It just might not work! The need for a paradigm shift in Taekwon-do.

No one intends to do a bad job. For a second, set aside the moral and ethical implications of any given action, as even those who would seek to scupper our best efforts, start with the  intention to do their best to achieve that end result. 

We act based on our own will, the resources at hand and the information we possess. 

Will means intention. A decision has been made (conscious or seemingly unconscious) to undertake a certain action, to achieve a specific result.

Resources refers to the physical, psychological and emotional resources we have at our disposal and associated to this our ability to identify and obtain that which we lack. This may be a physical tool such as money, skills or time. A psychological position for action may be the feeling of self confidence in one's ability or the potential for success. Emotional refers to the ability to act regardless of a sense of failure, fear or other stress.

We act based on our perception of the result and its potential effect. We act with a hope to influence or control the situation we are experiencing. Many times this outcome becomes the focus of the action as we judge our success based on the achievement of this desired outcome. Ultimately it is the outcome, or the perception of outcome, which drives action.

Perception of outcome is always a subjective assessment. It is an assumption, which is rationally based on and developed from our own experience and that of others. We  form attributions towards a given action based on the previous experience of this and similar acts. If we have direct experience of this action being successful in the delivery of a given result we are enabled with a positive attribution and are more predisposed to anticipate a similar result. If we are told stories of others' success, in a manner which engenders understanding, confidence and trust in the   story teller, we are more predisposed to form positive attributions to the act and its potential outcome. We assume and expect that our experience will be the same as the last time and/or the last person who performed this act.

However, this is not and can never be the case. As Heraclitus wisely pointed out, you can never stand in the same river twice. That water has flowed away. The moment has passed and now the external conditions might be very different. In fact (internally) you may be very different. Known alterations can be planned for and actions amended appropriately. This relies on the benefit of adequate and appropriate resources such as correct information, the skill to interpret and adapt and crucially the time to make this happen.

Accurate timing is an essential component of any success endeavour. From work endeavours to personal relationships, all things in life flow easily when everything is in rhythm and events are unfolding at the right time. It's when this rhythm is disrupted we begin to develop issues. The arrival of that 'x-factor element' we didn't anticipate impacts our flow and throws out that sense of timing. We still act with the best intention, not intending to perform badly, however that inner sense of rhythm is running just behind the curve and no matter what we do at that point it's an uphill struggle to get back into the natural flow. The ‘x-factor element’ can be anything, from a random unexpected external event or influence, to a spontaneous internal crisis of confidence. Whatever the causation, the effect is consistent in that it serves to interrupt our flow and impact the originally anticipated outcome of our action.

In the context of martial arts we practice, train and refine the physical techniques with a view to attaining this sense of natural flow. We isolate the technique, break down the component parts and focus on refining these elements and then put the thing back together. Consider the acquisition of any aspect of the discipline you practice, it is extremely unlikely you developed proficiency in this right away. It is wholly more likely that you were instructed and acquired the capability in ‘chunks’, refining a ‘chunk’ at a time and then putting the thing together. The aim once returning the focus on the whole is to have a more efficient, natural understanding. A better sense of flow, timing and action. As Bruce Lee put it, 

“Before I studied the art, a punch to me was just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick no longer a kick. Now that I’ve understood the art, a punch is just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. The height of cultivation is really nothing special. It is merely simplicity; the ability to express the utmost with the minimum.”

Bruce Lee

What we practice and how we practice will all impact the outcome of our training. This fundamental specificity is constant in all things. We adapt to and become better at actions we successfully repeat and as previously stated our efficacy in respect of the successful completion of these actions increases also. In the dojang we practice our blocks, punches and kicks. We undertake our drills, with a partner or solo. We complete our rounds of sparring. We repeat and repeat that pattern or form. We refine, we practice and we repeat. We seek for that efficiency in what we do that provides a natural, fluid expression. We move at an appropriate rhythm, we seek correct timing and flow in all we do. This is the way in traditional martial arts. There is no big problem or issue with this, provided the intended outcome is in alignment with the action undertaken. Issues occur when these two essential elements are unaligned. The consequences associated with these issues can be extremely severe.

