Martial Arts Sparring

Ok, this has been bugging me for years, that a series of steps in WTF taekwondo’s Taeguek 7 seems wrong in application. I’m not used to applying bunkai to WTF forms, so this is my first attempt at it. I welcome any comments on the subject. For those who may be offended, please forgive the references to Japanese terminology. The concept of bunkai (korean: bunhae) does not officially exist in Taekwondo. But I have been going through an epiphany in Aikido when performing some movements that seem all too familiar in Taekwondo. So as I am familiar with the Japanese phrases a la Aikido, I apply them to TKD.

In Taeguek 7 the first 4 movements are thus:

1) From ready stance (north), turn L (west) into tiger stance, R hand push block
2) R (rear) leg front kick, retract foot into same tiger stance, L inside block
3) turn R (east, 180 degrees) into tiger stance, L hand push block
4) L (rear) leg front kick, retract foot into same tiger stance, R inside block

Problems:
a) At the end of 2), defender leaves with a block (this is deliberate – it’s a makki, or a block) not a strike. One does not move off the line as one should when blocking, but it IS nevertheless defined as a block. One should then assume that the L hand is grabbed, otherwise why turn away from your opponent without striking him? Even if you define the block as a strike, it is such a weak strike that it is unlikely to stop anyone. There is no reasonable alternative explanation than the "block" is grabbed (thus introducing Aiki in taekwondo – offering the "block" as bait for the next movement) Because really: does one block a strike and then simply turn his back to the opponent who just struck?

b) Beginning the transition from 2) to 3), defender pivots to turn – thus pulling the opponent. Aikidoists here must cringe when they see this, I’m sure other stylists would too. Wouldn’t it thus be better to step backward and toward the opponent (Japanese: tenkan) rather than a pivot (Japanese: hentai) as is required for the form?

c) The tiger stances bug me too: the purpose of the tiger stance is to reduce weight on the front foot so as to be used for a kick, push, or foot-block (like crescent). But yet, we shift weight forward and kick with the rear leg (the one supporting all of the body weight). Whether we are analyzing for sparring or for self defense, this makes no sense – a rear leg kick is inherently slower. Maybe, then, we must assume that our attacker ALSO has control of our front leg. If this is the case, then, the transition from 2) to 3) is not possible unless doing alternatively as I suggest (or we assume our opponent doesn’t have control of front leg).

What I’m suggesting is that in transition from 2) to 3), we execute what we call (Japanese: tai no henko), modified slightly so that in 3), we are in a tiger stance and are blocking with the L (grabbed) hand; as it is pushed (hence the name) to the RIGHT side, this is a very plausible explanation. The catch is that we have to modify the pivot, so that we perform a tenkan, and not a hentai.

One might argue that instead of making such a radical change (to a tenkan), then instead simple slide forward with the already-forward foot – this would make sense with the tiger stance and would be a more subtle change. The problem, as any Aikidoist would point out, that in the pivot for the grab, you are in a very compromized stance upon turning: your wrong foot (the right foot) is foward when the left should be forward.

Can anyone tell me if, in Aikido, it is ever appropriate to perform tainohenko with a hentai and not a tenkan?

So that’s the beginning of my bunkai, albeit in the first 4 movements – and exposing a nasty flaw in the form. How did I do?

I brought this concept up to a few Taekwondo masters (6th dan ITF, 8th dan WTF, and 7th dan WTF). They all agree that the Taeguek forms appear to have been hastily assembled, and likely without forethought to bunhae/bunkai, and that any attempt to do so is likely to expose such problems as this, which to them my conclusions sound reasonable. As a result, they give me high marks for endeavoring into this area of Taekwondo.

Any comments? I am particularly interested in opinions from stylists from arts, like Karate, where bunkai is common, and from Aikido (since I borrowed a technique, and not being very proficient in Aikido I want to make sure that my observations are correct), and of course from anyone who knows Taeguek 7.

Thanks
yeah, this would have been nice to show, sorry!!

yes, bunkai seems very rare in wtf (IDK about other korean styles, I’m not familiar). many WTF instructors apply and know so little bunkai and many are even dismissive of the concept. @pugpaws: yeah, I gotta cut down on words. sorry…
@karate dave, I’ll look at the links tonite, but please share your analysis.
@sifu – you are so right about lack f instruction on stance transitions – it’s horrible to see otherwise talented martial artists bungling forms this way.
@karate Dave – yes!! the first video!