Arts Taekwondo

The warmth oozed over my lips and chin and continued down my neck. I knew something was wrong, but my adrenaline kept me focused. My opponent took two steps back and signaled the referee to address the massive amount of blood that was spilling from my nose and down my chest.

Competition is something that has never been new to me. I've competed in Taekwondo competition, both point style and full contact. I've won several championships. In fact, I just won the State Championship in full contact, Olympic style Taekwondo sparring, about 2 months prior to my bloody match described above.

It was only my third or fourth tournament with WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) rules. Early on, I identified my opponent across the crowded gymnasium. Inconspicuously, I watched him warm up and work the paddles. I watched him exercise with some hogu drills. I watched him dance around a little executing techniques here and there. "EASY..." Those were the words that kept going through my mind. He was skinny and weak looking. He moved so awkwardly, that I thought to myself that if I'm not careful, I could hurt this poor kid.

I'm not sure if knowing this gangly looking kid was a former National Champion would have helped me or hurt me more. Either way, my immediate thought to some of my teammates, was, "now you tell me!" I'm not sure if my nose was broken that day, but it did leave a nice knot on the side of my nose for about a month. I sported butterfly stitches for a few days above my eye as well.

So what the heck happened. Here I am, a successful point style fighter and then getting absolutely creamed. Well, as unfortunate at the time it may have seemed... it was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me in competition. Two words consumed my thoughts during my training sessions for years to come- Never Again!

At this point, I took it upon myself to really examine my Taekwondo training. Since this day, I've incorporated this training methodology for preparation to all competition as well as having all my students follow it.

People will sometimes ask, what does it take to become successful at sparring. The answer is quite simple- it's drive. Drive from the inside. Don't get me wrong... physical training is important, and we'll get to it. But, if you don't have drive, you don't have a chance. Boxers often refer to this drive as heart. In some instances, boxers are fighting something much greater and stronger than their opponent across the ring. They're real opponent is within. I only bring up boxers because many of our great professionals have historically come from abusive households, the ghetto's, the projects, the barrio, and developed a fighting heart the moment they were brought into this world.

Okay, so you're not a boxer and you didn't grow up in the roughest part of town. How do you get that fighting spirit? You develop it. You cultivate it, and then you nurture it. First, you must ask yourself, why do you want to win? If you want to be competitive in Taekwondo, you must have a reason. If you want to spar recreationally in tournaments, then your desire to win is to fulfill some competitive spirit you may have.

If your goal is to go to the National Qualifiers, place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, then go onto Nationals, then your desire must be focused on something much greater than what is taking place at the local tournament. Here are some steps outlined below that will help you prepare.

1. Goal-- Why do you want to win? What is your ultimate goal?

2. Spirit-- Each tournament, each training session, every repetition, every drop of sweat must be thought of as a means to bring you one step closer to your goal. This is the beginning of your fighting spirit or your drive.

3. Remember-- Not a moment goes by with your mind not consumed with your goal, during your training. This goal is being nurtured right here. When you continue to nurture your goal, you will build up that fighting spirit. You'll train harder, you'll get stronger, and your will to win will become more ingrained.

4. Prepare-- Unfortunately, drive or heart is not enough to win a National Title. You need to prepare. The National Champions have both- Preparation & Drive.

Don't hit the road running for miles or doing tons of weight lifting. Often times, we may distract ourselves with senseless training because we don't know what to do or we want to think we're doing something of value. Convert your tournament experience into a training session. See below on how to prepare physically.

Duplicate your competition experience. Take the length of your round- 2 or 3 minutes and use exercises that challenge you for that time length. For example-

Double kick continuously on a bag for 1 minute at a time. Then move for 15 seconds while you catch your breathe, and start again.

Alternate between speed jump roping and push ups (1 minute each).

Choose plyometric exercises that develop strength and speed in the legs (1 minute each).

Perform timing drills with hogus, paddles or shields.

Lastly, ensure you spar, and you spar a lot, preferably with many different people. Practice situational sparring. For example, imagine you're down 2 points and the match has 10 seconds left. If it were competition, would you change your strategy? Hopefully you said, "you bet!" What if you were ahead 2 points with 10 seconds left? How would that change things? Begin sparring backed all the way against the boundary. Think of as many scenarios as you can. Don't get too caught up standing around thinking about stuff, which is easy to do. Just get sparring!

I wish you the best in your Taekwondo competition experience.

