CCA Previews ‘18: Raffles Taekwondo

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By Raffles Taekwondo Exco ’18

Ever wanted to get active but find yourself pressed heavily under the strain of schoolwork and a ton of other activities? Or just looking for a CCA that not only lets you have fun, but also gets you exercise with friends?

Rejoice and look no further, as Raffles Taekwondo is the perfect CCA for you!

Getting shafted by the impossible amounts of schoolwork thrown at you can be pretty annoying, yet at the same time you know you’re just going to brick yourself if you join too intense a CCA. If you have these thoughts in your mind, it can only mean one thing: join Taekwondo. Not only are you learning a powerful new skill to protect yourself (in case you ever find yourself in a situation where someone is trying to end you), you are keeping fit as well: the regular physical training every session will prevent your body from deteriorating into a mess of mugger material. There are absolutely no entry prerequisites, but you do have to buy your own uniform (dobok) and eventually sparring guards when you reach the green belt level.

So what exactly is Taekwondo all about? It is a Korean martial art, characterised by its emphasis on head-height kicks, jumping and spinning kicks, and fast kicking techniques – useful to know for purposes of self-defence, and deadly if performed flawlessly.

There are two main components in Taekwondo: poomsae and sparring. Poomsae is a defined set of defense-and-attack motions, with a distinct form for each colour belt to instil accuracy, precision and mental discipline in practising. Sparring, on the other hand, is the practical application of techniques in a face-off against another exponent. It is first exposed at the green belt level, to ensure that the fundamentals have been mastered.

Currently, we are coached by Sir Henry Tan, a 10-time national champion and SEA Games gold medalist who was on the Taekwondo national squad in his younger days. So you can rest assured that you are being taught by one of the best taekwondo exponents in Singapore!

Additionally, you could also get a chance to represent our school in the annual Inter-School competitions if you train hard enough! In fact, Raffles Taekwondo has been consistently rolling in medals in the annual inter-schools since 2014 when the club was started. What’s more, there are multiple national Taekwondo competitions for you to participate in through our club.

Training is once a week on Fridays, normally from 4pm to 5pm, but may increase in frequency up to three or more times a week closer to competitions and gradings. For people whose Friday timetables end later, fret not since there’s also a session from 5pm to 6pm.

Train with us at HomeTeamNS Balestier (a 10 minute walk from Toa Payoh Interchange) St Teresa’s Taekwondo and climb up the ranks to get that elusive black belt to prove your dedication to the martial art!

Join the RJ TKD family, and conquer with Raffles Taekwondo!

For any queries, send a DM to the RJ Taekwondo Instagram account @rafflestaekwondo.