Myths: All blocks are blocks! (Not) and more.

 

This is going to be a relativly short post but it will deal with three Taekwondo "myths". All of the myths are being propogated by many people and even by relativly higher Dan grades too. It is time to put an end to these myths so this post will adress it and hopefully put it to rest. I will use an example from the Kukkiwon Textbook as my main argument against the myths as it is difficult to say that the Kukkiwon Textbook is wrong for the propogators of the myths.

Image Source: Kukkiwon Textbook

Is a "block" always a "block"? If you have not read them allready I reccomend that you read the following posts. Just skim through them and see where I am comming from. The three posts are:

• Makki; Does it really mean "block"?
• Exploring the traditional blocks
• Exploring the traditional double Blocks

Now on to the three widely accepted myths:

1. Taekwondo blocks (makki) are always static hard blocks like you allways see in the pictures of textbooks. 
2. The double blocks are against multiple opponents.
3. There is no grappling techniques in Taekwondo Poomsae

Now the block I am thinking about is from Pyungwon Poomsae and is the "mythical" Hecho Santeul Makki (Spreading Mountaing block). The block can be seen below:

Now this is a typical "unrealistic" move where you block two opponents attacking you at the same time right? Even in the video clip above it is hinted that you block an attack at your face. I think that a regular textbook mainstream application to the movement would be something like this:

Mainstream application to the technique

But if you check out the example of application to this technique in the Kukkiwon Textbooks Poomsae chapter on Poomsae Pyongwon you will see this instead:

Image source: Kukkiwon Textbook page 504

The text might be difficult to see because the picture quality is low but Kukkiwon Textbook states: "Application of action 11-1: Inflicting the opponents arm with hecho santeulmakki". 

A few things of note here:

• Application is against only one person!
• "Makki" is not used as a "block" 
• The movement from Poomsae in this case is used as a grappling move. 
• The attack is not a typical "Taekwondo attack".

The Kukkiwon Textbook provide few examples from each Poomsae and it states in the training of Poomsae chapter that the goal is for us as practisioners to find out the practical meanings of Poomsae and how to use it and develop our own self style based on our experiences, strengths and weaknesses. There is a lot of mainstream applications in it as well but in this example they show a lot of interesting principles you can take with you when searching for combative meaning in Poomsae. I am not saying this is the best possible applicaiton for the movement. I choose this exact application from this exact source because the people propogating the myth often claim to just follow the Kukkiwon teachings not realising that they really are not. 

So after reading all this I have a few question to you:

• Is there really no grappling within Taekwondo Poomsae?
• Are "blocks" (Makki) allways "blocks"?
• Are "double blocks" allways against two different opponents?

If you went in saying yes to all three questions, but leave thinking it is not so clear cut then this has been a good post:-)

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