Performance
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Factors that Affect Performance
The following factors affect your Taekwondo performance. Some may be improved a lot, such as strength; some may only be improved a little, such as agility, and some are out of our hands, such as environment.
- Basic Psychomotor Skills. Without the ability to perform basic psychomotor (locomotor, non locomotor, and manipulative) skills, such as punching, hopping, jumping, pushing, pulling, and kicking, a student will be hard pressed to develop complex skills such as are required in the performance of Taekwondo.Agility. This is the ability to change direction rapidly and smoothly. Students need good agility to perform complex sequences of techniques, such as counters, combinations, and jump-spin techniques.
- Kinesthetic Awareness. Kinesthetic awareness is simply the ability of the body to relate to its surroundings while in flight. This awareness is critical when perform jump and jump-spin kicks with power and control.
- Taekwondo Basics. Students should constantly be aware of and constantly practice Taekwondo basics, such as stances, chambering for kicks, and full extension of kicks and punches.
- Flexibility. General and Taekwondo specific flexibility using the PNF method or slow static stretch must be developed in and out class since flexibility will increase performance and help prevent injuries.
- Endurance. Contrary to popular belief, Taekwondo requires high anaerobic capacity rather than aerobic capacity. Of the 3 energy delivery systems, ATP-PC, anaerobic (lactic acid) and aerobic (O2), the anaerobic and aerobic systems are used the most during Taekwondo performance. Taekwondo competition uses short, intense spurts of energy. A powerful pattern performance, only lasts 1 to 2 minutes. A round of sparring is only 1 to 3 minutes. Theoretically, one could hold their breath that long. The anaerobic system allows the student to perform high intensive work for short durations while the aerobic system facilitates the recovery between numerous high intensive periods of work. A solid aerobic base is required before any anaerobic work is begun. Wind sprints are good for developing anaerobic endurance.
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