Snap Decisions

Criticisms of snapping

Opponents of snapping say that forcibly stopping a technique's forward motion does not make any sense. These opponents are usually trying to justify the techniques used by their styles (those techniques that supposedly make their style superior to other styles). However, all techniques must stop their forward motion at some point. Opponents of snapping do not seem to understand the concept of control and focus. A snapping or thrusting technique is not stopped or pulled by the user; it stops because it has reached the end of its motion. The point at which it stops is determined by the position of the body when the technique is executed. A pushing technique also stops at the end of its motion. The point at which it stops is also determined by the user at the time of execution. However, because of the reaching or other movements of the body, the distance covered by the motion is much greater than with the snapping or thrusting motion. 

The power of thrusting, and especially snapping motions, may be precisely controlled since the power is focused at a particular point in space, not in just a general direction as is done with a pushing technique. This is vital in self-defense situations. If you only know how to throw full-power full-range techniques, and you injure or kill a person in a simple assault situation, then you may be charged with a criminal offense or face a civil law suit for excessive force. Since a black belt trains in, and is considered an expert in, controlling him or herself, it the black belt injures or kills someone, the law assumes the black belt must have intended to injure or kill

Taekwondo primarily uses snapping and thrusting techniques, but it also uses pushing techniques, such as a spin heel kick, a spin crescent kick, a hook punch, or a spin back fist.