From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #134 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Sat, 6 March 1999 Vol 06 : Num 134 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: breaking/Jamaica the_dojang: Re: optimal attention the_dojang: Re: Eyegear the_dojang: Koryo and Symbolism the_dojang: Judging Forms the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #132 the_dojang: butterfly knives the_dojang: Re: eyes/astigmatism Re: the_dojang: butterfly knives the_dojang: Eyeglasses in the Dojang the_dojang: Re: carrying knives 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: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 17:20:50 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: breaking/Jamaica In a message dated 3/5/99 5:15:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, the_dojang- owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: > > ...the master is grading and a black belt or adult is holding the board. > After 3 attempts the master will take the board and BANG its over and > done. ..... > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Ah, the willingness to please the master instructor is a great > motivation. But I'd also like to introduce another thought. > > More often than not whether in the classroom or tournament a make it or > break it factor is the board holder. Because you are a blackbelt or > even a big male 200lb blackbelt does not make a good boardholder. > You'll see this a lot at tournaments. Thanks Jamaica for raising this point. I have long since suspected it was something like that but didn't want to be a parent with sour-grapes. It is however incredibly frustrating especially if the laughing is not put to an end. As a parent I just want to say "look, you know the routine, how about we skip it and you just hold the board?" Instead, at this new school I have simply made our GM aware of the situation so we'll see how it goes. Dawne ------------------------------ From: Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 17:30:57 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: optimal attention > I would also like to ask what everyone thinks is the optimal time and > days for classes for children where they seem to maximize their > performance and where their attention level seems to stay. > > Jamaica You don't know how many times I wished Ben could take class in the a.m. Saturday sessions he seems to be more awake, less hungry and happier to be there. Lets face it. 5pm is usually the earliest class but to little people it is often right in the middle of dinner. 6 is no better b/c you have to rush like crazy or be late. Our family had to shift our day's routine to incorporate the MA. 5:30 dinner has become 6:30 or worse, 7pm just so the family can eat together. I know a family who eats at 10:30. Of course their kids are older. Dawne ------------------------------ From: Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 17:42:37 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: Eyegear In a message dated 3/5/99 04:14:38 PM Central Standard Time, the_dojang- owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: > Broaching eyesight, who wears any sort of "clumsy" eyegear during practice > or > competitions? I don't wear my glasses during class because while I have > mucho > difficulties seeing distances, everything close up is not that bad. And > could > someone please shed some light on what astigmatism is? I've had the phrase > tossed at me from my eye doc and looked it up, but I odn't have a clear idea > of what it really is. Any information is helpful. > As I understand it (and that may or may not be very well) astigmatism is a condition in which your eye fails to focus light , and therefore, images properly. I believe it is caused by irregularities in the lens or cornea. I'm not sure about the cornea, but I can easily imagine that a glass lens that had an irregular shape or thickness would not focus light the same as a lens of unifrom thickness and shape. Optical astigmatism is generally compensated for by the shape/thickness of the perscription lens specific to the patient. I also have an astigmatism and wear glasses (although, it does sound like your vision is much more impared than mine) and recently got contacts for class, sparring, competition. Contacts are available for folks with astigmatism, but they must be special ordered and are fairly expensive. I paid approx. $170 for a six month supply of soft contacts (since I usually only wear them for MA's they actually have lasted about 15 months to date). The contacts also compensate for the astig. through size and shape. This means that there is a right side up and down to each lens (found by small marks on the lens) and they must be lined up right when they are inserted. It is a pain in the neck at first, but you get used to it pretty fast. It is nice to see while sparring. One further note, someone pointed out the other day, safety aside, it is not a good idae to wear glasses during sparring since, in real life, they will most likely be knocked off almost immediately during a fight. Hummm....... food for thought. IMHO, - ---Kim (yes me too) KAS001@aol.com ------------------------------ From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Fri, 05 Mar 1999 16:59:57 PST Subject: the_dojang: Koryo and Symbolism raising it to about chin level, in Taeguek Chil (7) Jang, is simply a pause to collect yourself? There is no other meaning behind it? Also, the same is true in the middle of Koryo? No other possible meaning? Chris Callahan +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ One of my instructors taught me that in Koryo this physically was a move to collect yourself but the action was the representation of the sun and enlightenment and should be done slowly and respectfully with quiet strength. Jamaica jamaica_power@hotmail.com ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 00:13:26 EST Subject: the_dojang: Judging Forms In a message dated 3/5/99 4:14:11 PM Central Standard Time, the_dojang- owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << It seems not all judges know all the forms correctly but they do wait for that loud yell at the end of the forms, not only as a sign of strength but closure. They have also been deducted if they put two kihaps in. It was not worth the time and effort to challenge the decisions. So there you have it for what it's worth. >> So many schools make "changes in the forms, judges are instructed not to pay too much attention to these details. Basically a competitor tells you si they screwed it up, they get the "Please tell me you didn't see me do that" look. Many times because you are judging 2 competitors at once - the judge may catch only the I-screwed-up face and not the actual mistake. It is pretty easy to tell usually if someone was taught wrong - for which many referees will not penalize or if they make a mistake. Competent judges can usually even judge forms they do not know by using the criterion of breathing, loud kihop, synchronization of movements, techniques - etc........ And like I said - you ALWAYS know when they screw up. Now, i advise my students - 1. Don't stand together so you end up doing your form together (local tourneys). 2. Don't get in the front of the line. (It is so rare that you see someone who is the 1st or 2nd to perform who wins, especially in larger divisions.) 3. Don't be the first one done. Since there are usually 2 going at once - be the slower one of the two. So when the other person is done - all the judges have to give you their full attention. 4. Be dramatic - they've seen that form 500 times that morning and you need to do something to distinguish yourself. 5. Remove all the jewelry. It may not be sparring, but it pisses the judges off and they DO count off for it. 6. When your name or number is called - JUMP UP and snap to attention BOW. Don't just amble up and take your own sweet time. 7. And when/if you screw up - BLUFF IT. They probably missed it if you don't tell them you did it. I should add here that there are judges who will count off if someone is doing the form differently than their school does to "teach them a lesson" and then "maybe they will be forced to start teaching the forms right," But most adhere to the thought process of "are they doing it wrong because they blew it?" or "were they taught this way?" Ronda J. Sweet ------------------------------ From: Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 00:19:05 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #132 Scott Miller wrote: << I get home at 5:30 and I leave for my 6:30 training class at 6:00. >> This sounds like me on my teaching nights. I would never be able to get up if I tried to take a cat nap. An object in motion stays in motion, an object at rest doesn't make it to class.... Take Care, Peter M. ------------------------------ From: Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 00:33:07 EST Subject: the_dojang: butterfly knives Ray (or anyone else for that matter): What is a good video/book for learning how to open butterfly knives? Are certain knives better for beginners? I have always been fascinated by the speed with which some folks are able to open these knives. Thanking you in advance.... Take Care, Peter M. ------------------------------ From: Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 00:40:00 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: eyes/astigmatism Kim Jones wrote: <> I used to wear the prescription goggles. I hated them because mine would fog up, they were uncomfortable as soon as I started sweating, and they were a pain if I got hit in the head. I wear soft contacts-they are a godsend-wear them all the time except when I go to sleep. I also have an astigmatism in one eye. From what I gather, it is simply that my eye is misshapen (mine is not so bad that I need special contacts (Thank God as the price is prohibitive!). Take Care, Peter M. ------------------------------ From: Date: Fri, 5 Mar 1999 22:38:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: the_dojang: butterfly knives > What is a good video/book for learning how to open butterfly knives? Are > certain knives better for beginners? I have always been fascinated by the > speed with which some folks are able to open these knives. First of all, be advised that in some states (countries?) these are a felony to own, not just carry, but to even have one in your home. So, be careful... Some ok vids are the three by Scott Brennan & David Miller, The Balisong: Filipino Knife of Self-Defense. Not sure who sells'em. Let me check. The better ones are probably easier to learn on. However, tape the blade with masking tape or ??? when learning to work them to reduce the cuts to your hands/fingers. Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Joan Bostic Date: Sat, 06 Mar 1999 09:28:05 -0800 Subject: the_dojang: Eyeglasses in the Dojang Re: the questions on glasses and astigmatism. I've taken to leaving my glasses in the gym bag and switching to my contacts. I found that it is a little distracting to have your glasses sliding down a sweaty nose when you're concentrating on a technique or form. Also, being in the geriatric crowd (as in old enough to know better but, hopefully, still young enough to do it), I found that my bifocals played havoc with my spatial judgment when sparring, and I was deathly afraid of not pulling a punch or kick soon enough. As for astigmatism (which I have), my doctor always explained it as a misshapen eyeball (something more football shaped than it should be). It's easily corrected (unless it's really severe and you want to wear contacts; then, it's really difficult to get them properly weighted to stay in place). Joan Bostic 8th Gup, TSD Two Harbors, Minnesota jbostic@mr.net ------------------------------ From: Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 10:48:58 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: carrying knives I always pack my trusty little Swiss Army Executive model, so if anyone messes with me, I will tweeze and file them into submission! :o) Pil Seung Stan Wojcoski ------------------------------ From: Date: Sat, 6 Mar 1999 08:07:00 -0800 (PST) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #134 ******************************** 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.