From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #329 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Tues, 29 June 1999 Vol 06 : Num 329 In this issue: the_dojang: Soo Bahk Do FAQ info needed the_dojang: Re: ATA Worlds... the_dojang: Scoliosis and Sciatica and Kicking the_dojang: Re: One Year Wonders the_dojang: RE: One-year wonders the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #328 the_dojang: Re: V6 #328: One year wonders Re: the_dojang: Scoliosis and Sciatica and Kicking Re: the_dojang: Re: V6 #328: One year wonders 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: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 08:50:52 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: Soo Bahk Do FAQ info needed Folks, we need a Soo Bahk Do (Tang Soo Do) entry in our Korean MA FAQ. Any volunteers? Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Brett Erwin Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 10:54:34 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Re: ATA Worlds... I was there... the whole long week. You asked about the Masters' testing. Here's what I saw/remember: Master Allemier looked great testing for 8th degree. Though I wouldn't call it a test as much as I would call it a demonstration given for his promotion given by Grand Master Lee. As well, I wouldn't call any of the 6th degrees and above anything other than a demonstration. With that said, Allemier did the Master's form (which includes 33 moves that he makes up in the middle to make the form unique to him) and did two CARTWHEELS in the middle of it! Watching that fifty-something *BIG* man do that was awesome. He then sparred Caruso, then M.K. His board breaks cosisted of three stations. The first was a jump round kick with contiuous side kick with the same same leg before landing. He did this first and broke the round and missed the side, then the missed the round and broke the side, then the missed the round and broke the side on the third attempt. My instructor, who is his student, was holding for the round kick and quickly told him to punch it. He did, then he broke 4 boards with a jump reverse side kick, then broke 7 2"x8"x16" spaced concrete slabs with a downward palm heel. M.K. clearly had the best technique everall - need anyone ask? Caruso and Ozuna both looked good also. You could tell who is keeping up their physical skills and who isn't. The "Flying Lee brothers" demo was cool. H.U., S.H., G.K., M.K., and I.H. Lee did the demo. H.U. Lee did the cane form. G.K. did the Bo form (he looked incredible!). But the highlight was watching M.K. team with his son Albert, H.U. team with his son Taekwon, and S.H. teamed with Aaron to do a demo. That was really neat. You also asked about Mike Niblock. I got a close-up of him doing him form, and he really impressed me. I heard his breaks were good, too. - - Brett Erwin Allen, TX ------------------------------ From: "Aaron Harmon" Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 09:32:03 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Scoliosis and Sciatica and Kicking Hello all, I was just diagnosed with scoliosis last week (that is an improper curvature of the spine) and it is now causing sciatica (nasty pain down the back of my right leg). Until this episode clears up, I will have to be very careful with my back, and that includes kicks. I will probably not do ANY kicks for a couple of weeks at least, and I have been told "no high kicks ever again, period" by my doctor in order to avoid curving my back and possibly re-injuring it. I also have to learn how to never bend over again and a bunch of other stuff . I have to do a bunch of exercises to strengthen my back and wear a back brace whenever I do physical stuff. Anybody have any experience with this? any advice? this kinda sucks to hear when I am within months of my black belt test. I mean, I will deal with it, but I guess I will never be a champion kicker, will have to focus on hand skills from now on. Aaron Harmon One is not likely to achieve understanding from the explanation of another. -Takuan Soho ------------------------------ From: Anders Torvill Bjorvand Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 18:30:39 +0200 Subject: the_dojang: Re: One Year Wonders >From: MRowe@ids.sitel.net >Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1999 17:48:12 GMT >Subject: the_dojang: Re: One Year Wonders > >In South Korea (where all schools are part of the Kukkiwon) the average >time frame to first dan is about 1 year. Wouldn't that be after having TKD as part of the curriculum in regular schools for some time already? Here in the west, we start from scratch when entering a dojang. Sincerely, Anders Torvill Bjorvand ------------------------------ From: "Atchinson, Kerry M" Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 11:51:43 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: RE: One-year wonders > From: MRowe@ids.sitel.net > Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1999 17:48:12 GMT > Subject: the_dojang: Re: One Year Wonders > > d g << . I know wtf schools shoots first dan out very quickly like > within a year or two where in my federation it takes four to six years to > reach first dan. >> > > Kerry: < may go a > little more quickly, but I've seen 4 - 5 years as typical, depending of > course on how much you can train and how your body holds up. >> > > In South