Small Groups:
Working in smalll groups rather than in pairs can open students to a new level of awareness. Many confrontations occur with more than one person and training in small groups assists students in how to deal with these situations.
(Click on image for video)
Two on one sparring with bags to improve contact awareness.
When confronted by multiple assailants it is important that any kick, strike or punch lands effectively. Both power and accuracy are important but also is the condition and accuracy of the tool being used. Some schools may use forging posts or other body conditioning instruments, maybe even a tree in the garden, but proper formation of a fist or other tool under very dynamic conditions is also important. Kicking a floppy paddle with the toes may help improve speed and accuracy but that alone could result in an injured toe or ankle in a real confrontation. Thus sparring with full contact against more rigid bags or shields should also be part of one’s training as safely hitting a moving target with the correct part of your body is very important if you wish to conclude a confrontation in your favour and without personal injury.
Working in threes. Double turning kick and knifehand strike.
Starting with the most senior student and rotating through the small group, a combination technique, such as double turning kick – knife hand strike is executed. The first technique is executed to one partner and the second technique to the other partner in the group. Thus we develop awareness of multiple attackers and how to best handle the change in direction for executing our combination. In the image shown, it is much easier to execute a left double turning kick to the right side partner followed by delivering a left knife hand strike to the left side partner than it would be to a right double turning kick followed by right knife hand strike. This exercise helps us learn better technique flow between multiple opponents.
Working in threes: block the knife hand strike and control the attacker, deal with the second attacker and then strike yourself, this initiating the next person’s turn.
This is a classical two on one scenario where two attackers may not attack sequentially. Body shifting to deal with the ‘first’ attack is important as is controlling that attacker whilst stopping the second attacker at a safe distance before finishing off the first attacker.
Working in threes: triangle push ups. Important to work together all pushing at the same time.
Push ups are a great upper body exercise that will improve our strength for punching and striking but ‘standard’ pushups can become boring, especially for the young student. Working in small groups of 3 or 4 where each student rests their feet on the back of another adds greater challenge. This requires and develops greater strength but also coordination with others as you need to all push at the same time. Abdominal (core) strength is also required to keep the body rigid for a successful lift.
Push-ups develop the chest, so to maintain some balance in the shoulders, do some lay back rows.
Strengthening the chest for stronger punches should also be balanced by strengthening the upper back so as to prevent shoulder imbalance that could lead to injury. In this exercise one student lays on their back on the floor and interlocks their wrists with two partners. Standing up straight so as to lift the exerciser off the floor, the exerciser then pulls themselves up in a rowing motion by contracting the upper back muscles.
Student in centre, surrounded by circling potential attackers. Three or four of the circling attackers are nominated by instructor to attack when told. Change occurs every 10 to 15 seconds. Student in centre is not aware from where the next attack will come.
Students begin by facing in different directions and then perform the same pattern without being distracted by others in group.
Mental Exercises
Training in Tae Kwon-Do is often considered very physical but there are also mental aspects to training. Improving the operation of one’s brain can improve co-ordination and response to stimuli and thus make us better martial artists and more capable of an appropriate self defence response when under stress.
This is a seemly simple exercise of a rear hand straight punch, front hand hook punch followed by two ducking motions. At any time the mitt holder can change stance and the holding of the mitts to initiate the striker to change stance and perform the same exercise using the opposite hand combination.
This changing of stance at another’s instigation whilst continuing to perform the task will apply mental pressure to adapt quickly. Encouraging the participants to increase speed will increase the mental stress but once the student can adapt quickly it is time to change the exercise.
Person with bag walks down line of students who have eyes shut. When their position number is called, the student opens her eyes and reacts by moving off the ‘line of attack’ and counters with an appropriate technique.
Person with mitt walks down line of students who have eyes shut. When their position number is called, the student opens his eyes and reacts by moving off the ‘line of attack’ and counters with an appropriate technique.