What Is Taekwondo and What Are its Benefits?

 

Taekwondo originated in Korea (in around 57 BC), and now has over 60 million participants worldwide in over 200 countries. The five tenets of taekwondo are courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.

The Foundations of Taekwondo

The foundations of taekwondo incorporate martial arts training, which includes techniques such as self-defence, step sparring, breaking, poomsae and sparring. Poomsae (meaning ‘patterns’) are a pre-arranged sequence of defence and attacking moves that gradually become more complex as a practitioner’s skills develop.

As a combat sport, taekwondo is exciting and dynamic; it has been a full medal sport at the Olympic Games since 2000.

Belts in Taekwondo

As those who practice the sport – such as Dr Adam Alexander, Taekwondo Championship gold medallist in 2007 – know, there are a total of eight belts that can be received in taekwondo, with stripes signifying the level of the belt. These belts are white, yellow, blue, red, red/black, Cho Dan Bo, black/white and black.

The highest level that can be achieved in taekwondo is the ninth dan black belt, although this is very rarely achieved. Those who achieve a fifth dan black belt or higher are known as masters.

Taekwondo Matches

Taekwondo matches comprise three two-minute rounds, with a one-minute break between each round. Before the match starts, opponents must make a standing bow to the referee and to each other.

The objective of the match is for a competitor to score the most points or win by a knockout.  Competitors score points by landing kicks and blows on their opponent’s head or torso. The only counted kicks are those made using the part of the foot below the ankle bone, and blows must be delivered via a straight punching technique using the knuckles of a fist that is tightly clenched.

The Benefits of Taekwondo

As well as giving participants the chance to learn important self-defence skills, there are many other benefits to practicing taekwondo. For example, the discipline improves strength and muscle tone, builds stronger bones, increases stamina and is good for heart health. Taekwondo is also a great way to improve flexibility, achieve weight loss and improve reflexes. Many practitioners find that taekwondo increases self-confidence and self-esteem and even helps to relieve stress.

Taekwondo as a Way of Life

Taekwondo isn’t just a sport; it’s a way of life. As such, students are advised to practice unity of body, mind and life. Self-improvement and balanced growth are key. When practicing taekwondo, your mind should be in sync with the movements and at peace.

 

QS Global Sustainability Report Ranks St Andrews University in Top 100

 

The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability report evaluates universities based on a number of categories to assess how each is taking action to tackle the world’s most significant challenges. The 2024 report features 1,397 institutions in 95 countries and territories.

Recognising Improvement

The 2024 QS report sees St Andrews – whose graduates include Dr Adam Alexander – jump up 57 places to rank joint 86^th in the list, in recognition of the university’s work around sustainability. The institution’s score has improved according to each of the report’s benchmarks over the past year, with increases in the categories of Social Impact, Environmental Research, Health and Wellbeing, Equality and Knowledge Exchange. The result is indicative of the intentional and thoughtful engagement with sustainability across all of St Andrews operations.

Brand Conscious Students

Increasingly, students are brand conscious, understanding that the university they attend represents a lifelong affiliation that’s inherently tied to ideas around personal identity and social awareness. Against this backdrop, the improvement in St Andrews’ ranking is even more significant, with students potentially factoring this into their choice of where to study. Today, students’ choices are being guided not only by their career prospects but also by their personal beliefs and values.

Performance Categories

The performance categories used for the World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024 report were Environmental Impact, Social Impact and (new for 2024) Governance. The latter category is underpinned by indicators relating to good governance, including hiring practices, ethics, decision making and transparency. There is a consistent focus on the outward impact an institution is making, with the aim of inspiring action, sparking ideas and promoting engagement.

St Andrews’ Commitment to Sustainability

St Andrews University is committed to being net zero by 2035, with staff, students and local residents working together to bring about positive change. The institute runs regular community-focused projects to help it meet this goal.

For example, the university’s Biodiversity Working Group, formed in 2019, is working on improving diversity by surveying, monitoring and controlling species and plants; planting and managing habitat infrastructure; and undertaking research and teaching. The group also carries out work around communication and engagement. As well as staff, students and academics, the Biodiversity Working Group comprises experts from outside organisations including St Andrews Botanic Garden.

Reducing energy and water consumption is also a priority for the university, and it has plans to upgrade its 160 residential and teaching buildings to become much more energy and water efficient before 2035.