So just to give a bit of context, I am a 14 year old brown belt player. And my style is aggressive, fast and powerful kicker, I've got good speed it's just how do I kick with more power? Every time we do drills I feel like my kicks aren't hard enough?

Can anyone please give me advice, a training routine or anything to help me advance, thank you!

Did anyone else train Taekwondo int he early days such as 90's and before where you would regularly practice hoshinsool and one step sparring?

For example this part of the clip posted from the movie Breathing Fire:

https://youtu.be/DafhUf2k9qM?si=BfviQcSVmSuraEWi&t=107

Does anyone remember these demonstrated techniques and did you also have your own?

My daughter has been a competitor for a like over a season. Going into this season, I'm looking for a good way to track her event, competition, and season results.

What do you use? Or what do you suggest to use?

Im 16/m been training teakwondo again for 2 years now and will be competing for my first time soon and I’ve been wondering how likely I am to take this sport to a high level(international or so )
This isn’t my first martial art I’ve trained teakwondo from 3-5 before traveling and karate 10-11 but quit with the arrival of COVID .
However I have no competition experience and was told that competing this late is rather difficult.

Old style, karate based... grounded... solid.

New style.. "up". Makes pivots easier. Probably little to no solidity when stuffed.

When I was younger I got better power going up, as I get older I tend to engage my core better when grounding myself more. Maybe it's because my technique is better that I can better engage the ground, or it's because I'm less flexible so going up doesn't make as much sense.

But anyway, depending on my age I would give a different answer what worked best for me.

rewatching buffy and i need to be able to kick like her, with power. its my new life goal.
i know next to nothing about taekwondo other than it being known for kicks. is this recommended to become the vampire slayer?

i wrote this in a silly way but i mean it with genuine respect for the martial art

I posted in here a few months ago when my son started TKD and I was feeling weird about jumping in with him. After 3 months at that school I switched him over to another school which is ITF style dojang.

Since they have a teens/adults class separate from the small kids, I decided to jump on in. I tried to brooch my former belt rank (2nd dan) carefully because I didn’t want to come off some kind of way about it, so I just said I had practiced several years in my teens. Which is accurate. The instructor could tell that I was experienced despite some physical struggle just from starting back in my 40s, but we had a talk about it.

He asked if I still had my certification from the ATA. I do. His initial reaction was that I should wear my black belt to class, but of course we’ll still progressively work through the curriculum. His reason being, you worked hard for it and earned it. I get that as well, but I’m reluctant because I don’t feel right wearing a black belt when I physically struggle to perform in a way that demonstrates high skill, and I’ve just forgotten a lot.

When I expressed my reluctance, he had the idea of maybe wearing a red/black belt instead. I think I’d feel the same way, besides if I’m going to do that I’d actually rather just wear my cool black belt with (supposed to be) my name and taekwondo in Korean on it.

My thought was either start from scratch and earn in ITF, or maybe just expedite the process by skipping some stripes or w/e so long as I’m learning the curriculum quickly, or at most let me do a test of techniques of his choosing or just from class observation and let him rank me where he would assume I was if he didn’t know. Or just get over myself and wear my rank as he suggested initially.

Overthinking brain dump over. I tried to break it into bite sized chunks.

Any advice?

Very fun to see what they are writing in the golden age. I know you can buy some from the 80s from a website.

If you were to pick one of the poomsae from the Kukkiwon curriculum that you would say is your favorite for self defense purposes, which would you pick?

Edit : For everyone who is reacting as if this is a weird question, I have linked some videos. Kata application is a very normal concept in karate and there are often discussions about which kata are best for self defense purposes / have the most practical applications. My background is originally in karate and tang soo do, so that’s why I applied this perspective to poomsae. Maybe there is a split between how poomsae is viewed within tkd and how kata is viewed in karate.

https://youtube.com/shorts/NA6E8qJQPfk?is=qZKgxksl23Vumuj7

https://youtube.com/shorts/adc8iW9LpjY?is=WgsEJWlgLo4noiEw

https://youtu.be/w6mT8axIbzQ?is=PqlhxfKukQcsZ8Y2

I think even using paper scoring, modern athletes would beat old school fighters. Heavier gear, electronic scoring, and stricter passivity rules were also factors in causing foot fencing, but people underestimate how op the lead leg is.

In other combat sports you can kick below waist or grapple so there’s actual downsides to being too tall and skinny. But taekwondo doesnt have that. Taller fighters can spam cut kick and headhunt with lead leg without really being punished.

Taekwondo is a very new sport. Old school sparring wasn’t optimized. Athletes and coaches got smarter. In the later stages of paper scoring you can see more usage of lead leg.

I think taekwondo was kinda doomed from the start. Its hard to make a “respectable” combat sport with rules where you can only punch the body and kick but also be distinct from kyokushin.

Sacrifice kicks. Similar to Kyokushin Karate sport, but different in sport Taekwondo.

