From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #103 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Sun, 21 Feb 1999 Vol 06 : Num 103 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #101 the_dojang: Perfecting Your Art/s - Part 2 the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #101 the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #101 the_dojang: Side Kick/Back Kick/Black Belts the_dojang: jewelry, makeup, and sweat the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #98 the_dojang: Motivating Children the_dojang: . ......................................................................... The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~800 members strong! Copyright 1994-99: Ray Terry, California Taekwondo, Martial Arts Resource Replying to this message will NOT unsubscribe you. 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 To send e-mail to this list use the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com 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: Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 17:39:19 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #101 In a message dated 2/19/99 6:09:49 PM US Eastern Standard Time, the_dojang- owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << Subject: the_dojang: Health of Younger Female Athletes & Competitors I couldn't find any good study on this so I'll just throw out this question. Do you think that our younger female athletes/competitors (14 to 18 yo) are healthier than in most other sports? By this I mean most young women today without being active in sports are prone to anorexia and bulimia. Throw in sports of any kind and some competition be it competition with yourself or another (running, gymnastics, martial arts) this factor is increased and other issues such as amenorhea are added. TKD does break its young women down into weight divisions. Has anybody seen our competitors in these situations? You know they wear two turtlenecks and a heavy cotton dobak and they still look like a toothpick. I know it's hard to tell sometimes but when I used to do weight checks on some of these women it was a bit scary to see what "wasn't" there. Now from my experience at that time it was more isolated incidents but it was there. Wondering what the young women feel about this and what other younger students in the class are like? Is martial arts different than other sports or are you concerned about some of your students. Do they seem to be exercising overtime and explaining it away that they are competitive. I've had very anorexic girls tell me they were all muscle with a low percent body fat. Seems to be a typical excuse. How far would you take off weight to fit into a particular weight division whether it was for competitive advantage or self esteem issues? >> ------------------------------ From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 14:52:02 PST Subject: the_dojang: Perfecting Your Art/s - Part 2 It appeared to pretty much be a group consensus that everyone continues to try and perfect the art but how exactly is everybody doing that? And since I like to continually reassess where I am at in the martial arts and with whom I am associating, I am also seeking from others on this forum new ways that I can learn, improve, or fill in the gaps. For some it would probably be learning how to do Aero Kicks, for others it is probably making their style even more flowing, or for some of the colored belts it appears to be either learning a new technique or kick or adjusting to their school. And still for some it might be a meditative or spiritual journey or learning new ways to teach their young children the art. For myself I would like to continue to learn from others on this forum and work more with youth that might not financially have an opportunity to otherwise take the martial arts. Techniques are a continuing process of keeping up and perfecting. I would like to learn more about the histories off various martial arts so that I can become more of an active member in the cultural change that is occurring in the arts. I am nearing the completion of a webpage and am working on a book. I would like to continue sharing information that I have gleaned over the years with others as well as take a more active role in making the sport safer. Jamaica jamaica_power@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 17:55:28 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #101 << I couldn't find any good study on this so I'll just throw out this question. Do you think that our younger female athletes/competitors (14 to 18 yo) are healthier than in most other sports? By this I mean most young women today without being active in sports are prone to anorexia and bulimia. Throw in sports of any kind and some competition be it competition with yourself or another (running, gymnastics, martial arts) this factor is increased and other issues such as amenorhea are added. TKD does break its young women down into weight divisions. Has anybody seen our competitors in these situations? You know they wear two turtlenecks and a heavy cotton dobak and they still look like a toothpick. I know it's hard to tell sometimes but when I used to do weight checks on some of these women it was a bit scary to see what "wasn't" there. Now from my experience at that time it was more isolated incidents but it was there. Wondering what the young women feel about this and what other younger students in the class are like? Is martial arts different than other sports or are you concerned about some of your students. Do they seem to be exercising overtime and explaining it away that they are competitive. I've had very anorexic girls tell me they were all muscle with a low percent body fat. Seems to be a typical excuse. How far would you take off weight to fit into a particular weight division whether it was for competitive advantage or self esteem issues? >> (If an earlier post almost identical to this one pops up, sorry. My mouse is being very disobedient...) Jamaica-- I know of a girl in particular who was maybe an inch shorter than me (I'm 5'6") and weighed about 85 lbs; she is also a couple years younger than me. She does look anorexic, and I know of people who say she is... but to each their own. The sports-side of martial