How do you train for a Tae Kwon Do tournament?

Answer 1

It is best to have a coach or Instructor who has plenty of tournament experience to train you and guide you through the process.

First, you need to know what the rules of the tournament are, since they can vary from one tournament to the next. You also need to improve your skills by practicing your techniques, working on balance, timing, speed, accuracy, and endurance.

There are different events that you could compete in depending on what the tournament offers. If you are competing in forms competition, you need to know your current rank form well, and practice it daily until it can be done fluently with good skills. If you are competing in Board Breaking, you should be able to do the same break consistently, at least 10 times in a row without missing or failing to break. Using the plastic re-breakable boards helps to save money.

If you are going to compete in sparring, it is best to have your own protective gear, and train with a partner of similar size, weight, age, rank and skill level (or one that is more skilled to push you to your highest potential). The best way to get good at tournaments is to participate in many tournaments and gain the experience first hand. If you are new to tournaments, don't expect to win every tournament, but just do your best. After each tournament, analyze what happened, and go back to the classroom to work on improvements (it helps to have someone video your tournament matches).

Above all else, you need the experienced coach to teach you strategies, and give you training tips to work on your weak areas.