This was originally a response to a posting on one of the TKD newsgroups on the internet. I think it covers quite a few interesting points regarding TKD training. The original post questioned the real value of set sparring, linework & patterns (“Traditional training”) in their relation to use in self defence training.

I can understand why many people find the so-called traditional drills as being as a waste of time in regard to practical self-defence training. I personally felt that way myself, but over the years I have come to understand that they do serve a purpose.

Directly, they may not have a great deal of value for practical self defence training...who is ever going to attack you with, for example, 3 lunge punches in a row? Who is ever going to attack you with just ONE lunge punch?

Never going to happen.

However, what it does teach you is various elements that do come into play & are factors in SD. What we need to do as teachers & students of TKD is to learn to really see behind the surface & not just the superficial layer. i.e: we need to adapt what we are taught to something of practical value. I used to view the stances of traditional martial arts (as I have trained in more than a few styles) as being redundant...I really could not see the point of some of them, when a "fighting" stance would suffice. But, with experience & observing others as well as using them in practice (working in a very confrontational & physical job) I came to the conclusion that you really do use these stances, although it may be for a split second. For example: if you ever have to apply an armbar you need a good, strong, stable & well balanced stance...sitting stance. If you try & apply the lock in an unbalanced & weak stance (ie: no defined stance at all) you will have your centre of gravity displaced & will not be able to maintain that lock.

Just watch a boxer...if he / she needs to deliver power in a lead mid section jab, what stance does he use? He will drop into a version of a fixed stance. He won’t stay there for long, but he will use it just the same.

Other benefits from set sparring practice (if done correctly & approached in the way it should be) you will gain confidence facing an aggressive opponent, you will certainly develop timing & a strong spirit. All these contribute dealing with an aggressor in a SD confrontation if it turns physical.

The benefits of performing linework are varied. I used to hate it & find it a bit boring, I preferred partner work. But I changed my approach to it & when I perform it now, I can really get into it. I feel that it is great for perfecting your technique, developing stamina (which is drained in seconds in a real fight), good for visualisation (which is very under-used in my opinion) etc.

OK, so directly this has no relevance to SD, but it does contain factors that are...it is all down to the individual & their approach.

Finally, regarding the patterns. I always loved the patterns & have enjoyed practicing them ever since I started Wado-Ryu Karate & since progressed to Ch'ang Hon TKD. Most students will never ever get it. They will always see the patterns as pretty shapes with their arms & legs & observers of the MA's will always question the practical value of the forms. As I mentioned before, you need to look beyond the superficial.

The original Masters of the patterns (& I am talking about the one's who created the ORIGINAL forms...not the modern forms that they are based on) devised these forms to serve as a mental reminder of the techniques that they honed to perfection & WHAT ACTUALLY WORKED as SD techniques. Because in many cases they just could not afford for the martial techniques that they invested time & effort in to have no real value...they would end up dead. How practical & of real value is that?

Some of the reasons for the various movements in the patterns given by some modern instructors will either;

1) Leave you bruised, battered...or worse.
2) Leave you confused & disillusioned by the martial arts.
3) Laughing!

What you have to remember is; these techniques contained within the forms are not designed to defend against multiple opponents who attack in a sequence. They are INDIVIDUAL techniques or combinations of techniques to be used against various different type of attacks/grabs etc. It is just that they are joined together as a mnemonic to make it easier to remember them all. Also all of the techniques contained will need to be adapted to make them work. Most, if not all, the techniques were stylised to hide the techniques & to make it easier to perform & throughout the years they have become watered down & some of the vital movements have been left out or forgotten.

So what you are left with today are the greater majority of MA students training in an ignorant bliss & will never know or have the desire to know what they are performing & I am sure most of them will be quite happy with that. As they will be deriving pleasure from what they are doing & gaining many benefits from it (muscle toning, power, balance etc) who can argue with that. But if you want more out of your patterns (for practical purposes), perhaps you need to do a little bit more research yourself.

As a final point; I always asked questions of why do you do this, what's the reason for that etc. (I was more than likely an instructors right royal pain in the proverbial...I was always very respectful, but curious) & some of the answers I was given, I just didn't believe them or how it could work in the
manner that they stated. Many years later & a lot of bumps, bruises & broken bones & experience, I came to the conclusion that I WAS right. I feel that maybe they just didn't know, maybe they didn't want to know (certainly easier to teach)...maybe it is just that these valuable defensive skills
contained within the patterns have just been consigned to history's garbage bin.

SD really does have to be approached in a different way to "normal" training. I guess the way we train now is different because we are softer...we don't toil as hard physically (& I don't mean training) & generally, our lives aren't in constant threat from battlefield marauders or invaders & we just don't need to devote ourselves to developing combat skills like we would have done in the past.
 

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