Griff, Thanks for the video. That really helps! It's always easier to see what you mean when there is a visual to go with it.

Quote:

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I'm not sure how you can teach students to do something you yourself aren't capable of.

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Simple, I don't teach what I don't know, I leave that for my instructor. When asked questions I don't know the answer for, I ask my instructor, research it in the encyclopedia or on the web, or discuss it with other people who have demonstrated knowledge in that area.

Laura

TEAM FORMS:

I can't really comment too much as I don't know this form being from a WTF background. Some of the hand movements could have been stronger. From my own training in WTF patterns and looking at the others it appeared that you should have been more square to your target at times in the pattern and when punching to your centre it should be to your solarplex whereas yours was not. Positive feedback, there was some good intensity doing many of your moves.

SPARRING:

I understand that ITF uses a lot of front roundhouse kicks but the few rear roundhouse kicks it looked more like you were just throwing out your leg and not starting or finishing the technique. Things to me looked too clumsy and perhaps this is because the two of you spar a lot together. Also it may be because of the point sparring system of the ITF that your school system follows. I didn't see any speed by either of you and you just stood toe to toe never creating space to defend in or cutting down space to attack. Your opponent continually threw out front kicks that you stood there and took when you should have been shooting back or stepping off to the side to avoid. Both of you spent too much time stalking each other in circles and were very predictable; but again this may be due to you always train together, I would be interested to see you go up against somebody that you have never sparred with to get a better idea of what you would do. I also didn't see much for leg kicks, it was always the same stuff; front roundhouse kicks. No faking was ever done nor were there back kicks or cut kicks or ax kicks or any other kicks that I've seen both in good WTF and ITF sparring matches. Some block and punching were attempted at some points but not when it would really have mattered and not to the full extent that they could have been used to offset your opponent and leaving room for you to counter attack. Sparring I found too one dimensional, slow and predictable.

I personal give you credit for going out and doing this stuff, many people would rather do nothing. I also give you credit for putting your videos up here for people to view; knowing that there will be negative feedback says you have tough skin or you are wanting to learn ... or you weren't expecting it.

I personally find sparring in TKD difficult as I can see things and I know I want to do things but I can't get my body and mind to work as one. I've had very few sparring sessions that I came out thinking ... yes ... that was great. I need a lot of work and know places where I need to work on in my game. I hope that you see this as well and why you are putting these up here so that you can improve. With that said, I feel more comfortable grappling then sparring TKD or even sparring where stand-up to take-down is involved; it just is more realistic and seems to flow better for me and my mind and body can work together better.