My South African Tour

Dear Soo Shim Kwan friends,

Can you believe that it has been over a month again since I saw you all in South Africa in February. How time flies. Here is a short summary of my time in South Africa, with regard to Taekwon-Do.

During my first week in South Africa (middle January) I was able to visit two dojang. My first visit was with the Vaalrivier Dojang in Vanderbijlpark, run by Boosabeomnim Stefan van der Linde. I taught the class, focusing on basic techniques and patterns. I think we covered the colour belts patterns from white to blue. The Potchefstroom Dojang and the Vaalrivier Dojang has always had a very close relationship. My own Taekwon-Do roots are in the Vaal Triangle.

My second Taekwon-Do visit, along with my brother Boosabeomnim Tiny, was at the ATC Dojang in Silverton, run by Sabeomnim Karel and Sabeomnim Annari Wethmar, co-federation heads of the Dan Gun Kwan. I taught part of the class focussing on the hooking block. I showed how the technique should be performed to use it effectively as a grasp; we continued to practise different applications starting from the hooking block. Afterwards I presented the two chief instructors with Instructor’s doboks from South Korea. The gifts were in appreciation of their continuous aid to the Soo Shim Kwan and the Shim Duk Kwan (Vaal Triangle). A news article of the visit can be read on the ATC website.

My last two weeks in South Africa I taught the classes at the Potchefstroom University Dojang. I started this dojang in 1998; i.e. it is now 12 years in existence. As far as I can tell, it one of the ITF Taekwon-Do gyms to have remained at the same physical address for the longest time. As founder of the Potchefstroom Univesity Dojang, and since it was the first Taekwon-Do gym I have opened, I will always remain very sentimental about it, and every time I return there, I feel very at home. It is always like returning to family – even though some of the students have left and new ones have joined. It was especially heartening the evening when Boosabeomnim Yolandi Müller was able to join us from Rustenburg. Boosabeom Yolandi is the first black belt to have tested out of the Potchefstroom University Dojang. I also thoroughly enjoyed practising the 1st Dan patterns with Boosabeomnim Philip de Vos who test for his 2nd Dan in due time. In addition I would like to thank all the students that are not currently active, but whom nonetheless came out to greet me on my first evening in Potchefstroom. It was wonderful to see all my friends.

My final Taekwon-Do commitment was on the weekend before my departure back to South Korea. I met up with the SA-ITF Executive President, Sabeomnim Dirk Nel. We had a meeting that lasted for over four hours in which we discussed many pertinent issues pertaining to Taekwon-Do in South Africa. I saw him in both my capacity as Soo Shim Kwanjangnim and SA-ITF’s Research & Education Director.

Regards,
Sb Sanko

Yul-Gok Teul

Yul-Gok is the pseudonym of a great philosopher and scholar Yi l (1536-1584) nicknamed the "Confucius of Korea" The 38 movements of this pattern refer to his birthplace on 38 latitude and the diagram represents "scholar".

Below are YouTube-videos of Won-Hyo Teul. You can read a description of the seperate moves here.





A signiture technique in this pattern is the palm hooking block (sonbadak golchyo makgi) (movements #15 & #16 and #18 & #19).These are "soft blocks," in other words their intention is not to hurt the oponent. Rather the hooking block functions to merely redirect the force of the incoming attack. The palm hooking block, in particular, is used to grab an opponents arm. When practising this technique on a partner reach with your hand high up the arm (the closer to the shoulder the easier it is to successfully grab the arm) and pull your palm closer to secure the grip. The grip is tightened by turning the hand from the little finger.

Although there is a hooking block in Shotokan Karate too, ITF Taekwon-Do's hooking block has its roots in Taekkyeon. In Taekkyeon it is not used to grab the arm, but to reach around the neck to the back of the head and pull the opponent off balance. The name for this technique in Taekkyeon is Bakkdeolmijabgo, and can roughly be translated as outside/reverse-turning-grasp, followed by a pull (dang-gigi).

