Taekwondo, usually regarded by most people as simply a way of fighting and a brutal sport. People consider it brutal because of all the kicks, punches, throws, and arm and wrist locks; they are usually not open-minded enough to see the benefits it brings to people, especially children. While most of it includes fighting, taekwondo also helps a person gain self-confidence, self-defense and discipline. Developing self-confidence is an important aspect of learning taekwondo. By gaining self-confidence the student learns to believe in his own abilities. By believing in his abilities, students' performance would be affected in and out of the dojo. As the student's self-confidence increases, his or her attitude will also increase. Once students' confidence begins to increase, their attitudes, in general, rather than at work, school or home, usually improve. Over time he will develop an indomitable spirit. The student should always be willing to keep trying as they progress through the belt levels. As the student rises through the ranks, the self-confidence he develops in the dojo will benefit him throughout his life. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The thought of learning self-defense is usually the main reason why people join taekwondo. In addition to learning self-defense, taekwondo is also very physically demanding. Warm-up exercises in taekwondo usually consist of push-ups, sit-ups, squats, stretches and crunches. Self-control is mandatory when learning taekwondo. Without self-control the student can seriously injure other students or himself. In addition to learning self-control and becoming physically fit, students also learn martial arts weapons. Weapons are usually taught as an extension of the student's hands. By becoming physically fit, learning self-control and weapons, students are on their way to becoming well-rounded martial artists. Discipline in taekwondo is shown through the use of kata, respect and repeatability. Forms or kata are used to advance from one belt level to another. Students must be able to perform the kata in the correct order, step by step, to be promoted to the next belt level. Showing respect in the dojo towards the instructor and other students is also part of the discipline required in taekwondo. Students usually bow as they enter or exit the dojo and to each other. Repeatability also plays an important role in the discipline. Students are required to repeatedly practice the same kick or punch while walking in a straight line. Discipline in taekwondo allows the student to achieve satisfactory results in obtaining the next belt level. If more people approached the study of taekwondo with an open mind, they would discover the many benefits available beyond fighting. Taekwondo can be used as a stress reliever after a long day at work or school. The self-confidence, self-defense and discipline learned through the study of taekwondo are very useful inside and outside the dojo. Works Cited Bae, J., & Kim, M. (2017). Effects of Taekwondo training on physical fitness, balance, and self-efficacy in preadolescents. Journal of Activity Rehabilitation, 13(6), 676-680. Chang, H., Kim, S., Choi, J., & Lee, H. (2017). The effects of Taekwondo training on growth factors related to, 28(8), 2306-2309.