The inner forearm middle block in walking stance is taught in the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do as a fundamental defensive technique that helps children protect the middle part of the body in a safe and controlled manner. From a strong walking stance, the student steps forward with good balance, knees slightly bent, and the body stable. The shoulders are half facing, meaning the body is slightly turned rather than fully square, which improves balance, control, and power while protecting the center line. The blocking arm moves smoothly across the body, using the inner forearm to stop an attack aimed at the chest or stomach area. At the same time, the opposite hand pulls back firmly to the hip, helping children learn coordination between both sides of the body. This method teaches correct posture, focus, and safe defensive habits, forming an important part of a child’s Taekwon-Do foundation.
Walking Stance (Kids)
Practice at Home
To practice at home, parents should give clear and simple instructions, just like in class. Begin by saying “Junbi”, which means “ready.” The child should adopt a ready position with the feet parallel and one shoulder width apart, standing upright, and the fists held in front of the belt, slightly apart, showing readiness and control. Next, the parent counts “hana”, then waits patiently until the child completes one correct movement. After the technique is finished, the parent counts “dul”, waits again, and then “set”, allowing the child to perform one movement per count. Once the child has completed three steps forward, repeat the same process moving backward, again counting “hana, dul, set” and waiting for each movement to be completed. Practice this sequence a few times, calmly correcting posture, balance, and control using the instructions learned above if needed. When the child is ready for the next stage, instead of counting each movement, the parent gives the command “Si-jak” (the Taekwon-Do command for “begin”). The child should then perform three movements forward and three movements backward independently. At this stage, parents should focus on steady pace, making sure the child breathes correctly and includes a small pause between movements, encouraging calm control rather than rushing.