I can't make out what rank this is suppose to be for, but the sort of training shown at the beginning is for the complete beginner. One-steps are for a new student to familiarize themselves with techniques, set ups, combinations, body mechanics, etc., NOT self defense.
It's good that there does seem to be a wide variety of methods in the video, not just a "strike here, strike there", and actually incorporating grappling, but I do have to question their choices. Transitioning from one-step, or even three-step, training to more realistic reactions can be a tough thing on a student, and their methodology, as evident in their group sparring session.
I hate it when schools train basic fundamentals very stiff, but then encourages bouncing around during sparring. Their randori-like training did seem to encourage more than just single methods, but again it lacked a realistic touch. Groups don't wait patiently while you beat up one friend and make your way to another. First rule is DON'T get surrounded, and if you do the first step is to fix that problem. That is a fundamental apparently not being covered here, or at least forgotten by the student.
I did not watch but about 10 seconds of this before I stopped. Did not want to waste my time looking at something so bad. Really?, one steps where the attacker punches a mile from the target. The student testing would get killed in the street. not sure what rank he is testing for but even if someone was tested for the first color belt they should be way better then this. It is obvious that the guy does not know these techniques, he only memorized them. It is not ever a good walk through of techniques. The guy does not even show any concern about getting hit because the attacker is not trying to hit him. This whole thing is a Joke. A bad Joke. This is a classic example of why the MMA types say traditional arts don't work. And if all schools taught like this I'd have to agree. But it is a very poor example of anything traditional. The real traditional martial arts are totally different. This is a bad representation of martial arts period. And to make matters worse these poor people think they are able to defend themselves.
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Well, it didn't suck. The one steps seemed too static, as JW said. It should be more dynamic for a red belt (I think that was the color?) But actually, the free sparring I thought was very good. That is the Taekwondo I grew up with, although I don't recall 2v1 or 3v1, so, this is better than I trained. You will never see this today; the insurance demands the sparring gear at least. But the take downs, the low leg kicks... that's nostalgic to me.
This reminds me of my one steps. At least three of them have grappling in them, a wrist lock, an arm lock and one throw down, however add the hidden applications, and I have found at least two other throwing applications. As for better than what goes on now, the area in which I live, has a very good Brazilian Jui Jutsu school, but the rest of the good schools in my area are Taekwondo schools. The reason is because there is a high amount of Korean immigration in my area. I have seen very good Taekwondo schools in my area, all the schools teach throws and joint locks, and some even go through teaching at ground submission. They also teach many hand techniques that include both striking and grappling.
I hated the one steps. An aggressor rarely throws a punch and just lets it hang there while you beat the tar out of him.
I was not impressed to be honest. JW and Pugpaws covered my thoughts for the most part.
I also only watched about 30-45 seconds of it and had to stop when I saw this guy executing things after the punch had stopped and would not have even reached him. Nobody is going to throw a punch and stop or hold it out there and just let you evade it and do things. While some of his kicks were good and there looks to be some good things being taught there is a very bad approach to them being done and they used like what is shown here.
A person who is well trained needs to be blocking/parrying and moving and countering when the attack is coming-not after the attack stops. Also the attack needs to be enough where it could have reached the other person or done damage in some way if not controlled and I see none of that exhibited here by his partner.
Stopped after watching the rondori wherein the "red belt" (most often used to signify a master but not knowing what it was supposed to signify in this case) was fighting against two people who still attacked one at a time...not realistic at all (in a real multiple person confrontation "swarm and harm" is practiced where they all try to hit you at the same time and you must try to avoid as many strikes as possible). When they began to swarm, he failed and was easily overwhelmed... He did not use any take downs during the multiple attack.
They were also playing "tag", not landing any kicks or punches.... It should be remembered that one fights the way one trains and in an actual confrontation, "tag" doesn't work well.
This looked like step practice of a sports school trying to say they also taught self defense...
Let the buyer beware and remember that one will often get exactly what they pay for even if that is not what they really wanted.
Wakarimasu, tomodachi?
If this was a test in our dojo he would fail.
The one step kumite were not that good. They weren't realistic. What I mean by this it has to work in a real fight Most of that wouldn't work. Also it was too static. It has to be more dynamic. In the sparring I saw a couple of good take downs. It has closer to real time. That is what makes it good to me. But he often put himself in danger and never controlled who or how they can attack him. In other words it was not good. He looked as if he was in a sparring match for a competition with one person instead of fighting for his life against two persons. I didn't get the idea that he even knows what to realistically do if he is being attacked be more than one person. At least he tried, but most of what I saw would get him hurt IMO.
Edit:
This was supposed to a black belt test. It is obvious to me that they are not being taught good self defense based upon the sparring. /th sparring looks like sports instead of self defense. They made a weak attempt to call self defense by putting him against two persons. But he squeezes his way between two guys and no one took off his head. The 2 man vs 1 sparring looks like stuff kids do after watching power rangers or some karate kung fu movie. It looks like that he hasn't been taught anything.
Even the one step was bad on how he transition into many of the take downs. I hope he never tries this because he will likely get hurt.
I blame the instructor or the poor performance of these students (testing and the helpers). They all were poor. I hate to be this hard on someone. I'm trying to be nice, but I don't want anyone to believe this is a good example of self defense or martial arts in general.
Thats cool. We have to run miles up mt. Diablo and do like 1000 pushups and tons of stuff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf3cuHIx-iU
Better than what goes on now? I like how he at least threw his opponents during sparring. Rarely see that in most TKD institutes.
