Tae Kwon Do and Goals
A goal is a "direction" in one’s life with purpose. It is human nature to hope for a better and more meaningful life, and it is the purposeful goal which makes that hope becomes reality.
Goals are formed for a variety of good reasons.
For example, whenever you drive your car, if you select your destination or goal in advance (a restaurant, a movie, or even your friend’s house), you will save your time, energy, and gasoline, if you plan the most efficient route to your destination. If you have no goal or destination, you will be undecided about which way to go and you will inevitably waste time, energy and gasoline.
This is the same as when compared with your life. You need to have goals—things for which to strive.
A Tae Kwon Do goal, for example, could be to become a practitioner in order to get into better shape. When that goal is attained you may upgrade that Tae Kwon Do goal to becoming a black belt, then an instructor, and then to become a master, each level with its own purpose.
As goals are accomplished they must be upgraded or replaced with higher goals. This remains true for people of all walks of life from athletes to professionals to martial artists.
Without a purpose, a goal is only a wish.
You must have: first, a purposeful goal, and secondly, the effort to achieve it. Your dream or goals can never be realized without your effort and contemplation. Tae Kwon Do is a multi-level educational system providing progressive achievement opportunities, each goal keeping you hoping for the next. They seem to have a cushioning effect during times of depression. Striving for goals builds patience and hope. The challenge of goals inspires motivation and diligence. Setting and achieving goals builds confidence in oneself.
One Step Sparring (Han-Bun Gyuh-Roo-Gi)
One step sparring exercises are pre-arranged encounters in which 2 partners practice attack and counter attack maneuvers.
Individual practice of hand and foot techniques and formal exercises are preparatory to the main training activity of Tae Kwon Do, which is sparring, or practice fighting. One step sparring is the first step to Free Sparring. In sparring students engage with an opponent to practice applications of Tae Kwon Do techniques in a dynamic situation in order to develop distance control, reaction speed, timing and confidence as well as proper execution and application of various Tae Kwon Do stances, blocks, strikes and kicking techniques. Constant sparring practice, in conjunction with the individual practice of basic techniques, is necessary for the development of the student’s practical effectiveness and self-confidence in confrontation with others.
Practicing one step sparring requires a high level of concentration and cooperation on the part of both people. The attacker must execute each attack with proper execution and consistent timing. The defender must react to the attack and counter attack without hesitation. Your techniques should be practiced extensively to a point where they develop a sub-motor pattern that reacts out of instinct, without having to stop and think.
Key points in practicing Arranged Sparring:
- Execute in this order:
1) Movement
2) Block
3) Counter - Balance and confidence cannot be over emphasized.
- If your block is late, follow through with the counter anyway.
- Attackers shuold always Kihap when attacking and defenders should always Kihap on counter attacks.
- State of mind - avoid showing fear when the opponent attacks, don't flinch. Apply your techniques with confidence.
Self Defense (Ho Shin Sul)
Tae Kwon Do is a martial art that relies on kicking and hand techniques to repel assailants. In the majority of situations you will be able to effectively defend yourself using basic Tae Kwon Do hand and foot techniques. Sometimes, however, situations arise in which a Tae Kwon Do student will need the knowledge of various release and throwing techniques.
Naturally you would want to stop an assailant before he advanced close enough to grab you but realistically you may be suddenly grabbed in a situation and will need to know the proper method to defend yourself.
As discussed in class kicking techniques are the most effective form of self-defense because of the obvious reach and strength advantage. Additional self-defense techniques are a secondary measure of protection.
Accuracy and balance are critical and they require extensive practice to be used effectively in a street situation.
Breaking (Gyuk Pa)
The primary reason for Breaking is to demonstrate speed, power and accuracy developed through Tae Kwon Do training. It is a practical method to test your execution and potential of various Tae Kwon Do techniques. Learning the effectiveness and potential of your technique through breaking helps to develop self-confidence in your Tae Kwon Do technique.
One should never attempt to break without trained supervision. Breaking using incorrect methods can result in serious injuries.
Key Points in Breaking:
- Clear your mind of all distractions. Focus your mind, body and spirit on the single pupose of the break.
- Do not attempt to break more than you have confidence in breaking.
- Prepare completely. Be sure that you have the correct distance.
- Always strike beyond the target with a strong kihap.
- Always address every break with total confidence.
