From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #204 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Thurs, 15 April 1999 Vol 06 : Num 204 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: dan testing the_dojang: Dan testing the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #203 the_dojang: Re: headbutt?Dylan/Melinda the_dojang: Martial Arts Greeting Cards the_dojang: Re: Dan Tests the_dojang: Re: V6 #203: common root the_dojang: Re: V6 #203: block heads the_dojang: Re: Dan Testing 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: Ray Wagner Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 11:26:23 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Re: dan testing Emil Fisk asks: > I was just wondering what some people have to go through for their dan > tests? I know that some styles have to write thesis and other papers even > for their 1st dan, while others just have to demonstrate technique. For me, just the usual stuff. Techniques, forms, sparring (lots of sparring, yeesh). I didn't have to write a paper, but gladly would have. > I will be testing for my second dan in TKD (WTF) in October, Congratulations! > and my > instructor told me that there is also a 2.5km (about 1.6 miles) that must > be done in under 9 minutes. Yikes!! > I can understand stamina when it comes to > sparring, but does anybody else have to show physical endurance in this > manner? I happen to be a runner when I'm not kicking (who was it that asked about our other activities? I'm an ultramarathoner.) and your test sounds like more speed than endurance. I can run 10 minute miles for a long, long time. But I don't know that I could do 1.6 miles in 9 minutes. Way back when I was a young buck I could do sub 6 minute miles without dying, but now I'd be really hard pressed to pass your test. To answer your question, I've heard of folks having to run XX distance in YY minutes and it never worried me. But that's just plain old fast. In the organization that I just left they had just implemented a system of height/weight requirements. If you didn't meet the criteria then you had to take a physical test (running, pushups, situps) since some people just don't fit the "average" model. Me for instance. If you look at BMI then I'm obese. However, I have ~13% body fat and can run more than 26 miles. Go figure. Ray (not Terry) ------------------------------ From: Greg Giddins Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 10:37:30 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Dan testing Emil: Yep, had to run for a dan test. I had a 2 mile run ON THE BEACH for my first dan test. Ever try and run 2 miles in wet sand? Let me tell ya, it bites. Then I moved right in to the forms, combos and techniques, right there in the sand. Doing all that in a dojang would have been tough, doing it all at 7 am in the sand in Florida, at 80 degrees, 90% humidity was nearly fatal (smile). Then I got to immediately teach 2 one hour classes back at the dojang. Just me, no help from the others. Whew. I hated it, but I did it, and boy, did it feel good a few days later. (after the soreness went away) Greg Giddins ggiddins@ossinc.net Man is at his best in helping others: at his worst in bettering others. ------------------------------ From: Ray Wagner Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 11:31:36 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #203 "Jamaica Power" wrote: > >>>>>He also gave a bit of apsychological booster. He told everyone > "the trick". Hit the board in the middle and hit it fast. That's > it. Ray (Not Terry)<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > Hi - Just an expansion on your thought (IMHO). Nice expansion, Jamaica! :) I guess I was working from the assumption that the technique was correct to begin with. In theory we all learn to do the technique right and that's how we always do it no matter how tired or lazy we get. Rotten theory. You made a very good point. Make sure the technique is there before trying to use it. I guess there's a reason why the spin side kick is done that way and it really is hard to break when doing it wrong. My problem back in the old days was that I'm big enough to muscle through most testing breaks. Then when I got a bit more experienced and started doing more "impressive" stuff for demos I found out the hard way. I had to make sure I was doing the technique correctly and then things just sort of happened. Ray (not Terry) ------------------------------ From: Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 13:31:08 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: headbutt?Dylan/Melinda << I think you have the wrong idea entirely about the use of headbutts for self defense. If you used the headbutt just to clash heads, as you pointed out, you would probably be as likely to knock yourself out, as your opponent, and cause the same amount injury to yourself. The idea of the headbutt is to use the hard part of you head, the forehead, against a soft part of your attackers face, the bridge of the nose. I don't think people often get knockouts from headbutts, but like any blow to the nose, it very painful, has a stun effect, and the headbutt is probably the nastiest way to get hit like that. As for people breaking blocks with their heads, well I'm sure they have their reasons. >> Dylan, You raised an interesting distinction that I forgot to mention. Thanks. I wasn't really thinking cranium to cranium and your point is well taken. As for breaking cinder with your head - I wouldn't want to do it but I guess somebody has to :0) sure makes for stunning demos [no pun intended]. thanks for your reply Dawne dave steffens might be able to answer that one for you. I believe he's on this list too. dave? ya out there? :) melinda Yeah, Melinda I know. I didn't want to put undue pressure or our resident physicist. Thanks for doing it for