Footwork techniques(Backward)

1) BACKWARD SHUFFLE STEP

Rear foot moves back, front foot moves back. It can be used to retreat from an attack.

2) ONE STEP BACKWARD

Step back with the front foot when bringing the foot down, do not let the heel touch down.

You will want to use this when opponent is attacking with a fast kick, one step forward kick or running step.

3) 180 DEGREES BACKWARD STEP

It is also known as reverse tornado step.

Front footwork steps toward the back, step clockwise, turning back to opponent as foot comes back and plant left foot to the rear.

4) REVERSE TORNADO KICK WITH JUMP

The tornado step can also be executed with a jump. Instead of planting the left foot to the rear, pretend you are planting it on an imaginary box. Rotate the body, keep the foot in the air, lean the upper body slightly backward, and with a slight jump, execute a rear leg strike.

To learn more about footwork techniques, more can be found in the book, "Competitive Taekwondo" which covers everything in greater details.

Footwork techniques(In place and forward)

As mentioned that footwork is an important set of skills, here are some footwork techniques that are the basics but yet effective once well trained in it.

1) SWITCHING FEET

Switch feet while bouncing on the spot. Can be apply to confuse opponents, lure opponents in. Can be used to alter distance with opponents as well.

2) FORWARD SHUFFLE STEP

Forward shuffle, rear foot first. Maintain balance and bend your knees lower the stance as you lift heels slightly off the floor to have maximum acceleration.

3) ONE STEP FORWARD

Step with right foot and pivot on left foot then change body position. One step forward is usually used as an attack step to create an opportunity for a strike and to control distance.

4) RUNNING STEP

Rear leg comes forward in a running motion first, then shift weigh back and execute a rear-leg kick. The running step is also known as quick step. It can be used to charge the opponent or close a gap or as a fake if opponent is apt to retreat.

5) 180 DEGREES FORWARD STEPBegin in a balanced stance, pivot on foot and rotate body 180 degrees, looking over your shoulder, plant your rear foot and pivot toward opponent. This footwork technique is also known as tornado step. This move is often used when an opponent retreats or when you want to lauch a surprise attack.

The importance of footwork

In a sparring match, one can be amazed by the kicks of the players, how their high-jumping kicks such as jumping back thrust/back hook managed to be executed with such flow and power. Even their basic kicks can sometimes be rather impressive snapping out fast and accurate to score against their opponents. But one important thing we have to know is that the ability to kick well is essential, the movements of a player is something we cannot neglect as well.

The movements of the player can be what we commonly call footwork can sometimes be the beauty of the game. Imagine seeing how the player move around in the bout with great speed and flow, then followed up with their kicks. Often, a player with good footwork can execute their kicks more smoothly and surprise their opponents. In short footwork is used to feint motions, adjust distance and execute combinations. It can also be used to dodge and block attacks from opponents as well as to analyze their movements. Footwork executed with good timing can help to carry out effective attacks and counter-attacks.

Feints in fact are not unique to Taekwondo, each sport has specific body movements for feints. Like in soccer and basketball, players can fake a pass, a shot and get pass through their opponents. In Taekwondo, well-executed feints can enable players to score a winning point by creating opportunities for themselves i.e. making opponents exposed to the attacks or counter-attacks. Therefore with great footwork, one can have the upperhand in the game.

Did you know?

Taekwondo footwork can actually be useful in various activities such as basketball or even avoid clashes while walking on the streets. For example, footwork such as switch or 360 degrees turn can confuse opponents in a basketball game, just that you have another ball to control. While walking on the streets, you can do a step back action when the person in front suddenly stopped or moved back to avoid from being stepped or hit. In short it enables one to be more agile in such situations.

Singapore's very own fighters in the past

Kun, the man with the legendary punch. It was mentioned by people that his punch was so heavy that he had once made his opponent spitted out blood at one tournament. He took up a few jobs before and his jobs actually helped to train up his punches as they required him to use a lot of arm strength and to strengthen his grip. One example of his jobscope would be hammering steel.

