Short discussion on the learning of Poomsae

I have thought about this on and off for a very long time now. Actually I started thinking about this at the very beginning of when it dawned on me how Poomsae contained so much more than block kick punch methods of how to deal with combat. I quickly realized that the most logical way of training and teaching Poomsae was with application being taught first or at least along side the form move for move. This was later "confirmed" or at least some Karate researchers agreed with me (Patrick Mcarthy for instance) that Kata was taught after the applications had been mastered, as a way to remember them and as a solo excersise format. I have sometimes thought that if I ever get to "master level" (that would be 4th Dan in my org) I should start my own Dojang or perhaps take much more responsibility in the one I currently train and study in, and one thing I was wondering was if I should revamp the way we teach Poomsae. I have shared the way I view Taegeuk Il Jang quite extensively so my future students could in theory learn at least one "good" application for each move in the Poomsae with partner drills and live testing of some if not all applications very soon after they started training.

[Norwegian lang] Live stream Taekwondo History Part 2: Founding of Kwan & modern development of TKD

https://youtu.be/zHlCRICdwOk

Here in Norwegian language I pick up from last time starting with the founding of the different major Kwan (schools) in the 1940s and 50s and then go on to tak about the development of modern Taekwondo, the Korean Tang Soo Do, Taekwondo, Tae Soo Do and back to Taekwondo  Association, it’s counterpart The Korean Soo Bahk Do Association, the development of Korean forms Hyung, Tul, Poomsae, the development of modern competition sparring and kicking techniques and then I show examples of stuff we train today in our syllabus in traditional Taekwondo Union from older Korean martial arts manuals and Karate manuals. 

I am thinking of doing this again it in English as there has been some interest in this material :-)

[Norwegian language] Live Stream Taekwondo history part 1

 

https://youtu.be/dEbFm-tVCpU

I just got ordered to stay relaxed and not train for one week. I already has planned the regular training session I run every Friday so I simply changed it to a theory lesson on Taekwondo history. It’s all in Norwegian so if you know Norwegian Swedish or danish you’ll be OK :-) If not let me know if you want me to do it in English in the future. 

This talk covers military and civilian classical martial arts, the development and rise of modern Mudo/Budo, the formation of karate styles and their founders as relevant for Taekwondo history, Koreans in Japan, Koreans in China, development and founding of the Kwan (plural). I have A LOT more material so I’ll have to do a follow up with the rest (1950s to present day). 

Chulgi Chudan Hyung, essential learning for traditional minded Taekwondo students

 

https://youtu.be/pKV1aHodp40

I just did a “webinar” where I did a complete tutorial on Chulgi Chudan Hyung. In my opinion if you ever only learn one form outside of your curriculum you should really consider making that one form this one. It served for 100s of years as the foundation form for the root arts of Taekwondo all the way back to the time of “Tode” Sakugawa. 

It is also known as Kima and Naebojin Hyung in Korea or Naihanchi/Naifanchin and Tekki in Karate styles. 

In the webinar we go through opening and closing meditation, some sparring footwork and dynamic stretching and some kicking (there are no high kicks in Chulgi Chudan Hyung so I did include them in the training session so we got a complete Taekwondo training) and then most of the session focuses on learning the form itself. The emphasis is on the solo performance as I’m alone but I do talk a little bit on the practical applications of the form too. 

I hope you like it, and if you have something else you’d like me to do in the future please leave a comment or PM me :-) 

https://youtu.be/pKV1aHodp40

Online workshop English language 02 Feb anouncement

 

On February 2nd 2021 I’ll do a live class/Workshop focusing on teaching Chulgi Chudan Hyung. This form is also known in Korea as Kima and Naebojin too. In Okinawa styles it’s known as Naihanchi or Naifanchin, and in Shotokan it is called Tekki. 

Before the 1900s with the introduction of the 5 Pyungahn/Pinan/Heian forms, Chulgi Chudan Hyung was often the first (and only) form taught in Taekwondo’s root arts. Many early masters emphasised its importance both in training and in application. The workshop will obviously focus on the solo performance of the form. 

It is being held through Facebook live so go to my blogs Facebook page for more details 👍🏻 hope to see you there ;-) 

https://www.facebook.com/events/444198043605344/