TKD Training Update

Stretched this morning.  Single leg is good. 

TKD lesson of 45 minutes had a BIG takeaway today.  Wanted to document this.  Shared it in the combat section too


So I had a bit of a revelation regarding TKD blocking yesterday after doing some reading, implemented it today and it worked fantastically.  The whole "grab defense" thing has some merit, but really, calling them "blocks" just confuses things.  They're hard parries. 

The low block



Is just a stupid idea to block an incoming roundhouse kick OR to try to force on force stop a front kick (snap or teep)

BUT, if you step off to the side as you do it against a front style kick, it's just a parry , and should put you in a position to capitalize on a counter attack (assuming you circle to the back).

Same with the middle block



Not going to stop anything, but you step to the side and do it against a straight attack and it's a parry.

That picture is stupidly exaggerated, and we drilled keeping it close and just using it to move the punch off line, but it's making the first form a lot less stupid. 

We did these for our 1 steps, and it was suddenly a MUCH more useful drill.  My kid was getting me off center and had my back totally exposed.  They remembered something I said from my previous lesson, because I said "If you're at my back, I can't block, I can't attack much, and I can't see what's coming" and my kid goes "So it's like Christmas for me?"

My wife goes "WHAT are you teaching our kid up there?!" 

I was so proud.  They were figuring out logical attacks from there.  Figured out a front snap kick right between my legs from behind and a liver punch: total Bas Rutten style stuff.  We suddenly went from doing things because it was tradition to doing things because it made sense: huge.

This became cool too, because we learned how all the blocks in the form are there to teach against all the attacks in the form.  Great to see the material come together.

Forms looked amazing as a result as well.  Strong punches, held the fist well.  A few more lessons like that and I'll promote them to orange belt.  From there, I'll be teaching angular attacks, as white belt has been all straight attacks.  Plan is roundkick, roundhouse kick (Muay Thai style), hook punch and a knifehand strike.  Will teach leg checking as a defense.  I'll also have to look into the next form and find out what else needs to be taught from it.