Lectures and Presentations

In addition to our physical training and education, we were also exposed to other facets important to further developing skills in Taekwondo. The first lecture held on our third day was also one of the more helpful, Sports Massage. Dr. Taeyoung Kim provided us with a background of the principles and application of Sports Massage and a summary of his findings when a regimine of massage is incorporated into the elite athlete's training program. In short, Dr. Kim has found sports massage to be a beneficial addition to improve the athlete's overall capabilities.

Although providing a detailed analysis of the doctor's work is not the point of this summary, a curious clarification did arise during the course of the hands-on portion of the lecture. As we practiced the procedures outlined by the instructor, one of our group knowledgeable in shiatsu was using these techniques on his partner. Upon observing these techniques, Dr. Kim's assistant became quite alarmed and mentioned that the technique being applied was detrimental. Even after it was explained to the doctor that there is a sound basis for massage in this manner, the doctor maintained her stated position.

One example of the shiatsu techniques being applied was the elbow being placed near the center of the back with a gentle, steady downward pressure onto a person lying flat on their stomach. The techniques that Dr. Kim demonstrated all revolved around a soft, circular motion being applied over the skin with an almost non-existent disturbance of the muscles and joints. The motion of the person performing the massage is directed in such a way that the motion ends at one of the "water-exit" points (primarily the armpits and groin). This type of massage is closely linked to the mechanisms of the lymphatic system.

After a lengthy conversation that required the aid of one of our translators and a Korean/English dictionary, we learned that the primary issue revolves around where on the body to apply pressure. Because the back is composed of a thin layer of muscle tissue relative to the legs or buttocks, applying pressure to a concentrated area only inhibits the muscle's ability to rid itself of toxins. Applying pressure to a larger or thicker muscle group such as the thigh is appropriate since the pressure will ensure that the deeper layers of tissue are affected by the treatment.

Following dinner that evening, we were given a lecture on dan, or breathing. This lecture was notable in that the techniques many of us had understood about proper breathing differed from what the instructor, Master Symyung Lee, emphasized. We were offered an alternative perspective that provided us with a great deal of food for thought.

Later in the week, we had the pleasure of a question/answer session with ________, a former World Champion, followed by Master _________, a former Olympic Champion. After a brief introductory presentation on what and how they attained their respective accomplishments, we were given the opportunity to ask questions. Their openness and congeniality in answering our questions was both illuminating and well-received. Querying these two individuals offered us the chance to gain a little personal insight on how to reach the pinnacle of competitve Taekwondo.