Respectfully,

Duncan Richardson
Chief Master Instructor
Performance Training, LLC
Ph: 208.381.0587
Web: http://www.SucceedinMartialArts.com

Advanced Taekwondo $24.95 Taekwondo is defined as a hard-style system of the martial arts with penetrating kicks, punches, and forceful linear attacks. In Advanced Taekwondo , Scott Shaw presents an in-depth look at the complete art of Taekwondo-from the underlying philosophies that drive the techniques and strategies to advice on mastering basic and advanced techniques fundamental to the art.

USA Taekwondo $98.77 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles USA Taekwondo is the national governing body (NGB) of Taekwondo for the United States Olympic Committee and as such is the official Member National Association (MNA) of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in the USA. It began in the 1970s as the AAU National Taekwondo Association, and later broke away from AAU and created the United States Taekwondo Union (USTU). In 2004, its name changed to USA Taekwondo (USAT) after the USOC removed the leadership of the former USTU for malfeasance. The organization has complete authority over all decisions regarding U.S. national junior and senior team selections for World Taekwondo Federation events, including the Summer Olympic Games Taekwondo competition event. The tournaments that are held by the USAT are big and nationwide and many famous martial artists attend the events. The U.S. Open is one of the largest international Black belt (martial arts)only events in the world. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 156 Publication Date: 2010/08/21 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.36 inches

Martial Arts Karate TaeKwonDo Blue Belt $12.99 Descriptions:High quality of Martial Arts Karate TaeKwonDo Blue Belt can be 100% guaranteed!TaeKwonDo Belt uses in TaeKwonDo sports, Martial Arts etc.Good choice of this Martial Arts Blue Belt.Made of cloth with paddedSize: XXLLength: 240cm, 4.6cm in widthColor: BlueWeight: about 125gThis is a non OEM product.Package Contents:1 x TaeKwonDo Blue Belt

Martial Arts Karate TaeKwonDo Green Belt $12.99 Descriptions:High quality of Martial Arts Karate TaeKwonDo Green Belt can be 100% guaranteed!TaeKwonDo Belt uses in TaeKwonDo sports, Martial Arts etc.Good choice of this Martial Arts Green Belt.Made of cloth with paddedSize: XXLLength: 240cm, 4.6cm in widthColor: GreenWeight: about 140gThis is a non OEM product.Package Contents:1 x TaeKwonDo Green Belt

Taekwondo For Kids $22.96 First time martial arts students are not just starting a program of physical and mental practice. They are entering a new world--one that not only has new rules, new goals, and even new clothing but that also offers them lots of new opportunities for fun and accomplishment. Taekwondo for Kids is a fun and accessible guide to Taekwondo practice. It includes introductions to the history and philosophy of the martial art, what to expect in the first few classes, how to warm up and practice, advice on setting goals, and information on competitions and tournaments.With over 75 full-color illustrations, including 40 clearly diagrammed Taekwondo exercises, and lots of fun facts and informative sidebars written in kid-friendly jargon-free language, this is the perfect introduction for the younger martial artist.

Taekwondo Spirit and Practice $15.95 Undoubtedly the most popular martial arts system in the world. Follow a pioneer of Taekwondo who helped to establish the art in America when nobody knew what it was.

Martial Arts Karate TaeKwonDo Chain Judo Black Belt $12.99 Descriptions:High quality of Martial Arts Karate TaeKwonDo Chain Judo Black Belt can be 100% guaranteed!TaeKwonDo Belt uses in TaeKwonDo sports, Martial Arts etc.Good choice of this Martial Arts Black Belt.Length: 240cm, 4.6cm in widthMade of cloth and paddedColor: BlackWeight: about 104gPackage Contents:1 x TaeKwonDo Judo Black Belt

Martial Arts Karate TaeKwonDo Chain Yellow and White Belt $12.99 Descriptions:High quality of Martial Arts Karate TaeKwonDo Chain Yellow and White Belt can be 100% guaranteed!TaeKwonDo Belt uses in TaeKwonDo sports, Martial Arts etc.Good choice of this Martial Arts Yellow and White Belt.240cm in length, 4.6cm in widthSize: XXLColor: Yellow and WhiteMade of cloth with paddedWeight: about 156gPackage Contents:1 x TaeKwonDo Yellow and White Belt

Taekwondo Sports Cap by CafePress $17 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Cap . Our adjustable, 100% brushed cotton Cap is unstructured and an ideal way to beat the heat. Wear it anytime you want to keep the sun off or cover up a bad hair day. It features a sturdy low profile brim, sweatband, and adjustable closure, as well as Pre

Taekwondo Sports Calendar Print by CafePress $7.2 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Calendar Print Don't miss an important date ever again Our high quality one page wall calendars are printed on glossy, 12 point paper and measure 11 x 17. Full bleed dynamic color. Glossy, 12 point paper.

