From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #310 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Sat, 12 June 1999 Vol 06 : Num 310 In this issue: Re: the_dojang: Grand master Benko the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #309 the_dojang: re: endurance advice the_dojang: Re: Interesting Situations and Testing with Injuries the_dojang: Re: What would you do, interesting situation the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #309 the_dojang: Grandmaster Benko the_dojang: hello the_dojang: Frank Dux, Part I the_dojang: Frank Dux II the_dojang: biking and flexibility the_dojang: slow? the_dojang: . ......................................................................... The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~725 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 Terry Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 07:56:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: the_dojang: Grand master Benko > I stumbled across a website (I often do...). The address is > www.itatkd.com > > The association is called the International Taekwon-Do Association and is > lead by James Benko who claims to hold 9th Dans in four martial arts > including TKD and Hapkido. > > Is this guy for real, or is he yet another self-promoting renegade ? Interesting website. His bio is rather impressive, but he looks a bit young (~53?) to be a multiple 9th Dan... Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: WriorDragn@aol.com Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 11:08:16 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #309 In a message dated 6/12/99 9:39:37 AM Central Daylight Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << have done walking (which is good), but I heard that bike riding would not be good for my flexibility (which is not great). >> Biking is actually very good for endurance/arobic training... try to find out your max heart rate and try to maintain that for about 20-30 minutes while riding. Keep your bike grear-ing low so you can get teh repitions you need to a good ride. As forflexibility, that is just like any other type of training... strech a bit before to help warm up the muscles - then stretch more after the ride. This will help to keep the muscles inthe legs from tightening up. Hope this helps, WriorDragn ------------------------------ From: "Laura Kamienski" Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 12:08:26 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: re: endurance advice From: "Aaron Harmon" Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 15:36:19 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Endurance advice Any low-impact aerobic stuff that I can do on my non-class days that y'all can suggest? I have done walking (which is good), but I heard that bike riding would not be good for my flexibility (which is not great). Hi Aaron, Bike riding is _excellent_ cross training and will not hinder your flexibility one bit if you stretch properly before and after. TKD and biking are my two biggest loves in life and each has helped the other. I am an aerobics instructor / personal trainer by trade and would recommend any type of low impact aerobic activity including: EFX machines, stationary bicycles, rowing machines etc. If you like group fitness classes, low impact aerobics (or high impact modified to low impact) or step classes are also an option. I teach CardioKarate at a gym and at my dojang and would highly recommend some sort of fitness kickboxing class as well. Hope this helps. Best wishes on your upcoming test! Laura 1st dan ChinMuKwan Tae Kwon Do lkamiens@ptd.net http://home.switchboard.com/LKamienski ____________________________________________________ "The destination is not the purpose of a journey; death is not the purpose of life." -Thich Nhat Hanh ____________________________________________________ ------------------------------ From: Jamaica Power Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 09:29:50 PDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: Interesting Situations and Testing with Injuries >>>>Happens here as well, sometimes. Sometimes it is the other way around >>>>when the instructor sets the student up for something, and the GM says >>>>no. I guess the question is who more accurately judged your potential for that test - your instructor or your GM. So, how did you do? Or did I need to ask? :-) Respectfully Stan Lim =================================================== Hi Stan, First Good luck or congratulations on your test. Hope all went well. Let us know. Second, it typically is the other way around. That GM always pushed me in my colored belt testings. This was a switch. How did I do??? Zap, wham, great,,, Got the 2nd Dan. That was about 11 years ago. No problemo. Jamaica _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ From: Jamaica Power Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 09:40:30 PDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: What would you do, interesting situation >>>Was your instructor's reason a complete mystery to you, even after the GM said to go?........Peter Everett Hi Peter and thanks for the great questions. This is the one that most accurately fits. I was up close and in everybody's face. The GM was standing next to my instructor. About a foot apart. All of the BB's holding my boards were BB's that were of higher rank, knew me for years and were awesome individuals, marital artists and instructors. Best of the best. Those boards were set up properly and they were holding them to perfection for me. I felt honored. I swear I felt their energy coming into the boards as I knew my energy would be going through