Training Guide for Sam-Il

Sam-Il is a dynamic form and is one of my favorite Chang-Hon forms.  I like the duality of the form, which starts as an "advanced basic" romp through the first 10-15 techniques, and then adds sequences that are some of the most challenging in that rank's test cycle (for us, that is Yoo-Sin, Sam-Il and Ko-Dang).

The forms opens with a series of single techniques in single stances, though there are a few shift-stance changes, this is nothing new by the time you are third dan testing for fourth.  It's not until the 12th move of the form that we see something interesting, and very very unique.  The 13th move of Sam-Il is a step forward reverse punch.  Though we use reverse techniques moving forward frequently in the Chang-Hon set - in all 24 forms, this is the only step forward reverse punch at least that I can think of.

To this point, the things to focus on are the simple things.  Timing, stance definition, technique execution; there's nothing seriously complex going on here, so consider this a warm up for what is to come and hit the "easy" moves out of the park.  

After a few more single stance  single technique moves we get to a sequence of movements that actually featured in a video game (27 seconds in) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuhL3Jz066E.  I'm referring to U-shaped block, into waving kick, into U-shaped block into jump spin knife hand block, This is a tricky sequence, mainly because U-shaped block can be a bit of an awkward technique, and many students don't know the correct hand positions making it look as awkward as it feels.  This leads into what we call a waving kick but that Blue Cottage calls a sweeping kick (which is a much better name in my opinion).  I find that this technique tends to be thrown all over the place because we simply don't do much sweeping in TKD.   Many students show this technique poorly because as a course, we rarely kick low on purpose in our forms and almost never kick low on purpose in sparring.

When I teach a waving kick, I remind my students of the old adage that the higher the knee, the higher the kick, so the first trick to throwing a terrific waving kick is to keep the knee low!  I bring my knee around like I was throwing an inside crescent kick, but instead of carrying the knee through my center line, I stop just short of the center line and complete the kick by whipping my lower leg forward, low to the ground (targeting the ankle).  In application, this is a closer quarters kick, so you aren't going to have the clearance necessarily to throw the knee through the center line.  The idea here is to hit the outside of the front foot and cause your opponents front foot to go out.  It can also be used to block a low section kick as well.

Coming off the sequence is a stand up straight front leg side kick.  Many people try to fire this side kick too close to landing from the jump spin knife hand block and end up botching their kick.  Take your time off that landing, collect your center of gravity and lift the front knee high when executing the side kick.  If you rush this sequence, it will show, and it will show poorly.

Kicking too high is another problem here as you will be landing foot to foot and moving the opposite direction.  You need body control to land foot to foot and step with the right center of gravity to allow power on the next technique (a nuance that is lost on many people, in many forms).

Following the upper elbow (or front elbow), you step into diagonal stance.  Now, getting on my soap box, diagonal stance is a SUBTLE stance.  It is one foot being SLIGHTLY forward of the other in what would be an ordinary straddle or horse stance.  It's to the point where if I can clearly see that one foot is in front of the other, you did it wrong.  I tell my students that a good diagonal stance is one foot being one half a foot's length in front of the other.  Very subtle.  Do not over step to "accentuate" the diagonal stance, because all you do is look like you are horrible at probably the first stance you ever learned.

Stepping down off of my soap box and continuing we see the diagonal stance elbow transition to the X-block low in a front stance setting up for a big W-shape block moving forward.  Your stance is perfectly set to execute a good W block and the key to making this look good is really understanding the execution of this block.  Just remember, the arm going forward here is an inward thrown, outer forearm block.  The block moving to block behind you is a standard inner forearm block thrown at the same time.  If everything stops at the same time, and your chamber was correct, you probably threw a good W block (be sure to twist the wrists, if you don't have to, you probably aren't chambering correctly).

Again we have a front leg side kick, made a little tougher because you should be holding the W while your chamber and kick.  Again, lift the knee, kick with body control ( a good kick mid beats a crappy kick high every day).

The next couple of moves (low knife hand block, scoop in cat stance, twin downward pressing blocks, double upset punch) are all about stance definition.  You go from long to short stances back to a long front stance with double upset punches.  The key here is to hit your stances, which if struggling, usually means your speed is too high.  Slow down and show good power in this sequence and you'll be ok.

The down block in a back stance to horizontal punch with the right hand over shoulder should be executed fast, but be careful not drag that speed up into the inward outer forearm block and punch, making it sloppy.

The end of the form completes in single stance, single technique fashion.

This form has some pretty drastic cadence changes, things you will see in the next set in a much more complicated manner.  Getting used to this here will go a long way to helping you nail the next set of forms.