How to focus more in Tae Kwon Do?

Question

I have been takeing Tae Kwon Do for 6 weeks now and loveing every minute of it! I got one of my friends to take it as well and she loves it too. My master had me be in a tourntment this past weekend and I came in 3rd in both events I was in. My friend came in 1st and 2nd in both events. And we both started the same time. My master told me tonight that i'm going to be testing for my yellow belt next week and he told me tonight that I need to focus more but I don't know how. I feel intemaded by my friend and my master becasue im short and I try to focus and show my master that I am and I get ingored by him and my friend get's the attion. How can I get more focued and show my master I'm serious and not just playing around

Answer 1

It sounds like you are very concerned by the fact that your friend seems to be progressing more rapidly than you. It's not a contest to see who gets to Black Belt first, though, or who gets the most trophies or medals. The only thing that matters is that you do your best. If you learn a little more slowly or a little more quickly than someone else, who cares? You are in it for yourself. If you are enjoying your training, if you like competition, and if you look forward to class each week, that is all that matters.

Bear in mind that Tae Kwon Do is an individual art. It's nice to have a friend or relative who can train with you and share your interest, but everything will ultimately depend on you. YOU are the one who has to remember the strikes, the blocks, the kicks, the one steps, the commands, the forms. At your testing, your friend will not be there to help you... so don't count on her to help you during class. You get out of Tae Kwon Do what you put into Tae Kwon Do.

So... focus on the fact that you are doing something that you love, and that you really want to stick with this and see it through to Black Belt and beyond. Your friend? Once you step into the dojang, she should be out of your thoughts until it's time to change out of your dobok.

Being short has nothing to do with Tae Kwon Do! I have adult female students who are 5 feet tall and I have never once ignored them because they are short.

If your master has approved you to test for your next rank belt, he or she can tell that you are serious and not just playing around. Otherwise, he or she would never approve you to test.

When I have a new student, I always tell him or her that TKD is an individual art and to not compare himself or herself with anyone else. Some students progress quickly, meet all the requirements for their rank, and are ready to test for their first belt in two months. For others, it might take 6 to 9 months. Or longer! Again, you get out what you put in. If you are truly bothered, talk to your instructor -- but he or she may just tell you that if you let this kind of stuff bother you, you need to let it go and focus on yourself and your requirements. Good luck.

Answer 2

Progression is what I think is going to really matter. For all we know, you and your friend might be constantly fluctuating in skill level over time. I think you shouldn't care about where your friend is unless it is at an level where it is friendly, and you two share that kind of bond with rivalry thrown in. Your master should be satisified with how much you progress over time.

Good luck taking your test. If you wish for more focus: Try a little meditation. 15 minutes with eyes clothes focusing on soft breathing, while clearing your mind of all thoughts (Or focusing on a small statement or thought like "I'm confident I can succeed.")

You still have plenty of time to sprout into a well-trained Tae Kwon Do practitioner.

Answer 3

you will gain more focus as time goes on. as well you will gain more self confidence as you gain more focus. just do the best you can. practice your curriculum daily, even if its just thinking about it while you drive around town to wherever you need to go. the best part of any martial art is you gain more self confidence and focus as you progress. the only thing i'd be weary of is how fast you want to progress. in many, many, many schools it takes at least 6 months to progress to yellow belt. if you dont personally think you are ready for this then tell your instructor. if you think you have progressed some since you first began then test for your yellow, you've made some progress so far, you'll make some more by time you go for your next belt. you do the best you can and everything else will fall in place.

Answer 4

As someone who has been training in TKD for over a decade and teaching for the last 10 years, focus is a very important aspect of training. Are we talking physical focus (i.e. striking at a specific point) or mental focus (i.e. not fidgiting)? If it is physical focus, an easy way to devlop that is to place a piece of tape on the wall and strike at it - working on stoping at that point and not moving (or 'foating') around to find it. If it is mental focus, practice while others are trying to distract you. If you do poomse (forms), practice those with people trying to make you laugh. Stand in chimbe (ready stance) for a long period of time (like 5 minutes) and make yourself do push ups if you do anything more than blink your eyes.

Good luck on your test next week and congrats on the tournament!

Answer 5

The reply is as distinctive as each and every university available in the market. At our Dojang I am the scholar / teacher for guns, Because I am just a Deputy Blk Belt. I am a scholar first, however to the scale down ranks I am their teacher. We start every Weapons "Shinai" or "Bokken" Class with 15 to twenty mins of Qi Gong / Chi kung as a few could say, I take a look at to stress on respiring manipulate, clearing the brain, and a relevant recognition factor. I additionally do allot of sparring and the scholars who comply with guns are those you notice near their eyes and breath deep among rounds. As a entire society we will have to all meditate a minimum of quarter-hour everyday. There are a few experiences that end up it has advantages for wellness. Mental and Physical. Good Luck and God Bless.

Answer 6

I am probably going to get in trouble, but you should not have been in a tourn with only 6 weeks of training. What does it tell you that with 6 weeks of training you placed in 2 events???
Maybe the other players were that bad that you beat them?
Ok enough of the personal bias.
I have trained under not only one but by the grace of God and good fortune 2 True Masters (that statement is going to get me in trouble) Neither one EVER ignored any of the students in a class, neither one ever showed preference. Then too neither one really taught novices except in one of their black belt's classes. That is one of their students held class and the master would oversee and impart particulars or assist one of the students having difficulty with a technique.

Answer 7

When your in class, never look at your master unless he is showing a new technique or talking to you, look at what your doing. Also try to kick harder and/or faster for each kick or move.