Building Confidence in a Safe Environment
Walsall Ladies Tae Kwon-Do was set up as a community club in 2021 to provide a local, safe and comfortable class for women to learn the traditional art of Tae Kwon-Do and self defence. Working with One Palfrey Big Local, our Walsall Ladies club aims to provide a community setting where ladies feel empowered and confident to participate in martial arts training.
Our ladies only classes are in private locations with female only instructors as we break down barriers which prevent women from normally accessing martial arts or sport.
Aiming to eliminate discrimination and social stigma, our classes provide social and community opportunities for like minded people to get together and learn something fun, new and engaging.
Our classes focus on 5 key tenets: 1. courtesy, 2. perseverance, 3. integrity, 4. self control and 5. indomitable spirit.
Our Tae Kwon-Do classes teach a mixture of the traditional Korean art of Tae Kwon-Do in addition to martial arts style fitness and applicable self defence techniques. Our classes give women a sense of empowerment, are suitable for beginners and allow our ladies to progress slowly or at their own pace, there are no pre-set expectations. We build self confidence, self respect and discipline.
Tae Kwon-Do allows our ladies to socialise and interact with like minded people to improve their fitness, flexibility, motor skills and muscle strength. Our classes support with weight loss / weight management, cardiovascular health, bone strength and co-ordination. We promote a positive mental attitude, encouraging friendships and social interactions in a safe, private space.
Security and Peace of Mind! Our classes are modest and inclusive of all. We are pushing to break down any barriers and remove stigma associated with ladies only martial arts.
FEMALE ONLY INSTRUCTORS
PROMOTING SELF CONFIDENCE
SAFE, PRIVATE SPACE FOR PEACE OF MIND
LEARN APPLICABLE
SELF-DEFENCE
MEET NEW PEOPLE IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT
So, how are our classes different to other Ladies Only Martial Arts?
1. FEMALE ONLY INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF:
Our instructors and staff are also ladies. Many ladies only martial arts are still taught by male instructors, which defeats the point of a ladies only class. Our classes are completely ladies only and ladies staff, with only female / young children spectators allowed in our training hall. We are really strict about this. We do everything we can to protect your modesty and your privacy. We are a completely safe space. Our female instructors are also trained, qualified and insured to the highest standard to ensure everyone feels safe, comfortable and included at all times.
The venues we use also respect the privacy and security of our members.
2. WE FOLLOW A SYLLABUS AND TRAINING PLAN:
Our classes are not just "ladies only boxercise" or "ladies only keep fit", we are Ladies Only TAGB Tae Kwon-Do. We still follow the syllabus of every other traditional Tae Kwon-Do lessons and progress through a grading system. We do everything we can to provide complete inclusion - following the exact training schedule of any other Tae Kwon-Do class in the country. Just because we are female only classes does not mean your training quality is compromised.
3. WE MODIFY MOVEMENTS TO SUIT YOU:
We are still learning - but we are learning with you. We understand all needs are different and depending on religion, belief and culture and that ladies only classes may need to be modified to suit individual needs. We support any modifications required, within reason. For example some of our ladies cannot bow, so we take out the bow. Others cannot use contact techniques other than in life threatening circumstances, we remove the contact during practice. Our classes are completely suited to everyone with the modifications we will always continue to make.
4. WE ARE EXPANDING, WE ARE LEARNING:
Ladies only Tae Kwon-Do within the TAGB is still a fairly new concept. We currently have over 600 schools nationwide and as we progress we are hoping to support ladies only classes in more and more areas. We are still learning on how to perfect this, we are still advocating for the elimination of discrimination and stigma in ladies martial arts. WE ARE ALWAYS LISTENING. WE ARE ALWAYS LEARNING. WE ARE ALWAYS PROGRESSING. We will never 'stand around and wait', we will always actively progress to ensure every woman is comfortable in our Tae Kwon-Do classes.
EMPOWERING CLASSES
Providing women with a safe, comfortable space to build physical and mental strength while learning from female role models who understand women's experiences and needs. This environment fosters confidence, leadership and self-defence skills for women.
REMOVING BARRIERS FOR WOMEN
Our classes respect our ladies individual differences including culture, religion or beliefs. We are breaking down barriers and stigmas women face when accessing martial arts classes. Our female instructors, safe space gives peace of mind to all our students. We have a modest dress code in our class, allowing every student to feel comfortable and accepted at all times.
MANY PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Tae Kwon-Do has many physical benefits. First, it improves cardiovascular health, endurance, strength, balance and flexibility. Second, it develops useful self-defence techniques and skills such as kicks, punches and blocks that empower women to protect themselves if needed.
