TRAINING SECRETS
An old proverb says that even heaven cannot make a diligent worker poor. However, in Taekwon-Do, diligence or intensive training alone does not produce quality techniques. On the contrary, instructions from a false or unqualified instructor would be worse than not being taught at all because unscientific movements not only reduce the power but require a tremendous amount of time to correct. On the other hand, under the proper guidance of a competent instructor, a student who trains earnestly with dedication will learn the true techniques of Taekwon-Do in a comparatively short period of time with less effort.
General Choi Hong Hi mentions 9 training secrets of Taekwon-Do in the Encyclopedia.
Students should keep in mind the following secrets:
To study the theory of power thoroughly.
To understand the purpose and meaning of each movement clearly.
To bring the movement of eyes, hands, feet and breath into a single co-ordinated movement.
To choose the appropriate attacking tool for each vital spot.
To become familiar with the correct angle and distance for attack and defence.
Keep both the arms and legs bent slightly while the movement is in motion.
All movements must begin with a backward motion with very few exceptions.
To create a sine wave during the movement by utilizing the knee spring properly.
To exhale briefly at the moment of each blow excepting a connecting motion.
THEORY OF POWER
The power of a Taekwon-Do technique such as a punch, strike, kick or block is defined by the rate of energy transferred when it hits the target. That energy is in the form of kinetic energy (energy of a moving object).
To maximise the power, the Taekwon-Do student must:
Maximise the kinetic energy of the technique by increasing its speed and mass.
Minimise the time taken to transfer that energy to the target by prioritising speed over mass.
Maximise the amount of energy transferring to the target by using a rigid tool and adopting a stable stance.