By way of example, let's consider the technical development of a spinning heel kick. This is a staple technique which is masterfully performed by many in both striking martial arts and combat sports. There are countless videos littering the internet of poor unsuspecting proponents of Taekwon-do, kickboxing and MMA being knocked cold by a well-timed, accurately delivered spinning heel kick. As practitioners of Taekwon-do we progressively acquire this technique, at first feeling mechanical and off balance. Not committing to the rotation, forgetting the need for counter rotation, falling flat on our backs, yet getting up and doing the thing again because it is only by repetition and refinement that we will succeed in the development of the technique. This is again the way in traditional martial arts, perseverance leads to success. So we acquire a proficiency in isolation, against a pad or bag, we then move this up a notch and play with the technique in relation to a more live opponent. We spar, isolated or free sparring drills, to further refine the technique. We may find however that the timing we thought was appropriate isn’t the same. We may find that in the application of the technique we have to be more aware of range and position than we previously thought. The process of practice, refine and repeat goes on. This is the way in traditional martial arts. 

If our anticipated outcome here was to acquire and develop the kick as a technique for competition and sparring then this would be in alignment with our actions. If however we then viewed our new found competence as being a valid self defence strategy, things may well be a little unaligned. 

This is just one example of a potentially deeper issue. The techniques we practice within many traditional martial arts, the focus we provide them, the manner in which they are applied and reinforced, is not specific enough to provide adequate strategies for personal defence in the 21st century. In fact, the period of history where we find ourselves is possibly irrelevant. The more appropriate thing is that through a recreational approach towards the martial arts and a modernistic leaning towards competition over combative function, we are left in the unfortunate position whereby we have little chance of our traditional martial arts being effective means of personal or self defence. We fundamentally misunderstand range and timing, we fundamentally ignore the psychology of personal defence, the ferocity, violence and fear that this entails. We continue to practice, refine and repeat patterns of movement which may engender health benefits (even then the recreational approach to martial arts practice may not actually provide anywhere close to the intensity threshold required for effective cardiovascular or musculoskeletal endurance training response and adaptation) but fall way short of providing students with the correct physical, psychological and emotional strategies for adequate personal defence. The real issue however is that the instructors providing this education and development are essentially unaware (or intentionally ignorant) of this shortcoming and consequently do nothing to resolve it. 

The traditional training model of most dojangs does not work. If as instructors we seek to provide our practitioners with aligned actions and outcomes (as they specifically relate to self defence) we cannot continue to provide the approach where our focus rests on basics; patterns; and sparring. If that’s your thing however that’s great! Sit in it. Be in it 100% and better yet be honest with yourself and your students that the outcomes they are training for are at best competitive success and not self protection when they might need it most. If however you are intending this approach to fulfill all anticipated outcomes, you may need to reflect on the alignment of your actions and these results. No one intends to do a bad job, very few people intentionally desire to mislead others, however due to the influences most of us are open to and the lack of available comparative experience or information, we can form unrealistic perspectives of what and how the techniques we practice are applied. It is just possible that they may not work.

Shifting the paradigm within the traditional martial arts is what is required. We absolutely need to focus on the traditional martial arts way in practice, refine and repeat, however we need to open the door a little to the chaos that is combat and physical assault. We have to practice in a way that best reflects the anticipated outcomes we have. From isolated technical development, we need to enter into semi and non compliant drills where we have a partner who is actively engaged in actions which are contrary to our wellbeing and our actions at that time. We need to investigate the efficacy of techniques in all ranges and embrace the fact that the way we practice (and even the system of training that we love) may be flawed and limited to a given range. We need to embrace broken timing and rhythm and take into our martial arts souls the idea that things will not always work, yet feedback is constant. If it worked great! If it didn’t work great, but do something else! If it kind of worked great, but do something else now and refine that in the future! Our training drills need to depart from traditional consensual partner based competitive sparring drills, towards more non-consensual based drills where the goals of the parties involved are not symmetrical, and the requirement for spontaneous, natural, direct response is much greater. This is a whole shift away from the ‘Yes sir!’ unquestioning approach to Taekwon-do, towards a much deeper investigative process of individual technique refinement and application. 

‘Absorb what is useful. Discard what is not. Add what is uniquely your own.’

Bruce Lee