How to remember ITF patterns

[AdamFieldITFTKD]

Does anyone know any rhymes riddles or sayings that help them remeber which way to turn or what skill to execute. i always remeber to start with my right leg back in Sajo Makgi and in Chon Ji i always remeber 90,180,90,180 with regard to the degrees in whic you turn. please reply with your way of remebering to help me with higher patterns eg Dan Gun

[Menjo]

Does anyone know any rhymes riddles or sayings that help them remeber which way to turn or what skill to execute. i always remeber to start with my right leg back in Sajo Makgi and in Chon Ji i always remeber 90,180,90,180 with regard to the degrees in whic you turn. please reply with your way of remebering to help me with higher patterns eg Dan Gun

First of all, Welcome.

I dont practice the same style however I do have a tip or so that is mostly related to your question.

My advice is to concentrate of proper breathing and expansion and contraction, along with body connection for a small set of techniques(5-7) at a time. Then, the memorization is being burned into your head and body while you develop proper technique right off the bat, without setting yourself up with bad habits down the road.

While RARELY it is good to set little tricks and things to help you memorize these difficult movements required in kata, its best not to fill your head with so many ideas and formulas as it may hinder training later. Remember that there is no way to avoid the tedious work it takes to master kata, you need simple repitition.(you may know this already, but for anybody just starting out I wanted to get this across).

Edited March 28, 2006 by Menjo

[danbong]

The problem with "memory aids" for froms is you have to think about them. But what counts is doing the form, not describing it. So knowing a bunch of tips for remembering the form actually hinders you because you have to think while you should just be doing the form without hesitation. The key to being able to do that is lots of repetitions. I would recommend at least 10 times per day for the form you are learning and at least 3 times per day for forms that you know. If you need asistance while doing forms at home there are sites that have the forms. One good one for ITF forms is http://www.utbtaekwondo.us/ - you should not try to learn a new form from these descriptions, but they are really nice for helping you to recall what you've been doing in class.

[Kill Jill]

Practice is the only way to mastery.

[Sam]

i agree... but since you mentioned chonji...

when you punch with your left hand you turn 90 degrees LEFT, when you punch with your right 180 degrees right, after that i just tend to separate the pattern into sections i remember through the repetitive parts, if u ever need help feel free to message me.

[tkdman102088]

practice makes PERMANENT so learn your forms right and they will become right, do them wrong and they will always be wrong. and to the person aboves comment thats works best for most people so give it a try.

[tufrthanu]

Have any of you ever gotten to the point where you knew the forms so well you did them from heart....then when someone asks you to show them how to do it you can't because its been so long since you've had to think about how to do it? It's happened to me if you can believe it.

[tkdman102088]

its happened to me a few times..but i cure it with more practice

[IcemanSK]

I have my 1st Dan in the WTF & my 2nd in the ITF (long story). I recently came back to the WTF after nearly 20 years. I bought a DVD of the WTF forms I used to do. Before I watched it, I tried to do the 1st form (Tae Guek IL Jang) from memory. When I hit that 2nd technique, it clicked & I remembered the form! I can't tell ya what I had for breakfast yesterday, but I knew that form. Practice is the only way I know to "get em".

Practice them by the count & only do half of it, til ya get it. That way has worked for a lotta folks.

[congai]

Since right now you are learning the lower rank patterns, you should notice that whatever you do on the left side, you usually do on the right side. Same also goes for going foward and then back to the starting position, except most of the time it's a different technique, but the same number, until you get to the higher rank patterns. And the way that you turn should be the direction that you're going in. For instance, in the beginning of the pattern you're moving foward so you first do low block on the left, then step foward punch, then turn so that your body faces foward and then continue on until you face the right and repeat.

Also, usually if the first technique is a block, the the left foot is foward. if it's an attacking technique, right foot foward. Patterns usually start with a block. Saju jirugi and saju makgi are actually fundamental exercises.

But mainly, the most important thing is practice. And make sure you practice the pattern properly (with power, correct stances, breath control... otherwise the practice is useless) all the time, and it will become engrained in your mind very soon.