His punch was so heavy that even his opponent was wearing a padding, he could still feel the power and impact from him. The story of the opponent who spitted blood out started many years ago at a tournament when he openly acclaimed that his punch is no. 1 in the world. He was strong with his punches which helped him in many matches that eventually helped him to get his national champion title. But his arrogance made him conceited and made some people irked him. One of them who seemed to show his disliking was Kun.

Upon hearing the statement that his punch is world’s no. 1, Kun actually went over and said to him: “ I will meet you next year at the nationals.” Both indeed joined the national championship next year and really made it to the final. There, Kun executed his legendary punch, just one punch right at his chest swiftly and that guy spitted out blood on the spot. He gave that game up as Kun’s punch was too heavy for him. Kun won.

Kun has not only made a name for himself with his punches, he has also trained up another well known champion, Hock. Hock soon became another legend after his coach.

The 'Bicycle Man'

He was known as the ‘bicycle man’. He’s a korean player and by his nickname given by fellow Taekwondo exponents, can you guess why is it ‘bicycle’? His opponents are often overwhelmed by his double turning as his kicks were really fast and solid. In a match, when facing his opponent, he will look calm and steady, bouncing and waiting for the opportunity to strike. Once ready, “pah, pah” there goes his double turning like two gun shots fired, if his opponent stays, he goes again executing his double turning, if he retreat back one step, he will chase with his double turning. His opponent seemed no chance of catching his kicks.

They said that when he executed his double turning while chasing his opponent, he looked like he was riding a bicycle in the air therefore he’s given the nickname. I could not remembered what is his name but he has certainly impressed many with his famous double turning.

When Teaching Taekwondo...

There was a story I know about one fine night when instructors were taking classes, as usual all doing their best to impart their knowledge to the students and at the same time cultivating important values of Taekwondo such as discipline into them. Suddenly, a loud roar came from a lady shouting out to one of the instructor. This unexpected situation surprised everyone. The lady is actually one of the student’s parent.

What happened was that she felt that her child is being scolded like an idot and that she does not agree to the teaching method used by the instructor. She felt that respect must work both ways and that respect is not given to her child. After the class, another parent ask his child to bow to the that instructor who was being shouted at, perhaps a sign of showing support that he did nothing wrong.

What the instructor did was to tell the boy to pay more attention in his usual stern manner. As an instructor, sometimes it is necessary to be stern but not abusive in their words or actions of course to drive a point across. And in this case talking about respect, shouldn’t the parent talk to the chief instructor or the instructor after the class instead of shouting across in the middle of the lesson?

Parents naturally love their children but sometimes they should entrust them to the instructor when lesson starts. Of course when noticed that instructors are weird or too aggressive, parents should question them but I seriously hope that they will have the correct judgement in understanding the instructor’s well intentions. As an instructor, I believe in motivating students in a fun learning environment. For those students who have always been well-behaved and attentive I believe good instructors will usually talk to them nicely. For those who are really too mischievious, we can talk to them nicely to make them understand but if they continued to fall on deaf ear, perhaps one can talk in a more serious manner so that they will know you are really serious. It is after all a discipline sport.

As well as the instructors want to give their best in training the student up in the values and skills of Taekwondo, they will also need the support of the parents to accomplish their mission.

Taekwondo training - Past vs Today

How has the training of Taekwondo differ from the past? There is something that seniors will always say like hey you know, my training was much tougher and stricter than yours now. You all are much fortunate today. I recalled that my senior has told me that his training area has once an opportunity to train with some Koreans, They were working nearby therefore went over there to work out. As usual the comments given about them is that they are really tough people and fast. But the club that my senior, Fran, went is good enough to take on those Korean players and they won the respect from them as well.

The training the people at that time underwent seemed really torturing. Franc said when they were doing 'duck wall' if one were to slow down, the instructor will use a stick to wack the leg. When you are doing knee raising exercise, if yours were not up to standard, the instructor will again use his stick to make push you on. This kind of training is definately not acceptable these days. Most likely, the instructor will get banned. Training should focus on improving the student's skill effectively and efficiently to make them tougher not necessarily using extreme measures. No doubt such training made them tougher when they faced an opponent but sometimes it might caused negative impact on the students' mentality.

