subject: Martial Arts Asheville-Korean Karate at Sun Soo Taekwondo [print this page] Martial Arts Asheville-Korean Karate at Sun Soo Taekwondo
Martial Arts in Asheville
Similar to other practices, at Sun Soo Martial Arts School in Asheville, NC we use a series of prescribed moves that are predictable and safe for karate students to be able to develop some basic skills that ultimately become part of their nervous system vocabulary. Practicing one-steps in martial arts will eventually allow practitioners to appropriately defend themselves if necessary.
Traditionally one-steps are practiced against a right handed punch from a partner or opponent. The reason is because somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of the general population is right handed. It follows that if a person was attacked, the most common attack is a right-handed punch. Of course there are lots of other ways a person could be attacked. However if we were to bank on percentages, the right hand punch would be the most likely.
That being said, our martial arts students in Ashevile are starting to practice against left-handed punches as well, which is great because it develops both sides of the nervous system.
Here is an explanation of the first one-step taught to white belt tae kwon do students at Asheville Sun Soo: The right hand punch comes out from the attacker. The way in which that is initially handled by the blocker is to actually step towards the punch with an upward rising left hand high block, and step their left foot right next to the attackers left foot, putting the defender on the inside of the attackers stepping stance.
Note: When we practice formally in one-steps, we use whats called a front stance. However, the formal practice of stances in one-steps is really just about body and muscle development and awareness. If I was to execute a one-step on the street in response to an attack, most likely I am not going to be in formal front stance or back stance. I will be in some kind of hybrid something. Id be moving so fast that Im not going to consciously know what Im doing. Practicing formal positions is excellent body development.
As the blocker steps forward, the right hand retracts in response to that so he stays centered and connected to a strong block. With his right back hand loaded it puts him in position to project a right-handed strike, which is done with a palm heel strike to the teeth or nose.
Then the blocker immediately pulls the right hand back into a fist, and strikes again with a right-handed punch to the solar plexus. The solar plexus is an excellent target because it is an intersection of many different nerves. When struck effectively, it renders a person that is struck semi-paralyzed for a moment or two. And that gives the defender a chance to turn around and run if necessary.
