Your Core and Taekwondo training are vitally important in your Taekwondo success, whether it’s just training twice a week, or competing at the Olympics.
Continue reading
Category Archives: General Taekwondo Training
Taekwondo Nutrition – The Science Pt1
Nutrition for Taekwondo performance is massively important and I CANNOT stress this message enough! I didn’t really understand how much of a vital role nutrition had to play in the overall training plan until I started to study it myself but I suppose it is a no brainer really in a weight mediated sport like ours.
The purpose of this article is going to be an introduction into why good nutrition is so important for Taekwondo performance and the benefits of a balanced diet.
Continue reading
Taekwondo Training – Your Balance When Kicking In Taekwondo Part 1
Balance in Taekwondo is one of the most important things, especially when you are kicking in Taekwondo competition or training.
But so many people don’t know they’re off balance, and if they do recognise it, they don’t know how to correct it.
When training people and working on their kicking technique, one of the first things I notice is their balance. You may be asking how it’s possible to see if someone is off balance or not – it’s actually very easy to see.
When you look at someone kick, notice where they land. If their foot is in a straight line with where they started to kick to where they were kicking to, then it’s in line.
Continue reading
Taekwondo Competition – Can Video Gaming Give You The Edge?
Can playing video games make you into a better Taekwondo Player? Can they give you the edge in Taekwondo competitions? Is spending all those hours shooting people left right and center actually going to pay off for you finally?
Well, some studies are showing that it actually just might pay off for you! 🙂
Continue reading
Taekwondo Strength Training Basics – How To Perform The Back Squat
In the previous article [Taekwondo Strength Training Basics – The Back Squat] we discussed the benefits and uses of the back squat within a strength training program. In this article we will address how to perform the movement correctly and safely. To perform the movement using a barbell (either fixed i.e. Smith machine or free) we need to focus on five distinct phases as follows:
Continue reading
Taekwondo Strength Training Basics – The Back Squat
One of the best exercises a Taekwondo athlete can use in the gym as a part of their Strength and Conditioning program (and even pretty much all year round!) is the back squat.
There are many variations of the squat movement and the back squat is what is regarded as the “classical” all round movement for lifting with legs. Here I will discuss how the squat movement works and what benefits you gain from performing it.
Continue reading
Taekwondo Training – Elements Of A Strength & Conditioning Program
In Taekwondo training, a good Strength and Conditioning program is a vital component to your success, both short and long term. To gain a better understanding of a proper Strength and Conditioning program we need to understand some of the key elements that is in one.
Firstly as stated in previous articles we need to know what we are training for. What is our goal and what do we need to do to achieve it? Once we know this we can then start to periodize our training. We cover this in more detail at Taekwondo Training – Periodization I and Taekwondo Training – Periodization II
Continue reading
Taekwondo Flexibility 101 – Factors Affecting Stretching
There are many different factors that affect stretching and flexibility in Taekwondo.
One of the main things I see as a Strength & Conditioning (S&C) and Taekwondo coach is different levels of flexibility. Some kids, as soon as they enter the gym, can stretch right down into box splits. Others have to train for years to barely touch their toes.
Continue reading
5 Biggest Mistakes In Taekwondo Competition
The 5 biggest mistakes in Taekwondo Competition are very simple ones. In fact, in Taekwondo competition YOU can actually be your own worst enemy rather than your opponent!
Over the years of watching Taekwondo matches I have seen so many people making mistakes and losing due to their own errors. The reason why I know this on a personal level is because I have made these mistakes myself!
So let’s look at how you can cost yourself the win and see which are the biggest, and most common, mistakes in Taekwondo competition.
Continue reading
“Psyching Out” Your Opponent in Taekwondo Competition
At a local Taekwondo Competition last weekend. The competition wasn’t a very high standard, but it was good enough for experienced players to try stuff out and more or less get a good workout from it.
While watching a match, I overheard a Taekwondo player talking about how he was “looking at his next opponent” and how he was trying to “psych him out” – and it really made me laugh.
Continue reading