From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #123 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Mon, 1 March 1999 Vol 06 : Num 123 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: surprise! the_dojang: Re: size matters the_dojang: RE: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #122 the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #120 the_dojang: Men/Women training the_dojang: Optimizing your Skills the_dojang: Wearing Many Hats the_dojang: Stressing history and other important mental things the_dojang: Shunned! the_dojang: Handbook 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: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 11:12:29 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: surprise! In a message dated 3/1/99 10:08:57 AM Central Standard Time, the_dojang- owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << Has anyone been in a situation where they have been surprised, scared, or otherwise taken off guard by someone they know? I am interested in what the "natural" response was.....did you jump 10 feet in the air, or assume a fighting stance and be on the ready? >> i tend to get on the defensive and have had to literally hold myself back from making a block or strike. melinda chunjido@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 11:16:49 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: size matters In a message dated 3/1/99 10:08:57 AM Central Standard Time, the_dojang- owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << Has anyone else encountered this, and if so, did you find any specific solutions? >> sounds like youre getting in a hurry. try to focus on what your supposed to be doing...(the specific technique)...and not so much the end result (partner lying on floor wondering what happened). it's kinda like my awful golf swing. i look up too soon cuz i wanna see that ball flying to the hole. unfortunately, i didnt happen to keep an eye on the ball long enough to make sure the club made contact off the tee...lol. the result is that my technique stinks cuz i got in a hurry. melinda chunjido@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Greg Giddins Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 09:54:14 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: RE: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #122 >Just an observation: It seems unfortunate that one person's pervasive negativity can elicit so many responses. Personally I'd like to see mor people respond toconstructive and educational posts. S.E.Silz< Here here!!! Sounds like a wonderful suggestion. And thanks Ray for keeping us on track. In our training we are taught to focus ourselves on what we are there for, and overcome all the distractions of every day life. I think we could do that here, too. Let's overcome the background noise and get workin'! Speaking of which, I work out in a school at a rec center gym and we have to shout over the sound of the attached raquetball courts, it gets pretty loud in there. Has anyone had to work out in a situation like that, and if so, did it affect your training? Teaching style? Were there any favorite ways to deal with this scenario? I miss my little quiet rooms, boo hoo. Greg Giddins ------------------------------ From: Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 11:58:48 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #120 In a message dated 2/28/99 8:15:30 AM Pacific Standard Time, the_dojang- owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << Just a brief point here on starting over. I am NOT a belt happy parent. I don't push for rank or testings. My kid tests when he is told he's ready, its that simple. having said that I believe we must recognize that many families are making a sacrifice to have their kid(s) in the art they practice. Starting over means more in testing fees and tuition and for some can be frustrating. So many "Take my dough" schools exist that it is natural to feel uneasy. Of course a change in style is a different issue altogether and FWIW starting at white belt to me is logical. Dawne >> To Dawne: While is may appear to be solely a money making policy (and it may just be; such schools are too common in my experience). It may also be that there is a significant difference in curriculum between schools which well warrants starting from the bottom. Also, since the real goal is continued learning and personal development (not just getting a certain rank and being done with it) it really shouldn't matter what belt you "kid" is placed at as long as he/she is being challenged. I have 24 years in taekwondo (I hold a 5th Dan from Kukkiwon for those who make a big deal out of such things - which I don't) but love to learn something new and prefer to dress up in a white belt when I attend someone else's school. A fresh start is often a good thing. S.E.Silz ------------------------------ From: Rich Barta Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999 13:20:33 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Men/Women training Its been my experience being an instructor that its more the persons mental standing and not there gender that gets there placement, Other than that I've noticed that more females seem to be the aggressive ones and not the men, Most lower rank men are almost afraid to touch them and before they know it the gal has planted a foot up side there head, and once you mix in the flexibility and speed.. well the power of a man doesn't even matter as much.. Also this matter isn't swayed at all with the fact that one of my instructors is Master Vicky Neiman of South Central Tae Kwon Do. :-) Richard Barta 1st Dan Black Belt Tae Kwon Do ------------------------------ From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999 13:00:27 PST Subject: the_dojang: Optimizing your Skills It prevents me from mastering techniques as accurately as I'd like, which detracts from my own satisfaction with my accomplishments, and it leaves me less than optimally prepared for a possible street confrontation with a larger or stronger person. Has anyone else encountered this, and if so, did you find any specific solutions? Tang Soo!Scott A. Miller +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I don't think there is anything so frustrating as not being able to optimize one's skills. I don't mind emptying my cup but when it doesn't get refilled I get pretty thirsty. I tried many solutions. Worked harder on my own. Worked with other students after hours. Paid talented students from class to help me (over and above the