Level 3 – TDDS

L3 Objectives

L3 is the first review and analysis stage for the student and preliminary implementation of technical applications. L3 requires the student to reach a standard and that is exactly what L3 is, a base level that allows a commonality within the group and individual students to start a more regimented training regime where the entire group in question understand the schools protocols and lingo and allows them to start the first of the developmental stages.

• All forms & patterns up to L3 have the required base technique
  • Square & straight
• Movements/strikes/blocks that cover the most economical and efficient trajectory
  • Not wound up or diverted off line
• All the unnecessary momentum removed
  • Ensuring that each moved is stopped thoroughly and the presumptions towards next move flushed

L3 Criteria

The instruction will change to a degree and will definitely be truncated verbally as well as more responsibility placed on the student. It is assumed well and truly by now that most things related to techniques are essentially where they should be but are not yet formed, perhaps a 20% total understanding of the pattern/form, some have a better idea than others but this is generally Ball Park. The instructor is only concerned with the above 3 principles, anything else is deviating from the joint objectives of instructor/student. This in turn will be used retrospectively on the forms to advance the preceding levels and hence the reason for sitting on this level for a while. Ironically, the above criterion achieved will be the basis for the current and next phase of training:

• Application
  • Smoothing out and refining technique
• Awareness
  • Capability of self correcting technique
  • Start /finish of a strike / block / footwork
• Higher Output Required
  • Train harder whilst remaining within the confines of the technique
• Momentum
  • Derived from twist, not physical