How do you play karate?

Answer 1

Taekwondo is a Korean Martial Art that is popular all around the world. Some of the main benefits of Taekwondo are improving your health, becoming physically fit, developing good balance and coordination, increasing your self confidence, learning good manners and respect, and instilling the positive attributes of setting and attaining goals.

While there are many books on the subject, and a lot of information on the internet, there is also a lot of misinformation by pseudo-experts, and internet warriors. The best thing to do is to find a good school near you where the instructor is a legitimate Black Belt, properly trained in the Korean Art, specifically certified to teach Taekwondo, and has a good reputation in the community, and among his or her clients.

Taekwondo classes involve physical conditioning exercises, stretching, and cardio vascular development. A student learns the customs and courtesies of traditional Korean Martial Art, such as bowing at appropriate times, respect for seniors and instructors, and the importance of ethical and moral conduct in everyday life which is guided by a list of tenets (usually 5 important rules of behavior including: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit).

Students learn how to defend themselves if attacked or assaulted in real life. Part of these scientific principles based on natural movements of the human anatomy consists of good stance and footwork for balance, power, and mobility. The hands and arms are trained in specific movements which will effectively block or deflect a strike, and a variety of open and closed hand strikes (linear and circular) are used as counter-strikes.

One of the key aspects to Taekwondo practice is becoming adept at using the legs for kicking based on the advantages of reach, power, variety, and element of surprise. Students stretch their legs for flexibility to kick their opponent's legs, knees, groin, abdomen, or even head. Many of the well-known high kicks, and fancy spinning, jumping, or flying kicks are examples of more advanced practitioners demonstrating the far reaches of human capabilities, and are not required of all students. Many of these more flashy techniques would not be employed in self defense, but help to make the basic skills easier, and more reliable in a street fight.

Practice in Taekwondo includes drilling on blocks, punches and kicks, either in the air or on a striking bag for solo practice, or with a partner. Another solo practice is the memorization of prearranged movements called forms (in Korean, the terms Poomsae, Hyung or Tul are used to describe this). Partner drills are also important, such as one-step sparring where a prearranged 'challenge' is followed by a basic attack, which is defended and counter-attacked while the partner remains stationary for controlled practice. More advanced training includes Free Sparring (like boxing using kicks and punches), board breaking (important to be taught and supervised by a qualified instructor), joint locks, pressure points, take-downs, throws, and grappling skills that are an important, but supplemental sub-set of Taekwondo's techniques.

A belt ranking system is usually used in most Taekwondo schools where the student begins at a white belt (novice), and works toward the permanent rank of Black Belt (expert of basics). Color belts are galled geup (grade) and Black Belts are called Dan (degree). The order and number of color belts may vary in different organizations, but are intended to give a visual cue as to the grade level of the student on their path toward the Black Belt. The individual increments between the starting grade and the level just before Black Belt are usually numbered in reverse order from Gu geup (9th grade), to the highest color belt of Il geup (1st Grade). Some schools use black tape stripes on belts to indicate grade changes, or as an indication of outstanding performance at a test.

Promotional tests are often held at regular intervals throughout the year (two to three months apart) allowing lower belts to test often, and higher belts to wait and test every 6 months to a year between advancements. Tests are usually performed in front of one or more high ranking Master Instructors as judges, and are graded on individual performance according to requirements set forth by the promoting organization. Requirements usually include a demonstration of basic or advanced techniques, forms, one-steps, self defense scenarios, board breaking, free sparring, knowledge, a positive attitude, and proper respect.

Like most Asian Martial Art, Taekwondo is more about self defense, and learning to avoid conflicts, rather than just a way to fight, or win fights. A Taekwondo student is more a student of life, and the philosophies of Asian culture that teach appreciation for the value of life, the harmony of nature, and seeking the enlightenment of the spirit. While religion is not taught in connection with Taekwondo, the art should be used to enhance, strengthen, and explore one's own personal religious beliefs to become a more advanced and well-balanced individual in body, mind, and soul.

Answer 2

Taekwondo competition rules vary between organizations, and from local tournaments to State, National, and International events such as the Olympics.

To score in competition, the athlete is required to use a "legal tool" (foot below the ankle, or fore-fist), to strike a valid target (torso above the waist, or head and neck from collar bone up - excluding the spine or back of the head) with sufficient force. The force that is required to score a point will vary depending on the tournament rules. For safety reasons, some tournaments do not permit any contact, and a point is scored if a well executed, powerful technique stops within approximately 6" from a valid target, and is not blocked. Other tournaments will require light contact to score a point.

In the Olympic Taekwondo, the rules established by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) requires a visible trembling shock or abrupt displacement of the opponent's body to count as a valid point. In recent times, the rules have been modified so that an additional point may be awarded for a head kick over a body kick, jumping kicks over standing kicks, and if the opponent is knocked down by a legal technique to a valid target, an additional point is automatically awarded. Olympic Taekwondo also allows for a knock out. These rules are modified for Jr. competition where no contact to the head is allowed. Also, keep in mind that points may be deducted for violations of the rules.