Another interesting, and possibly related, technique from Yul-Gok Teul is movements #1 and #4. It is described as "a sitting stance . . . while extending the . . . fist . . . horizontally." The movement is often explained as a measuring technique. Personally I am of the opinion that this is also a hooking block, but instead of using the palm, you are using the forearm; i.e. a forearm hooking block (palmok golchya makgi). This is also a soft block and merely redirect the opponent's attack, while opening up a vital spot to counter attack. [In issue 15 of Totally Tae Kwon Do magazine, in my essay "Poetry in Motion: A Poetic Interpretation of the Patterns," I give a detailed explanation why I believe these movements in Yul-Gok Teul should be interpreted as hooking blocks.]

Cartwheel Kick

The Cartwheel Kick above is by Saenchai. 

In the video below you can see a pretty impressive Cartwheel Kick to knock out an opponent during an MMA fight. This is the first time for me to see this kick used during a tournament, and not merely as a fancy technique during a demonstration.



Some of you may remember that we practised the kick on one or two occassions at the Potch Dojang, including the Aerial Kick, which is basically a Cartwheel Kick without your hands touching the floor. The video below is a tutorial that shows the basic cartwheel, as well as aerial.



The tutorial focusses on the technique, but does not put emphasis on these motions as actual kicks. To transform the cartwheel and aerial into a Cartwheel Kick and Aerial Kick you need to focus on the attacking tools, namely the footsword (balkal) and reverse footsword (deung balkal).

While a Carthweel Kick would be illegal during an ITF-tournament because ones hands are touching the floor, an Aerial Kick would technically not be illegal, although I've never seen it performed at a tournament before and I'm sure you'd shock the referee.

4th Dan

Dear Soo Shim Kwan friends,

This is just to let you know that I have received my 4th Dan certificate last night, after passing my 4th degree promotional test earlier this year. My new ITF number is: KO-4-150.

Taekwon-Do regards,
Sabeom Sanko

A Review of 2009 and a Preview of 2010

Dear Friends,

Please find attached the SA-ITF President's Report for 2009. The report covers the main achievements of our national governing body during this year, and also point out the direction we aim at for 2010.

A main focus for 2010 is the Best Practise Instruction Project. Th BPI project will aim at improving the quality of teaching by all instructors, and will also emphasize the "Do," i.e. the Way of Life, in Taekwon-Do. As Research-and-Education Director I will be closely involved with the project alongside many other members of our governing body.

Reverse Hook Kick

Taking down a mugger with a reverse hook kick... This video demonstrates the principle of "Reaction Force" in Taekwon-Do's Theory of Power. The mugger's forward momentum clashes with the martial artist's foot and knocks him out. The mugger is knocked out with little effort, not because the martial artist kicked excessively hard, but because the force of the kick plus the mugger's forward (running) momentum are combined and culminates on one vital spot ("Concentration") -- the muggers face.

Most Common Taekwon-Do Kicks

Here's a list of Taekwon-Do's most common kicks. I compiled this list probably about two or three years ago for basic training in the Soo Shim Kwan.


The kicks below are anything from a completed list of Taekwon-Do kicks.

