The Strategic Science In Taekwondo Sparring

Looking from the outside, taekwondo sparring may look like random kicks and punches thrown ruthlessly with the objective of injuring the opponent.

But from the inside, a sparring match is like a chess game.

In chess, you cannot win a game by unthinkingly moving around the pieces anymore than one could win a sparring match by involuntarily throwing techniques.

Strategy. The prerequisite to chess as well as to taekwondo sparring!

Taekondo sparring strategy comes in two main forms:

Macro or Overall Strategy.

Macro strategy is composed of overall and generalized aspects about any sparring match that will make you spar one person one way and another person another way.

There are several things that will affect your macro strategy:

1. The setting or main goal of the match.

If you are sparring someone who is taking his or her belt exam or if you are sparring in a tournament, your main purpose and strategy for sparring will be different.

Before you spar, ask yourself, “What is my goal? What do I wish to accomplish in this match?”

2. Your own personal strengths and weaknesses.

These are very important factors affecting how you spar. If you feel really comfortable with turning back kick, and not with turning hook kick, then you should stick with the turning back kick.

You are likely score if you use a technique with which you are very comfortable.

3. You and your partner’s contradictory physical attributes.

These will greatly define the way in which you spar your partner. You should know which strategy to use to your advantage.

Micro or Exchange Strategy.

Micro strategy is the strategy that is used for dealing with each of the tiny exchanges that make up a sparring match.

Types of micro strategy are:

1. Open Stance and Closed Stance:

When two people spar each other, each person is in a particular sparring stance: either left foot lead or right foot lead.

When both competitors have the same lead, this is known as closed stance.

If both competitors have different, it is called open stance.

The stances you choose determine which techniques that you can use against your partner to get a clear shot. The whole idea of sparring is to strike your partner where he or she is open.

When attacking or counter-attacking, you must be aware of the stance in which you are fighting. If you ignore the stance, then your attack or counter-attack will be ineffective.

2. The attack.

In an Olympic-style taekwondo sparring, you will have noticed that the competitors’ average sparring distance from each other is out of range for any technique to successfully land on either partner.

The whole idea of attacking is to close the distance between you and your partner so that you will be close enough to land a technique.

The most effective attack relies heavily upon footwork and faking and not just mere kicks.

3. The counter-attack.

Most of all points scored in taekwondo competition come from the counter-attacks executed.

The idea of the counter-attack is to surpass your partner’s attack. In other words, you want your counter-attack to be superior to and more devastating than your partner’s attack.

If your partner lands a technique on you, it is imperative that it is immediately counter-attacked with several more devastating techniques.

This way, you will be awarded the point.

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What Is Taekwondo Class Got to Do With It ?

The ultimate goal of every taekwondo class is to input the teachings and principles behind taekwondo. Not to mention, realizing every students’ dream of having that black belt.

How do taekwondo classes go about teaching the sport?

Some merely require the display of techniques learned since last testing. Others mandate the testing of cumulative knowledge. Testing might necessitate performance in sparring, self defense or do the taegeuk movement own their own time.

Some schools test the students on their staying power, requiring many physical activities over prolonged periods of time.
Image by A. Dawson via Flickr
The amount of time and level of commitment required to achieve black belt varies from style to school to classes. Some offer regular testing that allows students to advance at a faster pace, sometimes achieving black belt in less than two years.

Others require a minimum commitment of five or more. Also, there may be minimum age requirements for children to receive a black belt.

Tuition can vary greatly for different taekwondo schools. Some hold classes through nonprofit organizations and charge lower fees, depending on the program provider.

Some have store front training halls that require higher tuition and possibly contracts. Contracts can offer a lower monthly fee in exchange for a longer term commitment.

Before putting in your signature, be sure to read the terms of the contracts carefully. Some contracts do not allow premature termination, even in the case of illness or job transfer.

They may be worded to allow the student "up to one class a day", which basically means that there will not be any classes on a particular day.

Try to get a feel of how each taekwondo class go about.

Do you approve of the instructors’ teaching methods? Watch how they interact with the other students.

Remember that the race or gender of the instructor, as well as the physical size, is not important.

Being Asian is not the basis of a good instructor. Keep in mind that classes that teach the same style may be different in their philosophies, teaching manner and even the techniques themselves.

Be absolutely sure to visit numerous schools before making your decision. It is recommended that you observe at least one class and participate in at least one class before signing any contracts.

You can find excellent schools not only in the store-front training halls, but through your local recreation centers, high school, universities and colleges as well as your town's health clubs.

Here are some questions you might consider asking in taekwondo classes.

