Fighting


Fighting, or kumite, is the freestyle use of moves one has learned. During this
freestyle match, the students may use any technique they have learned in their
training for either defensive or offensive purposes. Fighting is involved with
probably only 30 % of skill the student has. However, this is a very important
part of the whole. As mention earlier, katas help in perfecting the moves and
the focus of executing them. On the other hand, fighting employs these moves.
Practicing in fighting will assist in the timing and rhythm of the execution of
the move. In a kata you have as long as you want to throw each kick, each block,
each punch, and as much time to move into the next stance.
During a fight, you must use these moves but timing must be involved as well. If the opponent throws
a kick, you must make a decision and quick. You can block the kick, dodge the kick
to the left, right, or step back, or you can decide to get hit. Now no one wants
to get hit but if a decision isn’t made that will be the result. You must also be
able to react fast enough to the oncoming kick with your decision. If you hesitate
on your decision to step to the side, it will be to late and you could be on the
ground trying to catch your breath. I know from experience. Well, let’s say you
have successfully reacted to the kick and blocked it and your done right, wrong!
Usually a skilled fighter won’t throw one punch or kick without following it up with
2 or 3 more attacks, the same as a boxer would throw a string of punches. So you
must be prepared. You can try and block all of these attacks but the more that
are thrown at you the more of a chance you will get hit. Instead of blocking all
of these attacks, you can stop them. If you block the kick and follow up quickly
with your own set of attacks this will surprise the opponent and interrupt his
rhythm. The only way to get a good grasp on these ideas mentioned is to practice.
The only way to become a good fighter is to practice fighting. I don’t mean to go
out on the streets and pick a fight with one person after another. Not only is that stupid
it is also illegal. I mean to practice fighting in a controlled environment where
both fighters have respect for one another.
Fighters having respect for one another
doesn’t mean they are going to “take it easy on each other”, it means that if one is
knocked to the ground the other isn’t going to jump on top of him and continue beating
the crap out of him or if a good punch or kick is thrown the fighter getting hit should
acknowledge the attack and not get pissed off.
The Tae Kwon Do style of fighting is different than many other styles of martial arts fighting. Tae kwon do could best be
described as street fighting. It is mainly composed of kicks punches and blocks, however
there are a few take-downs and throws. When a throw or take down is executed in TKD,
one or two attacks are executed at the downed opponent, after that the attacker backs
away. This is because TKD is not wrestling or rolling around on the ground throwing
wild punches like I’ve seen in some street fights between idiots. It utilizes both
kicks and punches equally, unlike boxing. True TKD fighting isn’t like what is seen in
the movies. All the flips and crazy jump kicks are very rarely seen in actual matches.
Even though they look cool, it is extremely difficult to execute them properly and
successfully without getting hit in the process. The most simple and basic of moves
are often what wins the fight.


Working out and conditioning are also a
major part of fighting. Even if your kicks are twice as fast as your opponents, if you
can only throw one to every three your opponent throws you will probably lose the fight.
What good is the kick if you are too tired to throw it. A serious martial artist throws
250 to 1000 kicks and punches a day. This doesn’t mean total, it means per kick and per
punch.      This is the best way to condition yourself.

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