In 2003 I wrote an article called "Patterns - telling It Like It Is - The Sine-Wave!", which was published in 2004 by TKD & KMA magazine.
In short the article discussed how the newer sine wave wasnt good for Taekwon-do and how it was a political move. Many agreed with me, but many ITF stalwarts disagreed - which was fine as it was only my opinion after all, though also based on facts through research.
In successive years many discussions about sine-wave and this article have taken place, including many I have participated in where some would agree, others disagree and others partly agree.
The article discussed three major areas of history in TKD relating to the sine wave:
1- Pre-Sine wave - when TKD was karate like ie. horizontal motion
2- Original sine-wave - utilizng an up/down motion.. now termed Natural Motion by TKD Pioneers such as CK Choi
3- New Sine Wave - the down/up/down version now taught in the ITF/s
My arguments were mostly based on utilizing sine-wave for effective technique, however part of my argument was that sine-wave was a political move to say "This is TKD" by Gen Choi, something that has been discussed by myself and others over and over and that because of this, the motion is no good for self defence as it was now too slow to be used effectively.
The full original article can be read here: http://www.raynerslanetkd.com/ARTICLES_Patterns_Sinewave.html
However, the page remained open on the subject as most of those that discussed it (including myself) didnt have the resourses to go further than the discussion stage - until now!
Many have recognised Alex Gillis book (A Killing Art: The Untold History Of Tae Kwon Do) as very well researched (and I mean very very very well researched) and top notch for its facts and it was whilst reading this that I came across the following text relating precisely to my article that I wrote 5 years earlier.
In the passage it comfirms that sine-wave changed into a the 'bigger more bobbing' version it is now, nor was it 'relax, up, down' and simply miscommunicated.
Here is the passage: the passage follows information regarding the introduction of 'Juche' (so you understand its importance in the words as it says "a more important gift to NK....)
A Killing Art - Page 144
A more important gift to the communists, however, was a change to "sine wave", a series of subtle movements that applied to all techniques. Good martial artists had always slightly bent their kneess and rotated their hips before launching a technique (thereby creating more power), but Choi now wanted everyone to lower then raise the entire body, with no hip rotation, so that they could use gravity while driving downwards with a punch for example. Everyone had been practising a small sine wave (requiring a small knee spring and snapping of the hips) but Choi's gift was a big sine wave (requiring a big knee spring). The differences sounded subtle, but, when put into action, they gave Choi's Tae Kwon Do patterns a distinct style - a slower, more rhythmic, bobbing-on-the-sea look that dramatically distinguished it from Karate and Kim Un-yong's Tae Kwon Do.
Just as dramatic were Choi's sudden announcements that North Koreans were practicing "pure Tae Kwon Do" (because they were doing a big sine wave) and that all the other instructors on the planet were "fakes". As my instructor, Mr Di Vecchia explained, Choi inserted a three-dimensional signature on the martial art (sine wave), handed it to North Koreas and, in one move, disowned his wayward disciples, men who Choi viewed as disobedient and unfilial. In fact, disowning those surrogate sons was perhaps Choi's chief goal with sine wave.
Note: these facts, though written by Alex Gillis the author are footnoted to General Choi himself!
Conclusion: Although I am please to have my own work comfirmed and knew it was a politicial move to obstratice those not in the ITF at that time, I did not know it was done for (or seen as a gift) for the North Koreans - which I find both facinating and alarming, moreso considering the recent 'Juche' fiasco!
In short the article discussed how the newer sine wave wasnt good for Taekwon-do and how it was a political move. Many agreed with me, but many ITF stalwarts disagreed - which was fine as it was only my opinion after all, though also based on facts through research.
In successive years many discussions about sine-wave and this article have taken place, including many I have participated in where some would agree, others disagree and others partly agree.
The article discussed three major areas of history in TKD relating to the sine wave:
1- Pre-Sine wave - when TKD was karate like ie. horizontal motion
2- Original sine-wave - utilizng an up/down motion.. now termed Natural Motion by TKD Pioneers such as CK Choi
3- New Sine Wave - the down/up/down version now taught in the ITF/s
My arguments were mostly based on utilizing sine-wave for effective technique, however part of my argument was that sine-wave was a political move to say "This is TKD" by Gen Choi, something that has been discussed by myself and others over and over and that because of this, the motion is no good for self defence as it was now too slow to be used effectively.
The full original article can be read here: http://www.raynerslanetkd.com/ARTICLES_Patterns_Sinewave.html
However, the page remained open on the subject as most of those that discussed it (including myself) didnt have the resourses to go further than the discussion stage - until now!
Many have recognised Alex Gillis book (A Killing Art: The Untold History Of Tae Kwon Do) as very well researched (and I mean very very very well researched) and top notch for its facts and it was whilst reading this that I came across the following text relating precisely to my article that I wrote 5 years earlier.
In the passage it comfirms that sine-wave changed into a the 'bigger more bobbing' version it is now, nor was it 'relax, up, down' and simply miscommunicated.
Here is the passage: the passage follows information regarding the introduction of 'Juche' (so you understand its importance in the words as it says "a more important gift to NK....)
A Killing Art - Page 144
A more important gift to the communists, however, was a change to "sine wave", a series of subtle movements that applied to all techniques. Good martial artists had always slightly bent their kneess and rotated their hips before launching a technique (thereby creating more power), but Choi now wanted everyone to lower then raise the entire body, with no hip rotation, so that they could use gravity while driving downwards with a punch for example. Everyone had been practising a small sine wave (requiring a small knee spring and snapping of the hips) but Choi's gift was a big sine wave (requiring a big knee spring). The differences sounded subtle, but, when put into action, they gave Choi's Tae Kwon Do patterns a distinct style - a slower, more rhythmic, bobbing-on-the-sea look that dramatically distinguished it from Karate and Kim Un-yong's Tae Kwon Do.
Just as dramatic were Choi's sudden announcements that North Koreans were practicing "pure Tae Kwon Do" (because they were doing a big sine wave) and that all the other instructors on the planet were "fakes". As my instructor, Mr Di Vecchia explained, Choi inserted a three-dimensional signature on the martial art (sine wave), handed it to North Koreas and, in one move, disowned his wayward disciples, men who Choi viewed as disobedient and unfilial. In fact, disowning those surrogate sons was perhaps Choi's chief goal with sine wave.
Note: these facts, though written by Alex Gillis the author are footnoted to General Choi himself!
Conclusion: Although I am please to have my own work comfirmed and knew it was a politicial move to obstratice those not in the ITF at that time, I did not know it was done for (or seen as a gift) for the North Koreans - which I find both facinating and alarming, moreso considering the recent 'Juche' fiasco!