Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

This mantra is essential to the United States special forces. Small mistakes can take their toll quite quickly in a life or death situation.. which makes the mantra all the more important in the military.

Lucky for us, we are not in real combat situations every day of our lives. So how can we apply this to martial arts training? To our lives?

When we do something properly, when we take the time to do some right the first time—it is often overlooked as slow… but it is fast!

Imagine having to do something many times improperly… if you had simply taken your time you could have finished it in one go.

This is actually what fast looks like.

Preparation, planning, training, and repetition.

‘Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.’

Taking our time while learning poomsae

It is better to know the first quarter of a poomsae well, rather than a shaky full poomsae.

Learning takes time, it takes time because we want students to benefit from the training—enjoying the journey as opposed to rushing to a destination. Whether it’s the next belt, or our black belt… we need to slow it down and take our time mastering each step as it comes.

Practicing strikes, blocks and kicks until we do it once isn’t enough! Practice until your mind knows it, and then practice until your body knows it.

Being able to perform without thinking is a form of ‘WuSim’ (무심) which means no mind.

(More on that another time!)

The poomsae is not the ultimate purpose of taekwondo. Breaking the board is not the mission, or the reason most people choose to become practitioners.

The overarching mission of training martial arts is to learn to protect yourself and those you love. To become strong in body, sharp in mind, and peaceful in spirit.

Why then would we try to rush to the next belt, or train with blinders to get the blackbelt and quit.

We have the opportunity enjoy the process of refining our techniques.

Babies first learn to crawl, then walk, THEN run!

Whether it’s poomsae, a kick, a self defence, a roll or anything else in our life.. let’s try to take it a little slower and really understand what we’re doing.

Because slow is smooth, and smooth IS fast.