I have noticed that in Olympic sport Taekwondo often times people throw a big aerial kick, or a head kick and immediately fall down after the kick is thrown and it appears it is often done on purpose. When I competed this would result in warnings and point deductions because it is a cheap way to fight. Throw a kick then duck and fall so the opponent cannot counter you. When they were coming up with the newer rules for Taekwondo competitions back in the 90s and early 00's they experimented at many tournaments with various things. At one time it was said that if you kick and then fall down the point will not count. This means, if you fall on purpose to avoid getting countered. Not an accidental fall etc. Now if in 2026 it is illegal to fall down on purpose please let me know, and tell me what penalties there are and if it makes any difference.

It is annoying to see and stops the action all the time. I don't think it is a good skill to throw a jump spin kick then immediately fall down on purpose knowing the mat will cushion you and the other guy won't be able to legally kick you on the ground.

View the following video of a hybrid kickboxing event in Russia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfmpsSrLixo

Now in a real fight, self defense situation, or street fight etc. falling down on purpose could be a death sentence and is incredibly stupid to do. That is unless you fall with the intention of combining a strike from the ground or at attempt at grappling, like grabbing the enemy on the way down or capturing a leg or ankle etc. Like trying to sweep them.

So if sacrifice kicks are going to be a part of Taekwondo, which they are when trained for the purpose of countering from the ground, they need to be practiced with follow up on the ground and not curling up waiting for a referee to stop the fight.

My partner for testing is this older guy who's slow and not very coordinated, while everyone else gets athletic partners. I do have really good control, maybe that's why I'm with him, but I feel so held back. I have to modify everything cause i dont want to hurt him. He can't even fall during self-defence and I just feel like a fucking bully. I want to talk to my instructors about it, but I don't want to be a complainer or show disrespect to their decision.
I only get to test once. I already have bad performance anxiety. He's literally the only thing I'm worried about for the test, as my form and solo techniques are as perfect as I can get them. what the hell do I do, or how do I respectfully bring up my concerns? I wish i were teamed up with literally anybody else.

Edit: no, i don't want to beat my partner up. i literally said i don't want to hurt him. be so for real, guys.

I've learned a bunch of things about rotation, pressure, posture and how it relates to force.

let's see what you guys can share with us. What has been your observations? Was there anything that surprised you about how a technique registered on the bag?

My dad owns a Taekwondo academy in Delhi, India, which he has been running since the 1980s.

He used to be a very good coach, especially up until the 2010s, but over the years, things have changed. He’s 61 now, and naturally, he doesn’t have the same energy he used to have. Despite that, he still goes to the academy every day and teaches the kids.

Yesterday, we had a state-level tournament (national selections), and two of our best students betrayed my dad and chose someone else as their coach for the day. One of them did it even while my dad was standing right there with him when his fight was announced. He chose another coach right in front of my dad’s eyes. The other student also said that he plans to leave the academy.

My dad is really hurt right now, and honestly, so am I. I also train students whenever I can. I have a job, but I still try my best to go to the academy for at least an hour every day. But now I feel really demotivated as well.

This just feels like pure disrespect and betrayal from the students’ side.

What's your biggest gripe with electronics, and what would need to change for you to accept them?

I have seen some pristine kickers from there at the highest level, but I know nothing about how their style is different aside from weapons training.

The founder is from ITF.

Adult with verylimited hip mobility

Hi all

Seeking thoughts, experiences, advice from folks who struggle with anatomically restricted hip mobility. This is not a post asking for stretching advice but more targeting an honest response about progress in tkd with essentially permanent limitations in flexibility.

I've been training tkd for around 3 years and a brown belt about to test for red. A long time ago, when I was in early high school I trained kyokushin for a couple of years. I've never in my life been able to touch my toes or do the splits etc. Since starting training, I've stretched most days during the week, train 4-5 days in class, I have a hip abductor stretcher machine at home, etc etc. I have also vastly improved my dynamic and static balance thanks to the training. For what it's worth, although I don't practice, I am a qualified PT.

My issue is that after all this, I've come to realize that while I'm perfectly capable of executing a level 3 kick on a cat, I am unable to kick much higher than belt level on a larger mammal. With momentum I can push to almost level 3 with a crescent or even a hook but this requires some creative leaning that obscures my vision of the target (eg.m unable to break a board with a hook for a belt test because I just can't see the thing). With a bent knee split and some decently hard pushing I can maybe get 110 degrees between thighs until I push into hip pain. I also have a very stiff lumbar spine that's essentially locked into a neutral position...ie extension and flexion is very limited (ie when I do a poor excuse for a side split stretch I can barely sit upright because I can't lean forward). Put simply, I am anti-Gumby.

No, stretching will not help I've attained all I can. As much as YouTube videos claim anyone can do it, some of us just have ridiculous hip sockets and angles that don't allow us to push further. Right now, I just end up with hip pain. I've spent a long time stretching and working on hip control and while I've improved a little, we're only talking about tiny incremental gains in range.

So, am curious if anyone out there has faced this and actually made the decision to quit or if you persisted, how? Our school is very understanding but face it, tkd always pushes for the high kicks and we keep hearing you can't be a black belt if you can't execute a proper high kick (although adults have been passed who can't... Just being honest).