1. Do the instructors teach each class? Or do they administer an assistant instructor? Are the classes divided by their ability?

2. Does the school emphasize self defense as well as the art?

3. What type of contact is made during sparring classes and training? If any, what safety gear is required for sparring?

4. How much is tuition and are there contracts?

5. Does the school attend tournaments?

6. How often are classes held? What is the fee for each class? What are the requirements for each?

7. What is the instructor's background, credentials as well as affiliations?

8. Do the classes fit your schedule? How many classes can you attend each week or month for your tuition?

Before or after the taekwondo class, ask for some time from the instructor and ask these questions or other questions that concern you the most.

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Karate vs Taekwondo - Which one to choose ?

The two most common martial arts being practiced in the US are taekwondo and karate.

Ever since, people have been wondering on what is the difference between these two. This poses a problem especially for those who are just looking around for a martial art school or studio.

The fact that both karate and taekwondo seem to be wearing the same style of uniforms with different belt colors does not make help either.

The development of Karate.

Modern traditional karate was developed in the islands of Okinawa in Japan after some influences from Chinese martial arts.

In fact, there are different styles of karate but they are all commonly considered as Japanese martial arts today. The colored belt system was developed to show the different ranks of karate practitioners.
Image via Wikipedia
White depicting novices and black belts representing instructor levels and higher. There is a whole range of other different colors in between.

The development of Taekwondo.

Modern Taekwondo was developed in Korea after much influence from Japanese karate during the occupation by Japan. Sometimes, taekwondo is referred to as Korean karate.

The Koreans adopted the same white uniforms along with a colored belt ranking system for taekwondo.

Today, there are two major styles of taekwondo, one under the International Tae Kwon Do Federation and the other under the World Tae Kwon Do Federation.

Many taekwondo schools have added a black lining to their white uniforms for black belt levels. A V-neck top is often seen in schools affiliated with the World Tae Kwon Do Federation.

There are also older Korean styles including tang soo do and moo duk kwan. Some of the more Americanized karate and taekwondo schools also use uniforms with other colors such as red, black and blue. This is in addition to the traditional white.

It can be noted that in karate, arms or hands are used 60% of the time for strikes or blocks while the use of legs for kicking is just around 40%.

This breakdown is seen in the many forms or katas of karate, which are set routines that simulate fighting against imaginary opponents using martial arts techniques.

The forms from taekwondo would have the opposite percentage breakdown with 40% hands and 60% legs. In taekwondo, there is more stress on higher kicks to the head level than in karate.

Taekwondo practitioners also utilize more jumping or flying kicks where one is airborne while executing kicking techniques. The taekwondo forms or patterns are generally a bit shorter and less complex than the karate forms. Some taekwondo schools have been known to use the odd karate form in its curriculum as well.

In the US as well as other parts of the world, there are separate conventional competitions for karate and taekwondo.

However, the open martial arts tournaments often have competitors from both karate and taekwondo competing together.

Some of the larger open martial arts competition events even have separate forms divisions for Japanese karate and Korean taekwondo competitors but the fighting or sparring divisions is usually combined.

Many black belts in taekwondo end up studying karate and vice versa.

Taekwondo has received more publicity in recent years since its introduction as an Olympic sport. But both karate and taekwondo are considered as hard style martial arts today.

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Taekwondo is Not Taekwondo Without Its Kicks

You have probably heard this over and over again but you are going to hear it again now - Taekwondo is known for its kicks.

The kicks used in Taekwondo sparring are more striking than in any other martial art. Even though the kicks in poomse are simpler than the ones used in sparring, they can be equally as impressive if executed properly.

Also, a good, solid front kick is more impressive than an impromptu tornado or double roundhouse kick.

What is it that makes a great taekwondo kick?
Image via Wikipedia
1. Balance

Balance may not be seem as obvious as you think. And balance is more than just not ending up on the floor. It is a matter of fluidity, of gracefulness, of naturalness.

With a properly balanced kick, the supporting foot does not wobble, the hands do not flail about, and the athlete does not rush to complete the kick.

Also, the athlete begins and ends the technique in the proper stances without having to correct the stances to accommodate the kick.

Practice moving within your stances. When you feel comfortable doing simple things within your stances, you should try to kick from one stance into another.

2. Proper form

Having proper form is a requirement to having a beautiful kick. Proper form may be defined as the correct positions to which the entire body enters as it performs a kick from start to finish.

It is wise to talk with your instructor or other certified professional martial artist to learn the more articulate details of proper form. They will have the answers to any questions that you may have.

