People Aren’t Ready for the Truth (Topic Tuesday)

In this episode of Topic Tuesday I discuss:
1. Doing high level Taekwondo when you started in your twenties.
2. What is the best way to help guide people to understand what is true?

[@andywilliams3711]

I started TAEKWONDO at the age of 29 and I have a second degree black belt and I’m working on moving up

[@tkdguide]

@@andywilliams3711 excellent

[@Keisha_TKD_NP]

Same! I’m 35 and working toward my second degree. And I plan to keep going ❤ 🥋 ❤

[@combatlearning]

Ultimately, if you can't even engage in a game of 1 on 1 tag, you can't train striking (or grappling for that matter). Thankfully, all able bodied children can do this, and most adults can, too. It's a misconception that my methodology or CLA in general is for high octane Olympic training. Most of what I think about is oriented at getting beginners functional in a safe way. But you are right that applied to high performance environments, it absolutely would produce insane athletes. I'm in the process of opening a TKD club. The way I'm structuring the program from scratch, students can engage in how much or how little sparring they want, because the base program is about athletic skills, and there's a separate track for sport poomsae and creative weapons. Students can master it all or they can specialize, but they all have to be strong, mobile, and springy regardless of the sport modality they choose to express it in.

[@tkdguide]

@@combatlearning I will be very interested to see how you lay out your program, the results it produces and the perception. All the best to you on your venture. Also, sometimes I’m not clear in my speech. I understand that you can reduce the aliveness to not be high octane. What I’m saying is, you can’t easily control the perception people have of the exercises and how they categorize them in their head, once they are lower octane. I hope that you can solve this.

[@combatlearning]

@@tkdguide As a marketer and a student of verbal judo, I'm fairly confident I can solve this. I also recognize that some students and their parents simply will never have interest in contact sports, and that's okay. I have something for everyone. I just want them to move their bodies at the end of the day.

[@optomix3988]

At 38 I started over at TKD with my kids so that I could do it with them. I am 43 now. While I am not as fast/ flexible as I was in my teens and twenties. I am having fun and working towrads a healthy lifestyle with my kids.

[@tkdguide]

@@optomix3988 excellent!

[@BibbidiBoop]

Hello Paul, I have a question for topic Tuesday. I'm from Mexico, I started TKD when I was 8 years old, I became black belt and for some absurd reason, a year after, when I was 12 or 13 I decided to leave training TKD. My BIGGEST mistake and regret in my life. Now I'm 28, it's been 17 years or so, I miss TKD so much and I really want, not only to go back to TKD but also try it in a high level, but of course I'm scared my body won't respond that well as it did when I was a kid. What's your opinion? What advice could you give me?. Thank you very much and I really enjoy your videos!

[@asp9440]

My mind blew a couple of days attempting to understand how I was the only question, huh.

[@Hwoarang48]

Hey Paul! Kudos to you for all the content you have been making. It’s really educational and hilarious in all the right places😂. I have a question for the next topic Tuesday. Is it possible to become a true taekwondo athlete if you are taking one-on-one classes, but your trainer is unable to spar with you due to his injuries and age? Or does one necessarily need a partner to practice with at a certain level? I always wanted to try my hand at martial arts, and I did try a year and a half ago. I’m 36 now and my blue belt test is due at the end of August. I’m already starting to feel some confidence and I wonder if I need to find a partner or keep on doing what I’m doing now. Thanks in advance. Greetings from Moldova btw.

[@cindypearson6324]

After training consistently in TKD for over 17 years now I have to agree with you that my ability to physically dominate someone is very limited. But how it has strengthened my mind, body and situational awareness is monumental! I believe early on learning those break holds, strikes & optimal body targets gave me an overall greater confidence level. Do you feel that having this foundation can keep you calmer in a confrontational situation, especially if encountering a possible violent crime?

[@tkdguide]

@@cindypearson6324 thank you for the comment. I do think those things still put you far ahead of where you would be if you didn’t study martial arts. It certainly has some value. In fact, those break holds are the only part of my training I have ever used in real life.

[@Keisha_TKD_NP]

I have a question for topic Tuesday. In sparring I feel like I hold back ever since I accidentally hurt one of my peers. How do I get past that and fight to my full potential again? I’m not an aggressive fighter but as a black belt I want to get better but if I’m afraid to do head shots or practice back kicks etc how will I get better??? Help! 😢

[@JurgisMykolasJatautis]

I've started itf tkd two years before, am 34 now. I participate in competition every three mont😅 Therefore, I really believe it depends a lot on your general fitness level. Moreover, I think, many people are not emphasizes this nutrion/sleep/recovery [supplements] stuff enough. Consequently, they become way less physically developed as they could. To me, this is the main reason why arts such as karate/taekwondo are becoming a meme to masses nowadays 😅

[@tkdguide]

@@JurgisMykolasJatautis no doubt you can do just fine starting in your 20’s and 30’s. World class though? Maybe if you have a tremendous athletic foundation already built.

[@MichaelT83310]

Questions for topic Tuesday : Do you think Hapkido has any value as a grappling style to compliment tkd, or should students look outside their dojang for things like bjj (for students who attend dojang that have both tkd and Hapkido programs). What’s your opinion on shotokan karate and have you ever trained in it? Are there any dietary supplements that you recommend to take while practicing tkd to avoid injury, such as collagen?

[@johnstalions5313]

Hello sir, I’m wondering if you can speak about at what level I should be at before considering opening my own school. My son and I have both been training and have I have a long term goal of having a school together. My question is does it make a difference of 3rd degree, 4th, 5th or at what level would be appropriate to have my own school. I currently am a certified instructor where I am and I enjoy teaching, but don’t want to rush the business side of it if it would be counterproductive

[@JustAcobrakaiFan173]

Hello paul , l have a question for topic Tuesday, lm from jordan and l started taekwondo for about two months ago , my question is how to use blocks such as inner block or high especially, because l feel confused and l wanna integrate what l had learned with real life.... Secondly, today l have a white belt test could you please give me some tips or advice ,, l' ll be grateful for you 🙏

[@combatlearning]

How do you get so bronze dude I am jealous

[@tkdguide]

@@combatlearning I am blessed to not burn in the sun.

[@alistaircorstorphine7469]

Hi Sir , I am Currently learning Jhoon gun ( an ITF pattern ) it’s proving a bit tricky , any advice ( I got till February next year to perfect it )