Use the Team USA taekwondo club locator app on the Team USA website to find a local school.

Weight categories will differ for juniors. To check junior weight divisions, visit the Team USA taekwondo site. [3] X Research source

Direct attack. There are three main types of direct attacks: the in-place attack, the incline attack, and the sliding attack. Which one you use will depend on the distance and stance of your opponent. Indirect attack. There are three types of indirect attack: cutting, feinting, and footwork. These mislead the attack of your opponent. Counterattack. There are direct and indirect counterattacks. The latter type of attack involves footwork followed by an attack, whereas the former involves staying in place.

Taekwondo is a Korean style that means the way of hand and foot. But there are sub-styles within that. Originally, Taekwondo had two main lineages, the International Taekwondo Federation and the World Taekwondo Federation. The length of time to get the black belt depends on the organization in which you are and the number of belts within your system. Typically, it takes two to three years to get to black belts.

Consult a nutritionist to create a balanced diet plan that is tailored to your specific needs and health concerns.

Consider signing up for a yoga class - you will get both physical and mental benefits that could complement your training. [10] X Research source

Visualize your routine. Imagine all of the sensory input you will be getting, like the cheers of the crowd, the approach of your opponent, or the impact of your attack. This will motivate you as well as allow you to anticipate some of the surprise elements of the big day, which otherwise could work to your disadvantage. [12] X Research source

You could also ask your coach to help you visualize different combat situations or even create game-like situations to help you practice under different conditions. [13] X Research source

If you are ready to compete, it is time to sign up for tournaments.

The American Taekwondo Association hosts tournaments throughout the U. S. which you can sign up for online. The WTF also maintains an updated list of national and international tournaments which you could inquire further about. [15] X Research source