There is an upcoming dojang only poomsae competition. Subsequently, we've been practicing our "form" for the competition. I thought it was going to be Tae Guk Il Jang because the DVD we got for our belt rank has that form on it. However, the DVD is a bit dated and my dojang has moved the teaching of all the Tae Guk forms to the brown belt and above class level. The reasons for this is twofold: One, they want to us to focus on getting the basics down correctly from the very first. Two, they replaced the time spent on the Tae Guk forms at this belt level with kicking combinations. Subsequently, our "form" for the competition is the blocking set for our belt level.
The steps of the blocking set are:
1) Front Stance, Low Block, Reverse Punch
2) (other side) Low Block, Reverse Punch
3) (other side Middle Block, Reverse Punch
4) (other side) Middle Block, Reverse Punch
5) (other side High Block, Reverse Punch
6) (other side) High Block, Reverse Punch
7) Back Stance, Low Double Knife Hand Block
8) (other side), Low Double Knife Hand Block
9) (other side), Middle Double Knife Hand Block
10) (other side), Middle Double Knife Hand Block
A reverse punch means that the hand that is throwing the punch is the same as the leg that is back in the stance. For each block, starting positions of the hands and arms are important because we need to get maximum effectiveness with our block (a low block starts high, middle and high blocks start low). The ending positions of the block are important because we are trying to protect our body parts (mostly the rib cage area) and don't want to overshoot the block or not be effective in the block. The punch is a punch to the sternum because it sits above the heart and is very effective in real combat.
What I'm trying to convey is that this is a lot of information for my brain to process. I really have to think about every step of what I'm doing. Specifically: hand in a fist or knife hand? fingers together for the knife hand? Thumb not sticking out? Arm straight, 90 degree angle, or a roof over my head? In front stance, is my knee over my foot? Is my back leg straight? Are my feet parallel? In back stance: Are both knees bent? Are my feet perpendicular to each other? 70% of my weight on my back foot? Have I over-rotated my torso? Am I straight up and down with my torso vs. leaning forward or back? When throwing the knife hand blocks, am I starting out with the knife hand no higher than my head? Are my hands up or down? Have I rotated them as I throw the block?
Uggh. I was describing all this to my office mate and he told me it was like I was learning to dance. I see the comparison. I threw back at him that it was like learning to type all over again. Way back in the day, I had to think about every finger movement for every single letter. Now, I don't even think about it anymore. It's as natural as talking. I know that is what I'm going through now. I will eventually not have to think about all these issues. I just need to make sure I get them correct now.
We evaluated each other's form in practice the other day. The guy evaluating me described me as tense and I need to relax. I couldn't agree more. Yet another thing to "think about".
Showing posts with label poomsae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poomsae. Show all posts
Friday, October 5, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Green Belt Promotion
We went to our first class after the test tonight. When we take the test, we don't actually get the new belt right then. The next time we come to class, after the stretching and warmups, they do the "belt ceremony". This involves each person removing their current belt, coming up to the front of the class, and then having the instructor tie on our new belt. Lots of clapping and some ceremony (cheriut, kung-yay, clap, clap, clap, high-five). The whole ceremony time probably took about 10 minutes of class time with all the people getting their belts.
When coming to the front of the class, we must take a step backwards and run behind the line we are in and around the side to the front of the class. It is very disrespectful to cut through the lines.
The instructor then started us out on a "back to basics" instruction with our blocking techniques. I believe this is in preparation for our first Taeguk form: Tae Guk Il Jang (which I believe translates first but not 1 when counting out loud). I'm also guessing that the testers saw something in the tests for the classes. He started stressing that we needed to break some bad habits now otherwise we will have a lot of difficulty when we reach black belt testing. He really focused on our stances tonight. I've actually been pretty good at my front stance but I do have issues with my back stance. I don't get my back knee bent very well and I twist my torso a little bit.
We followed up with "promise sparring" and then our next eskrima stick routine. Promise Sparring is "fake sparring" where we "promise" not to hit each other or do shots to the head. We don't wear any protection. It gives us a feel for sparring w/o any real risks.
