Training Online during the Pandemic😷🦠

During the pandemic, our Martial Arts industry was shaken!

We definitely had to adapt to be closed down for months at a time..

We definitely had to adapt when we COULD open and we had to limit our training..

So where does that leave practitioners if they cannot train on the mats??🤔

Well we know as Martial Artists, we never give up!👊

That’s one of the tenets of Taekwondo, Perseverance (Ee-Nay) 인냬

So we are left with training in our homes, in our living rooms or our bedrooms…

We are training online, whether it’s through Zoom, Teams, YouTube or another platform…

Here are the best tips and tricks to training online; the best tips for training at home!

Tip #1: Do it everyday!

If you want to accomplish something, it’s probably not going to happen overnight!

We should set aside some time everyday to practice whatever it is we want to improve (in this case, Taekwondo!)

It’s also best to keep it consistent, say half an hour every morning around 9:00am!

(You can choose whatever amount and whatever time works best for you~)

Tip #2: Literally do it everyday

If you choose to say, throw a stone in the river every day while walking to work… if you miss a day and tell yourself “I’ll just throw two stones in tomorrow!”

YOU

HAVE

FAILED!

(Don’t worry, I know because I’ve done so many times… I know where it leads~😢)

It is better to go back THE SAME DAY and finish the task. Even if we have to practice at 11:59pm!

Tip #3: Find a mentor

If you aren’t already training at a Taekwondo Dojang, YouTube is a great place to start. There are many Taekwondo practitioners on YouTube who have excellent content for the budding student.

Here are a few great practitioners to help you get started!

Alex Wong

TaekwonWoo

Live Martial Arts by Samery Moras

Ginger Ninja Trickster

Taekwondo Shawn (Yes a shameless plug!🙃)

Tip #4: Clear a space in your home

You need a space to train right? Well, it’s best to have at least 2-3meters each direction to have enough room to stretch, and perform Taekwondo techniques.

You can train on any flooring—just be careful if you’re training on hardwood or concrete!

It’s best to train in the same space each time, so you don’t have to put much willpower into clearing the new space each time or deciding where to training.. always train in the same spot! Make it your designated home dojang!🥋

Tip #5: Learning through Zoom

Many Sabumnim (Masters/Instructors) 사범님 have chosen to begin teach online through various platforms, including Zoom, Teams, and social media ‘live’ features.

Many sabumnim have begun teaching seminars online as well! For example, a master from Korea recently posted to their social media about how they are conducting an interactive seminar on Zoom and filled up within hours!

These are all good ways to get feedback, and feedback is what we all need!

(Even me!🤪)

So make sure if you’re training online, that you are in the proper attire, you are punctual, you are respectful, and don’t forget to thank the leader at the end of the session!

As my Kwang Jang Nim (관장님) Grand Master always said:

“Respect is the most important part of Taekwondo.”

Grand Master Chang

(He did the rest of the talking through his bamboo sword!😂😢)

Tip #6: Enjoy the journey

Whether you’re training at home, online, or in the dojang.. we want to enjoy the journey.

As we know, training Taekwondo is like pushing a card up a mountain. If we stop pushing, the cart will begin to slowly slide back down..

So anyone who pushes themselves to get a blackbelt, and quits immediately.. will eventually lose all their skills and physical benefits from training Taekwondo.

This is a lifelong skill, and I have the utmost respect for any practitioner who began their journey during the pandemic, and who began their journey with online training!

Train hard, and see you on the mats!👊