Forms (Poom Se)
More than any other exercise or drill, the practice of forms is the most important element in the development of proper Tae Kwon Do technique. Required for advancement at every level from beginner through master, forms serve a multi-dimensional role, aiding in the development and refinement of coordination, balance, timing, breath control and rhythm, all of which are essential skills to the Tae Kwon Do student. Students are taught one form at each successive belt level, beginning with the white belt level (which indicates a novice student). When a student has mastered the specific form for his belt level and has demonstrated an increased proficiency with the basic techniques, he is ready to advance to the next level.
Through the practice of forms, which require students to strike and kick in different directions, block and attack in a coordinated manner, and changed directions suddenly, students quickly develop the skilled instincts necessary in Tae Kwon Do. Although students of the art must master far more than the specific form required at their current belt level to advance to higher rank, the repeated practice of forms will enable even the novice to develop a fairly sophisticated combat technique. This is by no means surprising because it was for this very reason that masters developed forms over the years.
Forms, or Poom Se in Korean, are a series of defending and attacking movements performed against imaginary opponents in a set pattern. Through the practice of forms, students come to learn the applications of the various techniques of Tae Kwon Do. The movements of each form have been carefully arranged by the masters to teach students effective methods for dealing with a wide array of attacks from all possible directions, with particular emphasis placed on the equal development of both sides of the body. It is essential in Tae Kwon Do for students to become equally proficient in defending or attacking from both the left and right side of the body as the situation demands. Often, an entire series of techniques will be mirrored within a form to emphasize the importance of proficiency with both sides of the body.
Although every student ultimately develops his own “favorite side”, the ability to react effectively to either side becomes deeply ingrained through the practice of forms until it is instinctive.
In addition, forms teach Tae Kwon Do students the proper way in which each technique (i.e., punches, kicks, blocks, etc.) is executed. Under the supervision of a qualified instructor, students learn how to use their entire bodies to deliver the power of a technique to a specific point in space. The ability to do this is called focus. It is focus that gives masters of Tae Kwon Do their tremendous power. Blocks, strikes, kicks, balance and tension movements are all strung together into a pattern that, when performed properly flows in a graceful and powerful choreography.
Tae Kwon Do and Respect
Showing respect for others and receiving respect from others is an indicator of a person’s character. The meaning of respect is the degree to which you trust and love, and attempt to understand others as well as yourself.
One who displays deep or advanced respect toward others display strong or advanced character. Respecting both yourself and others is positive for yourself.
If one ignores another person, it may produce a negative reaction. If one shows proper respect for another the reaction will be positive. It is possible to extend respect and receive no positive reactions, but this is generally the exception and not the rule.
Enrich your life by respecting yourself, and having a deep respect for others.
Always stand for Tae Kwon Do philosophy which emphasizes both self-respect and deep respect for others.
Belt Structure of Tae Kwon Do
Meaning behind the color of each belt rank in Tae Kwon Do - The belt that a Tae Kwon Do student wears carries a lot of meaning. It indicates their length of training and level of knowledge. Each color is also symbolic of a stage of growth and development as a martial artist. The meaning of each belt color is as follows:
White Belt
Representative of purity, a new beginning and no prior knowledge of Tae Kwon Do.
Yellow/Orange Belt
Signifies the Earth from which plants grow. Similarly this stage is the foundation and beginning growth stage of the Tae Kwon Do student.
Purple Belt
Coming to the mountain, the tree is in mid-growth and now the path becomes steep. The student has crossed over into a higher level. The technique, forms, and level of sparring become more difficult, creating a “mountain” that must be overcome.
Green Belt
A green tree is one that is already reaching up and out, growing in strength and maturity. The green belt level symbolizes a more solid level of skill and ability.
Blue Belt
Represents the sky and new heights. The blue belt students continue to progress in skills both physical, mental, and emotional.
Brown Belt
Represents plant growing and rooting in Earth, stabilizing physical and mental power. This stage represents an advanced stage of the Tae Kwon Do students’ growth.
Red Belt
Represents the Sun, a source of tremendous power and energy. The color red is also universally symbolic of danger and caution. At this level a Tae Kwon Do student should have great strength and confidence. This must be balanced with self-control and humility.
Black Belt
The opposite of white, it represents proficiency and maturity. It also marks the end of one path (the color belt ranks) and beginning of a whole new level of training (the pursuit of advanced Black Belt ranks).