From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #95 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Wed, 17 Feb 1999 Vol 06 : Num 095 In this issue: the_dojang: Junior Sport TKD vs. Jr. Traditional the_dojang: Misleading Event Titles the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #94 the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #94 the_dojang: Re: My Horror ! the_dojang: Re: Perfection... the_dojang: A Bad Testing Day the_dojang: kung fu babies the_dojang: when to teach kicks? Re: the_dojang: Misleading Event Titles the_dojang: FIRE!!!!! the_dojang: RE: Perfection of Your Art/s the_dojang: . ......................................................................... The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~800 members strong! Copyright 1994-99: Ray Terry, California Taekwondo, Martial Arts Resource To send e-mail to this list use the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe the_dojang-digest" (no quotes) in the body of an e-mail (top line, left justified) addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. See the Korean Martial Arts (KMA) FAQ and online search the last two years worth of digest issues at http://www.MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! Ray Terry, PO Box 110841, Campbell, CA 95011 KMA@MartialArtsResource.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 08:01:26 PST Subject: the_dojang: Junior Sport TKD vs. Jr. Traditional This is a followup thought to my post on junior safety re: headgear. I really wonder and in my mind have no doubt that sport tkd is going to have a significant impact on the WTF Junior Olympics. My concern is that prior to the advent of what is now known as Sport TKD many of the children at the junior olympics were ill-prepared for the event in endurance, expectations of what the event was abou, and overall training capabilities and fighting strength and strategies. Some were very, very well prepared. A good ref even working within the boundaries of the safety rules frequently would assess the matches and declare a mismatch if necessary. And alas sometimes that didn't happen and a little munchkin was clocked on the brain a few too many times and didn't even know what hit them. Now I doubt that we will ever be able to standardize coaching because every coach's perception of being ready will vary. And some of these kids come from a town where they had to win only one match (and an easy one) to qualify. So they think it's going to be a cakewalk. Well now we have the Olympics and for some parents and students this is the ultimate and even obsessive goal. Many of the schools they come from will be much much more aggressive in their fighting and overall competition techniques. If I thought it was unbalanced before I wonder what the next few years will bring. I mean the junior olympics will not have a check off list for: Are you here from a traditional school or sports TKD school. Could this possibly result in more mismatches or perhaps injuries??? Jamaica jamaica_power@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:20:32 EST Subject: the_dojang: Misleading Event Titles 17 Feb. 1999 To: "Jtkdkick" American Taekwondo Competitors, and, whomever else it may concern: RE: (So Called) "7TH United States National Taekwondo Championships" To my knowledge this event is not sanctioned by the National Governing Body (NGB) for taekwondo in America and therefore is inappropriately titled as a "U.S. National..." event. Titles such as: "U.S. National Championship" or, "Jr. National Championship... , etc., are protected and may legitimately be used exclusively by a sport's recognized NGB, which, for taekwondo is the U.S. Taekwondo Union (USTU). The primary reason for this, of course, is to protect American athletes from being mislead and drawn into non-sanctioned, nonqualifying, events, hosted for individual profit. The USTU, of course, is a nonprofit organization whose funds are used exclusively for the development of taekwondo in America. The USNTF, on the other hand, is NOT the NGB for taekwondo in America and is merely attempting to profit from the (mis)use of this title. This is not a matter of prejudice or "politics," just a statement of verifiable facts. I hope you realize the importance of these distinctions and endeavor to correct your actions. Sincerely, Steven E. Silz Chief Instructor, U.S. Taekwondo Center - San Diego ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:38:51 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #94 In a message dated 2/17/99 10:20:45 AM EST, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << Hmm... I wonder if they'll win best-dressed in the ER. >:) But I do agree with the sentiment that plainer individuals with kick-ass techniques deserve the win because of their technique not aesthetics. >> Nice thing about AAU tournaments is that they dispense with the "dress like a ninja or an American flag" in order to win mentality. At AAU tournaments you are only allowed to wear a white dobok, and in national competition you are not even allowed to have any club patches, screen printing on the back, or other identifiers of what organization or school you're from. It's all based on how you perform. - --Dave Mazor DMazor1026@aol.com visit www.aautaekwondo.org for more on AAU Taekwondo ------------------------------ From: "wayne allen" Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 09:10:11 PST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #94 >From: CMPorter@webtv.net (Chris Porter) >Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 08:27:51 -0500 (EST) >Subject: the_dojang: Kicks > >Hello, I was wondering at what level( Iam talking Beg/Int/Adv not belt >color or rank) do you teach roundhouse and spin kick. I am asking soley >for the debate that sense they are "hard" kicks to learn should they be >taught early on or left for a more adv. student ? In our school (I'm a student not an instructor,yet) the roundhouse is taught at the white-belt (9th gup) ranking, the spinning kicks (180 sidekick) start at the 7th gup level. