Handy Hints

• Be prepared before commencing your Taekwon-Do class
• Removing Stains from Your Uniform
• Keeping your Uniform white
• Better Learning, Better Training

Be prepared before commencing your Taekwon-Do class

Just like an old engine in a car needs to be warmed-up before commencing a trip, the human body also needs to warm up before engaging in any active sport!

I recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes before class starts, so that you can warm-up the body.  My routine is in two parts:-

1. General warm-up – is broken up into two parts

(i) Joint rotations:  begin joint rotation warm-up from your fingers down, working in a circular motion clockwise and anti-clockwise, until the joint is moving smoothly. Work through the joints in the following order:

(ii) Aerobic activity: is needed to increase the blood flow and raise the heart rate and temperature of the body.  We need to do at least five minutes of aerobic activity to increase cardiovascular output.  Jogging or skipping rope are just two of the many ways this can be achieved. 

2. Warm-up stretching – there are two parts to stretching in a warm -up

(i) Static stretching is a stretch that has no motion. You achieve this by applying your own tension/pressure to a particular muscle or muscle group.  An example of this type of stretch would be a walking stance lunge.

(ii) Dynamic stretching is a stretch with motion. Arm swinging and leg raises in every direction to achieve the maximum range of motion are two examples of dynamic stretching.

After you have completed this warm-up routine you will be ready to commence class!

Handy Hint provided by Instructor Norman Ward

Removing Stains from Your Uniform

If the uniform has dried and a stain is still there, try 150g can of K2r STAIN REMOVER spray. If this doesn't remove the stain, try dabbing a little SNOW WHITE onto the uniform with a tissue after ironing. What ever you do, DON'T let any of these products come into contact with the badges, black writing or the black ribbing if you have a Black Belt uniform. If you do, you will end up with green to brown marks. Just put a little VANISH PREEN (650ml bottle of VANISH PREEN the great unstainer, dual power is about $7 a bottle) on the area affected and rewash.

Handy Hint provided by Mrs. Ann Richardson.

Keeping your Uniform white

To keep your uniform gleaming white you need to do the following. Soak the uniform in detergent and Napisan overnight and ensure that any stains and grime are sprayed before soaking. NEVER try to bleach the uniform as most are made of material that consists of polyester which will go yellow when bleached. Bleaching will also ruin the badges on the uniform.

Handy Hint provided by BI Ann Browne

Better Learning, Better Training

About an hour before training I eat a banana and a small serve of chocolate to get that extra boost of energy! Bananas and chocolate both contain elements that improve your mood. Exercise also enhances your state of well being and in combination with this energy snack you should feel physically and mentally good at the end of a training session.

The banana is high in nutritional content. It contains Vitamins, Minerals, Protein, Fibre and small amounts of Zinc and Iron. The high potassium level in a banana assists the muscles to avoid cramp while exercising. There are many health benefits gained from eating bananas, one of which is that they make you more alert, which helps in the learning process.

So before you or your child/children go to training, ensure that you/they have had the energy snack, banana and small serve of chocolate, an hour or so before. Happy training!!!

Notes from Branch Instructor Ann Browne, Chermside