USATKDCoach
http://twitter.com/USATKDCoach
The following tweets are lessons learned from my observations at World Championships. In no particular order:
1. Good technique = higher Lajust Hit Level, not just kicking harder. Technique matters now.
2. Body kicks must be clean & unobstructed; sound doesn�t matter, and sloppy kicks do not score. Technique matters now.
3. Foot placement must be correct � the instep must strike flat, not at an angle. Technique matters now.
4. Punches should not only be strong, but also dramatic � judges need to see it - & well executed. Technique matters on punches too.
5. Fast kicks & doubles will score, but rarely. Since less power is genereated with these kicks, the Hit Level may not be high enough.
6. The absence of sensors on the backs of the Lajust EBI�s make kicks to the closed side wasted effort. (WTF mandated � not Lajust�s)
7. It is critical to practice with the EBP�s prior to an event where they will not be used.
8. The 1-2-3 point system changes tactics throughout the entire phase of the match.
9. The 1-2-3 point system means that a player�s lead is never safe, and a player that�s down always has a chance to come back.
10. Coaches must be judicious in their use of the Video Replay challenges, but they can be effective if used wisely.
11. If a coach expects his player to medal, make sure to not expend one�s quota of Video Replay challenges prior to finals.
Beginning in the year 2011, National and International competitors will be required to supply their own Electronic hogus, in addition to their socks (sock sensors cover the top, back and heel of the foot). This too is a health matter and though every effort is made to properly clean and sanitize the hogus between matches (to prevent bacterial and staph infection) the ideal situation is for the athletes to own and maintain their equipment. Whether the athlete has their own hogu, or it is supplied by the tournament, all hogus are tested prior to each match to ensure their proper operation and ensure a level playing field. Efforts are being made with USAT on a tournament rental option for future years for those who cannot invest in a system.
LAJUSTPORTS.COM
USAT Taekwondo news/ winter 2010
Dear USAT Members
Since my note last week to the USAT membership, in which I addressed improvements being made to the LaJust equipment, I have received a large number of e-mails. Many of these questions centered around the issue of socks. I will try to restate my point so that everyone is clear about these changes and how they effect everyone going forward.
First of all, if anyone has socks with a broken zipper, please return them to the LaJust booth at any event and we will gladly replace them. This was a quality control issue that was not caught at the manufacturer and it has been company policy, since we learned of the problem, to replace any pair that was returned to us. We have and will continue to stand behind our products. This is a LaJust problem and the USAT is completely blameless in this matter. You can exchange your broken socks for either the old (unpadded) or new (with built-in padding) versions.
This brings me to my second point. The new socks with built-in padding are an option, not a necessity. The existing socks are completely compatible with the new version of the hogus. The new socks are merely an upgrade for those who wish to use them. This is a change that was made at the request of competitors who found the separate piece of padding uncomfortable under their socks. Please understand that we are the only country in the world that requires foot protection. We assumed that the qualifiers would follow the same rules as the US Open, but that was not the case. The US Open followed WTF rules regarding foot protection and the USAT qualifiers do not. It was an issue we overlooked and we apologize for this inconvenience. It is my understanding that Vision has acquired a large amount of padding that can be applied to the inside of the older version socks. In short, you do NOT have to buy new socks unless you find the new product more suitable to your comfort or performance.
As far as the upgrade to the Version 8 hogu, we will be doing this at no charge for anyone who owns a version 7 model. This will include an upgrade to the chipset as well as the sensors. We have not worked out the logistics at this point, but the general feeling is that we will be collecting hogus at the Juniors/Nationals and returning them to the competitors once the upgrade is complete. This again follows company policy that there will always be an upgrade path to our customers.
I hope this serves to further clarify these equipment upgrade issues. As always, I welcome your comments and questions. My e-mail address is [email protected].
Sincerely,
Gary Kuchachik, CEO
LaJust Sports America, Inc
