the class.

Am I flexible enough?

Taekwondo classes always consist of a thorough warm up and a substantial amount of time is spend on stretching exercises. Over time, through regular and dedicated practice you will be able to increase your flexibility which will improve your speed and agility, and help reduce injuries. Some people who stretch regularly have managed to maintain superb flexibility well into their sixties and beyond.We are of course all built differently and great flexibility is not always the result of training but of certain genetic factors as well.

How long will it take to achieve black belt status?

There are 10 grades, spread over 5 different colour belts to black belt. A minimum of three month waiting period between gradings. On average students can expect to grade 3 times a year. A minimum time of 6 month waiting period between the 1st kup (the grade before black belt) and 1st Dan/Poom (black belt). 

However time alone is not enough! Dedication and hard work has to be put in. We are not a club that encourages students to rush through the grades. We like to maintain our standards and good reputation for producing excellent black belts and for making students feel proud of their achievement.

Would it benefit me to practice another martial art along side Taekwondo?

Cross-training before you becomes fluent in your chosen martial art can easily lead to confusion and mishmash of technique and is unlikely to provide the mental and spiritual benefits derived by dedicating yourself to a singular martial art. Having said this, any martial art including Taekwondo have their technical weaknesses. Taekwondo mainly consist of striking and blocking techniques and devotes less time on holding, throwing and ground fighting techniques. Having said this, some taekwondo clubs, including Europa spend time developing the above techniques in their training programs. We also run seminars that will help develop these skills. Watch our bulletin and photo gallery page.

What is the difference between WTF taekwondo and ITF taekwondo?

The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and the International Taekwondo Federation are the two largest global governing associations. Broadly speaking,WTF Taekwondo tends to be perceived as a modern sport oriented federation, mainly due to the fact that WTF Taekwondo is a well established Olympic sport whereas ITF taekwondo tends to be somewhat more tradition oriented. The sparring/competition rules are also different in that WTF taekwondo uses full contact rules with competitors wearing full protective body armour and ITF only semi contact with competitors wearing less protective clothing. Of course, during training sessions controlled sparring  and safety is of the highest order, with only the more experienced students being able to apply more force in order to simulate a real competition scenario.

Still need some further clarification?

Please call me (Tessa) on 07956 536 576 any time and I'll be happy to give you further information or details as required.