Taekwondo Basics. Scott Shaw

defensive. The offensive student grabs the training partner in a specific manner—a choke hold, arm grab, or the like. The defensive student is then taught to respond to the attack in a very specific manner, ultimately disengaging the hold and striking the opponent in a debilitating manner.

      One-Step Sparring

      For one-step sparring, the class breaks up into pairs. The students face off. The offensive student performs a front stance, low block, followed by a front stance, middle punch, with a kihap. The defending student then follows up with the same process. Once the defending student has signaled his or her readiness, the attacking student unleashes a single punch or kick. The defensive student then defends against that attack in a predetermined manner.

      One-step sparring is made up of predetermined offensive and defensive applications. For example, the offensive student will perform "Straight punch, number 1." The defensive student will then counter that attack with a specific block and counterstriking measure. The students will then switch, and the other student will defend against the attack. The pair of students will then move on to "Straight punch, number 2." This process will continue until they have worked through all of the one-step sparring techniques appropriate to their belt level.

      Three-Step Sparring

      For three-step sparring, pairs of students face off. In this drill, once the defending student has signaled his or her readiness with a down block, middle punch, and kihap, the attacking student unleashes three consecutive offensive techniques. These may include three kicks, three punches, or a combination of kicks and punches.

      Three-step sparring allows students to develop an understanding of combination techniques. It also teaches them, through actual experience, which offensive technique most easily follows the previous applications.

      Sparring

      Sparring in a taekwondo class takes place under the strict guidance of the instructor. Because sparring allows the student to actually experience what works in combative situations, it is an essential element of taekwondo training.

      Sparring, in a taekwondo class, is generally limited to no-contact or semi-contact sparring. In no-contact sparring, the student directs an offensive technique toward a specific location on his or her training partner's body, and unleashes the technique, but does not actually make forceful contact with the punch or kick.

      Semicontact sparring is generally only allowed once students have advanced through the ranks to blue-belt level and possess substantially more control over their techniques than novice students. In this style of sparring, the student directs an attack toward a specific location on the opponent's body, and strikes it lightly. From this, advancing taekwondo students not only learn to maintain control over their offensive techniques, but also develop the ability to target a strike on an opponent exactly.

      Full-contact sparring is virtually never taught in the mixed-level taekwondo classroom. Full-contact training is relegated to a specific class, usually at black-belt level, where practitioners are trained in strictly competitive taekwondo skills.

      Meditation

      Meditation is the single most important practice taekwondo stylists can undertake to focus their attention and to heighten their concentration.

      Sitting or kneeling meditation is generally performed at the end of a taekwondo class. As the student's adrenaline is usually highly aroused by this point, the best style of meditation to perform is to simply close your eyes and consciously take in several very deep breaths. This will instantly calm you down, refocusing your energy and preparing you for other life activities.

      YYOUR FIRST CLASS in taekwondo is an exciting, adrenaline-filled experience. You will be entering into a new world—a world that you have no doubt seen in countless moments on television and in the movies, but have not personally experienced.

      Training Begins

      Prior to beginning your first class, you will be instructed in the basic protocols of taekwondo. Commonly, an assistant instructor will be assigned to you to detail these essential elements of taekwondo.

      You will be instructed in the appropriate techniques of respect, which are adhered to in all schools of taekwondo. You will be taught that you must immediately bow upon entering the martial art studio. This bowing symbolizes that you are formally demonstrating respect for your school.

      You will be taught that upon entering the school you must also immediately remove your shoes. The reason shoes are removed in a school of taekwondo is to both demonstrate respect for the school and to symbolize that you are entering a training hall.

      Once your shoes have been removed and you have entered the school, you will then be taught that you must bow to your instructor or instructors before you progress toward the dressing room where you will change into your uniform. Bowing to your instructor is also an essential sign of respect.

      The assistant instructor will then teach you how to wear the taekwondo uniform and how to tie your belt properly. You will then be ready to immerse yourself in the exciting training of taekwondo.

      Before your first class begins the assistant instructor will teach you some of the basic movements of taekwondo. You will be taught how to safely perform some of the preliminary stretching techniques and some of the basic blocks, kicks, and punches of taekwondo.

      Once these preliminary elements have been detailed, your first class will begin. You will be taught to line up in the appropriate placement and you will be led through the basic bowing and warmup exercises.

      In many schools of taekwondo, an assistant instructor will stand by you throughout your first class. This is done in order to aid in your indoctrination into the basic elements of taekwondo.

      At the point the warmup segment of the class has culminated, an assistant instructor will again take you to the side where you will be privately trained in the basic blocking, kicking, and punching techniques of taekwondo. As your first class progresses, you may be teamed up with another new student in order that you will get the feel of actually performing some of the techniques of taekwondo against another body. Your first class will culminate with your peers and yourself reforming into prescribed lines, where the final bow of the class takes place.

      The other common experience after the first class in taekwondo is to wake up the next day very, very sore. Taekwondo is a cardioaerobic-based system of self-defense that will cause you to exercise in a method you have not previously experienced. It will also cause you to use muscles that previously were dormant. As a result, when you cultivate these undeveloped muscles, there will definitely be a sense of soreness. Again, this is nothing to be worried about, and it will pass after a few days of training.

      It is essential to understand at the outset of your training that there are two distinct levels of taekwondo instruction. The first is that of self-defense. Tae-kwondo is a highly refined system of self-defense that teaches its practitioners to rapidly and effectively defend themselves if they are ever physically attacked. The second level of taekwondo training involves tournament competition. Many of the taekwondo techniques taught as a means of self-defense cannot be used in tournament competition, as they are too physically debilitating to the opponent and would violate tournament rules and policies.