Learning Tae Kwon Do

I took Tae Kwon Do years and years ago. I thought I would be the Karate Kid in a few weeks or so, but Tae Kwon takes much longer to practice, and master. I stuck around for a month and these are the three strikes I learned under Master Ridgely Able.

Front Punch- Stand with your feet shoulder length apart. Squat down moderately, this is the horse stance. Extend one of your arms straight out, to shoulder height, we will call this fist A. Place the other hand at the middle of the abdomen, on the side of your body, we will call this fist B. Clinch both fists. Fist A should make a traditional fist. Fist B, to your side, should be turned upside down. When striking, bring fist A back to your abdomen and turn the fist upside down as it rests against your side. Simultaneously, Fist B goes straight out, turning right side up as you go for your target. Repeat in a series of punches using fist A and B as the striking hand.

Front Kick- Make an X with your wrists at chest level. This will block any blows to the chest area. With your feet at shoulder width apart place one foot ahead of to other. Raise your back leg up and extend it to meet the midsection or chest area of your opponent or target. Repeat using the other leg as the kicking leg.

Side Strike- Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Fold open hands on top of each other at shoulder height. Think about the pose on I Dream of Genie where she has her arms folded, before she nods and makes a wish come true. Quickly raise your right hand upwards and sideways, aiming at your opponent. Next try with the other hand, striking to the left or right. Whichever is the opposite of your first strike.

These three strikes were the basic tenets taught to me when I took Tae Kwon Do. One thing I did learn in that class was to use Martial Arts as self-defense, not as a tool to be a bully on the playground. Tae Kwon Do is an art known mostly for its strikes, mainly kicks, the most devastating is the roundhouse kick. The roundhouse kick uses all the body's torque to power the kick. Just like a good punch, the strike is built from the legs, through the hips and hopefully connects with your opponent. Tae Kwon Do is an excellent cardiovascular exercise.