me :0) ------------------------------ From: "Jamaica Power" Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 11:06:40 PDT Subject: the_dojang: Martial Arts Greeting Cards I have found two sites that have martial arts greeting cards. Does anybody know of others? Thanks. http://www.seishinkan.com/battlegr/bggen/comingso.htm http://www.warrior-scholar.com/frrbotto.htm jamaica_power@hotmail.com _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ From: Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 14:21:22 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: Dan Tests In a message dated 4/15/99 12:04:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Emil writes: << I was just wondering what some people have to go through for their dan tests? I know that some styles have to write thesis and other papers even for their 1st dan, while others just have to demonstrate technique. >> I "just" had to demonstrate techniques. For my second dan test, I had to demonstrate taegeuk 1-8, palgue 1-5, koryo, keumgang, chulgi, taebaek, bassai and kwangae as well as hoshinsul consisting of gun disarms, knife disarms, throws, jointlocks/breaks, and defenses against grabs. I also had to break five targets (two boards jump front kick above my head; 3 boards jump back kick; 1 board back hook kick; 1 board jump spinning round kick and 1 board speed neck chop --board unsupported). I then had to fight 5 opponents one after the other, each for a 3 minute round. One opponent bows out and the next bows in, no breaks between rounds. I also was tested on Korean terminology and phrases. My first dan test was essentially the same except that there were fewer forms (obviously) and there was one step sparring in place of the hoshinsul described above. As far as endurance goes, I think the 15 minutes of straight sparring was designed to demonstrate that ability (among others). I didn't have to write a paper for either dan test. Good luck on your 2nd Dan! Kurt Rommel McLean, Virginia, USA ------------------------------ From: samiller@Bix.Com Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 14:43:03 -0400 (EDT) Subject: the_dojang: Re: V6 #203: common root Your "quick" question assumes that a single common root exists and in my humble opinion, that is doutful. Even if that premise were true, it would be a great challenge to prove it with any rigor. Certainly there is much anecdotal evidence that derivative relationships could exist between many technical and philosophical aspects of the martial arts of China, Okinawa, Japan, and Korea over the last 500 - 1000 years. With a few exceptions, though, the specific relationships and their "directions of travel" are ambiguous, undocumented, and disputed. Consider that for any nominally unarmed member of an agricultural society, the means of unarmed defense and the inventory of farming implements that can be used as weapons will of necessity be similar. I suspect the development within each culture of rudimentary, similar, unarmed combat disciplines that would be amenable to the exchange of techniques predates the recorded histories of the martial arts. Also keep in mind the oral tradition origins of much if the history on which your analysis must rely. Asian history, especially the oral variety, seems to intermingle fact and allegory even more thoroughly than the Western variety (or at least Westerners have a lot more trouble telling one from the other). Several years ago I became fascinated with parts of "The Art of War" and set out to do research on that work and its author. I soon found that the very existence of a single person named "Sun Tzu" and the authorship of the works attributed to him was even more a can of academic worms than are the works of William Shakespeare. One last problem for you is that most current authorities on the history of the Asian martial arts have some vested interest or other in selling their particular perception of that history. Good luck with your quest;>) >I have a quick question..... I am writing a paper for history on martial >arts >an dI am thinking of doing something along the lines of how all MA styles >started with the same basic root and function and then developed into the >differnt styles of today because of personal preferences and styles.... Tang Soo! Scott A. Miller samiller@bix.com samiller@cyberenet.net ------------------------------ From: samiller@Bix.Com Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 14:43:05 -0400 (EDT) Subject: the_dojang: Re: V6 #203: block heads Whether they can recall what those reasons were is another question entirely;>) >As for people breaking blocks with their heads, well I'm sure they have >their reasons. Tang Soo! Scott A. Miller samiller@bix.com samiller@cyberenet.net ------------------------------ From: "Alexander, Stephen" Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 14:47:13 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Re: Dan Testing Emil Fisk wrote: >>I will be testing for my second dan in TKD (WTF) in October, and my instructor told me that there is also a 2.5km (about 1.6 miles) that must be done in under 9 minutes. I can understand stamina when it comes to sparring, but does anybody else have to show physical endurance in this manner?<< At my old school, you had to do a 10km run, had to be done in under and hour. It's as much about mental stamina as physical stamina. Oh, yeah, and you had to fast for 24 hours before your test as well. ( the run was done the week before). Steve Alexander To win 100 victories in 100 battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill. Sun Tzu / Gichin Funakoshi ....... Take your pick ! ------------------------------ From: Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 12:06:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #204 ******************************** 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.