THE THEORY OF POWER FOR TAEKWON-DO
The theory of power is scientific and advance, allowing a student to attain 90-100% of their bodies potential.
So a smaller person can become very lethal, especially against an opponent moving towards them. There are
6 inter related ways to creating more power from each movement:
1. REACTION FORCE - In compliance with Newton's third law of motion. For each motion there is an equal and
opposite motion, just like a seesaw. So the more power the attacker puts forth, the more force that can be
potentially used against him. Combine his force coming in with your kick and he has to absorb both his power and
your kick. Being stationary you can generate reaction force by pulling the opposite arm back to your waist during
a block or a striking movement, allowing the big muscles of the waist to assist in generating power. You can use
that pulling motion by pulling your opponent in and striking (2 hands instead of 1).
2. CONCENTRATION - (TIMING) Focusing energy through a small area increases it velocity/pressure like water
through a hose that's half plugged by a human thumb, or a bullet from a gun. Concentrating every muscle of the
body to be tensed at the end of the blow, to one particular vital spot on your opponents anatomy.
3. EQUILIBRIUM - (BALANCE) A stance should always be stable yet flexible for both offensive and defensive
movements. To maintain proper equilibrium the center of gravity of the stance must fall on a straight line between
both legs if the weight is distributed evenly. Knee spring is important for maintaining balance for an instant attack
or recovery. The heel should always be on the ground.
4. BREATH CONTROL - This affects stamina, as well as power. A sharp exhale tightens the abdomen and aides in
the concentration of power. Never inhale while focusing a blow. Football players and weight lifters often use an
exhaling grunt to increase power. Check your students to see how they breathe.
5. SPEED - The most essential factor of force (candle example). Big rock from a short distance compared to a
small stone at full speed. Speed = Velocity x time (s = vt). You increase speed by relaxing your muscles so the
technique can acquire momentum. Tensed muscles hinder momentum or velocity, continuous movements with
relaxation.
Power = 1/2 mass x velocity squared ( P = 1/2 MV )
6. MASS - Free falling is the best power, because with increased speed comes an increase in weight. Mass is very
important in the creation of power for self defense, an example of mass could be brass knuckles, or a brick which
are old street weapons that are painful with force applied to them. Unarmed we can increase our weight by
dropping towards gravity. If I ran and jumped on a bathroom scale I would weigh more then just standing on it, or
if a penny was dropped off a tall building, when it lands, it will weigh more then a penny. By first rising our body
up, then dropping that weight we create kinetic energy, and we call this sine wave motion. Bringing are feet in
(backwards before forwards/wind up) we can naturally rise up. Also the use of knee spring like in a continuous
motion will create sine wave.