arts, or rather, the instructors or a young girl's imagination of a "perfect" competition weight may give to the idea of "cutting" weight to make a certain division. The excuse that anorexics give of being all muscle and having a low percentage of body fat is pure bullshit. When you starve yourself, you also starve the development and maintenence of your body, hence deterioration of muscles and organs, leading to eventual shutdown of the body. When I absolute despised my body and would eat that one meal a day, I lost 20 lbs and dropped to about 125lbs. before I left Korea and came back to the States. However, I gained those 20lbs. back my first month back. Since then, I try to tone the pudgy areas. Having difficulties, but it's working now. Not only are girls cutting weight, but so are the guys. At Juniors in Orlando this year, a black belt had cut weight. He competes in the super heavy division and tried to get out of it... this guy was stuttering and a complete mess. Needless to say, this past November I hear he gained 10 lbs. Go figure. What is the point in cutting weight? If you're having difficulties sparring in your current division, try weight training to boost your strength and speed training. Don't just starve yourself... you end up being weak and having no energy, plus the weight you starve off comes back VERY quickly. I think low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence is the major culprit in this. If you are not satisfied with how your body is, consult professionals in the matters of losing the weight. If you are, go about your business and smile. There really is no point in endangering your own life when it comes to weight. If you can't love your body, how can you love yourself? Kim Jones addidastkd@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 18:02:47 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #101 << Children younger than 8 or 9 years old should not be in martial arts: they lack the physical and mental development to perform successfully (yes, I have seen some exceptions, but they were RARE); my mother is an early education specialist (doctorate) and generally agrees with this conclusion. Likewise, I don't think children in this age group should be in ballet, gymnastics (too much potential for serious injury), or any of the other half-dozen activities that I see them in: I think they should be in non-contact team sports, cub scouts, or other socializing physical-mental activities. I think that the real need is to educate parents to simply let children be children (lots of "free" time) and not to rush them into adolescence by pushing "activities." >> I support your argument about younger children not being in the martial arts. At those ages, it's very hard to keep their concentration for very long, sometimes long enough to explain a simple technique. They goof around too much and create a lot of friction for the instructor. Now, if the child demonstrates lots of concentration towards something, go ahead and let him join, but the majority of children under the age of 10 just don't devote the time needed to the martial arts. The place where I practice TKD has a very lenient rule about enrolling in the class: If the child has youth membership, he/she can join. There are kids as young as 3 and 4 taking the class, but only because Mom needs them there so she can go. Those kids are so bad, too! The dojang is not a place where you babysit kids after class; it's a place of learning. This is a big problem at my dojang, and I'm just afraid to tell the instructor because he might think i'm coming across the wrong way... but they are distracting the older students from learning what they need to learn. Kim Jones addidastkd@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Rich Barta Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 19:05:57 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Side Kick/Back Kick/Black Belts >From: "Sara" >Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 08:41:20 PST >Subject: the_dojang: back kicks and black belts >> I think the hardest kick so far it the Side kick! >>I suspect it will vary from person to person, but in general (from a >>study I recall reading) the back kick is the strongest kick for most. Actually i have found the strongest most powerful kicks I've learned from my years of training are a spinning axe kick and spinning back kick, the most difficult one has to be the spinning back kick, although getting the spinning axe kick to target is a good test of skills. >__________________________ >I find the side kick has more nuances to it than should be physically or >mentally possible. I think I have been given about one hint a week (for >the last *4* months!) that would improve my side-kick, and there is >still more to learn. I am learning it though. I have had my side kicks to the point i could move on foot length from my opponents foot and fire a kick up and tap him on the ear without any stress >Now the back kick is something else entirely. Help me all you want but >my first tendency is to over-rotate and fall down! I have no doubt it >can be a very strong kick (and I realize back kicks are executed >differently in different arts), but I just hope I can remain standing >and still pull off a decent one! Something to work on, eh? From my experience I've learned that the best practice with spinning kicks is to start at a long room and see how many jump spinning crescents you can do right after another and still travel in a straight line to the opposite wall, i once thought i was doing good at 20 - 30 when Master Neiman showed me up by doing it all the way across the floor, then turning and being able to do it back, without getting dizzy.. And for thou that fall down.. You show me someone who can stand toe to toe with someone and kick them in the head but cant walk across a flat floor without tripping ill show you a Martal Artist.. Rich ------------------------------ From: Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 23:00:55 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: jewelry, makeup, and sweat Dawne wrote: Basically on forms night I have seen a more slack approach to this issue. Someone else on this list said (to paraphrase from memory) "if they ain't sweatin through it they're not working hard enough". I