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When I was training in TKD I was young
and eager, an like so many others, interested only in the free
sparring. In my limited capacity at the time, free sparing was real
self-defense to me. I hated doing forms and did them only because
they were a prerequisite to my next grade. It had been said that a
lifetime was needed to master a form. Yet within the teachings of
the time that idea seemed ridiculous and so was generally rejected
by most students.
What was
happening was that the only principal being taught was the
kick-punch, perhaps because it was seen as the simplest way to
learn. As a result, when we attained black belt level we were still
doing the same thing but with greater proficiency. Bear in mind this
was still the elementary level of the art. Hence so many of the
techniques wouldn't work as taught, e.g. we were told that a jumping
side kick is to throw a guy off his horse. How realistic is that? In
fact, there are many ways to use this technique, least of all the
aforementioned.
If you went to a car yard and bought
a car and it didn't prform as expected you wouldn't hesitate to
demand better quality. However, in the martial arts you and I have
been taught so many techiniques that will not work and yet we have
not complained. this is because martial arts has been portrayed as
being so stepped in tradition that it would be "wrong" to question.
Hence a lack of knowledge has been hidden under the mask of
tradition.
I have developed beyond the
traditional by going outside the system and continuing my search
with those more knowledgeable tan myself. As a result I am able to
appreciate my own style more, see the true depth of form and
understand its multiple applications. |