tuition I already was paying). Found a martial artist in a town about 2 hours (one way) from the place I lived and drove there and back on Saturdays. Put out another bundle for that. Became exhausted instead of getting more talented. Finally quit and found different instructors. They were about 3 hours away from where I lived but also mega talented and very good friends of mine that started their own school. Set up a regular training schedule. Even though it was not nearly as frequent as the closer school; I learned more from them than I did in a dozen lessons from the other place. And my peace of mind was back, I became enthused again and more importantly it became fun again. It was nice to have a support system to help me out and also be my friends. Jamaica jamaica_power@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999 12:24:34 PST Subject: the_dojang: Wearing Many Hats Jamaica,I'd like a little clarification on one thing in this post: you mention "ref, compete and coach" at tournaments! Can you elaborate on the "coach" aspect? One writen rule in the ATA is that while ring-side encouragement is allowed, no coaching is permitted - you don't want one competitor to have an unfair advantage! Thanks Mark.Lasich __________________________________ Sure! First my statement is based on many tournaments in different states and different organizations. It's sort of a composite of lots of martial arts tournaments. Over the last few years I've travelled to many tournaments as a lurker (oops I mean spectator) and while the situation you described seems to be ideal and even required for most tournaments it is not enforced and mostly at the local tournaments. Some tournaments in some towns can get down right nasty (I've seen this especially at state tournaments) For some towns and cities these tournaments take on a very "personal" venue. It's like the people have been waiting for a long time and this is "thee" event. Some of them even go not only beyond ring side encouragement but all forms of proper coaching and etiquette. Like with all things it depends on the tournament. If the officials don't enforce the rules than things happen and after that parent participation occurs and yelling matches begin. Of course there are always the coaching games, too. The subtle codes and signals like those given to a pitcher at a baseball mound. Then there is the 2nd coach syndrome. So you've got the person in the chair being complete honorable and a second coach situated behind the lines doing some interesting things and saying some interesting comments. So who's the real coach? Please stand up.. For sure, not always but it does occur. Very general and generic statement. Lots of great coaches out there too. Jamaica jamaica_power@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 16:19:30 EST Subject: the_dojang: Stressing history and other important mental things Trying to create an aversion here... How many people (instructors or students) stress the importance of learning Korean history and the development of TKD? Just strikes me as being really funny how in some areas (like mine) there are blue belts who can't even remember the Five Tenets, much less tell me which side of the peninsula TKD started (Note: I usually ask which side of the peninsula to trick them because at the time, Korea was one kingdom... or Three... with a non- affiliated Fourth...)... I've even had students who are equal in rank to me (4th geup-blue belt) be unable to answer what their form means. Sad, isn't it? Well... when that black belt test finally rolls around for me, I know I'll be prepared. Just wanna know who stresses the mental stuff. Kim Jones addidastkd@aol.com "What? Can't handle the kimchi? Get outta here!!!!" ------------------------------ From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Mon, 01 Mar 1999 14:25:40 PST Subject: the_dojang: Shunned! This is pretty much an expansion on the demotion thread. After chatting with a few people about their personal experiences and a few of my own I was reminded of other ways of being demoted and sometimes the results being quite painful. We talked about the normal demotions and people getting kicked out of schools and starting over in new schools when you have to move for whatever reason. But what if there are internal things going on and I'll just randomly site a few where people have had to leave and either take a demotion or suffer other consequences such as being shunned by the instructor and acolytes for leaving the school: Say you want to start your own school with your instructors support but then he decides he's not going to support you, Or you leave your instructor for political or other beliefs and try to start a school in a close geographic location, Or perhaps there are in-class conflicts with other students and you don't want to upset the school so you decide to take the high road and leave quietly but upon your exit individuals create their own rumors, Or perhaps you become quite ill and take a leave but seeing as it's confidental you choose not to tell others so they make up their own stories which label you within your organization. Now all of these are demotions (maybe some mental and emotional) because somewhere along the line you either had to start over or had to overcome major obstacles to begin anew and stay within and organization to get certificates, or were stopped for awhile in your advancement. Jamaica jamaica_power@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 18:09:22 EST Subject: the_dojang: Handbook I may be revising my school's handbook for the Sabumnim. While he and I were discussing this, I suggested that a special booklet for white belts be prepared. The idea is to have in one place the basics a beginning student needs to know. I have in mind things like: where to bow or how to tie the belt; as well as, oh, I know you love your spouse, but you still have to remove your wedding ring. The Sabumnim wants something more along the lines of an essay on the importance of the journey one is about to embark and how students should help keep the dojang clean. Fortunately, these two thoughts are not mutually exclusive. However, that brings up the question for the list: what do people think are, say, the five most important things for a new student to know as he or she begins his or her first or second class? JB ------------------------------ From: Date: Mon, 1 Mar 1999 16:09:33 -0800 (PST) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #123 ******************************** 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.