3. Control

The kick in Taekwondo is not supposed to be like that of a whip. It does not have to be so fast that it cannot be seen.

Instead, the kick is to be relished and beheld as the single most attractive feature of Taekwondo.
It is therefore necessary to control the kick. Controlling the kick involves the ability to freeze the kick for a split second at full extension.

This “freeze” is the life of the kick. It is the most memorable and beautiful part of the kick. Controlling the kick is not that easy though. Usually it involves much concentration and many years of practice.

Form is a must to both control and power. If you are not sure that you are doing the kick with proper form yet, keep working on the form part before you begin working on the control part.

Control takes some muscle development and patience, but it is well worth all the effort in the end.

4. Power

Nothing is worse than seeing someone perform a kick with great form, balance, and control, but with no power.

If this is the case, that person is better off as ballet dancer than a taekwondo practitioner. There is no such thing as an excellent kick that has no power.

Take note that proper form is needed to achieve control. And control is the factor that leads to power.

Bear in mind also that if you try to develop power without mastering the proper control first, it may result to permanent damage to your joints. So be very careful.

The process for developing power in a taekwondo kick is very similar to developing control in that same kick.

Note : Taekwondo is not Taekwondo without The Taekwondo Kid :-)

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Working That Taekwondo Technique

Some of the Taekwondo techniques and how they work:

1.Build-up technique.

This works in a circle of at least four. One person begins with any single Taekwondo technique, normally intended for at the person on the immediate left or right.

This technique travels around the circle, with each person accomplishing the move, until it returns to the originator of the move.

When that person repeats the move, the next person in the circle does the first technique and adds another to it. Now the two-move combination travels around the circle until it is added-to by the next person along.

This continues until the combination of moves becomes long enough to confuse the most senior belt in the group.

The purpose of build-up technique is to practice focus and controlled attacks on multiple opponents.
Image via Wikipedia
In order to achieve a fluid combination, a variety of hand, foot, knee and elbow attacks that flow easily in a sensible combination are used. It is best to carry on adding techniques until everyone in the circle has been 'dealt with'.

2. One-step sparring.

Persons are teamed in pairs in this Taekwondo technique. Then they each take turn to attack with a right lunge punch. The opponent blocks the punch and counters.

The purpose is to practice blocking or evasion and to build up a fluid and effective combination.

3.One-step semi-free sparring.

This Taekwondo technique is similar to basic one-step, but the attacker measures off and steps back into a forearm-guarding block. When the opponent is ready, they also step back with a forearm-guarding block.

When this happens, the attacker can perform one single attack: hand, foot, knee or elbow.

4.Circle-sparring.

In a circle of at least five, one or two person is chosen to lead off. These persons start in the center of the circle, select an opponent from the circle, face off with that person and perform a single attack.

That person blocks, counters and then swaps places with the attacker, thus entering the circle and beginning the process again.

'Sneak' attacks are encouraged. Face off with one person, then attack another or chase your attacker to the opposite side of the circle with a barrage of counter-attacks then immediately send an attack into someone else.

This Taekwondo technique can only be done in official training sessions with a black-belt instructor present.

5. Snapping turning kicks.

With a partner, practice head-high turning kicks that stop just short of your target.

If the target is your partner’s head, do not kick too closely until you know you have the control to stop short.

For beginners, it may be wise to practice on a focus mitt, slapping the leather as fast and lightly as possible. When you have mastered fast and controlled turning kicks, you can work them into combinations.

6. Fast retraction.

In addition to sending out punches and kicks quickly, it is important to be able to retract them with similar speed. This ensures that your legs are not left out in front of you and that your arms do not get left outstretched, exposing your ribs.

It also reduces an opponent's chances of catching your limbs and placing you in embarrassing positions.

A useful trick to practice at home is to light a candle and punch at it. Aim in front of the flame and withdraw the punch as fast as you can. With enough speed, the movement will create a vacuum around the flame and snuff it out.

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The 4 Key Styles of Taekwondo Training

Taekwondo is considered by many to be an ideal workout as it combines most elements sought after in a balanced fitness program.

Many people understand that there are various styles of martial arts but they do not realize that within a style like Taekwondo, there are also various styles.

Tang Soo Do: Image via Wikipedia

Tang soo do is an extremely popular martial art that evolved from the kicking arts of taekyon and subak. It is similar to tae kwon do and maintains its heritage as a traditional way of promoting the values of self-control, respect, and discipline in the pursuit of self-improvement.

