There is something here that really worries me. How long does it take to get to first dan? I'm thinking 4-5 years then another 2-3 to second. One step sparring techniques in karate are designed for tournaments where you score a point and the bout stops. How useful is TKD when I've been training for 3 years and this big bruiser picks me in the pub? I teach self defence against the most common street attacks, from white belt level, every week. You're saying the freestyle aspect kicks in after 2nd dan. That's the stuff that's going to save your bacon and I've had to train TKD for nearly 10 years before I'm even going to learn it. I might be wrong but that's the same the problem I have seen in Australia with TKD. It's trained as a sport, not to save your life.Our self- defense curriculum at the school I attend is Ok. There are 10 self-defense techs and 10 one step punch sparring techs to be learned for 1st dan...another 8 SD and 5 one step punch tech for 2nd dan. Most are prettys ound...there are a few really questionable ones though. At later ranks, we are asked to do a lot of creation stuff (first to specific techs, then instant creation...wich usually just turns into freestyle sparring at the later levels). It;s not a smooth and in depth as my taijutsu training...but pretty good.
We also incoporate grappling and submission work into our curriculum and sparring at later levels as well.
for myself, I do a lot of extra work with the poomse/kata practicing SD stuff for the katas with willing/resistant partners.
the stuff is there, you jsut have to train it. ....oh, and I also participate in that "powder puff" sparing too...got my rib bruised (through my hogu) at the last competition I was at...FWIW
Peace,
Erik
I'm not saying that it is weak or useless, but without cross training it seems to lack the SD something that I would be looking for. Erik, what you're saying is that you are doing a lot of extra work to make TKD work for you and that is great. Unfortunately most MA students do their 3 hours a week and reckon thay are bomb-proof. :asian: