Taekwon-Do, particularly in Chang-Hon style (that practiced by ITF affiliated clubs), balances both sport and martial art elements while staying true to its traditional roots.
As a sport, ITF Taekwon-Do features controlled, semi-contact free sparring , technical pattern competitions, alonf with specialty and power-breaking events, highlighting precision, speed, and control. While competition fosters athleticism and strategy, it is only one aspect of the art.
As a martial art, ITF Taekwon-Do retains its self-defence gearing, teaching practical applications through step-sparring, self-defence drills, and power testing in the form of board and tile breaking. Training hones the practical use of our bodies through traditional line-work, patterns, full-range striking , and practical combat applications, ensuring that the art remains effective beyond the competition arena.
Being intended for the purpose of self defence, our classes cover a range of different scenarios and survival assumptions. We accompany this by teaching the legal realities of physically defending yourself in New Zealand, often dispelling misconceptions borne from regional differences and popular belief.
