From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #200 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Tues, 13 April 1999 Vol 06 : Num 200 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: Flying SideKicks-Paul the_dojang: Mental blocks the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #199 the_dojang: Re: V6 #199: reverse side kick the_dojang: Re: Flying Side Kicks for Breaking Boards the_dojang: Just Do It - Or Not - or Get Tutors the_dojang: Plyometrics the_dojang: Kunja the_dojang: Re: "Secret" Scoring at Tournaments the_dojang: Complete Guide to Sports Injuries-Online 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: "Jamaica Power" Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 08:39:31 PDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: Flying SideKicks-Paul >>>>>>>>Run toward the target. At the take-off point, turn the left foot slightly outward, while chambering the right leg for the kick. This helps turn the hip over to get one in the right position, while preserving momentum up/out toward the target. One might worry about twisting the knee doing this, but the outward turn is not enough to cause problems (maybe 45 degrees or so). Paul Rogers>>>>>>>> ======================================== Thanks Paul, actually this helps and makes perfect sense. How quickly I forget the little things! A side kick is a side kick and I remember the first tutor I had watched me as I executed a side kick both with my right and left leg. Now this is when I first started TKD and I was not rotating my hips and I thought it was lack of flexibility, etc. He's the one that taught me how to turn my toes at varying degrees which turned the hips. And we would practice this over and over again for optimal results. Eventually I achieved really great side kicks with both legs. It's the little things that count that some instructors forget to teach. Thanks again. jamaica_power@hotmail.com "There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there." (Indira Gandhi) _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ From: Angie Reed Garner Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 11:39:34 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Mental blocks >Then every once in awhile there is that overwhelming mental block. >The door just won't open no matter how hard we try? Did anybody ever > >have one with say a particular throw/hold, form, execution of a kick, > >board break, particular form, where no matter how hard you try, how >many times you do it, it's just not in the cards. > >Be interested in feedback and if you were ever able to overcome it. > >If you did overcome it how? Anything including a sports >psychologist, hypnotist, or pain stubbornness. (Smile). What I learned about this I learned from my instructor, who is a real master at not ~allowing~ students to get into training situations where they develop mental blocks. He doesn't let people keep trying at a technique. A couple of tries, some feedback, much encouragement, and then he moves the student on to the next thing. I think the principle here is that deep learning occurs not in a single lesson but over the course of many practices. He doesn't let people focus on a technique for long- even if they are succeeding with it. See above. What this teaches is that it isn't the success or failure with the particular technique that matters- we just keep training and over time naturally improve as a result. I think I do a lot of learning off the practice floor. In between practices I magically internalize whatever feedback I was given and then when I return to train I just naturally do the technique better. You can carve a "groove" with a technique either in one huge practice or over time. The problem with trying to get it down all at once is that you can get in the "failure" groove as often as the "success" groove with a technique. And once you are in that failure groove, every subsequent "failure" carves it deeper. By developing a technique over time, there is plenty of opportunity for correct learning and people don't get stuck in failure if a single practice goes badly. However well I am doing with a technique, I can expect my instructor to fine-tune it over future training sessions. He just doesn't hit me with all the technique refinements at once. (He waits until I've made one correction before he picks on the next thing!) So even if I think "I've really got this now", I can expect to keep being shown ways to improve. This long-term learning approach takes the pressure off. So in terms of applying this principle to a already-existing mental block in your own practices, what has worked for me is to practice the technique a few (literally under ten!) times mixed in with practicing everything else you are working on. Don't keep pushing at it, that just reenforces the block. Just touch on the technique regularly and go on. I think there is a troublesome idea that real serious learning and training should be somehow painful and difficult. But people seem to learn better if they are essentially relaxed, able to focus and in a mild and open mood. I think the "go for the burn" training philosophy is valuable for accomplishing physical conditioning- but very detrimental when it comes to learning! Angie Reed Garner ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------ From: Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 12:45:17 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #199 << After over 15 MA years, I tested last Friday (mid-term) after a three year testing absence! I will be the first to admit that my butterflies started a full week ahead of time! My instructor, testing for 7th degree in June, admitted to us last week he too still gets the butterflies! >> Is your instructor Master Caruso? I think it's super seeing people test for those high ranks. I plan to see it in person one day !! I am testing for 3rd Degree Black Belt next week in NJ. I have been thinking about it quite a bit for the last several days. I KNOW I am ready and have prepared the best I can. Still nothing like the feeling after you bust through those boards, complete the testing and feel really good about how you did. Joe 2nd Degree Black Belt Certified Instructor ATA - Long Island, NY ------------------------------ From: samiller@Bix.Com Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 13:00:26 -0400 (EDT) Subject: the_dojang: Re: V6 #199: reverse side kick Our curriculum has a "reverse round", but so far as I know, no reverse side kick (let alone flying reverse;>) We do a "push kick" to the back of the knee with the foot roughly parallel and the arch up in a few of our step drills, but this technique wouldn't seem to have enough snap to break with. What aspect of the kick is "reversed"? >By the way, when working out at a school in North Vancouver last year, I >watched a 2nd or 3rd-degree black belt do a flying reverse side kick board break over >5 people. It was a thing of beauty, and something to shoot for. Tang Soo! Scott A. Miller samiller@bix.com samiller@cyberenet.net ------------------------------ From: Ray Wagner Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 12:48:25 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Re: Flying Side Kicks for Breaking Boards Sally Baughn wrote: > Some people say it's only physics, Well, it is only physics. Whether there's a trick or not, you still have to break the board. > some say it's a trick and when > you know the trick there's no problem. But I've never yet seen a school > where breaking was part of the curriculum My last school had breaking clinics a couple of times each testing cycle. The instructor would show how to hold, how to NOT react as a holder, and how to strike the board. He also gave a bit of a psychological booster. He told everyone "the trick". Hit the board in the middle and hit it fast. That's it. > And > what does it prove so far as your ability as a martial artist? It proves that: 1) You can hit/kick hard and fast. That, after all, is the basis of a striking art. 2) You can execute the techniques correctly. If you do it wrong, it's hard to break. 