Hyungs (Taekwondo) Kata (Karate) Forms in Martial Arts

Forms in Martial Arts

Forms are an important aspect in most form of Martial Arts. Forms are techniques executed in air. Forms are developed for various results. Some forms require fast and powerful movements while some have graceful slow movements of arms legs and body. There are some forms which require both this movements, while the practitioner is moving with vigor and speed, suddenly the body comes into slow gracious movements.

Apart form the cardio vascular workout one gets from this Martial forms there is lot more to it. These forms where first developed for the purpose of meditation. Meditation in motion. What makes it meditation apart form the aerobic exercise the body gets?

Not much if the practitioner considers it as an exercise drill as an aerobic work out or a work out in gym. All the movements are memorized and the body goes through it in a routine way.

The other quality comes when the element of attention is brought towards own body and the movements each time the martial arts is performed. All the time the awareness or attention is on own body and see to it that the body is in firm and balanced position all the time. Many a times the students of Martial Arts are seen going through this form from mere memorized patterns. The eyes are on the ground most of the time. The eyes need to be focused of where a technique is executed. The neck and eyes perhaps have most important part to play and is neglected by most beginners and the instructors have to take care they are not neglected.

Suppose a block has to be executed, the eyes and mind should be looking for a technique executed by an opponent and block it with speed and vigor. When the mind sees a real attack, although it is thought of, the body will react with more speed and vigor, not a dead technique executed in air. Similarly for a punch or kick executed, if an opponent is visualized the kick and punch will move with speed and vigor, to stop him with that one powerful blow and it won’t be slow, else the opponent is not a dead piece of meat, if you are slow you will get one. All mind game but it works and the form gains a new vigor and attention.

Speed and setup in Martia arts and Combat sport

The above video clip has a very good demonstration and tutorial of speed practice on punching bag. Training for any Martial arts form like Taekwondo, Karate, KungFu or combat sports like boxing, kick boxing, Muay Thai or MMA. The speed is a very important accept of training. Lot of beginners or even advanced trainees, strive too much for power in their punches and kicks or any other combat movement like grappling or take downs.

In the pursuit of power they forget or neglect the more important aspect the speed. In fact it is the speed that gives power or it is the speed that brings about more damage. I always give example of why a bullet shot from a gun brings more damage than a car moving at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour. It is the speed that brings damage . So speed is equal to power or greater the speed more the damage.

Yet the speed has to be executed with the proper technique that brings about the power. Punching or kicking just with the hand or leg, with speed does not serve the purpose. They have to be executed with proper techniques that bring about power, using the whole body behind the punch or kick. While punching it is not only the hands that punch, but the shoulders, the hips and the thighs that participates. While executing say the right punch, the body has to be divided in two parts left and the right. To bring the maximum power to the punch while punching with the right hand, the left shoulder and left hip has to be pushed back which gives much help to the right shoulder and hips that are push forward.

I always tell student that while punching not to think as the hands are punching but the shoulders and the hips are punching, the hands are the extension and the weapons used for punching. Same goes for the kicks.

There is also a another plus point for the speed. It is very difficult to judge the oncoming attacks for the opponent when the techniques are delivered with speed, apart from the damage they inflict on the opponent.

There is one more important aspect of speed the techniques when trained on punching bag, speed targets or in air has to be practiced with speed and multiple attacks also shown in the video. When techniques are practiced in that manner, they come out when in sparring or the bout. This helps to setup the opponent for a clean hit with a punch or a kick. Most of the time it is very difficult to get your opponent with a clean hit with a single technique. A combination of fast moving punches and kicks is needed for the same.

Few more tips i take care of while training or giving the lessons to the students on speed.

• Don't think that a punch or kick is over when it reaches the target. For example the left jab or a round house kick when executed in practice should not be considered over while practicing in air, bag or target pads. The punch or the technique should be considered complete, when the punch or kick reach it's target and come back. To elobrate more on this, suppose we are executing a left jab. The left jab should not be considered over as it reaches the target, but has to be snapped back from where it started, with the same speed. This brings us back into a attentive position and ready for another technique. Many students throw a kick consider it over when the kick reaches the target, the speed is given up and the leg drops. Huge mistake. The kick has to be snapped back, the heel comes near the thighs with the same speed, bringing us back in a much stable stance from where we can defend or attack. If it is not done while the leg is dropping, our body is in no way a stable or attentive position, leaving it an easy target for opponents attack, forget about the follow up attacks with another punch or a kick.

Some comments on you tube for this video

• Your videos are freaking awesome , I've been looking for instructionals like these forever, these have really helped me. And I've just ordered my new punching bag , so I've got alot of new things to practice on it!
• as usually this guy is really good thanks man u hv helped me tonnes of times and now and won many matches casue of u . I hope u could make anyother vid about how to increase speed in kicks that 1 i would really aprreatiate. bb ! thx
• Nice. Well-spoken and intelligent approach to helping people with the basic elements. Look forward to seeing more from you. Thanks.
• Absolutely. This video focused mainly on boxing. I might just have to do a TKD specific kicking drill video. Thanks for the suggestion.
• U want a good exemple of an illussion type fighter just watch any roy jones fight. He distracted his opponents and landed the KO punch right after. Some called him a show boater but thats just how he won fights
• Your right it does help. It doesnt make you grow anymore fast twitch muscle fibers, but it does make the technique easier to throw and it developes muscle memory, so it is easier for the muscle to make that motion.

Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills Tutorial Videos

This is a series of video clips from you tube which have nice tutorials on Taekwondo Kicks by Sang H. Kim. This video series can be helpful to just not tkd practitioners but other Martial Arts from like Karate and kickboxing. This really a great series which teaches many aspects of the kicks. Great for online learning of Martial Arts or Taekwondo kicks with different drills, scientific explanations

Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 1



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 2



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 3



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 4



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 5



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 6



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 7



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 8



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 9



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 10



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 11



Taekwondo Ultimate Kicking Drills 12

What not to do in the ring

This online streaming video on you tube is titled 'Fastest Ultimate Fighting Knockout Ever', and indeed it looks that way. Not just ultimate fighting but perhaps in any contact sports, if not the fastest it has to be one of the fastest knockout in the history of contact sports.

The time it takes for the knockout in this video clip is less than the time taken for the first blow delivered in the most competitive contact sports, fought n the ring, at any level. Funny or sad, i don't which way to say it, the knockout happens even before the commentator, completes his first sentence, would any body believe it? perhaps not, watch the video clip to believe it!

The fighter in the right shorts with strips one of the two fighters from Chris Clements and Lataro Lucas, runs towards the opponent, he runs without the attention on his opponent. Thats the reason how important is Training with a partner, is so much important.

Actually this kind of rushing can be used very effectively, as it gives much more power to your punch, due to the momentum of the body which is moving in. I have seen Muhammad Ali, applying this technique in some of his fight, when his opponent has been knocked down and is recovering with the ten counts. Muhammad Ali starts moving in towards his opponent with the eight count, realizing that his opponent is in no good shape. The way Muhammad Ali moves is quiet different, than the dumb move we see in this video. Muhammad Ali's eyes are always watching his opponent, not just when moving in for a kill, all the time he fights. His right hand would be in the position to deliver the strongest of punch, as there is no need for the left jabs to set the opponent for a strong right. And he delivers the right punch first, followed with a fury of fast combination of the punches, for the KO.

Inspired by his videos even i had used this technique effectively, in the times i competed in boxing and kick boxing. If this technique is utilized at right time, with attention on opponent, after judging his strength or perhaps weakness in this case, it is a sure winner.

Here the knocked down opponent does almost all the possible error one can do, causing and instant embarrassing knock down in the seconds, after the bell rings.

First his opponent is all fresh, he was not expecting such a move all he had to do was deliver a right punch right on the face and the momentum of his opponent body does the rest.

Second he is moving too fast than needed, almost sprinting and third even his hands are moving in the way as if he is sprinting for a hundred meters dash. God, how he entered the ring at that competitive level. Left hand should be stretched out to keep your opponent away and the right held behind his shoulder for maximum impact.

All that he has done here should be strictly avoided, running too fast in, hands waving down and most important where is his attention. He runs blindly, when neat his opponent he pays attention to his opponent, realize that he has moved away, tries to stop but cannot due to his very fast speed of running in, and as he tries to stop gets a good clean punch right on his face that puts him down.

It was a predetermined move, determined that he will catch the opponent in the corner, and the opponent moves a little bit away, now this is one big mistake. Never ever predetermine in a fight, just put your attention on your opponent's moves and the trained body respond.

Video Tutorial Blocking punches and low kicks

This is a nice video tutorial by Jerome Le Banner, French professional kickboxer and K-1 superstar, famous for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power. He is also known as "Hyper Battle Cyborg" or "The Bulldog of Normandy".


Jerome Le Banner teaches, blocking the punches and low kicks in this video clip. He starts with the blocking of punches which are thrown in boxing, kickboxing or Muay Tai style. There are various styles of blocks and dodging for attacks from punches and kicks.

While teaching Taekwondo, Khan Do Kwan or kick boxing, i notice many beginners or amateur fighter's reaching too far away to block a punch or kick. This is perhaps normal human tendency as almost all beginners tend to do so. Here the professional kick boxing fighter demonstrates how the punches should be blocked. Just a little movement of hands close to own body. Not reaching too far out, thus exposing the face and body for other attacks. Other thing happens when one reaches far out for a block is that one loses body balance is not completely ready for a next move, may be defensive or attacking move. And there are so many ways to block a single kind of attack. Jerome Le Banner, just shows that. In the fighting situation the body responds to any of the trained block. Important thing 'NOT TO REACH OUT FAR WITH A BLOCK AND MAINTAIN YOUR OWN BODY BALANCE', body and mind should always be in an active and balanced state to deliver an attack or make a defensive move.

Some of the blocks are designed in such a way that they help in a counterattack. One learns this while training with a partner as shown in the video.

Other important thing the beginners seems to much is dodging. I have notices that the beginners when put in sparring drills or when they enter a competition, they are too occupied with the defense , that too the wrong way as stated above, and they never or seldom try to move a little bit away from the attacks or dodge them. I love watching the Muhammad Ali's fights, where his attention on opponent's body is always and how he moves a bit away from most of the powerful attacks. Another champion fighters that i noticed using this technique a lot are Genki Sudo and Serkan Yilmaz. So moving away or dodging just enough to avoid the attack is one very important fighting technique, which has to be developed by training with a partner, where the students awareness and awakeness and attention on opponents moves is much required with the body moving for attacking kicks and punches or defensive moves.

This two techniques are very important in boxing as well as all Martial Arts forms like Khan Do Kwan, Taekwondo, Karate, Kung Fu, MMA, UFC, Muay Thai ............

Next Jerome Le Banner demonstrates various styles of blocks to the low kicks. Low kicks are not used in many fighting sports like Boxing, Taekwondo and Karate, however are widely and effectively used in Muay Thai and Kick boxing and MMA.

To summarize this kind of training with a partner. One has to stay focused always, always attentive and remain in a balanced position. This gives a huge upper edge towards the kicking and punching techniques practiced in air or on punching bags or targets. However these training has it's own importance, and one must go through them making their punching and kicking techniques better before the training drills with a partner.

Another important thing to note in this video is to train with proper gears for safety.