One cool aspect of my dojang is that they provide a DVD for each belt level. We got it at the end of our test and I've already watched it. The Tae Guk Il Jang form is on it. Additionally, all the other "types" of training (blocking set, kicking technique, combinations, kicking set, board break, one step sparring, eskrima technique) that we had for the previous belts but different for our new belt level. Everything seems just a notch more complicated. On my first viewing, I was a little overwhelmed by watching the DVD. However, I watched it again with my daughter and she started breaking it down into what all the steps were. It seemed easier after seeing it through her viewpoint.
When coming to the front of the class, we must take a step backwards and run behind the line we are in and around the side to the front of the class. It is very disrespectful to cut through the lines.
The instructor then started us out on a "back to basics" instruction with our blocking techniques. I believe this is in preparation for our first Taeguk form: Tae Guk Il Jang (which I believe translates first but not 1 when counting out loud). I'm also guessing that the testers saw something in the tests for the classes. He started stressing that we needed to break some bad habits now otherwise we will have a lot of difficulty when we reach black belt testing. He really focused on our stances tonight. I've actually been pretty good at my front stance but I do have issues with my back stance. I don't get my back knee bent very well and I twist my torso a little bit.
We followed up with "promise sparring" and then our next eskrima stick routine. Promise Sparring is "fake sparring" where we "promise" not to hit each other or do shots to the head. We don't wear any protection. It gives us a feel for sparring w/o any real risks.
One cool aspect of my dojang is that they provide a DVD for each belt level. We got it at the end of our test and I've already watched it. The Tae Guk Il Jang form is on it. Additionally, all the other "types" of training (blocking set, kicking technique, combinations, kicking set, board break, one step sparring, eskrima technique) that we had for the previous belts but different for our new belt level. Everything seems just a notch more complicated. On my first viewing, I was a little overwhelmed by watching the DVD. However, I watched it again with my daughter and she started breaking it down into what all the steps were. It seemed easier after seeing it through her viewpoint.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Poomsae Competition
If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm playing catch-up on everything that has happened so far in the TKD journey. I'm trying to be chronological about it but I may skip around a little bit from time to time.
The next major event was our first Poomsae (sometimes spelled Poomse) competition. Poomsae means "Form" in Korean. This is essentially a non-sparring competition where everyone competes individually by doing their best at the "form" for their belt level. It's "mandatory participation". However, that didn't quite fit in with us. My youngest had a prior engagement already lined up from before we started and two days before the competition I pulled a muscle in my lower back and really couldn't do much of anything. Therefore, only my oldest daughter actually competed. She was a trooper about being the only one competing from our family and placed 1st in her initial group of competitors. The next stage of the competition then had all the 1st place winners compete where she placed about middle of the pack.
The form for our "yellow belt" level was what the dojang calls "blocking set #1". There are a prescribed set of forms (the Tae Guk Poomsae) that are taught at all dojangs that I've seen around here. My dojang actually holds off on teaching those forms until you are a green belt. Blocking set #1 is a combination of low block, middle block, and high block with an alternating front stance as you do the left side and right side.
The next major event was our first Poomsae (sometimes spelled Poomse) competition. Poomsae means "Form" in Korean. This is essentially a non-sparring competition where everyone competes individually by doing their best at the "form" for their belt level. It's "mandatory participation". However, that didn't quite fit in with us. My youngest had a prior engagement already lined up from before we started and two days before the competition I pulled a muscle in my lower back and really couldn't do much of anything. Therefore, only my oldest daughter actually competed. She was a trooper about being the only one competing from our family and placed 1st in her initial group of competitors. The next stage of the competition then had all the 1st place winners compete where she placed about middle of the pack.
The form for our "yellow belt" level was what the dojang calls "blocking set #1". There are a prescribed set of forms (the Tae Guk Poomsae) that are taught at all dojangs that I've seen around here. My dojang actually holds off on teaching those forms until you are a green belt. Blocking set #1 is a combination of low block, middle block, and high block with an alternating front stance as you do the left side and right side.
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