TKD Competition - Patterns!

memphis

Hi guys/gals,

Just a quick question with regard to competitions.

Can you do a pattern in the patterns section of a competition that is above the highest patern you are required to know for your current grade.

I know white belts can do say, Chon Ji or Dan-Gun, which are only a few grades higher, but could I as a green tag do a black belt pattern such as Hwa-rang tul, in a competition? Or must I be a black belt to perform such a tul?

Just curious really!

Memphis

mark.leonard

Pretty sure that Hwa Rang is for Black tag and as such is a colored belt pattern but that aside, it usually depends on the rules of the competition. Some Comps are strict about pattern choice while others are extremely open, contact the organiser and find out from him which line he takes.

pma-ire

Mark, I found that where we (TKDI) trained guys would call Chung Moo a colour belt tul, others would call it a bb tul?

But Haw Rang is colour belt for sure.

Memphis, as Mark said check it out with the guys running the event. But if you can pull off a tul from a grade higher to your present supposed level in some comps it can count as extra points for effort.

But you have to nail it, and I mean in the technical style of the judges, because if it's a comp run by an association you are not part of then what would get you an A at a grading might not get you a good score with them as they might feel that they could not score you well due to differences in preforming style :rolleyes:

Comps are a sticky subject

Tim_Murphy

Pattern judging can be fairly dodgy if you people practise different styles, most noticeably with sine wave or without. Judges nearly always go with people who do patterns the way they do it themselves.
As the lads said, check with your instructor or whoever is organising the event. There aren't really hard and fast rules about this kind of stuff.

memphis

Thanks guys.

Will have a word with my instructor and see what he has to say on the matter, but on reflection I'm sure he wouldn't show us the Tul if he didn't want us to use it!!

Memph

brenlong

You probably won't get extra points for performing a pattern which is above your grade level.
You'll only be graded on how a pattern is performed, the quality of the technique, and proper physical and mental execution.

A perfectly executed Chon Ji would score far better than a not so perfect Hwa Rang.

My advice, stick to a pattern that you already know very well, and practice it until you know you've got it nailed in all aspects.

dudara

I've assisted in the running of a few tournaments, really as a gopher, but it really opened my eyes to how judges think and what they look for. I've sat at the top table keeping score for the chairman with the 5 pattern judges sitting in a row in front of me. The chairman would whisper to me what to look at, and point out the mistakes that the competitors make. They really see everything.

Doing a pattern above your grade would mark you out. And not in a good way. There's a reason why it's a pattern for a higher grade. You haven't learned all the techniques for it yet. You would really have to nail it. Better than better.

I've seen dead heats, where after doing the prescribed pattern, the judges are tied and the competitors can select a pattern of their choosing. Generally, the competitor who goes for the simple pattern and nails it will win.

memphis

Thanks everyone for your replies,

Few very valid points there from Dudara and Brenlong. It really makes no difference as to what pattern I do, its the accuracy of the techniques, stances, and general performance that they look for.

I was thinking, it'd impress the judges showing that you have learnt a higher grades Tul, guess I'm wrong!!!!

memphis

Just thought I'd add this link

www.tcd.ie/Clubs/Taekwondo/Patterns.php

Its one of the best sites I've come across yet with step by step diagrams of TKD tuls, certainly a good site to use as a learning tool.

And well done to the TCD crowd (if any students on here) ona cool website, very informative!!

pma-ire

memphis wrote:

Just thought I'd add this link

www.tcd.ie/Clubs/Taekwondo/Patterns.php

Its one of the best sites I've come across yet with step by step diagrams of TKD tuls, certainly a good site to use as a learning tool.

And well done to the TCD crowd (if any students on here) ona cool website, very informative!!

Yeah! That is a brill addition to the site pity it don't go up higher in the tuls

memphis

I spoke to my instructor on this matter after training at the weekend, he said there is no problem doing a higher pattern for a competition, but like ye said above there is a reason it is a higher tul, and I'd really have to have it off to perfection.

Thanks all for your replies, much appreciated!!