I have heard of a particular story in korea which is rather amusing perhaps it is just another rumoured humour. It was said that to get the 2nd Dan black belt, one has to run in the cold, do its pattern in the cold and then jump off from the cliff and swim in the sea.

I have also heard of some people using sharp brushes as a guide to make one kick higher and more accurately. If you miss, you will feel the pain from kicking the brush. There are also some people who will wrap a cloth around the metal ole at the basketball court and used that as a kicking target. Imagine how painful could that bag if you were to kick hard at such target. I supposed many will be surprised seeing how these people trained. Perhaps sandbags seemed too soft for them.

Taekwondo Olympians - The Comeback of Chen Chih Hsin

Chen Chih Hsin, the other Chinese Taipei's first olympic gold has managed to pull off the final well despite her feet injury caused from other bouts and her flu condition which made her feel uncomfortable during the game. After the game, she said that she knew her countrymen were pinning their hopes on her to win the gold and therefore she will do her very best not to let them down even though she feels unwell. Well indeed, she played a beautiful game at the final being aggressive at all times aiming to score as many points as she can. There was one time she did a slamming kick and got that two points from there.

Her success story is rather dramatic as it involves certain ups and downs in her life which started when she was a teenager. Her father is a Taekwondo instructor himself and he trained Chen since young. At the age 0f 16, Chen started competiting internationally doing her country proud by winning some of them. She was deemed to have a great prospect. But who knows, she an argument with her Dad and decided to left home and stay out on her own. She became a beternut girl known as a term coined just for such girls in Chinese Taipei, "bing lang ci sze". These girls usually dressed up sexily and sell beternuts to drivers on the road. Perhaps due to her character and ability, Chen said she was a very frank person and during her period of doing this job, she might have offended some people. Once, she even offended someone that might be from a triad. She was also a 'Big Sister' to her friends, always helping and stood up for them.

After about two years, she realised that she could not give up taekwondo and decided to went back home and started training again. After such a long time, she knew her standard has dropped tremendously and was constantly putting great effort to get back to shape. During this time, her fellow team mates kind of despise her for leaving the squad and she was also not able to play well in competitions ousted even at the first round, where in the past she could at least reached into the finals. This attitude from her team made her more persevere to train even harder and finally managed to qualify for the Olympic. To her winning the game, is also to win back her self-respect and to amend for the mistake of leaving home and the squad.Despite all odds, she did it. Being the first Olympic gold medalist in her country and did Chinese Taipei's Taekwondo proud.

Did you know?

It was said that after two golds were won by the Taekwondo team at the Olympic game, many Taekwondo sport equipments were swept out from shops in Chinese Taipei. This achievement has certainly aspired more people to pick up the sport.

Taekwondo Olympians - Chu Mu Yen

Taiwan’s first gold medals in the olympics were won by Taekwondo Olympians which one of them is Chu Mu Yen, currently a university student in Taiwan. He has won several major games besides the Olympics such as the Asian Games and if I’m not wrong, the world championships as well. I remembered in his Asian Game, he was pitted against a Korean Player. Both were pretty fast players and they were exchanging double-turning kicks with each other. In view of a spectator, some might find the match a little boring since there is not much variations in the players’ techniques but some find it exciting because of the speed, power and accuracy of the players. The score between them were really close. At the end of the bout, Yen managed to win by a close margin.

n his Olympic game at Athens 2004, Yen shows more flare and confidence in his games. There was one bout in which he gave a long slam that shows great flexibility and power. His opponent was caught unaware o f it and could not evade on time which resulted bleeding from his nose.

In the final, he continued to display his skills and was crowned Taiwan’s first olympic gold medalist.

In the Asian Game at Doha after the olympics, Yen was toppled by Nattapong Tewawetchapong of Thailand 2-1 in the semi-finals. He was greatly disappointed by the game and added that he might take part in the 2008 Olympic Games after the heartbroken defeat. He felt the new rules clearly are not in favor of him thus could not make the decision on whether to go Beijing.