Daniel Larusso did it ... in the span of two hours he went from high school loser to one legged Karate Kid Champion. Of course I'm no Mr Miyagi but there are a few things we can talk about to help our students who are preparing for their grading.

Firstly students need to come to class prepared. This means that the student needs to overview all techniques, drills, kata, and application in their minds before even starting to warm up their bodies. The main point to note is that if you are preparing to grade using Dan-gun, for example, most of the apps and drills SHOULD be drawn from the current curriculum, and from your Dan-gun hyung.

From the performance last night, our students did not show any mental preparation before class. This is the most important thing. We train only two days a week. If we can't drive our bodies like how traditionally it was done, at least make sure the mind is sharp for when you need to perform correctly.

It's really not difficult. What was tested was done repeatedly over the last four months or more.

Feedback for last night's performance - how to improve.
1. Chon-ji has mid section punches. Dan-gun has punches to the nose. Make sure they strike that level.
2. An application was shown to counter a kick punch - a soodo fold to block the kick and a soodo to the inside of the arm arm to prevent it from hitting your face.
3. Defence against a kick using a low section lower block or Hardan Marki and fold, and then a strike to the neck or jaw using a rising block or Chukyo Marki.
4. When I ask for an atemi, perform three to the front and kiai on the last one.
5. The double blocks counter a strike or grab to the mid to upper section of your body - the arm is wrenched down and forward and bends the opponent over. You can push him away from here or control his head and punch him out.
6. Poker faces throughout the form. No wincing or scrunching up the face while doing any technique. If you get lost, look to the other student and continue. If you stand around looking lost I will ultimately notice that when I look around and will dock points off you.
7. A front stance is two shoulder widths long. The back stance is one shoulder width long. Please allow me to see the difference between the two.

Dan-gun Links on Traditional Taekwondo Blog
Dan-gun: Stepping Aside for an Oncoming Attack
Dangun Defensive Drills against Strikes
Dan-gun block strike
Punching Angles
Dan-gun Knife Hand on Premium Unleaded even in Back Balance
Martial Arts Grading Oral Section
Black belt coaching course
Dan-gun Speed and Power of the Lead Jab
Dan-gun defence against the front kick - punch combo
Dan-gun: Shuto into a roundhouse punch
Dan-gun strike to the leg
Dan-gun vertical knife hand to the neck
Dan-gun Soodo: Don't Get Slowed by the Fold
Dan-gun: The Windshield Wiping Technique
Dan-gun: The middle block drill
Dan-gun: Defensive Drills Against Strikes
Punching Drill: Same side jab, opposite cross (how not to do it if you are a taekwondo practitioner
Making kata work for you
Dan-gun: Power generation in hard styles
Taekwondo Grading - Adding Layers Upon Layers of Knowledge
Dan-gun: A Momentary Lapse is Devastating
Dan-gun: Variations on a Theme
Taekwondo's Chon-ji and Dan-gun: Kiss and Tell

A few weeks more to get it right! Keep practicing!

Students finishing off yellow belt or their Dan-gun pattern should look at beginning sparring advice.

Colin

A Taekwondo Diary: More Thoughts on Testing
Dec 1 2006 HRGB (WA) Newsletter "Grading: Performance Expectations"
The Story Of Dan Gun (2333 B.C.)
Dan-gun Entry on Wikipedia
Dan-gun on NATKD
Dan-gun on TKD Tutor
Self defence applications in Dan-gun
Relying on What You've Got