3) You can overcome the adversity. You have to make yourself do something that you're not sure about. Personally, I think breaking is a great part of testing. As for not having it as part of the curriculum, I can see 2 major reasons: expense and danger of injury. Most school owners are trying to make a living through their art. If they're constantly supplying boards and bricks and such for breaking that eats into their profits. I can't fault them that, I want to make a buck too. There is also an inherent danger to breaking. Some times things just go wrong and someone gets hurt. The less you do it, the lower the risk. I guess there's another reason. At a test, you're *testing*. It's good (from a testers point of view) to give new challenges at the test and see how the students react. If your test is going to be the same as a class, only more formal, then why have a test? Just another $.02, Ray (not Terry) ------------------------------ From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 12:14:21 PDT Subject: the_dojang: Just Do It - Or Not - or Get Tutors Just Do It!!! or do you have to think first, like me?! This story is from my way earlier days in the martial arts but the thoughts remain with me. A frequently utilized command in the martial arts dojangs is "Just Do It." I don't know how many times I've seen an instructor or GM wake a little kid out of la la land during testing or class by strongly giving the command. Quite amazing, actually. Then there's me! This command has the total opposite effect on me. I love to ask questions (as Gomer Pyle said, "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise)! Anyway, I also like to analyze and think about things. So if you give me 4 boards to go through and perform an aero kick I never did before, and say just do it... chances are I'll hesitate, not perform like the little ones. It doesn't mean I wouldn't try with some help. Doesn't mean I would ask a hundred questions either, just a couple :) Sometimes I just need to clarify a move and explain why I think this will work or won't work and what the best approach for me would be. Now I do think logically (most of the time) but what I've seen happen is people say, "I don't want excuses, just do it." Thing is I wasn't looking for excuses not to do it, just a deeper understanding of why and the mechanics of the move before I do it. Scenario: Okay, say like in doing a board break, that I know that I hurt my hip the night before and that I won't be able to rotate. I know the boards are green, etc. Not looking for excuses just trying to approach the matter in the best fashion. But I would always get cut off by certain instructors. Some would get angry. Didn't want questions or explanations even if my hip was hurt. So maybe it was impatience on their part and a frustration at my style of learning, perhaps? Or was I unintentionally offending the autocratic style of teaching. In order to compensate for this lack of instruction then I hired private tutors. I hired one Vietnamese Master Instructor for board breaking and why I bring up nationality is that this incredible gentleman could barely speak English and yet was the greatest instructor I had. He gave me the exact how to's and insights on all kinds of board breaking. I would go back to class or testing and be outstanding. Of course the other instructors that wouldn't help me took credit for my breaks. And then I hired another tutor for execution of kicks. The tips and training once again were way beyond anything I was taught in class. But that's another thread. Anybody else have experience with this or thoughts on it or am I on a desert island on this one? jamaica_power@hotmail.com "There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there." (Indira Gandhi) _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ From: Eric Mueller Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 16:12:52 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Plyometrics Does anyone use Plyometrics in their Training, or in their training of others? What Excercises/drills do you utilize? How frequently? Do you make any modifications for children? For 'Older' Students? What kind of results do you hope for? In what time frame? Thanks, Eric Mueller ------------------------------ From: "Eric S. Weber" Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 16:28:43 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Kunja Greetings! I just joined the mailing list. My name is Eric Weber and I am a current Sophomore at Indiana University, studying Tae Kwon Do from Mr. Don Burns. I currently have to do an outline based on Kunja, of which I can hardly find any information to put out a good outline for my black belt paper. If anyone can graciously offer any resources available about kunja it would be most appreciated. Thanks again for your time and help. My outline is due next Wed. so if you could send me any info in the next 2-3 days it would be great! Thanks Eric Weber ------------------------------ From: Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 17:27:49 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: "Secret" Scoring at Tournaments Anonymous wrote: << Scores should be posted - in fact I allow competitors to look at their scores instead of making them turn their backs. The posting of scores is mandatory - - held high over heads. Those who try to hide their scores are usually those who are not confident about their scoring ability. If they are not posting scores - that is a regional or local thing, but not a USTU requirement. USTU wants the scores posted for all to see. >> Does USTU have anything in writing about this? I'd like to talk to our state officers about it, but a little bit of back-up might help. : ) Thanks, Sally CBAUGHN@aol.com ------------------------------ From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 14:38:45 PDT Subject: the_dojang: Complete Guide to Sports Injuries-Online For those that might not have seen this site. Was going through my bookmarks. I like this site, so FYI. http://search1.healthgate.com/sport/index.shtml jamaica_power@hotmail.com _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 18:25:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #200 ******************************** 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.