Taekwondo Sports Ringer T by CafePress $22.25 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Ringer T The Ringer T has made a fashion comeback, and ours is a popular favorite. This classic style is sure to impress even the most discerning t-shirt connoisseur with an eye for retro-coolness. Great for relaxing in comfort year-round.5.5 oz. 100% pres

Taekwondo BBQ Sports Apron by CafePress $22 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Apron Great in the kitchen or at the BBQ, our mid-length apron provides great coverage to help keep spills and splatters off your clothes. Makes a great gift for gourmets or grill-masters. Ties at neck and waist. Two center-stitched bottom compartment pouches f

Taekwondo Sports Hooded Sweatshirt by CafePress $45 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Hooded Sweatshirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The hoodie: the perfect utilitarian piece of clothing. Leave your hat and scarf at home Stay warm and comfy in your Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt. This hoodie is constructed with a cotton/polyester blend - both durable and comfortable.Heavyweight 90

Taekwondo Sports Kids Hoodie by CafePress $26 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Kids Hoodie Stay warm while lookinrsquo; casual-cool in this kid version of an adult favorite - our ash grey Hanes Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt. Deep front pocket and hood for extra protection against getting slammed by bad weather. Made of cotton/polyester blend that

Taekwondo Sports Bumper Sticker by CafePress $5 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Bumper Sticker Tell the world how you feel Our bumper stickers are perfect for expressing yourself while cruising down the highway or just for posting on the wall. Measures 10 x 3. Printed on 4mil vinyl using water and UV resistant inks -

Taekwondo Sports Oval Sticker by CafePress $5 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Oval Sticker Our stickers are printed on 4mil vinyl using water and UV resistant inks 150; meaning no fading in the sun or bleeding in the rain. Measures 3 x 5 oval. Printed on durable 4mil vinyl.

Taekwondo Sports Rectangle Sticker by CafePress $5 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Rectangle Sticker Our stickers are printed on 4mil vinyl using water and UV resistant inks 150; meaning no fading in the sun or bleeding in the rain. Measures 3 x 5. Printed on durable 4mil vinyl.

Taekwondo Sports Golf Shirt by CafePress $20 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Golf Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Tee off in casual style. Our pique knit golf t-shirt is a comfortable, lightweight way to play 18-holes and beat the heat. Features, stylish white pearl buttons, yet it feels like wearing your favorite t-shirt. Dress it up or down. Throw a blazer over lat

Taekwondo Sports Large Mug by CafePress $18 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Large Mug Super-size your favorite beverage or just size-up to avoid spills with our hefty, 15 oz. ceramic Large Mug. Large easy-grip handle. When you need more, mug it up. Measures 4.5 tall, 3.25 diameter. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Taekwondo Sports Baseball Jersey by CafePress $32.5 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Baseball Jersey Our 100% cotton Baseball Jersey is a sporty hit with both men and women whether you're in the game or just looking the part in great run-around casual-wear. Choose red, blue or black sleeves. 6.1 oz. 100% heavyweight cotton. Standard f

Taekwondo Sports Black Cap by CafePress $15 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Black Cap . Top it off in our structured black cap made of sturdy, durable brushed canvas. 100% cotton breathes for year-round comfort. Adjustable closure with a low profile crown. Images are permanently adhered with a sturdy patch. Look cool on bad hair days or w

Taekwondo Sports Mini Button by CafePress $3 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Mini Button Add fun accents to jackets, backpacks, or mix 'n match our Mini Buttons. Our Mini Buttons are the perfect size for trading and collecting. Pin 'em on1 inch diameter. Metal shell. Mylar/UV protecting cover. Pinned metal back

Taekwondo Sports Wall Clock by CafePress $15 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Wall Clock Decorate any room in your home or office with our 10 inch wall clock. Black plastic case. Requires 1 AA battery included.

Taekwondo $14.95 Taekwondo is a journey. Its ultimate destination is the achievement of physical and spiritual enrichment through the disciplined practice. While this book addresses the physical and intellectual elements of Taekwondo, it continuously emphasizes ethical principles, integrity, perseverance and the indomitable spirit, all of which enhances character, and lends credence to the term martial artist. Discover how a path of Taekwondo can enrich all areas of your life.

