Who can give me some useful ITF TKD tips?

Question

i have green belt but i wanna reach the black one! So anything would be helpful!

Answer 1

train as many times a week as you can.

patterns, patterns, patterns - get every single move perfect and understand the nature and purpose of the block/strike so that you know the target and the effect - Do San; mid section kick is striking and still rising into the solar plexus, your attacker will not be able to draw breath as the lungs are forcefully deflated by the kick with the diaphragm pushed away (which should be an inhalation) - if your attacker can't breath he can't fight.

Slow your patterns (for technique) and perform each move with power and purpose - a pattern is a simulated fight not a dance routine!

When you can control and understand every individual move of your pattern your own technique control and therefore sparring will improve. If/when you can snap Won Hyo bending ready stance into place, execute the side kick (with power) and return (with control) to bending ready stance before putting your foot down for the next move imagine how many multiple strong fast side kicks you're going to be able to attack with.

When you become a senior and get told to take part of the lesson instructing juniors go for it - their questions and you explaining/teaching each technique will improve your own understanding and technique.

Patterns are key to every martial art they are not just for gradings.

PS.

Apologies to Francois L for my misinterpretation in trying to describe the advantages of controlling the return movement after the kick in Won Hyo, Francois L is correct that you do not return to bending ready stance.

My point was to try emphasise to control and poise of the return so that when sparring if a second or third sidekick is necessary then you easily have the ability, control and strength to do so.

Answer 2

Phooey pretty much said it. Train as much as you can. Practice your techniques step by step and do them slow (this includes your poomse) and correct any errors. Just remember, if you can do it slow you can do it fast.

Answer 3

Work with focus and heart. And understand what the purpose of the technique is.

This applies to every martial art. If you execute a technique without knowing why or what is the purpose of it then you will never do it right. General Choi and his team went thoroughly through all techniques to explain it and give the purpose.

One important thing especially at your level is to imprint the stances to your body like a second nature. I see too many times people at red belt or even black having a sad walking or L stance. If you don’t have a strong stance all your body motion or finality of your movement will be weak and shaky. If you work it hard right at the beginning when you are blue/red belt it will become a second nature and you won’t think about it and concentrate on the blocks or strikes.

If you can get the Taekwon-do encyclopedia. The condensed is good but the one in 15 volumes is much better since it gives all the details. It’s where you’ll discover that ITF is really rich in techniques. Also it will last you all your life.

Stretch and get flexible! If you are not flexible your technique will suffer. Truth is that ITF Taekwon-do has a lot of kicks and you need to be flexible. Especially when you get higher ranks. The first time I had to do Juche (2nd dan pattern) it was really hard. Because you need to make a Back turning kick in slow motion (Bandea dollyo) and other crazy things. But I love that pattern! So start now to stretch besides for sparring you are more effective.

Relax before you do your technique and explode at the end for all your techniques (except slow motion or continuous moves). That is really important. Also, in patterns relax then explode and stop at the next movement for half a second (I call it picture time :) ). Then next one. Of course only for the normal movements.

When you are red belt try to go as often to IIC. They are made by the official International technical committees and you are sure to have the accurate standardized version. It’s even more important when you want to compete internationally.

So as you can see ITF is not easy (like I suppose many other martial arts) but the end results are amazing.

Note: I agree with everything that phooey said except for the bending stance/side kick/return to bending stance. The sequence is for the _first_ side kick is bending stance, side kick, bring back your kicking leg half the distance of your next move (which is a L stance, so half L stance) and do the sine-wave and execute your double knife hand block. The second is bending stance, kick, put the right foot behind you at 45 degree (6 inches) and then execute right L stance with a  double forearm block.

Edit to phooey:

No prob :) And you right, you need to keep balance all the time.