First Strike

Conclusions

Knowledge of these things allow us to create strategies that exploit it to our advantage.The Fence, by Geoff Thompson, describes a methodology for dealing with the escalating conflict just prior and into physical violence.

Since this verbal and physical posturing occurs in many arguments before they escalate to physical conflict, one strategy is to strike first just before the opponent strikes. "First hand" is a highly effective strategy to ensure victory.

Most Taekwondo patterns begin with a block, not an attack, but not all, for instance, Hwa-rang begins with a strike. However, for the most part, preemptive strikes are not used. First strike is contrary to our training.

Nearly all of our training focuses on defensive work. In pre-arranged (one or three-step) sparring, one person attacks, and the defender's response is to block and counter-attack. From the beginning, we are taught to react to circumstances. When we are the attackers during practice, our mentality is often that of being there so that the defender can practice his or her defenses rather than of honing our attacking skills.