tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109323.post2370132886922791726..comments2023-10-29T08:53:56.940-04:00Comments on TDA Training: Taekwondo Competition Rules and Self DefenseAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09626368113292368276noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109323.post-8131450397917633602011-03-18T21:28:00.537-04:002011-03-18T21:28:00.537-04:00I thought the Self Defense Source post was pretty ...I thought the Self Defense Source post was pretty brutal to be honest, it got so much wrong in such a small piece!<br />A summary:<br />"ITF sparring relies on sine waves..." - no, the traditional forms use the sine wave motion.<br />"...which make it appear as movement that is used in Karate." - no karate style uses sine wave.<br />"ITF competition allows hits and kicks to the groin" I don't know of any martial art that allows this, not even MMA.<br />The author also mentions aspects that are common to both styles as if they were unique to one or the other.<br /><br />Your summation nails it though; both sparring styles are of little use to self defence training. Semi contact training makes for ineffective striking, and the WTF rules remove a students ability to either throw or defend a punch.<br /><br />I have fought in world and european championships in ITF and there are some saving graces (from an sd point of view) at this level. The first is contact; kicks are all thrown at full power/speed as there is no reasonable way of judging the difference between full and semi-contact. Punches (straight only) are thrown without 'winding up' but otherwise as hard as possible, it is the winding-up that makes a heavy punch illegal.<br />The other saving grace is the pressure, when you get caught in a flurry of hard punches and kicks it can be hard to keep your head, cover move and fight your way out.<br /> That said, I recently found that I could be hitting a lot harder than I have been, even when I though I was giving it full power - which demonstrates the danger of long term semi-contact training. I am now working to fix this.KFShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15967035482928000509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109323.post-911477883644772352011-03-11T13:56:39.574-05:002011-03-11T13:56:39.574-05:00Nathan:
Thanks for the excellent post.
Speaking ...Nathan:<br /><br />Thanks for the excellent post.<br /><br />Speaking as someone who has taught traditional TKD for several years, your points about sport TKD sparring and its utility for self defense are spot on.<br /><br />I do take issue with this passing comment, though:<br /><br />> ...for a sport that can also apply well in<br />> self defense, pick MMA.<br /><br />This strikes me as being a little too glib, following as it does your well-reasoned dissection of TKD sparring.<br /><br />(I know you said "can also apply" instead of "applies", but it's still a little to close for my comfort, anyway.)<br /><br />There's a lot of "MMA is great for self defense" marketing hype out there, and it needs to be subjected to the same type of scrutiny as you applied to TKD.<br /><br />I have a post in the pipeline on this very topic that I think is quite sure to stimulate discussion. Looking forward to reading your take on this issue.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Craig Willits<br /><a href="http://blog.spotsybba.com" rel="nofollow">Martial Arts Spectrum</a>Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06772629075172301450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7109323.post-86132670865288881052011-03-11T09:24:24.687-05:002011-03-11T09:24:24.687-05:00> for a sport that can also apply well in self ...> for a sport that can also apply well in self <br />> defense, pick MMA<br /><br />As one who has taught traditional TKD for a number of years, I have to say you nailed it with respect to TKD sparring's utility as self defense training.<br /><br />However, I find it interesting that you'd follow a well-reasoned, well-written analysis of TKD sparring by glibly repeating the mantra "MMA is great for self defense".<br /><br />I grant that MMA, with its alive training against resisting opponents, builds skills that are much closer to reality, at least in general terms. The same could be said for any grappling or full-contact striking art.<br /><br />But there's that pesky problem of rules again.<br /><br />Many of the techniques prohibited by the MMA Unified Rules are among the most useful in personal protection (eye and groin attacks, for example).<br /><br />Any time you train to operate under a rule set you are limiting your options.<br /><br />The problem is on the street and in real life, there are no rules. The other person is trying to damage you as quickly and brutally as possible. In such an environment. limited options hinder survivability.<br /><br />To be logically consistent and intellectually honest, you need to give MMA the same *objective* treatment you did for TKD sparring when it comes to utility for self defense.<br /><br />I've got a post in work on this very topic, but I'm interested in your take.<br /><br />Craig Willits<br /><a href="http://blog.spotsybba.com" rel="nofollow">Martial Arts Spectrum</a>Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06772629075172301450noreply@blogger.com