If you're reading this "Seniors" blog, you probably remember when filming yourself involved a movie camera, an 8mm cartridge, a projector, and a folding screen. But you probably don't remember capturing your Taekwondo moves on film, because the process took much too long.
Welcome to 2015. Today you most likely own an iPhone or an iPad. If not, a good friend of yours does. And since videotaping your Taekwondo techniques is a two-person job anyway, call upon that good friend to play director while you play action star.
We're now in June, and the halfway point of the year is an excellent time to assess your progress in forms, or poomsae, as well as individual techniques. It doesn't matter whether you're a beginner or a seasoned black belt. Taking a hard look at your stances, kicks, strikes, and blocks always produces some useful feedback that will help you improve your Taekwondo skills. And thanks to modern hand-held technology, shooting some video footage is quick and painless.
Videotaping training sessions is something that most members of the USA Taekwondo National Poomsae Team do on a regular basis. Even though a number of these team members are world champions in their respective age divisions, they realize that they can always improve something: the way the thumbs are held in a ridge-hand block; the speed and fluidity of a double punch; the foot position in a back stance; or the height of a side kick. Eliminating even minor technical flaws can easily spell the difference between finishing first and fourth in championship competition. More importantly, it can distinguish between the old you and the new you. Taekwondo is about a lifetime of improvement, so you never outgrow the need for objective feedback.
Why do videos help? I offer two important reasons. First, how you feel you're executing a particular technique is probably quite different from how you're actually doing it. Example: we all sometimes feel that our kicks are sky high when, in fact, they're barely face high. Even when kicking in front of a large mirror, you're likely to overestimate the height and speed of your kicks. Watching a video can correct that misinformation. You may not like what you see, but it's nice to identify problems in the privacy of your own home rather than in the center ring of a major tournament.
Second, the nifty videos that an iPhone and iPad produce will allow you to zero in on particular frames and, if you wish, to print them out. Why not capture your key problems in a series of still photos, then refer to them in the weeks ahead of a test or tournament? Because we all have an infinite variety of techniques and combinations to master, we sometimes lose track of the movements that need extra work. Tape a few pictures to your wall, and refer to them whenever you train. Naturally, it may make sense to bring some of these photos to the dojang and let your master instructor comment on what he or she sees. A little tough love never hurt anyone.
If you're not videotaping your Taekwondo techniques, you're missing out on a simple but highly effective means of elevating your performance. Before the year is half over, please shoot some video and see what happens.
Train well.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Taekwondo After 65
No, that's not a misprint. It's "Taekwondo After 65," not "Taekwondo After 15." While it's true that many Taekwondo classes are comprised exclusively of teens and pre-teens, it's also true that a great many men and women over 65 are still active after 30 or 40 years of Taekwondo training while others their age are just taking up this rejuvenating martial art.
As long as your doctor clears you for vigorous exercise, you'll find that Taekwondo can work wonders for your body and mind. It's not quite a fountain of youth . . . but it's close.
If you're taking up Taekwondo for the first time or resuming your studies after a prolonged layoff, keep these two bits of advice in mind:
1. Set reasonable goals
2. Adjust to the biomechanics of aging.
When it comes to setting goals, make sure you fine-tune your training schedule to accommodate both the length of time it will take to get in shape and the level of achievement you can logically expect. If you want to join the U.S. Olympic team in six months, you'll be disappointed. It ain't gonna happen. No one 65 or older is going to be sparring on the Olympic stage, and no one at any age can go from a standing start to Olympic glory in six months. But if your aim is, let's say, to earn a black belt in three years -- and to get in wonderful shape along the way -- there's a reasonable chance you can get there. You'll certainly get in shape. Whether you earn the black belt on schedule is basically a matter of choice. If you choose to put in the time and effort, you can probably succeed. If not, you'll still be better off for all the work you've put in. It's what you learn -- and not the color of the belt -- that matters.
Throughout your training you must, of course, accept the realities of aging. You don't need a medical degree to realize that athletes who are 65 and older face some challenges that kids 15 or 16 probably don't. Even elite athletes begin losing something as they age, no matter how hard they train. Flexibility, muscle mass, endurance, and quickness are among the numerous biomarkers that can be affected. And at 65+ you may have joint or recovery issues that didn't affect you 50 years ago. But, trust me, you can work around virtually any reduction in capability. Just remember that you're competing with no one but yourself. Taekwondo is about getting your mind and body in the best shape possible . . . and then maintaining that level to the best of your ability. For how long? Forever, naturally.
Find a school that has a nucleus of adult students, and then speak with the master instructor to make sure he or she is prepared to work with someone your age. You should not be expected to train immediately with a group of 30-year-olds. But once you've grown accustomed to the program and carefully eased yourself into a better level of fitness, you'll most likely be keeping up with everyone else in the class. You know your body best. Set reasonable goals, and recognize that whipping an older body into shape takes some time.
Good luck, and good training.
As long as your doctor clears you for vigorous exercise, you'll find that Taekwondo can work wonders for your body and mind. It's not quite a fountain of youth . . . but it's close.