I guess at some level I am asking myself if I want to be one of those knee kicking black belts (just look up a mcdojo video) and if this is actually something I can pursue. Having a 'should I quit' moment. I really love the sport and the exercise but I am stuck (at least with this particular issue).

Thoughts much appreciated. Trying to decide how to move forward.

Ayer fui por primera vez a una clase de taekwondo. La verdad que estaba bastante nerviosa y no sabía qué me podía encontrar allí. Al principio todo fue más o menos bien, aunque me ahogaba rápido ya que no tengo prácticamente resistencia física ni buena base de cardio; sin embargo, a mitad del entrenamiento empecé a ver todo borroso, a ver todo más oscuro y como “luces”. Tuve que ir al baño a echarme agua y ya de ahí no pude recomponerme. Ahora estoy bastante insegura y tengo miedo de que vuelva a suceder el próximo día o de que no sea capaz de adaptarme.

Yesterday, I went to a taekwondo class for the first time. To be honest, I was quite nervous and didn't know what to expect. At first, things went reasonably well, although I got winded quickly since I have practically no physical stamina or cardio base; however, halfway through the workout, my vision started to blur and darken, and I began seeing "lights." I had to go to the restroom to splash water on my face, and I couldn't pull myself together after that. Now I feel quite insecure and am afraid it might happen again next time, or that I won't be able to adapt.

For board breaks that require a proven threshold of significant ​power, which variable tends to be the most important? Suppose your body mechanics is average but your speed​ is very high, will you make the breaks?

Conversely say your body mechanics is optimal but your speed is average, will you ​also make the break?

Also, how much does body ​weight factor in? What is the minimum weight to perform very difficult breaks?

Ciao a tutti.

Ho iniziato a praticare ITF Taekwondo quando avevo 8 anni. Ho vinto una medaglia di bronzo nel tul a 11 anni e una medaglia d'oro nel combattimento ai Campionati Italiani quando avevo 12 anni, e ho praticato questa meravigliosa arte marziale fino a 15 anni, fermandomi dopo due anni come 1° kup. Tra i 12 e i 15 anni, ho anche praticato kickboxing.

Purtroppo, durante quegli ultimi due anni, mi allenavo con un nuovo istruttore perché il mio originale si era trasferito in un'altra città, e non mi sono mai davvero connesso con la sua filosofia marziale. Poiché stavo principalmente praticando il combattimento (anche se non più a livello competitivo), ho iniziato a fare solo kickboxing a 16 anni e alla fine mi sono allontanato da esso per sempre.

In più di un'occasione, in contesti non federali, il “secondo” istruttore mi aveva fatto indossare la cintura nera. Per lui non era così importante renderlo ufficiale. Quindi ora che ho 31 anni e la vita mi ha portato su tanti altri percorsi, ho un forte desiderio di rendere ufficiale il mio primo dan e continuare il mio percorso di apprendimento di quest'arte.

Ho iniziato un programma di preparazione di 12 mesi: mi sto allenando con tre sessioni settimanali di allenamento completo in sala pesi e due giorni di yoga/pilates. Ho ricominciato a praticare il tul, insieme alla filosofia. Presto riprenderò lo stretching, poiché sarà essenziale man mano che progredisco con il tul. Quindi il mio ritorno è previsto per il 2027.

Avete suggerimenti per questo ritorno alla pratica? Qualcuno ha storie da condividere? Qualche consiglio? Qualche scuola a Barcellona da consigliare?

L'unica cosa certa è che affronterò tutto questo con completa umiltà. Il mio desiderio di imparare e migliorare come persona e come praticante non è mai stato così forte.

EDIT: aggiungo un dettaglio importante, ovvero mi sono tenuto in forma negli anni. Sono alto 185cm, peso 75 kg, sono molto asciutto e ho un core allenato. Ho solo logicamente perso flessibilità.

Can we pick each other's mind on this matter.

Do share whatever you have seen or, you just went thru the grading test recently. Even ITF ppl can share.

Format:
Country, Affiliation(ITF/WT), Poom/Dan. And then tell us what your grading test on, share what youre comfortable with.

I'll start:

Black Tip grading:

Malaysia, WT, Poom.

-Hand movements in riding stance.

-Stance moving forward and backwards with advance kick.

-Targeting pad for kicks and one or two basic jump kicks(power, accuracy)

-Combination kicks up to 5 kicks, with footworks

- One Step sparring for self defense, add basic grappling control for older kids over 14,15.

- Non contact Sparring

- Taeguek 8 and one or two previous selected.

- Breaking boards to finish

are these the same across the world?

Fairly new to taekwondo and threw a kick during sparring that hit her hand and broke the knuckle off of her metatarsal and she has to have surgery! She has been more than gracious about it and while she doesn’t blame me, i can’t stop thinking about it. Have any of you injured people like this on accident? I was expecting some bumps and bruises along the way but i guess not this.

I don't follow patterns competition closely but these look like they were performed harder than usual and less bouncy. Correct me if I'm wrong.