Did You Forget That You Could Punch

Shadowboxing is an invaluable training method for learning good punching technique_B-FLX


I am constantly amazed by the lack of punches that are thrown in tournament by Tae Kwon Do competitors, and while recently attending the Captain's Cup Challenge tournament I saw very few exceptions to my opinion. No system of martial arts is perfect. Even if theoretically it were, it would still be flawed by the propensity for human error. It is one thing to say, and entirely another thing to do.

But proposing that a fighter does throw a fundamentally sound technique, it is still not without flaw. Essentially, offense is a measured risk that a fighter takes for the opportunity to score. Every time a punch or kick is thrown there is an opening left at the origin of attack. Simply stated, you temporarily abandon part of your defense for offense. Which is why the recoil of a punch or kick needs to be just as fast as the initiation in order to minimize the amount of time you are left open.

Because initiating action leaves fighters susceptible to retaliation during the transition phases of throwing a technique, counterfighting has become a very popular ring style in Tae Kwon Do. For every action there is a recourse of action. Counterfighting has the advantage of allowing you to maintain your defense while giving you a chance to see what the other competitor is going to throw at you. Safe and simple right? It is not an easy style to master at all. In order to employ this strategy you need to have excellent footwork, speed, and be able to block and counter at the same time. It will take lots of sparring practice to get this style of fighting down-pat. Also, do not think that you cannot be hit on a first strike, just because you have your guards up. Unless you grow another pair of eyes, arms and legs, there is no way that you can defend every part of your body at the same time. That is why it is necessary to shift your guards around to immediate areas of need. A crafty fighter can fake you right out of position and nail you where you least expect it.

Sparring is very much like a chess match. Like the great masters of the game you move around the ring (which is your chess board) summoning your kicks and punches like bishops and knights. Each competitor looking for the right combination of moves that will lead to check-mate, game over. Every game of chess starts both sides off with a full arsenal of a variety of pieces, with various strengths and weaknesses. Thereby, each player begins with an equal amount of weapons at their disposal. Somewhere along the line Tae Kwon Do competitors started leaving some of their chess pieces at home. They have chosen to strictly kick and abandon any idea of throwing punches. I'm not sure how this trend began. Especially, when I consider that practitioners of Tae Kwon Do are taught and drilled on the fundamentals of punching. Basic forms are full of punches. So why competitors do not readily attempt to punch when they get on the inside of an opponent escapes me. The more a fighter can expand and diversify his/her skills and applicable uses, the better the chances of competing well and winning increase. I would like to see fighters get back to basics. Stop being so one dimensional, choosing to only fight from the outside with kicks, and then hold and wait for the referee to come break them up on the inside. What do you think you have two hands for? Ball them up into a fist and punch something.