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I haven't had a chance to finish reading all the info that's been included in this thread... But have learnt some things already. Figured it was about time to add my two bobs worth though...
First some background...
I'm a red belt 1 tip in tae kwon do... 3 gradings left to black. I have trainied in tae kwon do for 8 years. I also have a number of years western boxing experience... was about to start moving into the competition stages, when realised I'd grown bored of it and moved into Tae Kwon Do.
As a boxer, I know the value of keeping my guard up, and only too well the devestation that can result from a good hit on the noggin... My tae kwon do will not train any one for competition... They have a strict policy of training for self defence situations on the street & anything involving competition is not a situation you are likely to be confronted with on the street. I.e. Nobody is gonna stand there and go let me get a ref.
In my sparring sessions, I will always start with my hands around my head & keeping a good strong guard to protect my head... Call me crazy if you will, but I LOVE my head. Our instructors will always be yelling at everyone to keep their hands around their head, however once I have felt out my opponet, I will adjust my defence stance to best counter their abilities... I have learnt the hard way a number of times what a good quick swift kick to the groin area can do to a person... So If they are a head hunter, I will keep a high guard, if a groin hunter, I'll keep a low guard. If they are quite adept at groin & head hunting, I'll use a mid guard. A low or mid guard is no good unless you are reasonably confident at getting your hands up to your head in time to protect your head, but at the same time, a high guard is useless, when you've just been front kicked in the groin. I'm not PERFECT, far from it... I've had my fair share of mistakes over the last 20 years... I've had my nose broken 20+ times... it is so broken now, that it can't be broken any more... Hit me hard in the nose and I get some tears in my eyes and a major jonesing to exact some revenge, on the other side of the coin I've had a couple of days where I can't walk for a day or two...
Traditionally in tae Kwon Do, as it was an amalgamation of virtally all korean martial arts, there was little that was restricted in tae Kwon Do training... Just about anything went... It's been what is termed, "REFINEMENT" of the art that has removed a lot of techniques and Tae Kwon Do. The School I Train with are moving back to what I consider a more purist Tae kwon Do system, in so far as you can use any & all techniques required to win the life and death battle of a real fight... For this reason, many of our instructors have learnt Aikido, Boxing & Filipino Kali Sticks to incorporate into our Tae Kwon Do system. I myself have also studied Aikido & judo, so that I can use the ground as a greater opponent of my opponent, & Capoeria, to re-introduce the sweep kicks for overly high attackers... We emphasise evolution of the art for Self Defence, much as it was originally planned for. Having viewed some of the fights, I would use a different method again to solve the situation...
All competition fighters are very conservative fighters, holding back and waiting for an opening. When people do this I really on another method to win the confrontation, an old boxing and military mantra... "Maximum Speed, Power & Agression (Controlled)" This will 99% of the time create an opening. Of course the techniques I would be using would be very different to the rule book as well.
I'm always reminded of having a play spar with a mate of mine, a National Competitor in Tae Kwon Do three gradins above me at the time. He tried a head kick, at which I dropped low and swept the other leg... He said to me "You can't do that", I said "Do you see a ref?"
So a lot of your guard position comes down to what is comfortable and practical... i've never been in a competition, I find it offensive to my art, but it may just be that keeping a low guard is what they find convenient & practical.
Anyway, that my two bobs worth of a rant... Hopefully somebody finds it useful.
First some background...
I'm a red belt 1 tip in tae kwon do... 3 gradings left to black. I have trainied in tae kwon do for 8 years. I also have a number of years western boxing experience... was about to start moving into the competition stages, when realised I'd grown bored of it and moved into Tae Kwon Do.
As a boxer, I know the value of keeping my guard up, and only too well the devestation that can result from a good hit on the noggin... My tae kwon do will not train any one for competition... They have a strict policy of training for self defence situations on the street & anything involving competition is not a situation you are likely to be confronted with on the street. I.e. Nobody is gonna stand there and go let me get a ref.
In my sparring sessions, I will always start with my hands around my head & keeping a good strong guard to protect my head... Call me crazy if you will, but I LOVE my head. Our instructors will always be yelling at everyone to keep their hands around their head, however once I have felt out my opponet, I will adjust my defence stance to best counter their abilities... I have learnt the hard way a number of times what a good quick swift kick to the groin area can do to a person... So If they are a head hunter, I will keep a high guard, if a groin hunter, I'll keep a low guard. If they are quite adept at groin & head hunting, I'll use a mid guard. A low or mid guard is no good unless you are reasonably confident at getting your hands up to your head in time to protect your head, but at the same time, a high guard is useless, when you've just been front kicked in the groin. I'm not PERFECT, far from it... I've had my fair share of mistakes over the last 20 years... I've had my nose broken 20+ times... it is so broken now, that it can't be broken any more... Hit me hard in the nose and I get some tears in my eyes and a major jonesing to exact some revenge, on the other side of the coin I've had a couple of days where I can't walk for a day or two...
Traditionally in tae Kwon Do, as it was an amalgamation of virtally all korean martial arts, there was little that was restricted in tae Kwon Do training... Just about anything went... It's been what is termed, "REFINEMENT" of the art that has removed a lot of techniques and Tae Kwon Do. The School I Train with are moving back to what I consider a more purist Tae kwon Do system, in so far as you can use any & all techniques required to win the life and death battle of a real fight... For this reason, many of our instructors have learnt Aikido, Boxing & Filipino Kali Sticks to incorporate into our Tae Kwon Do system. I myself have also studied Aikido & judo, so that I can use the ground as a greater opponent of my opponent, & Capoeria, to re-introduce the sweep kicks for overly high attackers... We emphasise evolution of the art for Self Defence, much as it was originally planned for. Having viewed some of the fights, I would use a different method again to solve the situation...
All competition fighters are very conservative fighters, holding back and waiting for an opening. When people do this I really on another method to win the confrontation, an old boxing and military mantra... "Maximum Speed, Power & Agression (Controlled)" This will 99% of the time create an opening. Of course the techniques I would be using would be very different to the rule book as well.
I'm always reminded of having a play spar with a mate of mine, a National Competitor in Tae Kwon Do three gradins above me at the time. He tried a head kick, at which I dropped low and swept the other leg... He said to me "You can't do that", I said "Do you see a ref?"
So a lot of your guard position comes down to what is comfortable and practical... i've never been in a competition, I find it offensive to my art, but it may just be that keeping a low guard is what they find convenient & practical.
Anyway, that my two bobs worth of a rant... Hopefully somebody finds it useful.
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