Beat with the Basics

Beat with the Basics
Images straight out of
FM 21-75, and FM 3-25.150





I am a firm believer that the basics are not just the beginning but they are also the most important thing in the end.
I always hear people say that you never stop using the basics but in true combat I have learned the basics are really all you use. Sure there are always going to be the stories of guys using the jump reverse hook kick but I find that to be rare. I really think the basics are the most advanced techniques in any system.

When you think of Military Taekwon-do you probably don't think of what you were taught. That's just it though, it's the pink elephant in the room, we were all taught it. I find that classes just don't make it the class focus. But all the styles make room for these teachings. Taegeuk Chli Jang, ITF's Choong Moo, and yes even the Military all teach the Knee strike. Or how about the step behind side kick? Are you kidding me! That's right the Military teaches that too.

It's not the moves that are the problem but the applications. If you are only teaching the moves that the forms have in sparing style, then you might not be teaching TKD because of the way you make your students do them. See TKD is wholistic, and if you are only teaching one part of it then that's just it, you are teaching the sport. I have seen many ITF and WTF schools make this mistake. The climate out there, in the Martial Arts world, is cold right now and if we don't stick together for warmth then we might become frozen in the past. Keep your classes focused on spreading the art.

Much love,
mr.mustache