Important characteristics that underpin the art include humanity, wisdom, etiquette, and trust. Tang soo do is particularly popular in the US, where it is sometimes advertised under the name of karate or Korean karate. Chuck Norris is probably its most well-known practitioner in the West. He is the six-time undefeated world professional middleweight karate champion and one-time martial teacher of Steve McQueen, Priscilla Presley, and Donny Osmond.

Han Kum Do:

Han kum do (HKD) is a sword system in which the basic cutting techniques mimic the Korean script known as "hangul". It follows the fundamental principles of multiple strikes on multiple opponents. Developed by Myung Jae Nam, the art came to popular attention during the third international HKD Games in 1997. Hangul, known as the most scientific alphabet in existence, is very easy to learn and has 24 characters (10 vowels and 14 consonants).

Making the sword cuts on the letters of the alphabet is an ingenious training aid that helps students to memorize the various cuts and enables them to perform the required movements instinctively in very little time.

Won Hwa Do:

Won hwa Do is a hybrid art that relies on 360-degree rotations to generate power, supporting the key philosophy that in nature there are no straight lines or angles of attack. Long-term practice, however, damages the joints and ligaments.

Weapons such as the short stick, knife, and sword are routinely taught, with attacks and defends born from "bi son" the rhythm used during traditional prayer and dance. The circular attacking motions of the art belong to the same tradition as those used for massaging injuries.

Hankido:

Hankido is a hybrid martial art that incorporates aspects of aikido, with kicking and striking techniques, acrobatic flips, and kicks reminiscent of tae kwon do. Students develop "ki" Korean for "qi" to learn 12 basic self-defense moves and 24 breathing techniques.

They also spin and dance to develop coordination, rhythm, timing, and softness. The art's philosophy centers on the principles of "circle," "flow," and "heart," and each has a specific exercise. "Jeon hwan bup" (the circle exercise) teaches circular moves for defense, leverage, and throwing. "Young nyu bup" (the flow exercise) encourages students to see moves as a continual interaction between themselves and their opponents, promoting an attitude of fearless, relaxed action. "Shim hwa bup" (the rowing exercise) encourages the heart to develop a fighting spirit.

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Taekwondo Training For All Ages

Taekwondo is a martial art originating from Korea. Taekwondo translated means "the way of the hand and foot", consequently, the emphasis of Taekwondo is on discipline with hand and foot movements and techniques. People begin taking Taekwondo classes for various reasons. This martial art has many applications and benefits, such as physical conditioning, mental and physical discipline, self defense, and more. It provides the opportunity to engage with others in a fun, challenging and beneficial activity.

Beginning Taekwondo training can at first be intimidating. Some fear that they are out of shape, too old, not athletic enough, and a plethora of other reasons that keep them from starting. But the first step is the hardest. Once people from small children to the elderly begin Taekwondo training, they find that in the hands of an experienced instructor, they can progress at a pace that is possible for them regardless of all the concerns they go in with. Anyone with a desire to learn can make good progress in Taekwondo.
Image via Wikipedia
Most Taekwondo classes are family friendly, and great for anyone from single people to whole families. In fact, martial arts are a great opportunity for families to connect around a common bond, all with a goal of progressing toward the ultimate goal which is black belt. And young students learn discipline and a set of principles that are expected to be adhered to both in and out of class. The Taekwondo student oath and the tenets of Taekwondo, that are memorized and applied, are principle by which any parent would desire their kids to adhere. A strong degree of respect is expected of students, both in and out of class for instructors, seniors and each other.




Whether male or female, young, old, or in between, Taekwondo training can improve mind, body, and self confidence.In addition, you can obtain those benefits while in a fun, challenging martial arts experience. There is no reason not to take spouse and kids together to explore the world of Taekwondo training. Most martial arts schools invite potential students to try out a couple of classes before committing.

Small children develop early interest in martial arts and a child as young as four years old is generally capable of learning (and having fun) learning basic Taekwondo moves, and developing the discipline that will stay with them for a lifetime. The teenager looking for a mental compass can develop self confidence and decisiveness beyond their years with Taekwondo training. The adult can develop lifelong goals undertaking a challenging progressive physical and mental activity. The elderly can benefit both physically and mentally with martial arts programs developed specifically for them.

Hopefully this has given you a good reason at some level, to undertake, possibly with your whole family, an activity that will be of great benefit to anyone, mentally and physically. Check out a Taekwondo school near you today.

At the Fort Smith Taekwondo Academy in Fort Smith, Arkansas, martial arts training is performed by experienced, expert teachers. Whether for men or women, children, adult, and the elderly, Taekwondo training will provide significant benefits both mentally and physically.

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