So what sort of things would you add, change or remove from Taekwondo to make it better? Of course what constitutes "taekwondo" can vary massively so just speak from your perspective of doing taekwondo. I do an ITF offshoot so I'll be coming from that angle with my suggestions. Change the dobok. I'd go back to a strong mid-weight karate gi style dobok that crosses over at the front. IMHO such a uniform is more useful as a training garment (you can practice clothing grabs and throws with it and spar using grabs without it ripping). It would also be easier to remove when sweaty (my v-neck dobok can be hard to get off at the end of a session). It's also more forgiving for people that are overweight or large as it's not a set circumference around. Taekwondo uniforms were just karate uniforms back when TKD was formed so it's not as if another type of uniform is more "traditional" or "proper". Add throws into the grading syllabus. There are throws in the encyclopedia of TKD, they are part of the style and should get more attention. Maybe add in one throw per grade or every other grade. Of course that would mean all the clubs would need to buy mats which is costly and not suitable for all locations. Add a pre-emptive strike into the syllabus. At the very least I think a student should come away from TKD with a strike they can use to defend themselves and the contextual knowledge of how to use it. Even if they only train for a couple of years and never reach blackbelt at least they'll have something useful. Adopt the "technical stand up" from BJJ. Any art that involves dynamic kicks and movement also involves falling over. Give people the skills to get up (relatively) safely if they do. That's it for a start.
Include fundamental anatomy & physiology knowledge in instructor training courses. Also include fundamental principles of sports training. I'm never short on injured TKD clients to treat due to the stupid 'coaching' methods used in many schools. Two pathways to black belt: one for those who want to do patterns and one for those who just want to spar. I never went past 1st Dan in ITF-style TKD because I only graded so I could fight black belts. Get rid of breaking. Get rid of the Korean terminology.
I'd change the theory side to be actual useful theory rather than rote learning of terminology and interpretations. Body language signs/cues someone is aggressive or about to be violent, how your body reacts when adrenalin is released, tactics to beat a superior kicker, tactics to beat a superior puncher, basic law on self defence, what constitutes "reasonable force", etc etc. Add pattern applications for each grade. Maybe display applications for the pattern you demonstrated at the previous grading to show growth in knowledge of each pattern rather than just "pattern collecting"? Of course that might mean some instructors admitting they don't know what a lot of the patterns can be used for. Vary the sparring. As well as competition style add in hands only, clinch only, all in, fighting your way up from the floor, etc etc
Sparring TKD specifically for a full contact kick boxing format and removing a large amount of the shotokan flavouring would improve TKD as a standup art IMO. As it is and taken at face value it still has a lot to offer, but more as a foundation art and/or method of physical culture. To my knowledge, TKD had a much better reputation 40yrs ago and the kernel of credibility is still there. I think training approach and training goals are really what's dragged it down over the years.
Good suggestions, I think the anatomy and physiology courses should apply to all martial arts styles!
No posted for a while as nothing has really caught my attention, but this is the type of conversation I enjoy I teach a freestyle tkd (ITF based patterns/forms). Although I do teach/make students aware of application, I don't ask for this until at 3rd Degree (although those that I know could do it, I will asked at a Grading) From the beginning, I teach basic releasing techniques from simple/common grabs and then that leads to joint manipulation/locks & holds as students go through the kup grades. From 1st Degree onward, other things like headlocks, bear hugs etc. can be done as well as "surprise" attacks from other people and groundwork (as I have a blue belt in BJJ, I feel it's a good addition at Black Belt). As for sparring, at kup grades, the minimum requirement for me is to have a good understanding of simple kicking (front, side, turning, hooking, spinning, jumping), striking (punches, open hands) and defence techniques (forearm & palm blocks, evasive footwork). At Black Belt, the more "flasher" techniques should appear, with 2 and 3 onto 1 rounds, as well as using sweeping and take down techniques. I use breaking from 4th kup upwards (varying requirements). I wouldn't stop this IMO as it shows the full power of the offensive techniques and IMO (as I do breaking at the end of gradings), it shows that the student still have the ability to perform using correct technique when low on energy/being knackered. Black Belts also get pad work and line drills as well.