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 12:13:47 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: My Horror ! In a message dated 2/17/99 8:07:15 AM Pacific Standard Time, Ronda_Sweet@markivauto.com writes: << but i will make a note that it is NOT a USTU sanctioned event and not to be confused with THE REAL THING. Will that work? >> Dear Ronda, Thanks for asking, but, sorry, no, it won't "work." I think you should consider taking a stronger stance. I care not about the relative stature of the great pharmacist Dr. Kwon, VS the 'Great One,' Sang Lee; that is a no-brainer. I do care, however, that Dr. Kwon ( and others) knowingly select a protected title for an event for personal profit - and seem often to get away with it. These actions also diminish the prestige of the "real" nationals. A couple of years back, if Sang Lee tried such a move, would you and many other people not be screaming FOUL from the rooftops? I would like to recommend Jay Warwick have L&L Chairman Mark Bryant, and USOC General Council, perform the necessary interventions upon the "USNTF," for the sake of our athletes, many of whom are understandably confused by the alphabet soup of "taekwondo federations." Sincerely, S.E. Silz ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 13:44:46 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: Perfection... Jamaica posted a question refering to perfecting one's art. It is of course, trying to attain the unattainable. Which in itself lies the beauty of the arts. We all know the feeling of really nailing a move. There is nothing more satisfying the executing a perfect technique, but they are few and far between. We can all do something well and others will think it perfect, yet we may be saying to ourselves 'I can do better.' It is easy to work with people that have this inner drive. Some people have to be taught this drive, but they have to have the desire in them already. Then there are others, people who are taking martial arts because they think they will learn to fight. These are the people who do not have the inner drive for perfection and they are hard to work with. They always want to learn the flash advanced techniques, without trying to perfect the basics. these people are not only hard to work with, it is unenjoyable to work with them. What good is an areial side thrust kick going to do someone who can not throw a powerful and accurate side thrust when they are on the ground? what good are all the attacks in the world, if someone can not throw an effective block? When I am working with people of this type I do one thing. I do basics all night long. I recently was working with one student and she asked me, "I know how to do the low block. Why are we doing this again?" I answered, "Our Master practices this block every day, if you fell that your block is better then his, then go tell him. Then we will m ove on if he says so." All the Martail Artist that are called great have one thing in common. The Relentless persuit of perfection. Jonathan Jozokos 2nd Gup Red Tae Kwon Do ------------------------------ From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 11:49:36 PST Subject: the_dojang: A Bad Testing Day Did you ever have an absolutely incredibly awful testing day. One of those that you slink out of the dojang with a bag on your head, crawl into a hole and retreat for awhile. Where your stomach is just queasy. Can't tell I did can ya? Happened to me in my color belt days which were quite awhile ago and oh I remember them so vividly. Actually there were two. One was my red belt test. I practiced so hard for that test. I was so pumped and soooo very good..and I got so very, very humbled...(nice way of putting it). I felt the whitebelts did better than me. And I have it on videotape no less, courtesy of one of the mothers in the class. Especially since the prior test I had aced without even blinking my eyes. Wasn't a particularly good motivator for getting ready to be a blackbelt. I think they call this a growth stage and character building...At that time I called it demoralizing and devastating. I've mellowed out over the years so I don't think it would have quite the impact on me today that it did then. And yes I passed. Didn't seem like much of a consolation. I actually wanted to return the belt but that would have been disrespectful to my instructors and GM that were present to witness the event... I wouldn't mind hearing if others had a bad testing day. Wouldn't mind hearing if you are one of those martial arts that excelled at every test too. Jamaica jamaica_power@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Mike Heeney Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 08:57:06 +1300 Subject: the_dojang: kung fu babies Melinda wrote: >oh ya, almost forgot...the screen saver with the dancing baby doing techniques >to the tune of "kung-fu fighting". _that_, my friends, is hysterical. Screen saver you say? I have that as an avi file. You are right however - it is good :) Mike Hamilton New Zealand. http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~mheeney <-- me/myself/I - Taekwondo - Riverdance ------------------------------ From: Mike Heeney Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 09:12:40 +1300 Subject: the_dojang: when to teach kicks? Chris Porter wrote: >Hello, I was wondering at what level( Iam talking Beg/Int/Adv not belt >color or rank) do you teach roundhouse and spin kick. Heya Chris. I