Over the last two years, we have had to teach ourselves to do a lot from our homes. Almost everything from school to work and even our exercise has become something we do from the comfort of our own home. But what about doing activities that require strict classes? Can we do martial arts training, specifically Taekwondo, from our homes?
To do taekwondo training from home, you need to have enough space to move around and some equipment. You will need to have discipline and a place that you can be alone or with the training partner to minimize distractions. With that said, it is possible to learn Taekwondo, well, at least the basics from home.
I am passionate about all martial arts, and I am passionate about people learning them. If you want to learn Taekwondo or any martial arts from home, you should not let anyone tell you that you cannot do it. Yes, there are some limits, and we will discuss those in this article. But, for everything you need to know about learning Taekwondo from home, keep reading.
Can You Teach Yourself Taekwondo?
Almost anyone can lift their legs and kick. So, what is to say that you couldn’t learn Taekwondo at home? After all, if you can raise your leg and kick, indeed, there is not much more to it, right? Well, Taekwondo is not just about kicking.
Instead, it is about perfecting every single aspect of every Taekwondo maneuver. However, we need to seriously consider, especially during these times, whether or not it is possible to learn Taekwondo at home
It is possible to learn taekwondo basics in the comfort of your own home. These basics include front kicks, side kicks, stance, footwork, and a few principles and values taught within Taekwondo. Sadly, advancing beyond a basic level will be near impossible to achieve without proper guidance, training, and facilities.
For example, we can use the most basic kick in Taekwondo, known as the front kick. We will speak about it a bit further down in the article, but now it is important to remember that you can teach yourself how to do the front kick and teach yourself how to do it pretty well. But, you might only be able to perfect the front kick when you are at a black belt level.
I know that it sounds crazy. Something as simple as a front kick taking that long? But it is a truth that we all have to deal with. Just because you know how to do something doesn’t mean you are good at it, which is a very humbling lesson.
To get to a point where you are a black belt is near impossible. I can confidently say that progressing past a white belt level is impossible.
Here’s What You Need to Start Learning Taekwondo at Home
There is not much that you need to do Taekwondo at home. However, there are a few conditions that you need to start your training successfully. As long as you have enough space, everything else we are about to discuss will only help you, but they are not strictly necessary.
Here is a short list of five things that you need to get started learning Taekwondo from the comfort of your own home. We will also list a few of our favorites below.
- A taekwondo mat: For a mat, you could use any kind you want. You also do not strictly need one, but it does make training inside or outside a little easier. You can also use a mat for other activities such as yoga.
- Cardio Equipment: For cardio, I recommend using a jump rope to get started. Remember, you have the entire outdoors for running and cycling. I recommend jump ropes because, apart from being small, portable, and easy to use, they are incredible at helping you become lighter on your feet.
- Punching bag: Not everyone has space for a traditional punching bag. Therefore, I recommend a good-quality punching dummy to start with. Then, with a bit of initiative, you can raise the dummy to suit your height.
- Footwear: You want lightweight footwear to maximize your efficiency in terms of energy expenditure.
- The right outfit: Having the right outfit will help you with flexibility. It is also great to dress according to the activity you are doing.
BalanceFrom GoGym All-Purpose 4’x10’x2 Extra Thick
- Velcro makes linking to more mats easy and seamless.
- Non-toxic
- Foldable
- 100% satisfaction guarantee.
GoxRunx Jump Rope
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Adjustable length
- Built with comfortable handles.
- Premium ballbearing for smooth skipping
EVERLAST-POWERCOREBAG
- Round design
- Air-foam chamber
- Easy to hit
- Solid base
- Height adjustable
adidas Unisex’s Low-Top Adi-Kick Martial Arts Taekwondo Training Shoes
- Extremely lightweight
- Made from durable PU materials
- Pivot point rubber soles
Hawk Sports Karate Uniform for Kids & Adults
- Lightweight
- Premium quality
- Flexibility friendly
Learn a Few Stretches
Stretching before any physical activity is not only recommended; it is necessary, especially when you are going to be doing something like Taekwondo. If you were to go to a class, your instructor would know precisely how to get you to stretch before you start training because they understand the danger of not stretching.
In Taekwondo, you are going to be kicking a lot. The muscle you are most likely to pull is your hamstring if you do not stretch adequately. Here is a video by Alex Wong. Bookmark this page so you can easily find and use the video.
Top 5 Stretches for Taekwondo Kicking
Learn How to warm up for Taekwondo
Now that you have stretched, you will want to warm up to get your blood flowing and your heart rate up. Warming up is almost just as important as stretching. Not only does it get your body in an optimal state to start training, but it also gets your mind in the right frame.
Here is a video from Nora TKD to help you follow along with some Taekwondo warm-ups.
