You Are Better Than You Give Yourself Credit For…

Karate training has an article up that is related to this post.

The two greatest facilitators of our fears are the word’s Can’t and Don’t Know. When we say we can’t do something what we are really saying is, I quit. The truth is 90% of the time we just aren’t trying hard enough. Children seem to fall prey to this one very often, unfortunately adults do not properly correct this when they can. Adults are more adept at avoiding things they feel they can’t do. Adults like to say they don’t understand or even better to transfer their fear onto other with blame.

For the most part I agree with their assessment. However, there are times when no amount of positive thinking is going to allow you to do something. Positive affirmations cannot overcome physical limitations and just as someone can be too negative, you can also be unrealistically positive. What is really needed is balance: The right amount of caution with the right amount of “can-do” spirit!

For example, it’s taken me three years to pull of the 360 kick and I do so half the time. I’d call it an average kick that I can do during fundamentals but it is certainly not ready for sparring and probably never will be. I tried it about a month ago and almost twisted my knee and fell. I am also realistically certain that I will never pull off the 540 kick. Thankfully neither of these kicks will appear on the Cho Dan confirmation test.

And even if I did master the 540 it would take years and for what? The time invested is not worth the gain on my returns given my martial arts goals. After first dan our accrediting association places a greater emphasis on these acrobatic kicks. You start to get introduced to them between about 3rd gup to 1st dan. From 2nd to 3rd dan you are expected to sufficiently demonstrate them and you get five years to do so. Up to first dan we focus on fundamental kicks–most of which are similar to karate only higher and with more jumps. After that things get crazy!

And another little known secret: Kicks of these nature place a lot of stress on the hips and knees. Given the warning signs I’ve had it would be foolish to pursue them at my age. In addition, outside of a tournament demonstration or sport sparring match they are not my first choice for self defense.

This topic is timely given my last post. I usually am prepared when going into a tournament except for breaking. I’ll start routines at least a month out and keep experimenting and switching. I also tend to take a conservative approach at tournaments. This means I’ll pick breaks that are not as risky or flashy and hope that my competitors try fancier breaks and fail. Often they mess up which means I usually place but likely at 2nd or 3rd. So is this fear or strategy?

Since this is my last tournament in the taekwondo world I may go for broke and see what happens. As I keep switching it up the only break to remain is the hammer fist on four solid. These are the other two that are still being refined:

• Step jumping axe kick on a stack of 5 - 7 with spacers. I’m seriously considering a stack of 10 just because it may be my only chance to try that many at a tournament. I’ll have to simulate this in dojang garage and see what the dynamics will be. Otherwise it’s going to be 7 for sure. I did 5 this weekend with ease and can credit my long legs. This is one kick that these long legs are suited for!
• I’m still revising the round kick. To add challenge I am going to have two holders (1 or 2 solid boards) and try with either the flat of my foot or my shin. A shin kicks is a kick that’s rarely seen at our tournaments so it might give the judges something knew to look at. In addition, it has the added benefit of me not risking a broken foot!

The speed breaks are a bust until my hand fully heals. As it stand the hammer will be a challenge. At the Cho Dan test I’ll probably do a ridge hand speed break on one dangling board. But not before my thumb heals!

~BCP