Grandmaster Chang Keun (C. K.) Choi developed Sparring Patterns that he considers essential for training. The videos will soon be available on DVD, but GM Choi has allowed me to keep one posted here. They're done in at least three positions (stationary, sliding forwards, and sliding backwards). The techniques are executed continuously, with maximum speed and power, which means that you need to engage the hips – all your momentum. For more details, please see my past blog (Aug. 9 to July 14 entries).

Punching Sparring Pattern

The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) doesn't always acknowledge the pioneers who began the martial art in the 1950s and early 1960s, especially those from the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), which was created long before the WTF. In this rare interview, however, WTF President Choue Chong-Won changes course, saying that the WTF has to acknowledge "those people who introduced Tae Kwon Do in difficult times..." He also refers to "Mr. Chang," the North Korean ITF leader. From filmmaker Luan Van Le. I write more in my blog of May 11, 2009.

My instructor, Mr. Di Vecchia, passed the following movie tip to me. It's from 1958, featuring Karate leader Masatoshi Nakayama. What's incredible about this video is how similar his movements are to the movements in traditional Tae Kwon Do, which I still practice. Notice his fluidity -- and the power in his kicks.

Grandmaster Jong-Soo Park, one of my past instructors, in action in 1973:

More videos to come.