If its from a self defence point of view teach people when it is and is not a good idea to go for a high kick. Ie its 2 in the morning and you have had about 8 pints.
A lot depends on the reasons you have for teaching, and the reasons people have for learning Personally, I want to offer my students the full spectrum of the art, so whilst tonight started with flying side kicks over 4 or 5 people, landing on crash mats, we then continued to use the floor mats and crash mats to drill our breakfalls and hip throws. Lots of fun We also address locks and takedowns on a semi-regular basis. But for me this isn't improving Taekwon Do, it's just actually teaching TKD, not just a small subset of it. Funnily enough though, I was watching a clip of some Sanda today, and thinking it looked like a good direction for TKD sparring to go in. As for self defence, for me that's a separate issue, and I address it as such. All this stuff is there in TKD, you just have to teach it Mitch
Thing is though....they won't get assessed or graded on any of that will they? None of it is in the syllabus or grading criteria and so some people will do TKD without touching upon any of that (right up to getting black belts and beyond). The way you teach is by no means representative IMHO (although it should be) and your students are lucky to have you. If something is "in" TKD then I think it should also be "in" the syllabus, gradings and general teaching guidelines so that all TKD students have a shot at gaining access to it. Rather than being a scatter shot approach that is instructor dependent. Another thing I'd ditch are all the set sparring drills and re-think them. They aren't good for teaching how to use "traditional" TKD techniques and they aren't good for teaching sport style sparring either. They aren't one thing or another and, IMHO, come from a time when TKD techniques were poorly understood. Get rid and instead bring in simple beginner introduction drills, set/structured sparring against realistic and likely street style attacks, that utilises TKD techniques effectively, AND then treat sport sparring as a separate entity (it being TKD v TKD) with its own set of drills and techniques.
Weapons would make it better, since its meant to be a "military" style. In general you shoudl teach all aspects of stand up fighting and i have no idea why it doesnt. I woudl persoanlly go more if it did more legit self defence training and you got soemthing of practical use after each belt or lesson ontop of learning various strikes with hands and feet, sweeps, clicnhes and pushes. If its all in TKD, i have to see if my teacher knows any of it to teach me it. XP
It's difficult to grade on everything without becoming technique collectors though, and that way Hapkudo lies... One answer would be to Base the gradings much more heavily on sparring and a student's ability to utilise a variety of techniques there. That would still lead to some techniques being used less, depending on ruleset though. The other option is to accept that the syllabus is just a core, and it is up to the Instructor to flesh it out. This leads to a very inclusive art that can suit a wide variety of practitioners. As for set sparring, I completely agree. I've hidden it in case anyone high up sees me talking about teaching throws and breakfalls
Another thing, i coudl probbly spar better than i can do patterns and perosnally find it easier and more useful to either do the practical side of any form and do it on a person.
A military art would focus on rifles and bayonets, with maybe a bit of handgun stuff. These are covered in other aspects of military training, so have never been part of TKD, it is very specifically the unarmed side of things. Your last point is one I really struggle with, and have heard before. People spend time learning to punch, kick, strike, push, clinch, whatever, then want to do something of practical use for self-defence training. You just did. Mitch
Bayonet sparring... now THAT is a category I'd pay to see at the Worlds. Imagine someone like Warren Vice with blades glued to his kick boots
Need to apply those combatives diffrently in SD to sport or street fights, i woudl think. in its current standing i dont think my TKD dojo should have Self defence on its page as its neglected for forms. I would love it, if i learnt how to clinch and all that, would mean i ddint ahve to go to a muay thai place i cannot access to learn how to use all of my body as aweapon or go toa kung fu school. Also, you call that a knife?
