Shotokan to TKD

[Kicks]

We just had a Shotokan trained student join our WTF TKD school. He's college age and a black belt. After a few sparring classes he was asked how is he liking the classes. He said he's having problems getting in on his opponents. He keeps getting kicked every time he makes a move. So I sparred with him and found that he telegraphs his moves. I also allowed him to do what ever he wanted (I didn't counter) and found that he likes in-fighting (up close and lots of punching).

 

I'm working with him to adjust to a new style of sparring (I'm talking strickly WTF sport TKD, not street fighting). Has anyone here gone from Shotokan to TKD? What advice from your own personal expierence can I pass on to him? I know aefibird just did a two week basic training in ITF; what did you learn that could help this guy? He's a nice guy and I'd hate to see him get frustraited and leave.

[ninjanurse]

I went from Shotokan to TKD and I felt the same frustration for quite a while. It takes a lot of time/practice to overcome old habits and being a BB he should be aware of this. I found set sparring drills most effective in learning new "patterns" and establishing a new mindset-maybe he will too. And remember, repetition is the mother of skill.

 

[Kicks]

ninjanurse,

 

Thanks for the reply. I had him attend my class, which is strickly a WTF style sparring class. I had him work out entirely with my son (4th dan) on drills. We also went over scenarios of when to use the techniques and did partner, as well as pad, drills. He picked up the techniques quickly. I think its just a matter of adjusting mentally and developing a different mind set. However, what ever good techniques and skills he learned in his Shotokan training I wouldn't want him to lose. He just needs to be able to seperate the two when competing under different rules of the game.

Edited January 19, 2005 by Kicks

[danieldc]

Kicks, let me give the web http://ciudad.latinol.com/etkdpanama/index.html

 

I have a few shotokan pals wit us in our academy, ask our instructor about it, they can understand u in english.

 

info@etkpanama.com

[ShotokanKid]

I do Shotokan and although I've never sparred with a TKD person, I know that they're kicks are very quick and are also used often. Explain to him that he's telegraphing too much. Teach him to not telegraph and teach him to get around kicks.

[ninjanurse]

He won't lose his skills-they will make his TKD better and vice versa. As far as separating the two during a match...I find that using my hands (without making contact to the head) is an advantage as most TKD fighters aren't used to a fighter that uses them and it throws them off their "routine" as they have to adjust their defense to include them-Shotokan hands can be fast and quite often score to the body and/or feint to draw their focus from their intended technique. True there are a few times when I land a backfist to the head and get scolded by the referee but ahhh....

 

 

Oh yeah...telegraphing is not unique to arts other than TKD. All fighters do it, some more than others...and it takes not only practice to overcome but a good training partner who is able to define your technique and critique your style.

[username237]

i did shotokan for 13 years and got to 2nd dan. I switched to tkd just over a year ago cuz i wanted to try something different. I couldnt believe just how different it was! i am still getting used to the switch now, and believe me it hasnt been easy. I dont think i will ever lose the karate in me.

 

the main thing that my taekwondo teacher was constantly pulling me up on is that i was stiff. in every move i did i was concentrating too much on power, but when you're fighting someone that does taekwondo they are so relaxed about it, and when they do attack it is quicker and a lot harder to defend, which is why i think taekwondo focuses very little on blocks.

 

the main problem i had was that when someone was coming to attack me with a kick, i had been taught in karate to block and counter. i am being taught in taekwondo to move and counter, and that blocking should not be used as the main form of defence of a kick, as you are much more likely to get your fingers broken! I unfortunately learnt that the hard way!

 

I think that if your friend is anything like me he firstly needs to loosen up. shotokan is quite powerful, but doesnt really focus a great deal on quick kicks! Moves can be just as powerful, if not more, if your friend relaxes when fighting, and uses extra hip movement when attacking. Thats another thing that shotokan doesnt really focus on as much, but your friend will need to learn to kick from his hips, and not his knee, if you know what i mean!

 

your friend does have one advantage though, i'll bet he is good at gauging when to through a punch! although taekwondo focuses little on punches, they do score and some of my opponents say ive got 'cheeky punches' cuz they were my best form of attack in shotokan and i find it relatively easy to see an opening not right for a kick but perfect for a punch, and its not really taught that much at my tkd club.

 

im by no means an expert, im just relaying my experience. i hope it helps.

[Kicks]

*Joanne Siddall* said:

im by no means an expert, im just relaying my experience.

 

That's exactly what I was looking for, words of expierence. You brought up some good points, as did the other posters. We do teach to avoid and counter. I noticed when sparring him that he would stand there and take the kicks, or try to block them, then step in with punches. But once I jammed him and was chest to chest he didn't know what to do. I had to show how to kick his way out of a clinch.

 

As far as being relaxed, I know what you mean. I still have to tell black belts who have only taken TKD to relax when they spar. That seems to be a hrad concept for some people to grasp. I remember fighting in this one tournament I had a young lady assigned to coach me. She didn't know anything about me or what to say. I told her to just yell three things "Relax", "Breath", "Have Fun". Yep, I won... just by out lasting my opponent.

[username237]

i no what you mean, when i first started taking taekwondo gradings i seemed to be the only one keeling over through lack of oxygen! I was so stiff when i was going through basics, patterns etc that all my energy was just drained out of me and i wouldnt even have the strength to last out a fight. People would come upto me and say "your techniques are really good, i bet you did shotokan before this". Id ask them how they knew and they would say "because you move like the majority of shotokan students, powerful but rigid." It does get easier through practice, and people like yourself putting in the effort to research is really good.

 

if you're stiff, it tends to affect your breathing. my taekwondo teacher has a phrase for such people, "If you dont breath, you die." Simple but true!

[Kicks]

*Joanne Siddall* said:

if you're stiff, it tends to affect your breathing. my taekwondo teacher has a phrase for such people, "If you dont breath, you die." Simple but true!

 

I tell my students to yell (kiyup) when they are sparring. The reasons I give are:

 

1. Startle (scare) your opponent.

 

2. Yell at pont of impact. This tenses your muscles and makes for a harder hit. You should be relaxed until impact. This goes for wheather you are the one hitting or the one being hit. Yell if you get hit. You don't want to be in the middle of taking in a breath when you get hit in the stomach, that'll knock you out!

 

3. Yelling forces you to breath. When you yell you let all your air out and your body automatically forces you to breath in. This way you have to try to "remember to breath". Just remember to yell!