Korea (where all schools are part of the Kukkiwon) the average > time frame to first dan is about 1 year. > > Mike Rowe > Impressive. Is this due to more intensive training? Kerry ------------------------------ From: TKDSCRIBE@aol.com Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 15:35:58 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #328 Dear Master Ray Terry, I'm throwing this out to the "martial arts universe" for consideration. I've been involved in taekwondo for 24 years. To the best of my aging memory, I've been a simple student, passionate disciple, recreational competitor, international competitor, dojang receptionoist/manager, instructor, "master," coach, referee, tournament director, dojang owner, state association officer, NGB delegate, US Team Manager, and simple tournament spectator. As such, while not an expert or 'big-shot,' I have am at least familiar with many facets of martial arts. Over the past few years I have been wondering: When does one become a "martial artist?" I'll start with the contention that a child coloring in a coloring book is not creating art, nor making an artistic interpretation of her world; she is filling in the blank spaces with crayon. She indeed is learning some skills (and having fun) while she colors, but I don't think even an overly proud parent would go so far as to call it "art." When I practice a poomse (form/pattern) I feel I am doing pretty much the same as the child who colors. Each move is preordained (in action and meaning) by the original author of the form. When I spar, however, I am truly free to respond to the challenges of the situation in my own way, and in a spontaneous manner. While it is true that many movements that may 'come out' are practiced beforehand, the application is new in that moment. This feels much more like what I believe the word "art" to mean and imply. The rest of what I do (and most those I have observed do as well) such as stretching, breathing exercises, striking drills, poomse, push-ups, bag work, running, meditation, etc., feels more like coloring in a coloring book, or perhaps cooking from a recipe book -- good, solid preparatory training, but hardly "true art." It may be, then, that until one is actually fighting (or perhaps developing "creative poomse") one is not actually doing "martial art," but merely preparation; equivalent of coloring in a coloring book. I wished to share these thoughts with your readers, Ray, and welcome the thoughts of others. Sincerely, SESilz ------------------------------ From: samiller@Bix.Com Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 16:06:07 -0400 (EDT) Subject: the_dojang: Re: V6 #328: One year wonders Mike Rowe wrote: >In South Korea (where all schools are part of the Kukkiwon) the average >time frame to first dan is about 1 year. Can this be put into some context that makes it less ludicrous than it seems from here? Tang Soo! === Scott ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 14:41:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: the_dojang: Scoliosis and Sciatica and Kicking > I was just diagnosed with scoliosis last week (that is an improper curvature > of the spine) and it is now causing sciatica (nasty pain down the back of my > right leg). Until this episode clears up, I will have to be very careful > with my back, and that includes kicks. I will probably not do ANY kicks for > a couple of weeks at least, and I have been told "no high kicks ever again, > period" by my doctor in order to avoid curving my back and possibly > re-injuring it. I also have to learn how to never bend over again and a > bunch of other stuff . I have to do a bunch of exercises to strengthen my > back and wear a back brace whenever I do physical stuff. > Anybody have any experience with this? any advice? this kinda sucks to hear > when I am within months of my black belt test. I mean, I will deal with it, > but I guess I will never be a champion kicker, will have to focus on hand > skills from now on. I have a mild scoliosis and a tight right leg. It seems to get worse as I get older, or at least the pain and tightness does. Not sure if this is following proper medical procedure, but I simply work a bit more on very slow very long stretches of the right leg. Seems to help. Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 14:48:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: the_dojang: Re: V6 #328: One year wonders > Mike Rowe wrote: > >In South Korea (where all schools are part of the Kukkiwon) the average > >time frame to first dan is about 1 year. > Can this be put into some context that makes it less ludicrous than it > seems from here? > Tang Soo! > === > Scott I think that is fairly typical in Korea, and Japan. Most people, especially males, obain a 1st Dan. Getting to 2nd and 3rd is more rare. The "5 years to a black belt" is more western than eastern. Remember Joe Lewis in the service in Okinawa? He obtained his 1st Dan in 9 months. Yes, he is/was a great athlete, but a year or 1.5 is not too atypical, from what I understand. Not that anyone asked,,, but what do I think??? IMHO a year is too short, but 5 years is too long (to 'black belt'). Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Tue, 29 Jun 1999 14:52:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #329 ******************************** 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.