Tae Kwon-Do

[lionheart_reborn]

Okay I've been practicing Tae Kwon-Do for arind about a year now and it has cost me a small fortune, but its the only sport that i have ever enjoyed.

I am now 7th Kup (Yellow Belt, Green Tabs/Ends) and about to do my next grading, and have got my first sparring competition in april, so im just looking for general advice from people and opinions about the sport.

[Marrow Rivengristel]

I have a 2nd Dan in Tae Kwon Do and also in Goju Ryu but I haven't practiced in years as for advice all I can tell you is in sparring its all about immediate observance of technique and you're reaction time which is in a large part determined the angle of your shoulders relative to your hips and subsequent foot placement. Oh and for gods sake don't overthink what your going to do next it only messes you up.

A few things I remember its been years.

[paradise_found]

i've got a 1st dan in tae kwon do, but i haven't even though about that shit in ages. i mean, i could probably recall it if i needed to, but i don't see where it would really be useful...

tae kwon do just seemed like the concentration was more on the form than the execution, you know?

[Athane]

i've got a 1st dan in tae kwon do, but i haven't even though about that shit in ages. i mean, i could probably recall it if i needed to, but i don't see where it would really be useful...

tae kwon do just seemed like the concentration was more on the form than the execution, you know?

Yea, this is mostly what my sensei always tested me on was my form. Like the other person said don't over think of what you are going to do, you will never see your opponents strike coming that way. Just try to stay calm take a breather and spar as if you were doing your form practice, but more quick and precise. When I used to do tournaments, a hit on the head was 2 points and in the torso was 1, no hitting below the belt etc.

Make sure you follow through as taught too, if you plan on being in Tae Kwan Do for the long haul, keep practicing your form and improve your speed, precision and strength with your strikes. Sometimes if you execute a round house or side kick correctly, even if your opponent blocks, you can throw them off balance and get a clean shot in.

Remember to strike with the ball of the foot or the heel etc. Kihap when you strike, I was a pum, I didn't stay in long enough to be promoted to dan as my instructor had age requirement for dan.

If you want to get really good, or get prepared for the tournament you might want to spar with your instructor. See if you can have him not hold back as you'll be used to his movements and for a short time going into the tournament your opponents movements may seem like child's play. Similar to a baseball player loading up a bat with a donut and taking swings before he gets up to the plate to make the body used to the heavier weight and without the donut the bat "feels" a lot lighter than it had before.


Also if you don't have one, get a really heavy punching bag (if you can handle it I'd say about a 300LB bag) practice your kicks and punches on it up to your bodies limit, but be careful because a punching bag is dead weight, remember to always wear your sparring gear for padding (I never used it in bags and such but don't follow me) so that you don't get a sprain or fracture a bone. Don't practice HAP HAZARDLY either, make sure each strike has a purpose, imagine the bag as an opponent.

And most of all, HAVE FUN.

*Gyeong rye*
Haesan.

[lionheart_reborn]

Thanks for all the advise, we had a whole lesson on three step etticate and form and stuff, like mesures, but i have been hoping for lessons in three step semi free cuz i need to do that for my next grading

[Skye]

i had my first ever tae kwon-do lesson today, it was awesome!
i was wondering, how long does it take to rise in ranks?

[MMZ]

Keep moving. If you're still or pause for a technique it makes it easily read; however, stay loose and don't tire yourself with too much running around.

...and since everyone else is mentioning their background anyway.
I have a black belt from Joe Corley American Karate (Mixed styles), considered the best with technique in the dojo, competitor of the year (form and sparring competition), and ranked 'Top Ten' among the 500+ students. After all that I was an instructor in the same dojo for a year teaching both classes of 30+ and private lessons. Mind you, all this was also ten years ago, and I was only 15. I'm out of practice now for several reasons. -_-;

[He's a Mentalist]

I quit Tae-kwon-do 3 years ago and started BJJ. The reason was that TKD wasn't that intense for me and rather small and a bit easy. But the competitions are basically a joke so you won't need advice. Just focus on the movements of your opponent and yourself as you are graded on that scale as well, at least I was.

[Z498]

i had my first ever tae kwon-do lesson today, it was awesome!
i was wondering, how long does it take to rise in ranks?

It depends on the place you practice and your master, it took me about between 2 and half years to become a black belt, so for each belt a few months and then a period of preparation for your black belt test.

[HisANA]

I just joined.. Currently green belt.. hope can get black in one or 2 years coming.. haiyah!