HISTORY OF TAE

KWON DO
HISTORY OF TAE
KWON
•
DO
Tae Kwon Do is an empty-hand combat form that entails the
use of the whole body. Tae means ‘to Kick’ or ‘smash with
the feet’, Kwon implies ‘punching’ or ‘destroying with the
hand or fist,’ and Do means ‘way’ or ‘method’.
• Tae Kwon Do, therefore, is the technique of unarmed
combat for self-defense that involves the skillful application
of techniques which include punching, jumping kicks, blocks,
dodges, evading actions with hands and feet. It is more than
a mere physical fighting skill, representing as it does a way
of thinking and a pattern of life requiring strict discipline.
HISTORY OF TAE
KWON
•
DO continued
Tae Kwon Do is a Martial Art that in today’s
form of self-defense has evolved by
combining many different styles of Martial
Arts that existed in Korea over the last
2,000 years and some Martial Arts styles
from countries that surround Korea.
• Tae Kwon Do incorporates the abrupt linear
movements of Karate and the flowing,
circular patterns of Kung Fu with native
kicking techniques.
5 KEY
PRINCIPLES
1. Kicking combos. Tae Kwon Do is 90% kicking and 10% hands. In
competition you can see many flamboyant kicking combinations in order
to score points against opponents. Kicking to a Tae Kwon Do
practitioner is like punching to a boxer.
5 KEY
PRINCIPLES continued
2. Tae Kwon Do’s stance and guard is all about agility and footwork. You
have to be super light on your feet and be constantly moving, which
creates very difficult angles to enable opponents to attack. If you keep
moving, your opponent doesn’t know you are about to throw a kick. If you
move then hold before you kick, then your opponent will know.
You are in the same position as in Karate but you look for the opposite
feel of being grounded; you want to be light and agile. The Guard is really
relaxed, almost freestyle, and the key is to keep constant motion of the
body, forward, backward, side to side; so the knees are always flexed.
Never lock the legs.
5 KEY
PRINCIPLES continued
3. Speed. Tae Kwon Do practitioners perform each attack and/or counter
with dynamic speed and accuracy. Not all Martial Arts do that – they
perform with power and control. They don’t all try to be as fast as they
possibly can.
4. Accuracy. Tae Kwon Do practitioners around the world are very well
known to have precision with every kick. Their mastery in their ability to
kick with accuracy comes from their high ability to focus. They use less
moves than in some other Martial Arts and they master these through
many repetitions (Kicks, Kicks, Kicks).
5. The game of chess. Tae Kwon Do practitioners must learn to be 3 steps
ahead of their opponents.
COMMITMENT
Repeat after me: When I role-model Tae Kwon Do moves in
BODYCOMBAT™, to look credible and authentic I need to:
1. Be agile, stay super light on the balls of my feet, keep flexion in my
knees whilst moving forwards and backwards in my stance
2. Use a really relaxed Guard,
almost freestyle
3. Aim for speed and accuracy
when kicking
4. Think like a chess player
– always think of what’s coming
ahead and adjust my position
accordingly
KICK-
BOXING
HEART
First, you need to understand the
emotional side of Kick-boxing to
look authentic – the spirit, the
attitude and the intention behind
this Martial Art.
It’s not about being pretty or super
precise, it’s about winning.
HEART continued
There are no formalities in Kick-boxing; right from the beginning,
you’re getting hit. You have to be ready for anything. Your
opponent doesn’t necessarily need to knock you out
straightaway; they want to demoralize you – they want to destroy
you. Because if you get down, you get frustrated, you make
mistakes – wild, hopeful moves. Then they can take you out. So
you have to get in there and deal to them straightaway.
HEART continued
Every second in the ring is a minute, every minute is an hour,
every hour is an eternity.
You have to be incredibly fit to Kick-box, but it requires more than
that…
You have to have heart. Like when you’ve been hit – you’re
spinning, there’s no air left and heart is all you’ve got left; and
that’s what’s going to get you out of there, drive you to keep
going and to never give up. Your heart in Kick-boxing is courage;
it’s a killer instinct; it’s what’s keeping you going when you swing
and miss. Your participants need to get this – not just the
technique, but the mentality required to Kick-box authentically.
HEART continued
You’re ready for a fight, you’re focused, always moving with
intention, fixated on your opponent.
Do you reflect that in each
of your Punches and Kicks?
GUARD AND
MOBILITY
To look authentic, you need to always look like you are ready to
punch for a knockout but also always getting ready to get hit
back. You have to be comfortable, mobile and ready for anything.
And you need to look as compact as possible, offering less
surface to strike as you can.
GUARD AND
MOBILITY continued
Key areas to focus on here are:
a. Footwork
The Guard is not a static position – on the contrary. We need to
constantly move whilst on Guard since a static target is much
easier to reach than in one movement (what was Muhammad
Ali’s sentence? “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”.)
GUARD AND
MOBILITY continued
You must always be on your ‘guard’ – mobile and agile, as you
are always moving to escape and find the perfect distance.
So keep your toes in the direction of your target, the back foot is
45 degrees, you are light on the balls of your feet, back heel up
always off the floor, ready to move, always shift around, never
stand still; a moving target is harder to hit and harder to throw off
balance.
GUARD AND
MOBILITY continued
Move using small footsteps to adjust the position all the time,
trying to keep a strong stance, and be grounded by using a wider
stance and bending the knees. Always keep the distance
between your feet and readjust – never stand still.
We will do a few drills soon to help you get the right feel.
GUARD AND
MOBILITY continued
b. Upper body
The back is slightly rounded, stomach in and shoulders relaxed.
Use your hands and arms to protect your face, ribs and vital
organs. Keep your hands relaxed next to your chin and keep your
elbows always close to your ribs, especially the back arm. Punch
but always get back to that position as fast as you can; don’t open
your elbows to the side or drop your guard down between punches.
Your opposite arm should never go backwards. Remember, always
try to stay as compact as possible.
GUARD AND
MOBILITY continued
Don’t freeze your arms and hands as it would be impossible to
move and shuffle in Guard position. Relax your shoulders a little –
when you punch, they come up for protection. Then, when moving,
the shoulders and arms are on Guard but semi-relaxed and they
move with the rest of the body. Shuffle with me, relax your
shoulders but keep your Guard up.
Perfect. Now the killer look – tuck your chin in towards your chest,
keep protecting your face with your hands and your vital organs
with your elbows, look up, go crazy and become angry!
CORE/BALANCE
In Kick-boxing, the role of the core
is essential to help you protect your
vital organs but also to keep
balance. When punching, you
should never lose balance as you
should always get ready to be
punched back and to punch again.
So belly in, abs tight and punch
keeping your balance, and reset.
That’s why the footwork is so
important as well.