Question 088: Combinations

My son is 8 yrs old and goes into a few TKD tournaments a year. He is currently a red belt with black stripe and I was wondering what do you suggest for combination drills so he is throwing more than just one and then let the other guy hit you with three more kicks. Last question at his age to prepare for a tournament does a child that age prepare the same methods as a older teenage or adult fighter would? IE: Exercise program, cardio etc.

Reply

Spar where When practicing techniques in class, most schools have students practice using one technique repeatedly, such as kicking a target with a round kick to a called count. This helps students perfect the technique, but it trains them to throw only one technique at a time. When training in a specific technique, it is best to include another hand or foot attack before and after the technique. All techniques are practiced in combination with another technique.

Each round has a different stipulation, such as:

• With any kick, the leg must kick at least twice before being returned to the floor.
• Each kick must be used in combination with another type of kick
• Every kick must be preceded with a hand attack, and vice versa.
• Any attack must continue with a combination of attacks until the referee stops the action (no one or two technique attacks).
• At the first movement of an attack by the opponent, instead of avoiding or blocking the attack, the student rushes in with a flurry of counterattacks.

One person holds a bag and move around while the other student continuously attacks the bag for one minute with a fast and furious hand and foot attacks.

Practice blocking with one side while simultaneously attacking with the other side, such as blocking a high round kick with an outer forearm block with one arm while simultaneously punching with the other arm.

Practice blocking and attacking with the same technique, such as blocking a kick with your leg and then the same leg firing a kick of its own, or blocking a punch with an outer forearm block that instantly changes into a punch.

Stress going with the flow of the action instead of looking for an opportunity to use a specific technique. Stress using the right technique to an opening instead of just throwing specific techniques at targets that are not open.

As to your tournament preparation question, I am not experienced enough with teaching children to answer that question properly. However, from what I have experienced, adult training methods may be used if they are adapted to take the child’s age, physical size and condition, attention span, etc. into consideration. Children are children, not merely little adults. They play hard and they can train hard as long as the trainer keeps in mind that they are children, not adults.