In Issue #67 I argued that the primary value of the patterns is not dallyeon (p. 71-75). This is not to say that the ITF patterns cannot be great exercise. Even after just doing Chon-Ji Tul once I can feel a light sweat coming on, so indeed doing the patterns can be a workout; however, my point is that they should not be done in place of actual dallyeon and one should not think that their true value is for the purpose of aerobic or strength training.
In the essay published in Issue #67 I emphasize the very important conditioning of relaxation that occurs in the ITF patterns by means of the first phase of the three-phased sine wave motion (p. 81-85). The patterns instill the habit of initiating each movement from a state of deliberate relaxation--ensuring that agonist muscles are not hindered by antagonist muscles during movements. The hope is that this overt habit will carry a sense of relaxation into the rest of the system.
2 comments:
Thank you for this. In WTF poomsae as well, we always need to emphasize the contrast between hard and soft, between force and relaxation. The relaxation part is very hard for me, but a valuable skill to learn. We cannot be tense or exerting force all the time, in taekwondo or in real life.
Yes, even after over 20 years of training I'm still working on that contrast between relaxation (softness) and hardness.
Thank you for dropping by, Anonynous.
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