Does Poomsae work in ‘Real Life?’

So you train your patterns every single day, and you are becoming quite proficient at them!

Then you have some friends who do other martial arts or sports like kickboxing or MMA…

“Poomsae won’t work in the real world!”

“That kind of punch from your belt doesn’t even MAKE SENSE in a fight!”

“Hahahahaha!”

As a practitioner who is also a creator on various platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook… I can tell you I have been told many

many

MANY times

“That just won’t work in a real situation!”

Any martial art that focuses on the basics of a movement in an isolated way, such as Kata for Karate, or Poomsae in Taekwondo… has this dilemma.

Unless the Master explicitly acknowledges this, and begins to help the student understand the practical applications of the technique in a self defence or ‘pressure’ situation… the student will begin to believe the haters and lose motivation to train this wonderful art.

Now the tricky question is (as always!)

HOW!

Taekwondo was created as an effective martial art for defending yourself in a time when Korea was in turmoil and still recovering from Japanese occupation.

These days, we are less likely to have to use our techniques in an actual situation.

This doesn’t mean our training shouldn’t be practical, and have real world applications!

Here are a few ways I have found help dispel the non-believer’s ideas

Use the heavy bag

There is nothing more satisfying than hitting the standing bag, or the hanging bag and feeling the connection between your technique and a ‘realistic’ body.

When we punch the air with poomsae, it is a good start. Then we must apply it to something that will give us realistic feedback.

The heavy bag will tell you if you need to strengthen your wrist, or push your shoulder forward more, or squeeze your glutes and root your stance as you punch.

The heavy bag will tell you if you have good balance in a kick, because kicking the air and recovering is different than kicking something that will stop your momentum.

Use a parter

Using a partner with a Hogu(호구) or a chest guard is a great way to bring the ‘heavy bag’ practice to life.

Although with a training partner, usually you’ll want to focus less on power and more on technique or timing.

Have your partner move in on you at various speeds and angles, with and then without warning…

You’ll find your reaction speed and your ability to judge and react to situations will increase.

Situational Awareness will improve!

You’ll also show your practitioners that we rarely punch from the hip in a ‘real life’ situation, it just doesn’t make sense.

But the movement in the shoulder of the punch? The final form of the punch at full extension? Drawing power from a good stance? This is STILL important when punching, and will translate well to ‘real life’ situations.

This last one will probably shock you…

Practice your Poomsae

But not just as a routine, or a dance with the numbers

“one, two three”

“Hana, deul, set”

Name the techniques as you do them.

What are you blocking?

Where are you pushing or striking?

What areas are effective for this kick? (Usually front kick!😉)

Why this stance? Where does it lead?

Shifting weight?

Moving swiftly?

Self defence situation?

The more you practice with intention to teach your practitioners both the movement, and the reason behind the movement… the more they will come to enjoy, trust and come back for more of your training in the future.

Practitioners who train like this will easily dispel the “Your hands aren’t even up!” nonsense that circulates the internet.

Taekwondo training will help us build strong bodies, minds, and spirits.

Use Poomsae as a building block.

Not the be all, and end all.

The older masters had it right…

“Taekwondo is Poomsae, and Poomsae is Taekwondo.”

Train hard, and see you on the mats.👊