Taekwondo Shoes You Wish You Have

Each taekwondo shoe is a three part deal; the upper, midsole and outsole. While all three components contribute to the overall performance of the shoe, the midsole is probably the most crucial.

Why is this so?

Simply because it is the cushion between your foot and the cold, hard and unforgiving floor. If you skimp on the midsole your knees, shins, ankles, feet pick up the tab.

Wearing specially-designed taekwondo shoes help a student in a number of different ways. Most martial arts students make the mistake of practicing at home or at the gym using regular workout shoes that have thick soles.

These practically force the foot into an improper kicking position while the thick ties can cause incorrect roundhouse kicks.

Wearing the proper martial art clothing is very important, especially when a student is starting or is in the midst of training. Achieving proper balance and learning the best way to complete drills is best done wearing the right martial arts uniform and footwear.

Because taekwondo uses a number of kicking techniques, a martial arts student would do better to purchase the proper taekwondo shoes than use their normal workout gear.

Taekwondo shoe design.

A good example of this shoe style is the Adidas TKD-2000 shoes. They are made of leather with a tongue of elastic, allowing for them to be slipped over the foot easily and comfortably.

There are no laces to deal with and the upper foot area is flat to allow full contact when practicing kicks.

Flex grooves are embedded into the sides of this taekwondo shoes to allow for full mobility of the toes. They are lighter than your average gym shoes and allow a lot of freedom and balance. They also protect the foot from calluses and strained toe bones.

Most modern-day martial arts shoes have a special pivot point designed into the sole on the medial ball of the foot.

This is because karate and taekwondo emphasize movements from the ball of the foot, where these arts tend to focus their pivot and power.

In contrast, Chinese styles tend to be more "heel" based, so that pivot point does not really help the person wearing it.

The kind of taekwondo shoe that is perfect for a practitioner should have superior design to suit the demand of the sport.

It should also be suitable for training and all kinds of indoor sports. Having rigid rubber sole can help stop movement more easily when stepping backward.

The pivot point should increase speed and mobility when turning. During sparring, the midsole should also add softness and stability

Work out on a soft floor and wear good taekwondo shoes.

Practicing high-impact drills on a hard floor is one of the worst things you can do to your body. The high impact wears the cartilage in your joints down to nothing, and the damage is irreversible.

Only invasive surgery can fix it. The best way to prevent this is to play on a soft surface and wear fully cushioned shoes that have arch support.

Unfortunately, shoes are not allowed in most traditional Do Jangs, and if shoes are allowed they are only the Taekwondo shoes that have no arch support or cushioning in the soles.

However, you can control your personal workouts, so at least take good care of your feet in those workouts.

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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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Taekwondo : What's there to know..

Every school has a different way of testing/grading. In some schools, being invited to the test means you've already earned the next belt and the test is just a formality. In others, they're deciding during the test whether or not you've earned your next rank. One school may have a set order of events during a test and another may vary on the instructor's whim.

Hydration

It's a rookie mistake – during your first test, since you don't always need a drink during the brief break in class, you don't bother to bring a bottle of water. This can wind up not being serious, if you have access to a water fountain or a bathroom sink. However, if you don't, it can quickly become a major problem.

During a test, you will be working doubly as hard as you did during any class. This isn't because you were lazy during class, this is because a test will send massive amounts of adrenaline racing through your body. While this is wonderful for snapping off those extra-high kicks, it can be very troubling for your body if you don't introduce adequate water. If you start to feel woozy, don't be embarrassed to quickly get the attention of your instructor and ask if you can stop for a water break. Chances are good that you aren't the only person out there who's desperate for a brief sit-down.

Your Forms
Image by David Reber's Hammer Photography via Flickr
This seems to be a fairly obvious expectation, but the amount of people who arrive to a test presuming they can just “wing it” during their forms is staggering. Most tests have an audience, and they're all going to be cringing as you start-and-stop your way through your form. Running through it once or twice every day the week leading up to the test will completely negate this issue. Even if you get stage fright, your body will remember what to do as long as you don't try too hard to think.

How to Put on Your Belt

I'm serious. In the excitement of receiving the new colour of belt, you will find you've suddenly completely forgotten how to put it on. You don't want to be a brown belt who's trying to figure out how to do something a white belt mastered their first night, so take a breath before you start trying to remove the previous belt and apply the new one, and take it slow.

Your Gear

Your instructor is likely to call you out for a lack of safety if you forget to bring your mouth guard, and it's the easiest thing to forget. You not only don't want to receive a lecture, you don't want a white belt testing for their yellow to pop you in the mouth and subtract a few teeth. It's also terribly embarrassing to realize you pulled one of your gloves out of your bag for some reason and forgot to put it back. So always, before walking out the door, take a look inside of your gear bag to ensure that everything is in there. It's easier to remember your mouth guard if you keep it in a case, that way it's not as tiny as it would be left free. A note on mouth guards – they will change shape if heated. So, if you leave your bag in the car in between classes, check periodically to be sure you don't need to reshape your mouth guard or you'll be very surprised when you try to pop it in for the test and it doesn't fit.

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