From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #373 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Fri, 30 July 1999 Vol 06 : Num 373 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #372 the_dojang: re: Tae Bo/kickboxing classes the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #372 the_dojang: Tae Bo 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: 4karate@bellsouth.net Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 19:26:37 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #372 > Slow again. Guess it is the hot weather, again... :) > > Ray Terry OK...here's a coloquialism from Kaintuckie-speak (aka...hillbilly-ese) "It ain't sa much tha heat...as'n it's tha humiditee!" lol I want to hit on the Tae-Bo topic too...but I want to think about it a bit before I comment (yeah yeah yeah...I actually DO think before I speak. Shocks you, doesn't it?!). John Hancock (Just a wilted blossum in the flats of Kaintuckie) ------------------------------ From: "Laura Kamienski" Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 22:16:52 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: re: Tae Bo/kickboxing classes You are certainly not the first to take issue with the aerobic kickboxing craze. As a fitness professional, instructor of traditional martial arts, and the instructor of successful CardioKarate/Aerobic Kickboxing and women's self defense classes, I would like to address your post. First I think there has always been a fitness element and component to traditional martial arts. Often times being a separate program of sorts. Aerobic kickboxing is nothing new. I'm wondering what makes anyone believe that a black belt automatically qualifies someone to teach a fitness class? Does it even guarantee a good martial artist? Does it guarantee a good instructor? Of course not! Likewise, going through a fitness certification workshop doesn't guarantee a good aerobics instructor. Both do provide a minimum standard, though in two separate areas. I have spent years developing not only my martial arts craft but my aerobics craft as well. I've combined the two and have developed an extremely successful and popular aerobic kickboxing class. As far as injury goes, I would like to see the statistics about injuries in traditional martial arts classes versus aerobic kickboxing. I'm sure the findings would prove interesting. As far as the Tae Bo injury statistics go just two comments here. One: the advanced Tae Bo work out by Billy Blanks uses aerobic tempo music up to 160. This is indeed dangerous for rhythmic workouts with martial style kicks in it. I use 138-145 maximum beats per minute for my cardio portion. Two: It's difficult to correct someone's technique when they are at home doing a Tae Bo tape. Without an instructor there I'm not surprised that the injury rate is high. I would like to hear the injury rates from his club. I don't know that they are the same. For the record, I have had a zero injury rate in my classes, both traditional aerobics and aerobic kickboxing. As far as the ability of cardio participants to punch and kick safely and effectively...we were all white belt beginners at one time or another, cardio participants simply never advance beyond, say, gold or green belt. It simply doesn't take years or decades for a participant to master any aerobic kickboxing class. That's not the main point of the class. I would rather see a qualified martial artist who has not only earned a reputable black belt but who has also trained as a fitness professional teaching this course. I would like to see all martial arts instructors train in physiology and kinesiology for that matter. Aerobic kickboxing is not pretending to be a substitute for traditional martial arts. It is a separate thing, plain and simple. The market which will attend a CardioKarate class is overwhelmingly different than the market interested in practicing traditional martial arts. I think we all would be wise to spend our time figuring out ways to cross over programs rather than criticizing one or the other. I'm starting to have success in this area as well. Some of the women who take my aerobic kicboxing class have started taking traditional martial arts as well. It is a tool for promoting the art we so much love. The fitness club I teach at is going to do a 4 or 6 week women's self defense seminar due to my efforts as well. I am very proud of this achievement. This leads into my next and final point. Aerobic kickboxing has been an extremely important tool in terms of women's self defense and empowering women. Many women who would never consider taking a formal martial arts class come to CardioKarate where they do learn, at least from me, a decent; front kick, side kick, round kick, how to make a fist, elbow strikes and knee kicks. They learn applications and practice them in various combinations which are usable in a self defense situation. They learn to say NO assertively, many for the first times in their lives. They have a great time doing it too! Sometimes, I even teach them some basic escapes from grabs after the cool down. I've heard time and time again, that those who have trained in the martial arts and have then been assaulted, use the most simple techniques and not hurricane kicks, etc. to defend themselves. My program gives them these tools. I've had many of my participants confide in me about abuse and assaults as well as telling me that the class makes them feel powerful for the first time in their lives. I think we all know that attitude and awareness is the first component in successfully escaping any self defense scenario. They are gaining these tools through this program. They may never have otherwise done so. I think that the popularization of women's self defense will be the next huge wave in martial arts. I look forward to the challenge. Respectfully, Laura 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: Tkdtiger@aol.com Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 23:32:34 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #372 In a message dated 7/29/99 5:37:30 PM Central Daylight Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << And she sure as heck shouldn't be teaching other people to kick because that's only going to lead to lot of injuries. >> People just need to remember - it is aerobics - not marital arts. What is scary are the Tae Bo instructors who show up at martial arts schools wanting to know how long it takes to get a black belt since the gym they work for wants all the instructors to get them. ------------------------------ From: "Diane Goodman" Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 09:40:58 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Tae Bo OK, if we're short on postings today, I'll put in my two cents' worth. = (It's pretty hot here in Florida - as usual! - we can't use that as an = excuse or we wouldn't get anything done for 2/3 of the year!) I pretty much agree with everything Adam said. Everyone is jumping onto = the Tae Bo bandwagon just because all the celebrities are doing it. It's = just another fad that will probably die down quickly. There is certainly = nothing wrong with people jumping around and getting aerobic exercise, but = they are in for some trouble if they think this is an effective martial = art. As with many things, it's a case of "let the buyer beware." I was surprised to hear there are so many injuries in Tae Bo. When you see = them advertising on TV (also beware of any endeavor with too much = advertising!), it looks like they are just kicking and punching the air. = Then again, maybe some of the folks who take up Tae Bo aren't in the best = physical condition to start with; you'd certainly be more prone to = injuries if you haven't moved your body much in years. Stay cool - Diane L. ("The Dumpling Warrior") Goodman ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 07:52:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #373 ******************************** 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.