About Taekwondo & Martial Arts
More Than Kicks and Punches
To many people, martial arts may look like a collection of techniques—kicks, punches, blocks, and forms. But the deeper you go, the more you realize martial arts is about transformation.
Taekwondo has been an important part of my personal journey. It has taught me discipline, patience, perseverance, confidence, and the importance of continuous improvement.
At Twilight Elements, martial arts is explored as both a physical practice and a path of personal growth.
Training is not only about becoming stronger physically. It is about developing focus, learning control, building resilience, and discovering what you are capable of accomplishing.
What is involved in Taekwondo?
World Taekwondo has eight basic forms. I learned these forms when I was a color belt, and I continue to practice them to this day. Below, you will find the eight Taeguek forms along with their meanings as I was taught:
1. **Il Jang** – Heavens, sky
2. **Ee Jang** – Lake
3. **Sa Jang** – Fire
4. **Sam Jang** – Thunder
5. **Oh Jang** – Wind
6. **Yuk Jang** – Water
7. **Chil Jang** – Mountain
8. **Pal Jang** – Ground, Earth
Each form teaches a new strike, block, kick, or stance. Forms are a fundamental component of training, alongside kicking and striking, sparring, and internal growth. These basic forms create the foundation for the degree forms, which are as follows:
– **Koryo** – Deputy
– **Keumgang** – 1st Degree
– **Taebaek** – 2nd Degree
– **Pyongwon** – 3rd Degree
– **Sipjin** – 4th Degree
– **Jitae** – 5th Degree
– **Cheonkwon** – 6th Degree
– **Hansu** – 7th Degree
– **Ilyeo** – 8th Degree
– **Chon-Ji** – 9th Degree
(See more about forms and their importance HERE.)
In addition to the eight basic forms, there are nine basic kicks. All higher-level kicks are derived from these foundational kicks:
1. **Front Kick**
2. **Roundhouse Kick**
3. **Side Kick**
4. **Axe Kick**
5. **Inner Crescent Kick**
6. **Outer Crescent Kick**
7. **Back Kick**
8. **Spin Kick**
9. **Hook Kick**
These kicks become more advanced when jumps and additional spins are incorporated. However, kicks and forms are not the only aspects to learn in taekwondo; the art also includes hand strikes such as knife strike and elbow strike, which are acquired either through learning the forms or formal classes.
Weapons training begins as you achieve higher ranks. I started with weapons such as the bo staff and nunchaku, but there are many m ore.
The Journey of a Martial Artist
My martial arts journey has included:
- Taekwondo training (Kicks and Punches)
- Forms and technique practice
- Kick development
- Weapons Training
- Fitness and conditioning
- Exploring the connection between martial arts and mindfulness
Forms are more than memorizing movements. They teach precision, patience, awareness, and discipline. Every repetition creates an opportunity to improve.
Martial arts is a lifelong journey. There are moments of progress, moments of challenge, and moments when we must step back before moving forward again.
Continue Your Training Journey
Explore Twilight Elements martial arts content including:
- Taekwondo techniques
- Forms and training tips
- Martial arts fitness
- The spiritual side of martial arts
- Lessons learned through training
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced martial artist, there is always another lesson waiting to be learned.
Keep training. Keep growing. Keep moving forward.
The world of martial arts has expanded significantly, offering access to learn various styles from around the globe. Taekwondo is just one of many martial arts available.
I practice Taekwondo and have experienced personal growth through it. If Taekwondo isn’t the right fit for you, there are plenty of other options to explore.
Whatever you choose, I encourage you to pursue a martial art.
