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Traditional Taekwondo practitioners do countless repetitions of a technique until they perform it perfectly; perfect as judged by someone else who performs it perfectly. The problem is that healthy people with equal abilities may have physical differences that either aid or hinder their ability to perform a perfect technique. One person who can kick through a board with a perfect technique is judged as a better martial artist than one who can kick through a brick wall with a technique that does not conform to the "standard." Modern Taekwondo practitioners should appreciate the differences in people.

Many in today's society want to be able to protect themselves—today—not many months in the future. Instead of stressing perfection of a few basic techniques and then moving on to more techniques, modern Taekwondo starts a beginner with physical conditioning, power development, basic fighting skills, and fighting tactics and then progresses toward perfection of technique. Modern Taekwondo students may become excellent fighters while, due to physical limitations, never being able to perform perfect techniques, even after years of concentrated effort. They learn to maximize their assets while dealing with their liabilities. In modern Taekwondo, techniques should not be judged as to their technical perfection but as to their effectiveness.

Traditional Taekwondo seeks perfection of numerous techniques. However, perfection is not required in techniques that are seldom or never used. Modern Taekwondo students should be taught every conceivable technique, whether from Taekwondo or another martial art, so they are familiar with them. They may then choose the ones that work for them. Perfection is sought for basic, regularly used skills, but for more obscure techniques, only a working knowledge is required. Modern Taekwondo should attempt to develop each person's natural fighting skills, which sometimes do not conform to the way traditional techniques are performed.

The concept of primacy of learning postulates that one remembers best what one learns first. Traditional Taekwondo teaches new students to perform techniques in perfect form as required in the performance of hyungs/forms/patterns. Then, after months of training this way, they have to change the ways they perform these techniques to ways that will be effective in sparring. It is best to teach techniques in the way they will be used in sparring and then teach them the perfect techniques used in forms.

Traditional Taekwondo stresses kicks. Taekwondo is known for its kicking techniques. Kicks are powerful but they require at least one foot to leave the ground, it is difficult to hit the number one vital area (the head), require a large area to move in, require loose clothing, and they require the use of too much energy. This is why professional karate has a minimum number of kicks that must be performed each round. Professional fighters know that the most effective and efficient techniques are hand techniques. Kicks can hurt your opponent; punches can kill your opponent. Modern Taekwondo should stresses kicks, but hand techniques should be given as much or more stress.

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