by Master Earl Weiss
Published in the Human Weapon June 1998
a) These combinations are designed to create or take advantage of an opening in your opponent's defenses. This is a key strategy for scoring.
1. The Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do (Vol. 5 sparring principles #3) states: "It is quite difficult to penetrate a well- guarded defensive position . . . the only way a student can score is either by breaking through the defense with sheer force or by luring his opponent out of his defensive posture by deception . . . There are a myriad of techniques the student can use in drawing out his opponent e.g. a feint with a high punch or strike could momentarily raise an opponent's guard . . . A change in guarding position or sleight feint . . . can induce the opponent to drop his guard. The opening the student has created may only last a split second, therefore it is of utmost importance that the student's attack be carried out immediately."
2. Sun Tzu in "The Art of War" states: "So when the front is prepared, the rear is lacking, and when the rear is prepared the front is lacking. Preparedness on the left means lack on the right, preparedness on the right means lack on the left. Preparedness everywhere means lack everywhere."
3. As Bill "Superfoot" Wallace is fond of saying, "Many people (incorrectly) use the Throw and Hope strategy. They throw a technique and hope it will score. You must create an opening.
b) If your abilities so greatly exceed those of your opponent, enabling you to score by launching a single technique, you don't need strategy. But, without this strategy, you will have tremendous difficulty scoring when you are more evenly matched.
General Principles
a) Any general principle can be violated (on occasion) to surprise an opponent who also knows these principles and may not expect them to be violated,
b) Use combinations that vary the level and/or the angle of attack. If done properly, this will accomplish one or more of the following;
1. Your opponent will be forced to block or evade a level or angle, thereby creating an opening at another level or angle; or
2. Your opponent will be ‘frozen' in the posture which served well to protect him from the first or second attack, allowing a subsequent attack to a level or angle that remains open.
c) The first attack in the combination should be done with the front hand or leg:
1. Since it is closer to the opponent than the rear hand or leg, it can reach the target in a shorter elapsed time; and
2. It will not turn the body full facing toward the opponent which keeps your target area minimized to any counterattack.
d) The last attack in the combination should be done with the hand or foot that finishes forward. This helps turn the body side or half facing at the end of the combination minimizing target exposure to counterattacks.
e) Pay attention to your opponent's reaction. Different opponents will react differently. While they may not create the opening you expect, they may create another opening that provides equal or better opportunities for scoring. You must be able to adapt and modify your techniques and combinations to capitalize on the opening created.
Combinations
Each technique in the combination should follow the preceding technique as soon as possible, while still allowing your opponent sufficient time to react to the previous technique . . . In order to cover more distance, your front foot should slide forward as your front arm extends.
