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It’s no secret that taekwondo achieved Olympic acceptance because kicking is so different from the action seen in other established combat sports. If punching were emphasized in the Korean art, the big wigs in the International Olympic Committee would probably have decided it was too similar to boxing and left it out in the cold.
Although taekwondo rules naturally force fighters to favor kicking, punching is nevertheless an important part of some fighters’ repertoire. “It’s hard to score with a punch,” Stephen Lopez says. “You pretty much have to knock your opponent down or hit him so hard he receives a standing eight-count, in which case the referee is required to push the button [to score the technique].”
Rather than just bouncing around with your hands down, Lopez recommends you use your punching power to tire your opponent. “Move him away from you with some hard shots to create distance to set up your kicks,” he says. “If you run across a guy who doesn’t like to get punched, punish him with punches.” —F.B.
Players and Fighters
The world of Olympic taekwondo is populated with players and fighters, Steven Lopez says. “The players tend to be from Asian countries. They are very clean, fast and technical. Competition is just a game to them.
“The fighters are usually from Latin American and African countries. They don’t have much technique, but boy they try to hurt you! “If you face a guy who is a fighter and you have the skill to land your techniques, you are going to hurt him more. If you go against a player who is very technical but afraid of getting hurt, go in and hit him real hard. Either way, you’ll take the fight out of him and he won’t want to fight in the second or third round. “It’s better to be a combination of the player and the fighter,” Lopez says. “That’s when you can be a real champion.” —F.B. |
| Steven Lopez Reveals 6 Sparring Techniques That Could Carry You to Olympic Victory!
The lights illuminate him as he stands atop the awards platform wearing a gold medal around his neck. “The Star Spangled Banner” begins to play, and tears of joy stream down the young American’s face. He doesn’t know if it’s a dream or another one of the hundreds of times he’s imagined himself here. But this time, things are different. He pinches himself and it hurts. He closes and opens his eyes, and he’s still here. It’s real. He’s an Olympic champion and the first American to win an official gold medal in taekwondo. He is Steven Lopez, and he’s on top of the world. —F .B.
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| Roundhouse and fast-kick counter: Steven Lopez (left) faces Mark Lopez (1). The opponent kicks, and the Olympian retreats to avoid the attack (2). He then executes a mid-level roundhouse kick (3) and high fast kick using the same leg (4). |
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| Perfectly timed spin kick: Steven Lopez (right) Awaits his opponet’s attack (1). When the other man moves forward to execute a roundhouse kick to Lopez’s open side, the champ pivots and locates his target (2) before drilling his foe with a spin kick (3). |
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| Fast-kick fake and hit: Steven Lopez (left) squares off with his opponent (1). He feints with a low fast kick, which causes the opponent to lower hands and beat a hasty retreat (2). Lopez then lands the real attack: a kick to the head using the same leg (3). |
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| Cut-kick punish and score: Steven Lopez (left) faces his opponent (1). To frustrate him as he prepares to advance, Lopez hits him with a cut kick (2). He can then push off the opponent’s hip (3) and blast him with a front-leg side kick to the face (4). |
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| Double power roundhouse: Steven Lopez (right) and his opponent assume same-sideforward fighting stances (1). As the opponent throws a fast kick, Lopez retreats and settles into a grounded position (2) before connecting with a right roundhouse kick (3) and a left roundhouse kick (4). |
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| Trap with a back kick: Steven Lopez (left) faces his brother, Mark Lopez (1). The gold medalist then switches his stance to bait his opponent into executing a roundhouse kick (2). Before the kick can land, Lopez pivots counterclockwise (3) and drives a back kick into the other man’s abdomen (4). The head can also be targeted, Lopez says. |
Whether you’re an elite taekwondo athlete with dreams of Olympic glory or an average practitioner looking to improve your sparring skills, Steven Lopez can help. A coach at the Elite Taekwondo Training Center in Sugarland, Texas, he has developed a proven method for turbocharging your fighting skills with strategically executed techniques and combinations.
Lopez agreed to reveal for the first time the most effective ones in his arsenal —including the one that catapulted him to victory in his gold-medal match against Sin Jun Sik of South Korea. So gear up and get ready for a one-on-one training session with a true Olympic champion.
ROUNDHOUSE AND FAST-KICK COUNTER
No matter which type of tournament you compete in, your first fight of the morning will set the tone for the rest of the day. To make an indelible impression on the coaches, trainers and fighters who are watching, Lopez says, you shouldn’t waste any time before lighting up your first adversary.
If he cruises around the ring and keeps his distance, you can play along with his strategy until he strikes, then rock him with your first counterattack: the roundhouse and fast-kick counter.
If both of you are standing with your opposite sides forward—for example, his is leading with his left side and you are leading with your right— you can offer him a target to entice him into lashing out with a roundhouse kick. As his foot shoots in, avoid it by retreating onehalf step and switching your stance.
