Let’s debunk the second answer, “They’re just for exercise.”
Most schools I have attended have various drills–some ad hoc, some that they use regularly. Why do they bother with patterns then? Why did General Choi show both patterns and exercises in his encyclopedia? While patterns, rightly executed, give considerable exercise, when did you last go to a competition and present an exercise?
Let’s debunk the third answer, “Nobody knows.”
This is just lazy. General Choi wrote an entire encyclopedia for Tae-Kwon-Do and revised it. He was meticulous about assessing the value of every attacking weapon to every target. Doesn’t he have something to say? The martial art was created in the mid-1900s. Is it credible to think that we can’t possibly find out?
What is the answer?
In my next post I’ll make the case for what the patterns are for, but I’ve given some hints, and here’s one more:
Sometimes you hear a better answer, even if it isn’t complete.
- “Use these combinations in sparring – they work and help you get faster.”
Whoever said this has thought some about the question and made some valid observations.