teach front, side, round, and back kicks right from the word go. Slowly, of course. But I like to get the student into the basic feel of them. Roundhouse is a natural part of training for us, so it would be hard to leave it out. Plus the fact that basics 1 (white belt basic form) includes all 4 kicks. Once the student has a firm grasp of these four kicks, that's when I start showing them spin hook. You don't want colours, but I show this at yellow belt. Besides, spin hook is in the yellow belt basic pattern we do, so... >they are "hard" kicks to learn should they be >taught early on or left for a more adv. student ? Hard kicks? They are? Okay I'll give you spin hook as being not the easiest :) But roundhouse? When new students start training, I find they can generally do roundhouse fine on the first night. The idea of one anyway. Obviously they aren't master kickers yet. It may be low, jerky, no pivot, etc, but they know the concept. I have MUCH more trouble teaching new students a side kick. This kick has a whole lot more little points to remember/concentrate on when learning, than a roundhouse. Just my opinion anyway. Mike Hamilton New Zealand. http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~mheeney <-- me/myself/I - Taekwondo - Riverdance ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 14:07:11 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: the_dojang: Misleading Event Titles > RE: (So Called) "7TH United States National Taekwondo Championships" > > To my knowledge this event is not sanctioned by the National Governing Body > (NGB) for taekwondo in America and therefore is inappropriately titled as a > "U.S. National..." event. Titles such as: "U.S. National Championship" or, > "Jr. National Championship... , etc., are protected and may legitimately be > used exclusively by a sport's recognized NGB, which, for taekwondo is the U.S. > Taekwondo Union (USTU). Is this different from the '25th U.S. National Taekwondo Championships' as advertised by the USTU? Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 16:56:10 EST Subject: the_dojang: FIRE!!!!! In a message dated 2/17/99 10:21:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, the_dojang- owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: > When I teach self-defense to non-martial art women I will usually tell > them to purchase a large whistle and wear it around their neck when they > go places like parking lots or isolated areas. I also indicate it > should be worn outside their coat or sweater, somewhere easy to access > if needed in case of attack or perceived attack. > > Now I also know other instructors will teach women to scream. My > question is what do you teach them to scream? Is it a particular phrase > or number or just a loud horrendous scream. I've known women whose > vocal cords will totally lock up/freeze in a confrontation, sort of a > panic attack and so the "just scream" doesn't work. Nothing at all > comes out. I have noticed that if they are given something particular > to focus on they can call it to memory and perform whether it's a > whistle or a name or number or some other type of call of the wild. > Thanks. > > Jamaica > jamaica_power@hotmail.com > Jamaica, I don't teach anyone the MA but what I would do would be to scream FIRE!!!!!! Why? Because most people are interested in saving their own necks and will investigate this. Dawne ------------------------------ From: "Longhorn, Andrew" Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 09:05:43 +1100 Subject: the_dojang: RE: Perfection of Your Art/s > Is perfecting your art/s important to you...or is there some other > satisfaction gained during your advancement and journey. > Perfection, but only because it brings so many other things in it's development. > Is there such a thing as perfecting an art if you are always a student? > No, that's why it's ideal to strive for. > If you are striving for perfection does watching a student > that does not care about perfecting the technique bother you? > No, they make their own decision to train and what they train for. I think ideally each martial artist should strive to make the art their own. So what others do will not bother you. > Do you > find it hard to cope with that if they are not the type to be inspired? > Do you find it hard to promote that student if you are an instructor... > Not hard to cope, but I wonder why they think paying and not advancing is a good idea, but then I remember that not everyone holds the art as close to their heart as I do. I don't promote students, but if I did I would do the same as our Master, attitude is a major factor along with technique, flash, height, etc are not so important. You must be able to move the right way and do your technique with commitment and focus. At least to the standard for that grade in that school. :) Andrew Longhorn ------------------------------ From: Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 14:16:14 -0800 (PST) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #95 ******************************* Support the USTU by joining today! US Taekwondo Union, 1 Olympic Plaza, Ste 405, Colorado Spgs, CO 80909 719-578-4632 FAX 719-578-4642 ustutkd1@aol.com http://www.ustu.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this digest, the_dojang-digest, send the command: unsubscribe the_dojang-digest -or- unsubscribe the_dojang-digest your.old@address in the BODY of email (top line, left justified) addressed to majordomo@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com. Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com, in pub/the_dojang/digests. All digest files have the suffix '.txt' Copyright 1994-99: Ray Terry, Martial Arts Resource, California Taekwondo Standard disclaimers apply.