Welcome to Our Website!

Since 1989, Midwest Taekwondo Martial Arts and Fitness has been providing instruction in Taekwondo and the martial arts to the residents of Joplin and Webb City, Missouri as well as the surrounding area.

As a member of the American Martial Arts Alliance this site has been designed to give you information about our facility, the programs we offer, our style of martial arts, our staff and to provide you with information on how to contact us as well.

We hope you enjoy our site and will stop by and visit our school if you are in the area.

What is Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is a modern martial art, characterized by its fast, high and spinning kicks. There are multiple interpretations of the name Taekwondo. Taekwondo is often translated as 'the way of hand and foot.'

Tae = 'Foot' or 'to kick' or 'to jump' K'won = 'Fist' or 'to strike or block with hand' Do = 'The way of' or 'art'

Put this together and Taekwondo means: "The art of kicking and punching" or "The art of unarmed combat."

Disciplines of Taekwondo

Taekwondo has four disciplines:

• Patterns
• Sparring
• Self-defense
• Break Test

It is the combination of these four disciplines that make the art of Taekwondo.

Objectives of Taekwondo:

1. to develop an appreciation for Taekwondo as a sport and an art
2. to achieve physical fitness through positive participation
3. to improve mental discipline and emotional equanimity
4. to learn self-defense skills
5. to develop a sense of responsibility for one self and others

Taekwondo is primarily a kicking art, often with a greater emphasis on the sport aspect of the art. Taekwondo stylists tend to fight at an extended range, and keep opponents away with their feet. It is primarily a hard/external style incorporating both linear and circular motion and is known for being very powerful. Training tends to emphasize self-defense, physical fitness and personal development in a safe and fun environment.