Carl van Roon on Defence, Deception & Proactivity
Carl van Roon on Defence, Deception & Proactivity
Imagine being able to step inside a national team coaching session just months out from a World Championships. This video captures exactly that, with Mr Carl van Roon working with the New Zealand Taekwon-Do team prior to their departure for the 2015 ITF World Championships in Italy.
Environment: National Team training camp
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
Level: elite competitors and coaches
This is a rare opportunity to observe how high-level sparring concepts are taught and refined in a performance environment. The session is built around three key themes that underpin successful international sparring: defence, deception, and proactivity.
Defence – Controlling the Exchange
Defensive work goes beyond simply avoiding scores. Mr van Roon explains how positioning, timing, and choice of response can neutralise attacks while setting up opportunities to counter. Practical examples are shown both with individual athletes and within group drills.
Deception – Creating False Information
Deception is about giving your opponent the wrong picture.
The session explores how feints, rhythm changes, and subtle body cues can be used to draw predictable reactions. These ideas are demonstrated in realistic sparring scenarios, making it clear how deception fits naturally into high-level exchanges rather than being added as a gimmick.
Proactivity – Dictating the Fight
Proactivity is presented as a mindset as much as a tactic. Rather than reacting to opponents, athletes are encouraged to take control of space, tempo, and decision-making. Mr van Roon shows how proactive sparring reduces uncertainty and increases scoring opportunities.
At international level, waiting is rarely a winning strategy.
Throughout the session, coaching shifts fluidly between individuals and the full group, offering insight into how elite coaches manage both personal technical detail and team-wide strategy.
This video is especially valuable for instructors and coaches working with advanced competitors preparing for high-level events.
Learn more about the instructor featured in this session here:
Mr Carl van Roon – Expert Coach Profile
You can also explore all of the instructors who contribute to TKDCoaching here:
Our Expert Coaches
On each coach’s profile you can see all the videos they have featured in for TKD Coaching.
Premium members can watch the full national team session here:
Defence, Deception & Proactivity – Premium Video