Taekwondo warm-up excercises
Learn Your Stances
Every martial hearts has certain stances, and at times they can look rather strange to non-martial artists. However, these stances are fundamental to master because they put you in a position where you are ready to perform many taekwondo maneuvers.
We can sit here all day and talk about how hard it is to perfect any taekwondo maneuver, and that is why it is so essential that you learn the proper stance. It should be one of the first things that you do.
Having a right stance starts with your feet and to your head. Striking your target while you are in the correct stance means you will have the maximum amount of efficiency and effectiveness behind your maneuvers and techniques. Here is a video to help you learn the correct Taekwondo stances.
Learn Taekwondo Stances
Learn Basic Taekwondo Kicks
Taekwondo is a strike combat sport. However, most of the maneuvers and techniques are focused on your legs as a whole. There is a misconception that it is a kicking martial arts, and while you won’t be entirely inaccurate in saying that it is a kicking sport, it’s not quite true.
When you learn your taekwondo techniques, you will learn how to use your legs, shins, feet, hips, and knees to full effect. The methods you will learn might come easy at first, but you will need to perfect them, which can take years for a single kick.
However, if you put real work and thought into your training, you can start unleashing deadly kicks that will intimidate anyone who tries to harass you in a public space.
Here is a video of the few basic kicks that you will start learning. In these videos, you will notice one significant thing. A kick comes from the entire body and not just your feet and legs.
Learn basic Taekwondo kicks
Find an Online Class: Paid or Free
As we mentioned above, it would be near impossible for anyone to advance past the basic level of Taekwondo without proper training. Now, we understand that it is hard for people to get to a physical Taekwondo class in these times.
Online learning is not so bad. There are a few downsides to it, such as not having a qualified instructor to tell you what you are doing wrong. This can become frustrating, but if you can find an online instructor who does zoom classes where they can see what you are doing, that would be your best option. However, you might have to pay a pretty penny for this.
There are a wealth of resources that you can use that are free. Most of them you will find on YouTube, and we will link a great channel in this section.
Global Martial Arts University Youtube Channel
Make Sure You Have enough Space
You need space when you are training Taekwondo, not just for the elaborate kicks that you will try and pull off. I find that you need the most amount of space for your footwork training. Doing footwork will have you moving around a pretty large area, switching and sidestepping constantly.
You also need enough room for your cardio workouts, including simple exercises such as burpees to more elaborate ones such as skip rope.
Make Sure You Have a Training Schedule
It would be best if you had a proper training schedule. You will not get anywhere without routine, and I say this as someone who has witnessed people with erratic schedules not seeing their training through.
I am not taking a dig at anyone because I understand that we all have heavy personal and professional schedules that we have to prioritize to survive. What we mean by having a program is making sure that you train a certain number of days or hours a week.
An excellent way to start is to set two days aside to spend around one hour training your Taekwondo. If you can increase this, you will learn a lot faster, so it is up to you. Finding balance can be a skill that needs to be acquired.
First, learn the basics
Learning the basics is what you should aim to do, and it is the first thing you should do. We have covered many basics such as stretching, warm-ups, and cardio. However, the basics go far beyond physical training.
You want to learn the principles and values of Taekwondo. Now, I understand that sometimes it’s boring to learn the “history of something.” Still, anyone who is at least blue belt in Taekwondo can tell you almost the entire history of Taekwondo. They can also tell you the principles and values, so here is a list of the tenets taught within Taekwondo.
The Five Tenets of Taekwondo
- Integrity
- Courtesy
- Self-control
- Perseverance
- Indomitable spirit
It is essential that you start learning these tenets.
How Long Will it Take To Learn Taekwondo at Home?
This section might be a little bit long, so let me give you a definite answer first. To learn the basics of Taekwondo, including stance footwork, kicks, cardio workouts, and much more, will take approximately three months to 4 months. However, I want to discuss something.
My opinion on this can be somewhat controversial within the martial arts community. But, I have personal experience that I have picked up from my students. I will use their stories as an example for my answer to “how long it will take to learn Taekwondo at home.” Before we get into it, remember, you will struggle to move past the basics, so we are talking about basics in this section.
My students who tell me they train at home once they leave my class or on days when we don’t have class usually learn a lot faster than those that forget about martial arts when they leave the dojo.
If I use this knowledge to answer the question we asked, I can confidently say that you often do more because you have your schedule when you do at-home training. Therefore, I feel that it is easier to learn the basics at home. So, you should learn a lot quicker than those who train for only an hour or two a week.
Final Thoughts
Wow, that brings us to the end of this article. I know that I might have gotten a little bit carried away, but martial arts is my passion, as I’ve mentioned. If you have searched for this article, it means you want to make a change in your life for the better, which is terrific. My final piece of advice would be to start learning Taekwondo from home, with the aim of eventually going to a certified class so that you can advance up the ranks and master or your maneuvers and techniques.