(see related link below to download WTF competition rules)

Most Taekwondo tournaments will score punches and kicks to the body (with kicks being more commonly scored because of the power generated), and they score kicks to the face, but many do not allow punches to the face since there tends to be a greater risk of injury. Also, Taekwondo promotes the power of the legs and discourages reducing to a simple "boxing match" of nothing but fist to face.

Answer 3

In short, you win in taekwondo by scoring more points than your opponents. In WTF sparring, you score one point for a strong kick or punch to the body. You score two points for a strong kick to the head. The first fighter to lead by 3 points, wins the match.

Forms competitions are scored like gymnastics, three judges award points for the performance on a scale of one to ten, deducting points for errors. The three scores are averaged, and the competitor with the highest average score wins.

Breaking competitions are also scored with points.

The real winners are the ones who have a good time.

Answer 4

To participate in Tae Kwon Do you will have to:

• belong to a registered club or be under the instruction of a Tae Kwon Do teacher
• know the basic blocks, kicks and punches
• know the appropriate poomse for your level
• know basic Korean terms for use in class
• know the rules for sparring and free sparring
• know the rules of competition

Answer 5

In training and practice, the student does a variety of physical exercises to improve health and condition the body to include stretching for flexibility and agility, strengthening for better muscle tone, and cardio workout for endurance.

Basic skills are learned and practiced in the areas of stance, balance, and coordinated movement; defensive evasions, parries, and blocking; striking with various parts of the body including hands, elbows, feet and knees, etc.; joint manipulation and pressure points; and grappling maneuvers to counter attacks in close quarters combat. Taekwondo does not teach to be better skilled that a grappler, but just enough grappling and close range strikes to be able to nullify, and counter anything a grappler does.

Solo practice of executing striking techniques (punches & kicks) in the air, at focus targets, or striking bags are a regular part of training. Most Taekwondo students are taught board and/or brick breaking to improve power, accuracy, mind/muscle coordination, and confidence. Prearranged patters called "forms" (in Korean language: "teul" 틀, "hyeong" 형, or "poomsae" 품새) are used for practice of techniques, conditioning, and are used for demonstration.

Practical application can be practiced with one or more training partners in one-step sparring, free-sparring, and pre-arranged or impromptu self defense scenarios. In most cases, techniques are too dangerous to be applied with heavy or full contact, so partner practice begins with no contact. As the student progresses in skill under the supervision of a qualified Black Belt instructor, controlled, light to medium contact is gradually increased over several months. Eventually, it is necessary to wear protective padding and safety gear in order to train with a live partner at a realistic speed and force, but even when fully padded, full contact Taekwondo strikes can be deadly.

In sports, Taekwondo can be played as a game under specific rules which focuses on the offensive striking and defensive evasions and blocking while limiting the extremely dangerous techniques. The sport of Taekwondo does not typically include grappling type contact, take-downs or ground-fighting categories, however these areas of self defense remain an integral part of any legitimate Taekwondo Martial Art curriculum.

Demonstrations before audiences will often show the more interesting and entertaining side of Taekwondo such as synchronized forms, musical performances, fast-pace "x-treme" forms or weapons demonstrations, acting out self defense skits, board breaking, and a variety of jumping and spinning areal kicks that are less practical in actual self defense, but show the extreme skills and abilities of highly trained athletes.

In real-life self defense, Taekwondo utilizes every area of unarmed combat (striking with hands and feet, throwing, and grappling) in each of the three main ranges (long, medium, and close quarters), in each of three postures (standing, sitting, or prone). There is nothing useful left out of Taekwondo self defense training, but the focus is on those techniques and tactics that cause the most amount of damage in the shortest amount of time to end a physical assault quickly without tying up one's self in vulnerable close quarters grappling or one-on-one ground-fighting when multiple attackers or weapons might be present.

Contrary to many misconceptions, Taekwondo does not have a higher percentage of kicks over hand strikes. The main difference is that Taekwondo students spend a greater percentage of training time honing the challenging skills of kicking. Also, the strategy of Taekwondo in a fight is to use the kicks as a primary weapon, with hand strikes and grappling as a secondary tool, although a Taekwondo fighter might actually use a balance of hands and feet in self defense.

Some Taekwondo schools might focus on the sport aspect of Taekwondo, or eliminate essential elements, but authentic Korean Taekwondo does not lack in grappling or ground-fighting. These falsehoods often originate from Martial Artists in other systems attempting to degrade and belittle Taekwondo, or by novice who have little to no authentic experience in Korean Taekwondo. Sometimes the confusion stems from spectators watching Taekwondo tournaments or Olympics, and observe athletes competing in a sport that is also called Taekwondo, but merely a limited performance based on rules of a game for competition.

Taekwondo is a balanced system of training the mind, body and spirit for an improved and enhanced life experience. The performance of Taekwondo includes every aspect of the student's life, and applies the philosophy of doing the right thing at the appropriate time.

Answer 6

You do not play karate. It is not a game, it is a martial art.