Key Steps to Success in Taekwondo

ATTEND EVERY CLASS

  • If you miss a class, investigate what you missed, make certain you understand it, and practice it.

WORK HARD

  • After you get the basic movement of a technique, execute it as if your life depends on it while imagining yourself using it against attackers.

PAY ATTENTION TO DETAILS

  • Stances, tight fists, moving from your centre, reaction hand, breath control, and focused mental and emotional control during all phases of training (Basics, Patterns, Step Sparring, and Free-Sparring).

FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING DURING:

  • Focus on the target on your imaginary attackers during KIBONE practice
  • Focus on the instructor while he or she is demonstrating
  • Focus on your partner’s eyes and/or throat arch during step-sparring or free-sparring
  • Focus on the target on your imaginary attackers during PATTERNS.
  • Focus on your fellow classmates while sitting and awaiting your turn
  • LEARN every minute.

PRACTICE PATTERNS EVERYDAY

  • It is better to repeat a series of physical exercises such as patterns for 10 minutes per day, than to workout 1.5 hour once per week.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN TRAINING

  • Refrain from making excuses and thus shifting blame to something or someone else. Turn a weakness into a strength. For example: if you habitually forget to bring your mouthpiece to class and always have an excuse, put that mental energy to better use such as innovating a way so that you DO have it. If your patterns do not improve because you tell yourself that you are “too busy” to practice, then take a look at your time management. If you are late to class because “the traffic was bad”, then plan another route or leave home earlier. TAKING ACTION is one of your keys to success!

YOU

  • No one every became a good martial artist by wishful thinking just as no one ever became a pianist and never touched the keys. Your instructor is there to teach and assist you and your parents are happy to support you, but your success falls squarely on YOU.