the boards and into them. I knew when their energy met mine, Wham. The comment from my instructor of that time took them aback. They pulled back quizzically. Then when the GM gave the word they refocused as I did. And I was a bit frazzled (momentarily) until I heard a couple of my friends holding the boards (senior BB's) take a chance and whisper to me."Do IT NOW..Focus,,,Show em, You can do it." And I smiled, and I did. It was after that test I dropped from that school. jamaica _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ From: TKDSCRIBE@aol.com Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 14:28:59 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #309 In a message dated 6/12/99 7:39:37 AM Pacific Daylight Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << The association is called the International Taekwon-Do Association and is lead by James Benko who claims to hold 9th Dans in four martial arts including TKD and Hapkido. Is this guy for real, or is he yet another self-promoting renegade ? >> Jesus...what the heck do you think? I know a martial arts fella' here in San Diego who told his students: aside from being a grandmaster, he is an MD, a lawyer, a supreme court judge, and a Colonel in the Special Forces. Also he 'admits' that he already held a LLD, three Ph.D.s and that he was about to get another at which time he would be conferred "The Super Degree," making him an "expert in everything. His students believe this as gospel. Perheps this chap and "Grandmaster Benko" are pals. SESilz ------------------------------ From: "Dennis McHenry" Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 13:29:35 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Grandmaster Benko Anders, <> I've talked many times with Grandmaster Benko. He is not a renegade. He also happens to be a computer geek on the side, so he has done a good job on his web site. Mac Houston, Texas ------------------------------ From: d g Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 14:10:20 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: hello I am just writing today to introduce myself. My name is Donna Galster. I study kyukido. Which is a combination of tkd, judo, and hapkido. I am currently looking at new lists to get into. I will lurk a bit to see what this list is like and decide if I like it. Donna ------------------------------ From: "John Groff" Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 14:35:16 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Frank Dux, Part I > > I followed this lawsuit in detail from start to finish? Anybody else? > > Any opinions of Dux the mentor of Van Damme and their $600,000.00 lawsuit. > Including Van Damme's cocaine habits and Dux's brain tumor. > The movie that turned out to be "Quest" but was scheduled as "Kumite." > > Would love to have some discussion on this topic for many reasons. > > Thanks, > > Jamaica Hi, Jamaica, et al-- I've been following Dux's "career" from a distance for a little over 10 years now. I hope this doesn't bore the snot out of anybody, but the information below is from another site I sometimes post on, and delves into the real Frank Dux--complete with sources everybody can check out themselves (although unfortunately most of 'em aren't online, w/ the exception of court t.v.). Unfortunately, the movie "Bloodsport" and Dux's so-called autobiography are, as far as anyone who's bothered to actually do the reasearch & check the facts (and I don't mean looking on someone's self-serving web-site, but actually doing the paintaking investigative work involving hunting down documents, etc.) can tell, Dux is an out and out sham, and the materials in his book and the movie are completely spurious--as are his claims of "records" and "knockouts". It is highly questionable whether Dux -ever- fought a match--point or full contact! But please--don't take my word for it. Among those who know the facts are John Johnson of the L.A. Times, who as early as 1988 had Dux pegged for what he was--an out and out liar. Unfortunately, his LA Times article "Ninja: Hero or Master Fake?", (Sunday May 1 1988, Metro, Part 2, Page 4) was not highly publicized in the martial arts community. Had it been, Dux would probably have had to give up his charade and apologize. You may contact the LA times for a reprint of this article and read the truth for yourselves. Times Archives can be reached at 1-800-788-8804. If that isn't enough, check out Soldier of Fortune (SOF) magazine, Nov. 1998, and the article "Stole Valor" by Larry Bailey (pg.58-61, 73). Bailey blows the lid off of Dux's fake military medals, bogus karate trophies, and funny claims, etc. They can be reached at (303)449-3750. Or, read the book "Stolen Valor" by B.G. Burkett--he expands (greatly)on SOF's work. The book may be ordered from Verity Press, 1800-253-6789. If that isn't enough, maybe Court-TV will re-run some of the damaging evidence against Dux when he slandered Van Damme in the recent lawsuit he (Dux) lost (ironically he was suing Van Damme for breach of contract). One of the reasons the case was dismissed was the overwhealming evidence showing that Dux's self-made history was a clear sham--and that he had lied about so many martial arts (and other) events in the past. Please, do check out these sources For yourself! - --CJ ------------------------------ From: "John Groff" Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 14:50:11 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Frank Dux II FRANK DUX II ::There is no denying that Frank Dux did contribute to the martial culture of the U.S., regardless of the veracity of his claims (one needn't be the "real deal", or even a martial artist to inspire