Walsall Ladies Tae Kwon-Do Instructor: Georgia Elwell
Georgia is a passionate 3rd degree black belt instructor at West Midlands TAGB Tae Kwon-Do. She first started training over 15 years ago alongside her younger brother with senior instructor World Master Vince Farquharson. Through her dedication to Tae Kwon-Do, Georgia gained strength, self-esteem and a community. She has competed in regional and national competitions before progressing to pass her umpires and referees qualifications. Now an instructor, Georgia leads the women's only classes in Walsall and finds immense fulfilment in helping other women benefit from martial arts like she did.
Her classes focus on building women up both physically and mentally. She expertly combines high intensity drills with gentle encouragement to push her students to achieve their potential. Georgia also volunteers to teach self-defence seminars to women in her community with the Tae Kwon-Do+ initiative.
Georgia truly embodies the Tae Kwon-Do tenets of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit.
REVIEWS
"So i got to know of the taekwondo classes opening up in the palfrey area of Walsall, and was more than ecstatic over the fact that it was only for women, that is important for me as a muslim woman as we have to dress modestly and when it comes to exercise/gym/workout classes etc we would wear the appropriate workout clothing which would be tight fitting in most cases which would outline many parts of my body, it would be immodest for me religiously as tight clothing can easily attract male individuals and would lead to opposite attraction.
I would be at error for that as i have put myself in that situation by wearing that type of attire and attracting unnecessary attention.
On the whole the self defence classes specifically for women of this day and age is quite important as it’s something can protect us from certain trials we may come across in life and not just rely on our male partner to defend us as a couple or a family.
The martial arts integration into the self defence is throughly enjoyable and is something i would recommend to all women of all walks of life to do, not just for self defence but from a healthy keeping fit perspective.
Over the last year and a bit since i have joined the classes have helped me mentally as well as physically and it has helped me gain confidence within myself and it’s pushed me to want more, meaning i have now pushed myself 1 step ahead and agreed with my mentor to go ahead and get graded and climb the levels required in martial arts.
My mentor Georgia is young, full of energy and an irreplaceable mentor. She has always listened to us ladies whatever our concerns, questions or even worries were, and we have had no issues for the entire time we have been together as a class, as if anything did come up it was promptly resolved.
During our fasting month of Ramadhan we have no classes either as our mentor understands that we are fasting and it would be hard for us to practice our martial arts.
Overall these classes have helped me not just as a female but as a muslim female which i greatly appreciate."
- YASMIN, WALSALL LADIES TAE KWON-DO STUDENT
"After stopping taekwondo at the age of 9. I never thought I'd do something that I love as much as I loved taekwondo. That changed nearly 4 months ago when I Met Georgia and the amazing ladies at the ladies only. The fact it is ladies only allows me to enjoy it and relax that little bit more. She has not only guided me to carry on where I left off 20 years ago, but guided us to be able to defend ourselves through all the different techniques. I cannot wait to see with Georgia's guidence if I can make it to black belt"
- KALEEMAH, WALSALL LADIES TAE KWON-DO STUDENT
THE TAGB
The TAGB (Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain) is the largest governing body for Tae Kwon-Do in the UK. Founded in 1983 with the goal of promoting and facilitating Tae Kwon-Do across Great Britain, the TAGB has grown to become the largest and most successful Tae Kwon-Do practicing organisation in Britain, with more than 25,000 members and 600 schools nationwide.
The TAGB implements standards, training and certification for Tae Kwon-Do practitioners and schools under their organisation.
The TAGB is not concerned with its own development. That is why it has played a leading role in the reunification of British Tae Kwon-Do into one body. In 1988, the TAGB helped found the British Tae Kwon-Do Council (BTC), this being the only governing body of Tae Kwon-Do to be recognised by the Sports Council and Sport England.
Instructors and schools must meet the TAGB's criteria to gain and maintain membership status. This includes having qualified instructors, implementing the TAGB training syllabus, holding the required insurance, and following codes of conduct and safeguarding policies. Membership provides accreditation along with access to TAGB programs, events, seminars and competitions. TAGB membership ensures the highest quality, accredited Tae Kwon-Do education to students.
The TAGB facilitates Tae Kwon-Do development through regional and national competitions. They also organise camps, workshops and gradings. The organisation strives to make Tae Kwon-Do completely inclusive and accessible with programmes for people with disabilities and other underrepresented groups.
Overall, the TAGB governs and nurtures Tae Kwon-Do across Britain from beginner to elite levels and their standardised structure and curriculum allows for consistent Tae Kwon-Do training nationwide.