1. Front rising kick (Apcha olligi)
a. Front rising kick – straight up
b. Front rising kick – to opposite shoulder
c. Front rising kick – to outside shoulder
2. Side rising kick (Yobcha olligi)
3. Back rising kick (Dwitcha olligi)
4. Hooking kick (Golcho chagi)
5. Crescent kick (Bandal chagi)
6. Outward vertical kick (Bakuro sewo chagi)
7. Inward vertical kick (Anuro sewo chagi)
8. Front snap kick (Apcha busigi)
9. Side front snap kick (Yobabcha busigi)
10. Turning kick (Dollyo chagi)
11. Side-piercing kick (Yobcha Jirugi)
12. Back-piercing kick (Dwitcha jirugi)
13. Twisting kick (Bituro chagi)
14. Inward downward kick (Anuro naeryo chagi)
15. Outward downward kick (Bakuro naeryo chagi)
16. Pick shape kick (Gokaeng-I chagi)
17. Hook kick (Goro chagi)
18. Reverse side-piercing kick (Bandae yobcha jirugi)
19. Reverse back-piercing kick (Bandae dwitcha jirugi)
20. Reverse vertical kick (Bandae sewo chagi)
21. Reverse hook kick (Bandae goro chagi)
22. Reverse turning kick (Bandae dollyo chagi)
23. Reverse downward kick (Bandae naeryo chagi)
24. Front knee kick (Ap moorup chagi)
25. Turning knee kick (Dollyo moorup chagi
26. Front pushing kick (Apcha milgi)
27. Front checking kick (Apcha momchigi)
28. Sliding front-snap kick (Mikulgi yobcha jirugi)
29. Step over / sliding turning kick (Omgyo didigi / mikulgi dollyo chagi)
30. Step over / sliding side-piercing kick (Omgyo didigi / mikulgi yobcha jirugi)
31. 360° front snap kick
32. 360° turning kick
33. 360° turning kick with step (Tornado turning kick)
34. Flying high rising kick (Twimyo nopi chagi)
35. Jumping front-snap kick (Twigi apcha busigi)
36. Jumping turning kick (Twigi dollyo chagi)
37. Flying side-piercing kick (Twimyo yobcha jirugi)
38. Jumping reverse back-piercing kick (Twigi bandae dwitcha jirugi)
39. Jumping reverse turning kick (Twigi bandae dollyo chagi)
40. Jumping reverse downward kick (Twigi bandae naeryo chagi)

In my dojang here in Seoul we perform numbers 8, 10, 11, 15, and 21/22 every night as part of our warm up with at least five on each leg. As part of the warm up we'd also do some of the jumping kicks. But before these kick, we'd do a number of rising kicks (usually numbers 1 & 2) as part of our dynamic stretching routine. (Dynamic stretching is always done after static stretching.) As part of our general training, we'd do combinations of any number of these (legal) kicks during pad-drills and sparring drills with partners. We never train the "illegal" kicks (i.e. kicks that are not allowed in tournament sparring), such as knee kicks, checking/sweeping kicks and so on, except when I'm teaching the class. Since I'm more into self-defence than tournament sparring, I tend to practise these more practical techniques.

Tomaž Barada

Tomaž Barada is probably the most famous ITF Taekwon-Do sparring competitor. Apart from numerous European and World Champion titles, he is also a 5 x W.A.K.O Word Champion.

Seoul Dojang

A friend took this photo of me in the main dojang in Seoul, South Korea. The main dojang has two senior classes in the evening, one at 19:00-20:30 and the next from 21:00-22:30. When I go, I often attend both classes and as an assistant instructor I also occasionally teach.

Sabeomnim Kim Hoon, the Secretary General for ITF Korea, has co-opted me into an ad hoc position on the Korean executive as "International Liaison Officer". Basically this means that I help with international correspondences in English.

Model Sparring

These YouTube-videos show examples of "Model Sparring", which involves the demonstration of basic techniques in a fluid sequence. Model Sparring is often used for demonstration exhibitions. In other words, it is used to "show off" Taekwon-Do techniques. For Model Sparring the sequence of techniques is often shown slowly at first, and then repeated in real (i.e. fast) time. This helps the audience to get a better idea, since Taekwon-Do techniques are frequently very fast, and an untrained eye might not appreciate the dexterity and skill of the practitioners. Accuracy and balance are probably the two elements that can make or break good Model Sparring. Also, creativity in counter attacking greatly enhances the performance for the audience, while Taekwon-Do instructors are usually more impressed with the correct use of attacking and blocking tools, targeted at the appropriate vital spots.