Dr. Misha Thackrey Head Coach, U.S. National Taekwondo Poomsae Team
In years gone by, Tae Kwon-Do sparring champions prepared for competition by fighting countless rounds in the do-jang, supplemented by Poomse practice and miles of running. In recent times, however, successful Taekwondo athletes have adopted Modern Training Methods (MTM), a sport science-derived approach characterized by a periodized training plan, strength and conditioning workouts, development of part-skills, situational drills, and psychological training-actual sparring practice is de-emphasized to allow focus on skill-building and to avoid competition-limiting injuries. Similarly, Poomse competitors used to train by doing thousands and thousands of repetitions of their form in the do-jang. However, in recent times successful Poomsae athletes have also come to adopt MTM, especially in Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Poomsae MTM requires that the coach and athlete follow a periodized training plan. Periodized means that the training year is parsed into phases, each lasting several months with its own special emphasis (typically Preparatory Phase, Competitive Phase, and Transition Phase); each Phase is further broken down into smaller cycles of activity and recovery. This periodized plan aims to have training peaks coincide with important competitions. Rather than merely emphasizing massive rote repetitions of Poomsae, MTM devotes the bulk of training time to strengthening and conditioning specific muscle groups, increasing range of motion, improving balance, sharpening part-skills, and developing psychological focus. Cross-training, nutrition, sleep, and recovery time are also integral to the process. Repetitions of whole Poomsae then productively build upon this base of general athleticism and sport-specific part-skills. Video review gives timely feedback and opportunity for self-correction. Structured Visualization give mental rehearsal for what the athlete will actually experience on game day (Thackrey, M., & Thackrey, T. 2003, Winter. Taekwondo Today, p. 41). Poomsae athletes may also draw upon the expertise of a variety of specialty coaches, such as experts in exercise physiology, physical therapy, gymnastics, dance, and sport psychology.
At the highest levels of competition all Poomsae athletes know their forms well-differences between winners and losers have to do mainly with presentation, and hour for hour MTM training is the best way to enhance performance in modern Sport Poomsae.