Practice at home

**Lord Henry** · 10-07-2009, 13:23

I've been away from budoseek for a while but I'm back now with a few questions, the first of which regards practicing TKD at home.

Between a job, a girlfriend, and a number of other commitments I get to spend at best two hours a week at the dojong. For the first year or so this was fine but recently I have really started to feel that this is holding back my progress. I think that I'm now at a point where fitness (which of course can always be better) is well ahead of my technique and spending the free periods that I have at home doing exercises or going for a run can only help so much. What I need is some way to improve my technique on my own time.

I live in a flat, so I have no outside space. I have a small room (3m x 2m, 10' x 6'6") where I exercise and that's pretty much all I've got. I've considered putting up a Muay Thai bag but I will need to check if the ceiling can take it.

So, any tips? What can I do, on my own, with little or no equipment, to improve my technique? Thanks in advance for all the help.

Owen

**TonyU** · 10-07-2009, 13:44

A number of things.

1. Visualization, sit quietly and visually go through your forms or some particular techniques.

2. Forms, if yu can, and have the room practice your forms. There are a couple of different ways to do this, Do the whole forms, slow (ala Tai Chi) hard, and break it down. Practice the techniques within the form that gives the more trouble. Once you feel comfortable with it, do the form again.

3. Again if you have the room, practice some techniques. Again, especially the ones that give most trouble. If you learn something new go home and keep practicing it.

4. Keep a notebook. Write down techniques and things you learned through your training.

As far as a bag, again if you have the room and you girlfriend or neighbors won't mind, go for it.

If there's a park nearby, go there, find a nice spot and workout there.

Also supplement with warmups and flexibility training (after a good warmup).

I'm sure others will have more.

**Eliz** · 10-07-2009, 14:26

I think Tony pretty well covered it.

Two of his suggestions have worked great for me:
-Visualizing the form
-In cramped space, breaking the form down and working specific techniques

In addition, I had a student who used to practice in the lunch room at his work. I had another student who used to practice IN his office. I think wherever you can find a little time and space and a moment to yourself is more then sufficient.

Good luck

**Kwon Pup Maze** · 10-07-2009, 16:43

One thing I tell students is to use a chair.

Kicking over the chair will get your kicks high, 100 kicks over a chair will make great kicks.

Doing push ups are great for upper body strength, doing push ups with your feet on the chair or your chest between two chairs will work more muscles.

Use the chair to stretch or do leg lifts.

Use your imagination.

**karateguy** · 10-07-2009, 18:52

you can also find bags that fold aways.. And make pushups your friend

**Jonathan Randall** · 10-07-2009, 19:03

Been there, done that, same art...

There's been some excellent advice so far and doing my hyungs very, very slowly - as has been recommended here - allowed me to uncover flaws in my balance, positioning and technique that I did not realize were there and doing slow, slow concentration kicks from working stances (sparring, front stance, etc.) without bobbing up and down or telegraphing in any manner, will really help your technique.

Also, when working alone, try to find applications (multiple, if possible) for each movement in your form. Is a transition just a transition from one movement to another, or is it also a sweep or something else entirely?

Finally, if you are ITF (forms, not necessarily association) or WTF get the best DVD's you can buy that break down each form, basic, etc. and perform them both slowly and quickly. As most here have pointed out, learning a martial art without any background by video is full of problems - but since you are already in class and have been for some time, they can be one heck of a supplement. In any case, best wishes in your training and keep plugging. Even if you are not "growing" now as you would like, at least you are not falling behind. When time permits, you will advance again and be thankful you persevered through this time period.

**torbjork** · 10-08-2009, 02:59

Also, get a copy of your org's technical manual and read it to tatters. Reading up on nutrition, general sports/athletics "best practice", and other informational stuff can't hurt either. Sometimes the biggest leaps forward happen inside your head.

100 kicks over a chair will make great kicks.

...or some really bumpy shins and feet

**ASKKMA** · 10-21-2009, 14:35

Originally Posted by TonyU

A number of things.

1. Visualization, sit quietly and visually go through your forms or some particular techniques.

2. Forms, if yu can, and have the room practice your forms. There are a couple of different ways to do this, Do the whole forms, slow (ala Tai Chi) hard, and break it down. Practice the techniques within the form that gives the more trouble. Once you feel comfortable with it, do the form again.

3. Again if you have the room, practice some techniques. Again, especially the ones that give most trouble. If you learn something new go home and keep practicing it.

4. Keep a notebook. Write down techniques and things you learned through your training.

As far as a bag, again if you have the room and you girlfriend or neighbors won't mind, go for it.

If there's a park nearby, go there, find a nice spot and workout there.

Also supplement with warmups and flexibility training (after a good warmup).

I'm sure others will have more.

Good advice. Try to practice your forms as much as possible. Any free 15 minutes I get at work I go into the air handler room & go over my forms.

How long are you allowed for lunch? If you have a park or a field close by, I would suggest bringing a pair of sweat pants, tshirt & shoes & practicing there. There is a park close to my job that I run sprints & practice kicks at during my lunch breaks.