janny:
you will be armed and dangerous =(
This made me chuckle in a couple of ways. TKD pretty much has limp arms, and is all about flying around kicking. Yes, I am taking the phrase over-literally.
Second, TKD is waaaaaay more ART than MARTIAL. At best, it is a sport. Outside of that, it is more a limited form of leg-dominate gymnastics, dance, or system of movement. As someone who started from youth, took it to 1st-dan black belt before getting bored with it (my father, and older brother continued, are now 4th-dan). TKD is in no way, at all, ever, something you should be learning for self defense.
Just getting that kill-joy stuff out of the way.
"Stretching":
It is the general standard stretching advice you'll always hear, plus a better way of applying it (I will use leg examples, as most people care for this).
- Frequency. Frequency. Frequency. Do it while watching TV. etc.
- Never hurt yourself, or feel beyond-comfort pain. It is better to take a step back, than go too far. Take it back a notch, and do it again later (point 1).
- Typical stretching as most people see it (try to pull a muscle beyond typical range of motion) is actually the slowest manner of getting more limber. You need "Relaxed tension". Avoiding all the technical mumbo-jumbo, If you flex (hard) one muscle, the antagonist (opposite muscle) will relax (it must, its nature).
- When stretching your hamstrings, take it to just the point of tension, and FLEX the quads - HARD. And wait it out. Start with 30 seconds, build up to 2-3 minutes (if your new to this, you will struggle, which is why you build). Some people build to 5 minutes (PAIN), find what works for you.
- Slowly relax, and move onto another muscle group (or other leg, etc). No need for 'sets', just use more frequency.
- Best books on market, which go into detail of this: Pavel Tsatsouline's "Relax into the stretch", and Stadion publishing's "Stretching Scientifically". If you want 1, get the first, it is lighter reading, and easier to understand.
Some other general stretching tips:
- Stretching makes you temporilying weaker. Do not do it before the gym, exercise, etc. After, and at night is best. Or early in morn - depending on training time.
- There are more muscles in your body than your legs. Remember that.
- Considering that TKD is leg dominate - remember: Hamstrings, Calves, tibialis anterior (front of shins), Quads, Butt, and Piriformis if you sit a lot (though, this is random on who it effects, and you'll know when it gets bad - sciatica!).
- If you can't flex you hamstrings, they are not strong enough, or you are not aware that they exist. Get thee to a gym to Deadlift!
Mobility:
- You need limber ankles. Roll in, Roll out, Up down, side to side.
- You do NOT want mobile knees. You want STABLE knees. Only up and down, no side-to-side. Squat.
- Mobile hips. You should be able to full squat on your heels ass-to-grass. For many reps, and sit for time (the 'Asian Squat'). Perfect TV-time practice!
TKD Stuff:
- Front kicks. Everyone forgets them because they are the 'first-noob-exercise'. I know you want to practice 'tornado kicks', and 'spinning-reverse-axe-kicks', and 'jumping-back-kick-into-turning-kick'. But a well placed front kick isn't seen coming (especially to gung-ho-black-belts), and is a very stable position. (Plus you move forward quickly, as it is a giant step forward).
- Move FORWARD. Hard to commit any damage if stepping backwards. DOMINATE. If you both clash at short range, do not back away, keep it. (Front kicks are awesome here, and if you have the flexibility you'll hit the chin. If you miss, right in the solar plexus - winnah!).
- Punching is fun. If you are World TKD rules, you are allowed to in the torso. You are not a boxer, thus you'll probably break your hands on the rib cage, so stomach, and upper-cuts. In competition, they are padded up, so this can change. Plus, if you connect (you'll have to punch and PUSH with the fist for it to be seen, due to the padding. i.e.: knock them back) you get 1 point. Fun times!
I wrote waaaay too much
My opinion on if you are looking for self-defense, is pick boxing, or wrestling, or both. And get hurt. No one EVER got good at fighting without taking a beating. Plus, well, put on muscle. The 'martial art of strength' is probably one of the most effective.
I am about 20-30 kilos heavier now that my TKD days, and all the better for it.
