The ABC's Of Practical Poomsae Applications, Part 1 Arae Makki

When first diving into practical poomsae applications it is easy to get lost deep in the different rabbit holes out there. Modern Taekwondo is often taught as a technique based system in stead of a forms based system, and so we are used to looking at the application of a single technique at a time. What happens when the application you are taught fails to explain the whole movement or worse yet, it is un-useable in real combat, sports or otherwise? What this series will hopefully do is to give a few applications or just one application to each of the common basic techniques (gibon dongjak) that you encounter in Poomsae, which will again hopefully make the transition from a technique based to a forms based system easier to digest for taekwondo students. The applications will focus on the movement of the technique, and allthough they are lifted from different Poomsae, you will note that they are presented pretty open ended in this series. This mimics how we learn a basic technique like for instance a low block, learn that it "blocks" a front kick to your stomach for instance and then go on to learn a different technique and application. Or continuing on from the previous example, learn to follow up with your own attack using different techniques you might have learned. In this first part we will indeed be looking at the low block or arae makki, and we will look at two different applications for it. Readers that have followed me for some time will recognize these applications from Taegeuk Il (1) Jang, and if you want to see these applications within a more dynamic context, feel free to click here. If you just want a few options/ or quick applications continue reading on :-)




Before we begin you might also want to check out my thoughts on what "Makki" actually means in English, as I think "Block" is a very crude and simplified translation.

First we have an Arae Makki (Low section defensive technique) in an Ap Seogi (Short front walking stance) used as a wrist grab defense. I usually teach this as the first "alternative application" because the application depends on a good solid traditional basic technique, chamber, pulling hand back to the hip and all. While a deflection is a valid application, it fails to explain the whole movement, and so students fail to practise the basic template (basic technique) as it is supposed to be done. They tend to over-emphasise the "blocking" arm, and de-emphasise the chamber, pulling hand back to the hip and so on. This is not strange as the deflection that is often taught makes no use of anything other than the "blocking arm" coupled with evasion. The following wrist grab release would be a great replacement, simply because it makes use of the whole movement and it can be used in a less rules restricted environment. What do you do if someone grabs your wrist? Do an Arae Makki :-) Problem solved. What do you do if you get a wrist grab defense as part of your grading but you get log jam in your brain and you do not remember how to free yourself? Do an Arae Makki, problem solved. What if you are grappling and you do a groin grab, but the opponent grabs your wrist so you have to free yourself so you can continue striking? Do an Arae Makki and problem solved. Contextualise it later, the basic template and the basic practical application is as follows:

Solo basic template, "chamber"

Solo basic template, arae makki "block"

Wrist is grabbed, do the chamber (this also positions your arm to protect your head.

If coast is clear (no punch is comming or if theres a window of oppertunity between punches, do the full blocking movement and it will free your wrist. The twist and pulling back to the hip is just as important as the forearmstrike or "blocking motion" itself. They work in tandem to achieve a result. 

Another application that I teach for the Arae Makki is as an elbow joint lock. I emphasise then that the stance is a short stance in the first application so you can keep moving into the opponent to continue striking, while here the stance is a low front stance to get the weight into the lock. So even though the basic template of the Arae Makki is the same, the application is different because of the stance. If you have been working on applications yourself you might note that doing the above application as a wrist grab release can just as easily be done dropping into the long front walking stance as well, the follow up options are a little more limited because the stance makes you a lot closer. Again, different Poomsae combinations will demontrate different follow ups and variations, so feel free to explore this in the future, but for the ABC's just making the students aware that the stance is itself a vital part of the application is more than enought as a solid starting point.

Solo template, "Chamber"

Solo Template; "Block"

Application of "Chamber", you cross grab his wrist (your left hand grabs his left hand for instance), and place the other forearm just above his elbow joint as you straighten his arm by pulling the grabbing arm back toward your hip.

From the previous position, drop into a front stance while applying pressure against his elbow joint, straightening his arm by pulling it back to your hip. This is the application of the "block" itself. 

I hope you found this interesting. If you want to read part 2 focusing on the midle inward block you can click here :-)