totally agree. Well, this was on the jewlry/makeup thread so first I'll put in my 2 cents about that: We are not allowed to wear jewelry in class for all the safety reasons people have cited. Wedding rings are allowed (men or women) and I do not take mine off. It has no stones and is not large, so it's n likely to be a problem anyway. Makeup, well, I go to class right from work 2 days a week, and don't scrub it off first. On non-work days I don't put any on, cause I *do* sweat. I find it odd to see people come to class with extensive makeup on, but try not to judge them. Maybe they like washing it out of their uniforms after all that sweat :) Which brings me to part 3 of my little post here: Sweat. I do lots of it. Anyone who thinks women don't sweat a lot has not met me :) I'm in a lot better shape than when I started TKD almost 4 years ago, but during a good workout I still sweat like a pig in July. I have relatively long hair and have even thought of getting a really short haircut (which would look terrible on me) because of this. All this sweat is not because I can't physically do the things are doing, it seems to just be a case of having a body that's REALLY efficient at sweating (if not mch else :). My uniforms have stains from the colors of my belts bleeding on them from all this sweat. It is that bad. Anyone else have this problem? Is there anything you can do about it? Regards, Sandy - -- tokay@netwurx.net ------------------------------ From: Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 09:13:46 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #98 The use of screaming Fire comes from the tendency of John Q publics aversion to "Getting involved"... Getting involved,(particularly NYC residents back in the late 60's and 70;s) can be considered a fool hardy thing to do.... therefore, why have potential rescuer's grapple with their personal safety issues.. just fool them to calling for any type of help...The result of any 911 call for a fire, almost Always brings around the men in Blue...and generally a paramedic or two.. As for it being a natural act to scream fire.. well thats what training is for... to ingrain students with the "tendency or defualt action to react to various situations. I tthink that its important to note that the effective starting point of a self defence/anti-rape program starts with the student always being aware of their environment and takeing a proactive role in maintiaining safety. Therefore, if a woman finds that she must enter a deserted parking garage, she will opt to get an escourt.. or simply don't enter it if no one is available. Or if she suddenly relises that she's in a deserted area and that there is "threatening" figure looming in the backround. She would keep an eye on that person and scream Fire! if this person comes anywhere near her.. Just my 2 pence Stone In a message dated 2/18/99 4:11:39 PM Eastern Standard Time, the_dojang- owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: > From: "Dennis McHenry" > Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 11:50:54 -0600 > Subject: the_dojang: FIRE???? > > What to yell? Several responded with : > > < but what I would do would be to scream FIRE!!!!!! > Why? Because most people are interested in saving their own necks> > > I disagree. > > In a parking lot or parking garage - FIRE?? > In a building - wouldn't yelling fire cause everyone to run out and away > from the "fire" to "save their own necks"? > > And as Jamica mentioned, under extremely emotional circumstances, would > someone think to yell FIRE? > > This is a good question, but I personally believe it's not the right answer > and wouldn't teach anyone to yell FIRE. IMO. > > Master Mac ------------------------------ From: "Dennis McHenry" Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 14:34:53 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Motivating Children < We have a group of children, ranging from 10 - 15 years old and white - red belt, that come to class regularly, and seem to really enjoy training and learning new techniques. But, they don't put forth a lot of effort and enthusiasm -- they look like they are simply "going through the motions" and trying to make the class time a social occasion. We do tend to keep the socializing under control, but the enthusiasm never seems to surface. I feel it is the responsibility of the instructor to motivate these children and get them to put more effort into there techniques. How do you accomplish this without being too rigid with them? After all, they are children not adults.>> Chris, While I was reading your post I commented to my wife that it sounds just like a post that I would have written! I have the exact same problem, but my students are from 6 - 12. With only a couple of exceptions, the majority are the same as you stated. The other side of this are those who seem to try, but "just don't get it". No matter how many time I correct them, they continue to go back to their way of doing things (very bad stances, bad and low kicks, improper techniques, lack of effort/speed, etc.) As the instructor, I find this very frustrating. "Game" or "competition" type drills get them motivated. But it can't be all "games" and I really try to stay away from inter competition between them. Each child is an individual and has individual needs, as well as progresses at their own pace. I don't want to discourage them, and not be to hard on them. At the same time, I want to teach them our "art" and not just make it play time. As long as our "fun" activities work towards a goal of helping them to improve their martial arts techniques, that is OK. It's always a balancing act. I just hope that in time they will come around and mature in their skills and attitude. I too am always looking for ways to motivate them or teaching techniques that will help them to understand what it is I want them to know, etc. I'll be eagerly monitoring/lurking for responses to this one also... I guess I'm in my phase of learning patience..... Master Mac TANG SOO! ------------------------------ From: Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 13:12:45 -0800 (PST) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #103 ******************************** Attention USA WTFers! 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.