trastartiStarting to compete olympic style...questions

[usatkdwtf]

first a little background; ok, Ive been taking TKD for 21 yrs (im 27). Im a school owner (new school).

I am transfering orgs. and would like some help from USTU people.

1. the side kick is the most powerful in TKD. Why in sparring do you guys take almost a front facing sparring stance thats completly vunerable to a side kick? Why in turn is the side kick never thrown?

2. is the rounds 3 min. for all competitions, no matter how many times you fight in one single elimination tourn?

3.If I kick someone in the face with my bare foot and they bleed or break their nose, will the match continue?

4. does USTU have weapons and forms creative competitions, or traditional?

5.last one, should I start my competiting at like an AAU tourn or something instead of a National Qualifier?

Thanks.

[Kicks]

Welecome to the uSTU (dba USA Taekwondo). My kids and I have been doing both USTU and AUU since 1997. (see http://www.livaudaisnet.com/mafit/mafit97.htm

You asked:

 

1. the side kick is the most powerful in TKD. Why in sparring do you guys take almost a front facing sparring stance thats completly vunerable to a side kick?

Actually, we have been able to determine that the back kick is more powerful. A lot more torque and power originating from the rotation. As far as a 'front stance' posture, do you actually mean an ap kubie stance (most of body weight is on front leg as performed in forms)? The only time a player would do that would be to shift his weight forward so he can use his rear leg to kick with. Since points are given only when the kick delivers 'trembling shock' or 'significant impact', most kicks are with the rear leg in order to derive the power needed to score. I've knocked down opponents with a side kick, but I've knocked them into the next ring with a back kick.

I teach my students to fight in an upright, sort of walking stance, evenly distributed weight, knees slightly bent. I do have them open the stance; the body is at a 45-degree angle to opponent instead of a horse riding stance. This is so the rear leg can attack in a fast, straight line and not have to clear the front leg in a circular, slower motion.

Why in turn is the side kick never thrown?

A rear leg side kick is often too slow. A front leg side kick doesn’t always generate enough power to score. However, my kids and I use the front leg side kick a lot. My son has the fastest I’ve ever seen. We use the front leg side kick under these scenarios:

1. A stop side kick to jam an attacker as he is throwing his kick.

2. Skip side kick to hit the opening in hopes the judges will score it

3. To knock the opponent back, disrupt his rhythm or his set up for his attack.

We do use the front leg side kick to setup a second kick that is intended to score:

Side kick followed by back kick

Side kick followed by rear leg roundhouse

Side kick followed by ax kick

Side kick followed by spinning kick

Side kick followed by same leg hook kick

2. is the rounds 3 min. for all competitions, no matter how many times you fight in one single elimination tourn?

This depends on who’s hosting the tournament. Local tournaments sponsored by local schools will either do 1 round of 1 minute or 90 seconds for color belts, and 2 rounds of either 90 seconds or 2 minutes for black belts. AAU Nationals is 2 rounds of 2 minutes each. At USTU nationals I think I’ve done both 3 rounds of 2 minutes and 3 minutes. And yes, its no matter how mant times you fight in a single elimination. In 2003 USTU Nationals I had to fight 3 rounds in the semi finals, rest 2 minutes then immediately fight 3 rounds in the finals.

3.If I kick someone in the face with my bare foot and they bleed or break their nose, will the match continue?

Under junior safety rules, this could be a disqualification, but under adult rules the fight will continue if medical says that the injured player is capable of competing.

4. does USTU have weapons and forms creative competitions, or traditional?

No weapons at USTU. At senior (adult) nationals they have traditional forms, Olympic sparring, creative forms, and breaking.

5.last one, should I start my competiting at like an AAU tourn or something instead of a National Qualifier?

Start with a local tournament sponsored by a local school. AAU requires you qualify at a district tournament before going to nationals. USTU has two divisions at nationals: Open, which has no qualifier; and Elite where you must qualify at a regional tournament.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your training and competition.

[usatkdwtf]

Hey, thanks for the info.

I guess a back kick is more

powerful,but I think a lead leg side kick is as powerful as a rear leg rk. and in my case its faster too. I think the judges should score such kicks.

Where do I find regional tournaents/ The USA TKD site has only pan am, natl. qual., etc.

[Kicks]

Where do I find regional tournaents/ The USA TKD site has only pan am, natl. qual., etc.

For USA TKD:

Regionals (national qualifiers): http://www.ustu.org/318_960.htm

Senior (18 and above) Nationals: http://www.ustu.org/318_1113.htm

For AAU:

Go to http://www.aautaekwondo.org/

In the left frame click on "Tournaments, Event, Awards" link. Then click on either "National Events" link or the "Qualifying District & Region Championships" link.