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Mystified
on how to improve your form?
Reprinted from The Way of Taekwondo, Spring 99
7 CLUES TO
SUPERIOR FORM
"How can I improve my
form?" This question has been asked countless times in the history of
the martial arts. Many people think
that by sheer repetition they can master their forms. Repetition helps in
the beginning to memorize the form pattern. But remember, practice makes
habit. Only perfect practice makes
perfect. If you practice incorrectly over and over, you will have very
strong bad habits which are difficult to
break. Below are a few activities to
help you improve your forms and overall technique.
| 1 Remember
all the aspects to a correct technique: starting position, ending
position, path, body position, stance or pivot position. Do you
know the proper execution of every technique? If not, find
out. Ask your instructor to clarify any questions you have about individual techniques. Often, forms look sloppy because the student doesn't know exactly where to start and stop the technique. 2 Start small and build. Practice all moves individually before putting them into the form pattern. Once you know how to do all the individual moves, practice each one until it is crisp. Then place them into segments and practice these until they flow smoothly, like mini-forms in themselves. Finally, string the segments back together and create a beautiful, dynamic form. 3 Break it down: If you are having trouble with a specific technique, find out why. For example, if jump front kicks are giving you trouble, what is it you cannot do? Can you take off and land? Is it chambering in the air? Are you off balance when you land? Answering yes to different questions will give you different things to work on. Your instructor can better help you when you say, "I am having trouble chambering on my #3 Jump Front Kick" rather than "I can't jump front kick." 4 Have a partner watch your form looking for specific things, such as chambers or foot position. By having someone else watch for specific charac- teristics, rather than the entire form, you will receive accurate and more constructive feedback. "You are always dropping your guard when you round kick and front kick," gives you something concrete to work on. "Your form looks pretty good," does not. |
5 Videotape
yourself. Videos don't
lie. Watching your form in slow motion can be eye opening. Often there is a huge gap between what we think we are doing and what we are actually doing. Take notes on what is good and what needs improving, then get to work, choosing one thing at a time to focus on. 6 Fight your form. Go through your form with a partner attacking and blocking. Every technique was designed for a specific purpose. Having another person there can help you see exactly what each block and strike is supposed to do. Then when you do your form alone, you can visualize the opponent. So Songahm 1 is no longer just a high block, reverse punch, front kick low block. It is now a defense against an overhead strike and countering to their mid- section, following through with a kick to their stomach and low blocking their counter attack. This way of training produces a dynamic form. 6 Practice the end first. Often we are tired when we get to the end of our forms. The first few segments get all the attention and flair, then the last few just fizzle out. Once you know your form, start practicing the last segment first, then the last two together, then the last three and so on. Work your way towards the front. This way, when you are tired, your body feels confident and comfortable with the moves and easily performs them. .gif) |
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10/02/08
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