others to get into the arts with a story). For a long time though, I just couldn't figure out - -why- someone in the martial arts would have to fabricate claims about fighting, feats, etc. . . .to win publicity, to boost one's ego, to get into Hollywood? A lot of martial artists and m.a. businessmen will exaggerate their resumees a bit to attract students or impress local reporters. Maybe they don't think their real accomplishments are enough. That's really too bad, because there are plenty of phenomenal teachers who have either fought in very few competitions, or just simply never won a "world championship" from one of the thousands of organizations out there today--yet have managed to bring up some great athletes and wonderful people. Of course, there are plenty of great teachers and schools out there that also have a legitimate history behind them--take a look at the Kyokushinkai's history of bare knuckles fighters, or the success of brazilian schools, like Helio or Carlos Gracie's tradition, the Shamrock's Lion's Den stables, or even the ranks of the Shidokan fighters. No phony Kumite there--and evrything's a matter of record. These people/groups all have video footage (proof) of their fighting efforts, and both their fights and opponents can be verified. Heck, as early as the 30's the Japanese were filming judo bouts, and in the U.S. during the '60's & 70's, guys like Norris, Mullins, Wallace, and Lewis to name a few were filming their contests to feel out their opponents and streamline their fighting strategies for future bouts. These bouts happened, they were seen by hundreds of other legitimate martial artists, which is why all of these guys are so highly respected today. I'd love to see some proof, anything, that might even vaguely suggest Dux competed at all--even in one point tournament. After all, if he were really a knockout fighter with the fastest hands in the world, why is the only source of his exploits are himself and a few buddies of his whose own histories are just as questionable? Why no competitions in the U.S., no full contact bouts here or in Japan, or Europe, or any of the other places where people with real skills have the opportunity to make some money and a real name for themselves? Why did his name never make the tournamnent roundup in any magazine? Why have Dux and others like him failed consistently to give demonstrations of their claimed skills in front of a board of legitimate martial artists, to once and for all quiet any speculation? I don't mean to raise any hackles by saying this, but if there were any truth to these claims, even one, we'd have heard about it, and Dux would probably be as big as Norris and Chan by now. And then there's all of that undeniable proof (mentiones in Frank Dux I) that his stories just don't hold water. . . I'm not writing to bring a man down--guys who lie about their training or experiences do that to themselves when amateur historians finally get around to ferreting 'em out. It is up to us, the martial artists, regardless of our own rank or experiences, to filter out the chaff from the grain, be alert, and question claims that sound too good to be true (after all, who wouldn't want to train with someone who says they're an ex-world champion, or has had many international fights under his/her belt? Martial artists are honorable folk--they'd -never- lie--right?). The "real deals" out there will be only too happy to show you the proof of their accomplishments. It is up to us!! We must police our own, and always remember that EXTRAORDINARY CLAIMS REQUIRE EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE. Sorry for the caps--I always think of that phrase like that, it's very important to what I do. In circumstances like this, the burden of proof is on the individual making the claim. Dux currently teaches a style of martial art which he calls "Dux-Ryu". He, like Chris Hunter (a.k.a. Ashida Kim), claims to have had secret ninja teachers. On U.S. soil, no less. As usual, no proof of any sort. . . Frank Dux has a few students in the L.A. area teaching his blended martial art, from what I have seen of it it is a mostly karate-based art with a bit of jujutsu thrown in. I didn't see anything which looked like classical ninpo or heavy grappling. If you have a search engine, try looking up "Dux Ryu" for his site. There are still a lot of silly claims and no proof concerning Frank, although I'm certain that Dux's students are probably totaly sincere people who just haven't had the time or resources to do the research on their teacher's background. At any rate, don't let this discourage you. The kind of martial artist you are has nothing to do with the kind of martial artist Frank Dux is--and everything to do with your own sincere efforts. :Kind wishes, :CJ ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 15:08:19 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: biking and flexibility I agree with what others have mentioned, biking will not hamper your flexibility as long as you continue to work on your stretching. However, it will reduce your flexibility if you do not. Activities like biking that do not involve a complete range of motion can and will reduce flexibility, thus one must counter that with a good stretching regimen. Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 15:13:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: slow? I'm off to Illinois tomorrow (Sunday), so the digest issues -may- slow down while I'm out-n-about. Just FYI... Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 15:11:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #310 ******************************** 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.