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If asked whether golf is more a physical or a mental sport, most people would agree that it is mental sport. The physical requirements are not near as demanding as the mental aspects of the game. If asked whether Taekwondo is a physical or a mental sport, most people would agree that it is a physical sport. It is seemly obvious that it requires much more physical ability than it does mental concentration. However, this assessment would be incorrect. Although Taekwondo does require physical prowess, the mental aspects are much more important, even though they are not nearly as evident.

Lay a gymnastic balance beam on the floor and ask average people if they think they would be able to walk down the length of the beam without stepping on the floor. Most people would say they could. When asked to try, most people would try and would be able to do it with little problem.

Then place the beam on its standard mount, about three feet off the floor. Now ask the same people if they think they would be able to walk down the length of the beam without falling off. Most people would say probably not. When asked to try, some would try and a few of them would fall off.

Then place the beam between two high buildings. Now ask the same people if they think they would be able to walk down the length of the beam without falling off. Most people would say NO! When asked to try, only a very few would try and surely a few of them would fall.

Nothing physical changed in either of the scenarios. The width or length of the beam did not change; the only variable is the mental aspect. What was easy to do under safe conditions became difficult to do under dangerous conditions. What is easy to do under normal conditions becomes much more difficult to do under stressful conditions, even when all other factors are kept constant.

If is no more physically demanding to perform a pattern at a rank testing as it is to perform the pattern in a training class. , when under the mental stress of testing, many students freeze, lose their place, add movements, leave out movements, put movements in the wrong order, or perform sloppy techniques while performing their patterns.

Every able-bodied student is capable of breaking one one-inch pine board with a Taekwondo side kick. Many are able to do it consistently during practice and are able to break even greater thicknesses. Yet, under the stress of testing, many students cannot break one board, even after multiple attempts. Sometimes the students who fail to break the board are large men in excellent physical condition who are capable of performing difficult jump-spin side kicks in class, but under stress, they hit the board off-center or miss it entirely.

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