If you're taking up Taekwondo for the first time or resuming your studies after a prolonged layoff, keep these two bits of advice in mind:
1. Set reasonable goals
2. Adjust to the biomechanics of aging.
When it comes to setting goals, make sure you fine-tune your training schedule to accommodate both the length of time it will take to get in shape and the level of achievement you can logically expect. If you want to join the U.S. Olympic team in six months, you'll be disappointed. It ain't gonna happen. No one 65 or older is going to be sparring on the Olympic stage, and no one at any age can go from a standing start to Olympic glory in six months. But if your aim is, let's say, to earn a black belt in three years -- and to get in wonderful shape along the way -- there's a reasonable chance you can get there. You'll certainly get in shape. Whether you earn the black belt on schedule is basically a matter of choice. If you choose to put in the time and effort, you can probably succeed. If not, you'll still be better off for all the work you've put in. It's what you learn -- and not the color of the belt -- that matters.
Throughout your training you must, of course, accept the realities of aging. You don't need a medical degree to realize that athletes who are 65 and older face some challenges that kids 15 or 16 probably don't. Even elite athletes begin losing something as they age, no matter how hard they train. Flexibility, muscle mass, endurance, and quickness are among the numerous biomarkers that can be affected. And at 65+ you may have joint or recovery issues that didn't affect you 50 years ago. But, trust me, you can work around virtually any reduction in capability. Just remember that you're competing with no one but yourself. Taekwondo is about getting your mind and body in the best shape possible . . . and then maintaining that level to the best of your ability. For how long? Forever, naturally.
Find a school that has a nucleus of adult students, and then speak with the master instructor to make sure he or she is prepared to work with someone your age. You should not be expected to train immediately with a group of 30-year-olds. But once you've grown accustomed to the program and carefully eased yourself into a better level of fitness, you'll most likely be keeping up with everyone else in the class. You know your body best. Set reasonable goals, and recognize that whipping an older body into shape takes some time.
Good luck, and good training.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Inviting Seniors to this New Jersey Championship
An exciting new tournament is just around the corner, and, yes, there are separate divisions for Taekwondo seniors. The First Annual New Jersey President's Cup Championship will take place on Sunday, April 19th, at South Plainfield High School. And this could easily become one of the most important annual events on the New Jersey martial-arts calendar.
One reason is that the tournament director is Master Kevin Vigneri, who is president of the New Jersey State Taekwondo Association. If the name sounds familiar, that's because he's the same person who has successfully run the annual USA Taekwondo New Jersey State Championships. In other words, we have here someone who knows how to organize a major event.
Another reason is that the President's Cup will also serve as the official team trials for the New Jersey State Taekwondo Team. Team members will represent the State in other 2015 tournaments.
And finally, the President's Cup has made room for seniors. In addition to all the usual younger age groups, the tournament features 41-50, 51-60, and 61+ divisions for older competitors. And that's why I'm excited about this new event. I'm tired of tournament directors limiting competition to the kids, so I will do all I can to support tournaments that acknowledge the value of keeping our most veteran Taekwondo athletes in the game.
The President's Cup will feature competition in four areas:
-- WTF forms (for competitors affiliated with the World Taekwondo Federation)
-- Open forms (for all non-WTF athletes)
-- Sparring
-- Breaking
Competitors will be grouped by age as well as belt color, from white to black. And although the tournament will begin at 8:30 a.m., adult athletes won't have to check in until 3:00 p.m. This, by the way, is a really big deal. I'm sure that many of you have had the experience of showing up in the early morning, as required, and then not being called for your event until 5:30 p.m. Thanks, Master Vigneri, for devising a better system.
For more information about the First Annual New Jersey President's Cup Championship, you can click over to President's Cup online or email "MasterVigneri at aol.com." [Use the @ symbol when emailing. We don't show it here in order to deter spammers.]
Hope to see you on April 19th! Good luck, and good training.
One reason is that the tournament director is Master Kevin Vigneri, who is president of the New Jersey State Taekwondo Association. If the name sounds familiar, that's because he's the same person who has successfully run the annual USA Taekwondo New Jersey State Championships. In other words, we have here someone who knows how to organize a major event.
Another reason is that the President's Cup will also serve as the official team trials for the New Jersey State Taekwondo Team. Team members will represent the State in other 2015 tournaments.
And finally, the President's Cup has made room for seniors. In addition to all the usual younger age groups, the tournament features 41-50, 51-60, and 61+ divisions for older competitors. And that's why I'm excited about this new event. I'm tired of tournament directors limiting competition to the kids, so I will do all I can to support tournaments that acknowledge the value of keeping our most veteran Taekwondo athletes in the game.
The President's Cup will feature competition in four areas:
-- WTF forms (for competitors affiliated with the World Taekwondo Federation)
-- Open forms (for all non-WTF athletes)
-- Sparring
-- Breaking
Competitors will be grouped by age as well as belt color, from white to black. And although the tournament will begin at 8:30 a.m., adult athletes won't have to check in until 3:00 p.m. This, by the way, is a really big deal. I'm sure that many of you have had the experience of showing up in the early morning, as required, and then not being called for your event until 5:30 p.m. Thanks, Master Vigneri, for devising a better system.
For more information about the First Annual New Jersey President's Cup Championship, you can click over to President's Cup online or email "MasterVigneri at aol.com." [Use the @ symbol when emailing. We don't show it here in order to deter spammers.]
Hope to see you on April 19th! Good luck, and good training.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)