Paul Green & Gareth Brown Sparring Seminar Day 2&3

The last 2 days of the seminar weekend were much more intense than day 1. Day 2 emphasized much more on hip strength and utilizing the front leg to cancel out the opponent's front leg. Being able to cancel their front leg and then attempt to score off that appears vital in today's game rather than just going forward with it. There's more to the game than what others call "fencing". In some ways and situations, that it is the case. However, the game is much more mental and more like chess. Some people still likened the game to chess a few years ago but I personally thought it was more of checkers where multiple kicks were favored. Due to electronic scoring, your score attempts need to be planned out whether it be breaking the pattern (kick one spot and then kick at another), making trick shots, or aiming at small gaps in the opponent's guard. 

Overall, while the seminar introduced drills that I have actually seen before/can come up with, the amount of thought and detail that the coaches taught made them feel fresh and understandable. Some of the drills I have done in the past were done without much thought to them and they made them make sense.  Each one has a goal and method to that goal that makes each drill feel rewarding when done and that is the sort of training one needs to seek out to improve their skills. I definitely feel like many athletes/schools in the US do not enforce enough realism and intensity in their drills, especially when the athletes begin to fade in practices. Paul Green and Gareth Brown were constantly on everyone at all times to make sure each drill was done correctly and with the same intensity and realism as in a sparring match. 

I hope to use my newfound knowledge to help other athletes in my region improve and take steps to make the USA a better TKD nation so that they can hold their head high with the other nations that win consistently. 

-Joseph Ong