Taekwondo Sports White T-Shirt by CafePress $18 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports White T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The white t-shirt is a timeless classic for a reason; it should be a staple in every wardrobe. It is clean, simple, and durable. The best part is you can wear it with anything. This 100% cotton T-shirt is so comfortable you'll want to wear it to bed.

Taekwondo Infant Creeper Sports Infant Bodysuit by CafePress $18.5 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Infant Bodysuit Babies love creepin', crawlin' and sleepin' in our super comfy, 100% cotton jersey knit Infant Creeper. Infant clothes shouldn't be hard to change, so our three-snap bottom helps ease those nasty diaper changes. Great baby stuff for your special little o

Taekwondo Sports Jr. Spaghetti Tank by CafePress $22.5 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Jr. Spaghetti Tank Our spaghetti tank from American Apparel will keep you in style year round. Made of soft 100% superfine combed cotton baby rib, this tank provides the perfect silhouette.5.8 oz. 100% Ultra-fine combed ring spun 1x1 baby rib cotton. Size up

Taekwondo Sports 2.25 Button 10 pack by CafePress $28 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports 2.25 Button 10 pack Wear and share a favorite design or saying with 10 of your closest friends. Pass 'em out at parties, give 'em away at Burning Man. Keep 'em all for yourself and make some unique wall art. Collect 'em, trade 'em. 2.25 inch diameter. Meta

Taekwondo Sports Men's Sleeveless Tee by CafePress $22 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Men's Sleeveless Tee Beat the summer heat or workout in comfort. Our 100% cotton sleeveless tee from Anvil is what to wear when you want to go casually cool.6.1 oz. 100% cotton. Standard fit.

TAEKWONDO 2 - ULTIMATE MARTIAL ARTS CHAMPIONSHIP (DVD) $13.43 Experience first hand the fever pitch support and excitement of the home crowd as our British champions take on the all-conquering Olympic champion of South Korea. Running Time: 90 min

Subtle Side Kick Taekwondo Wall Clock by CafePress $15 Assert your devotion to martial arts with these classy designs. Using the side kick as the design, these shirts and gifts help you make a statement. Great for your workouts, school, office, home Taekwondo Wall Clock Decorate any room in your home or office with our 10 inch wall clock. Black plastic case. Requires 1 AA battery included.

Subtle Jump Back Kick Taekwondo Large Mug by CafePress $18 Drinkware, tees, and office supplies imprinted with the jump back kickm white on blue, for patrons who are avid fans of martial arts,karate,kung fu,taekwondo,tae kwon do,ninja Taekwondo Large Mug Super-size your favorite beverage or just size-up to avoid spills with our hefty, 15 oz. ceramic Large Mug. Large easy-grip handle. When you need more, mug it up. Measures 4.5 tall, 3.25 diameter. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Taekwondo By Maluschka, Axel/ Holler, Juergen $22.87 Author: Maluschka, Axel/ Holler, Juergen Series Title: Martial Arts Subtitle: SelfDefense Publication Date: 2003/10/01 Number of Pages: 223 Binding Type: Paperback Language: English Depth: 0.75 Width: 5.75 Height: 8.25

Taekwondo Sports Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt by CafePress $23 Martial Arts Taekwondo. Round house, snap kick, axe kick, tornado kick. Be inspired. Show your enthusiasm for a great sport and way of life. Taekwondo is the path. Sports Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt Get into sporty, stylin' casual comfort with our Women's Cap Sleeve Raglan. Looks great on the go or just hangin' out. Made of 100% combed ring-spun cotton that gets even softer with each washing.6.1 oz 100% combed ring-spun cotton 1x1 rib.

Karate And Taekwondo Shoes $39.95 Karate And Taekwondo Shoes

Subtle Side Kick Taekwondo White T-Shirt by CafePress $18 Assert your devotion to martial arts with these classy designs. Using the side kick as the design, these shirts and gifts help you make a statement. Great for your workouts, school, office, home Taekwondo White T-Shirt Tee, TShirt, Shirt The white t-shirt is a timeless classic for a reason; it should be a staple in every wardrobe. It is clean, simple, and durable. The best part is you can wear it with anything. This 100% cotton T-shirt is so comfortable you'll want to wear it to bed.

Taekwondo Grappling Techniques : Hone Your Competitive Edge for Mixed Martial Arts $26.74 No Synopsis Available

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 24th, 2004 at 4:36 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.