your thoughts?

Question

once again i find myself at odds with my peers on the importance of poomsae (patterns) v the ability to defend myself. i beleive the martial arts world-in particular TKD places too much emphasis on patterns and not enough on the students ability to defend themselves-for example i have seen perfectly good fighters fail grading tests because their patterns were not up to spec-surely this cannot be right-if this continues we will live in world of dans who only attained their grade because of how their patterns looks-not true warriors. i have to admit this gives me cause for concern. your thoughts please.

Answer 1

Yeah I got out of the traditional for the same reasons...but modern arts seemed to lack something too

The answer for me was systema
http://youtube.com/watch?v=O7_dzu4TQDs

Answer 2

It should always be a mix of both, fighting ability and technique. I don't think a guy who has really bad kata/patterns should be aloud to grade, that is part of karate and TKD, but at the same time, they should not be alloud to grade if they arn't even a little bit able to handle themselves, even in a TKD match

Answer 3

The forms are supposed to be used as shadow boxing and teach the student certain strategies ect from the style...

Really if you learn all of the techniques first and are proficient in using them then you could learn the forms last and it shouldn't take very long at all as you would only need to learn the sequence as you've already got the rest down.

In my opinion unless you have hours per day to spend on developing your art then you are better off practicing applications.

Answer 4

Balance. I agree with you, that there has to be a balance. The techniques are just as important as the ability to fight, becuase they all hit to weak spots, therefor showing you the right places to hit and fight with. The memories of these things are important in martial arts, but I agree with you that they may focuss a little too much on it.

In China, a disciple who wished to become a priest would have to take three tests. One, he would have to take an oral test so that they knew his mind would be worthy of wearing the tiger and dragon's brand. Then, he would proceed to the Lohan Hall, where he would have to fight 108 wooded dummies armed with swords and blades and clubs that moved according to his own body movements. Although most would not survive that amazing series of blows, if the monk survived, he would proceed again into a dim room with only one way out. There was an iron ern, hundreds of pounds by itself, filled with even more weight of burning coals. The ern had two marks on it, one on each side, one of the tiger, and one of the dragon. The monk, to clear the exit from the room, would have to brand himself with the marks by clamping his forearms onto the sides of the ern where the tiger and dragon lay. He would have to slide the ern to the right to create an exit, therefor earning his place as a priest of Shaolin and bearing the marks of the Shaolin priest, the tiger and the dragon.

Answer 5

I agree .KATA or POOM SAE are tools in your self defense work shop but to make them the only tool or primary tool is self defeating.
If you have to repair a leaky tap and the only tool you have or know how to use is a hammer you have a problem.

Each aspect has equal value but each also has greater value in certain circumstances.
Many instructors judge their teaching ability on the form of their students when it should be based on their students ability at what they advertise and claim to teach self defense.
Perfect form doesn't translate to self defense expertise.

Answer 6

i agree with u. Forms are over rated. High ranking martial artests sould be able to defend him or her self.