That will leave you with your left side forward and lots of weight on your rear leg, which will allow you to spring forward, blast him with a hard roundhouse kick to the chest and follow up with a fast kick (a fancy name for the front-leg roundhouse kick) to the head using the same leg.
PERFECTLY TIMED SPIN KICK
The spinning back kick is the favorite technique of hordes of taekwondo competitors, but not everyone can make it work consistently. Lopez is one of the few who can, and his secret revolves around keeping it simple and using precise timing.
Time your spinning back kick so it begins immediately after your opponent throws a rear-leg kick to your open side, Lopez says. As his leg whips out, spin your upper body away from the kick. Then visually lock onto your target and bury your foot in his abdomen.
FAST-KICK FAKE AND HIT
The fast kick is to the taekwondo stylist what the jab is to the boxer, standing with the same side forward. Move around until you happen to catch him standing flat-footed and virtually immobile, then step forward with your rear leg while you fake a fast kick to his body. By keeping your knee low, you will be able to sell the fake, which should cause him to lower his hands to guard CUT-KICK PUNISH AND SCORE The cut kick, also known as the front-leg side kick, is a technique that can chop the surliest of opponents down to size. Lopez says it can be employed in one of three ways depending on the circumstances: The first method focuses on frustrating your opponent by throwing the cut kick to his attacking-side hip, nullifying any kick he may have been attempting.
The second method requires you to put a little extra distance between yourself and your opponent. Then, when you execute the kick, you can create additional momentum to give yourself the power to knock him out of the ring or push him to the floor.
The third method involves first setting up a side kick to the head. You then do an about-face and attack with a soft cut kick to his lead hip. Next, angle away in the direction of his open side by pushing off his body and poke him in the jaw with a side kick using the same leg.
DOUBLE POWER ROUNDHOUSE
Lopez’s double power roundhouse is unique for two reasons: You can execute the two kicks in about the same time it takes most people to do one kick, and with enough momentum and proper hip rotation, the second kick can be even more powerful than the first.
To execute the basic technique, throw a roundhouse kick. Before you replace your kicking leg on the floor, unleash a roundhouse with your other leg. You can use the quick combination to wear down your opponent’s defenses and score on him.
Lopez’s favorite strategy for using this double kick is defensive in nature because it is designed as a response to an opponent who is moving toward you. Watch for him to initiate a leadleg kick. As he attacks, move from your normal upright fighting stance to a stronger, more grounded position by stepping backward and bending your knees. Just as his leg drops to the ground, attack with the double power roundhouse.
TRAP WITH A BACK KICK
Now for the technique you’ve been waiting for, the one that gave Lopez the victory over his South Korean opponent in the Olympics. The trap with a back kick to the head is best executed after you set up your adversary with a few combinations such as those mentioned above. He will be on the lookout for your roundhouse kicks, fast kicks and cut kicks, as well as for openings to launch an offense of his own.
To maximize your chances of making the technique work, begin when you and your opponent are facing each other in a left-side-forward stance.
Keep a little extra distance—but not enough for him to notice—between your body and his. When he appears to be in his set position, lure him into at- tacking with a roundhouse kick by stepping forward without threatening him.
As soon as he takes the bait, pivot and hit him with a back kick to the head.
Variations on this counterattack include going airborne before executing a jumping back kick or a hook kick. If you feel as though you will overshoot your target with your back kick, immediately transform it into a hook kick by flexing your kicking leg to strike him in the back of the head with your heel. A word of caution: Even if it appears that your opponent is taking the bait you offered, wait until he commits himself before completing your strategy. Otherwise, he may redirect his roundhouse and blast you in the back of the head. Or, if he hasn’t engaged you yet, he may get wind of your plan and simply not fall into the trap. You will have wasted your time setting him up.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION
No matter how proficient you become in the execution of the aforementioned techniques, traps and combinations, never let your ego get in the way of your training and fighting, Lopez cautions. Although it may be what got you into competition in the beginning, your ego can hinder you later if it causes you to avoid taking responsibility for things that don’t go as expected.
“You can keep your ego in check by looking at wins and losses as learning experiences where with a little work you can correct problem areas,” he says. “This makes it a win-win situation.”
Lopez’s final words of wisdom pertain no matter which art you compete in: “It’s better to be a person who works hard than a person with just talent because you can do a lot by dedicating yourself to working hard. You will develop the heart and spirit of a champion, and in the end, the person who has those will always shine."
Floyd Burk is a free-lance writer and martial arts instructor with more than 30 years of experience. To contact him, send e-mail to floydburk@yahoo.com. For more information about Steven Lopez, see the April 2001 Black Belt and the 2000 Black Belt Buyer’s Guide (available by calling (201) 559-0091). To contact Lopez, call (281) 564-2124 or visit www.elitetaekwondo.com.
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