From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #512 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Mon, 18 Oct 1999 Vol 06 : Num 512 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #510 the_dojang: Tournament Promotions the_dojang: Re: a request the_dojang: To Vlado and everyone else the_dojang: The Movies the_dojang: Re: The Movies the_dojang: Re: Tournament Promotions the_dojang: Re: using corners/sides [none] the_dojang: from the USTU the_dojang: USTU History Project the_dojang: . ========================================================================= The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~775 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 (top line, left justified) of a plain text e-mail 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 four years worth of digest issues at http://www.MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! Ray Terry, PO Box 110841, Campbell, CA 95011 KMA@MartialArtsResource.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Kas001@aol.com Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 12:38:07 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #510 In a message dated 10/18/99 08:44:19 AM Central Daylight Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: > OK - new topic - what do you think of instructors that put black belts on > red > and blue belts for tournaments? > > and what do you think of instructors that let higher ranks put on a lower > belt to compete? > I think this is patently dishonest. We can't teach good morals, values, respect, etc. if we do not practice them ourselves. We all fall short, but I have a hard time believeing anyone can think this is ok. IMHO, Kim ------------------------------ From: "Emil J. Fisk" Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 01:01:19 +0800 Subject: the_dojang: Tournament Promotions I'm glad this topic about tournament promotions came up. It's something I've been thinking a lot about as I've seen it happen, and wonder if it happens elsewhere. Although I've not been personally involved in any instances where people tie on belts of higher or lower ranks, I was once asked to do so many years ago, and declined. My instructor at the time wanted me to take off my blackbelt and fight as a green belt since blackbelts weren't allowed to fight at that particular tournament. I can understand why some instructors would want their lower ranked belts to pretend to be higher than they actually are. I'm assuming this has something to do with psychology. If a greenbelt were to fight an experienced blackbelt, the blackbelt would be more confident and might try pounding on the junior. However, if he/she sees that his/her opponent is of the same rank, he would be more cautious and might not be as aggressive. This would naturally be better for the junior psychologically as he might not get pounded on as easily, and stands a chance to fight and win by points. However, I do have some very strong opinions against people of higher ranks lowering themselves to junior ranks. First of all, I think they should probably have worked hard to attain that rank and therefore be proud of it. Fighting at a lower rank may be done to embarrass another team - eg. "your blackbelt got beaten by a yellow belt!!" or to instill false confidence in the opponent. Whatever the reason might be, I think those of higher rank should retain their real ranks in tournament sparring because they might also cause serious injury to someone of much lesser experience. In a way, it's like that exponent is silently claiming that they're not good enough to fight someone of their own rank, so they get their kicks out of beating people up with much less experience. On a side note, I actually had an acquaintance with almost 15 years experience in MA that was proud of beating up a white belt in class. This guy also happened to be the assistant instructor in that particular dojang. Can everbody say "LOSER?" Of course, what I really think it comes down to is skill. Especially with the lower belts. If someone is only an 7th gup and can fight much better than average on his level, let him compete with his own belt at higher levels. It shows the other people how hard he's worked and what he's put into his training. In conclusion, everyone should be checked that they're fighting in their proper weight categories and ranks. Whatever rank you may be, that's what color belt you should fight with, because that shows how much or how little work you have put into your personal training as well as how you value that training. Sincerely, Emil Fisk P.S. Alright, I'm still trying to figure out this psychology stuff - all I took was a college course in Abnormal Psychology which doesn't really apply here. ------------------------------ From: dbuehrer@carl.org Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 11:24:22 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Re: a request \ From: "Vlado" \ \ Could anyone advise me on what else may I do during the recovery period? As others have pointed out, visualization and reading are good. When you can move around, but still can't participate, go to your dojang and watch. When my knee was messed up (took 6 months to heal) I went to the dojang quite a few times and just watched. I learned almost as much watching as I would have if I was actually participating. I hope you recover well. - -David "The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know and the more I want to learn." - -Einstein ------------------------------ From: ABurrese@aol.com Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:39:22 EDT Subject: the_dojang: To Vlado and everyone else Vlado, Please take a look at my web page: http://hometown.aol.com/ABurrese/index.html On the links page, I list places to find some of the books. Unfortunately, a few of them need updated, and I am having problems with my program to change my website. The Hagakure site is still good, and a couple others I believe are too. I also have some links to Korean sites, both about Korea and about the language you may find useful. Hopefully I will get my program troubles solved and be able to update my site and add even more to it soon. Yours in Training, Alain ------------------------------ From: "Aaron Harmon" Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 10:56:35 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: The Movies >Subject: the_dojang: The Movies > >When 2 very very good martial arts get together and sparr would they look >like the people on the movies, like how it looks when a fight is >choreographed??? No, I do not think so. Depending on how these people like to fight, it would probably look more like a kickboxing match or a judo match, or watch a couple of UFCs those guys are really good, but most of those guys are grapplers, and you do not see much grappling in the movies. BTW, does anybody know of a movie that has a good ground-fighting scene in it? Not just a couple of guys rolling around, but something that looks technically sound. Aaron Harmon The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat. -- Lily Tomlin ------------------------------ From: CBAUGHN@aol.com Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 14:18:50 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The Movies kadin goldberg wrote: << When 2 very very good martial arts get together and sparr would they look like the people on the movies, like how it looks when a fight is choreographed??? >> It's very unlikely that they would look like the movies. My understanding is that most of the movies take the more spectacular moves from different disciplines and combine them into a choreographed "fight" that looks good to all of us in the audience. Think of any good boxing match you've seen, then think of the Rocky movies. It's kind of "the same, only different." Sally cbaughn@aol.com ------------------------------ From: CBAUGHN@aol.com Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 14:18:48 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: Tournament Promotions In a message dated 99-10-18 09:48:59 EDT, you write: << OK - new topic - what do you think of instructors that put black belts on red and blue belts for tournaments? and what do you think of instructors that let higher ranks put on a lower belt to compete? >> Don't really have a problem with black belts on lower belts -- philosophically, I don't like it, but if the competitor is trained and isn't likely to get hurt, it's kind of like consenting adults can do what they want. The fact of wearing the black belt should require the competitor to be able to do much more than he or she ever would as a lower belt, so it's a stretch and not taking advantage of an opponent. Why on earth a higher rank would want to put on a lower belt to compete is beyond me -- and is, in my opinion, cheating. Anyone with a higher belt should be better trained than the lower belt, if only just from having been in training for a longer period of time. In this case, it seems to me to be taking an unfair advantage of an opponent. Sally cbaughn@aol.com ------------------------------ From: "Mark M. Smith" Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 14:42:26 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Re: using corners/sides Emil, Sorry I am a little late responding, but I just read your post (and a few of the follow-ups). First, I know how you feel. Often during sparring classes, I send lots of time teaching counters and techniques and then never see anyone try them when free sparring time arrives. There are a few of reasons for this I believe. First, under stress people will stay with the techniques they understand and feel comfortable with. It will take a long time for people to develop comfort with new methods of sparring. Second, people want to "win" when they spar and therefore they stay with the tried and true. Third, saying and doing are two different things. If people have not practiced a technique very few will be able implement the technique while sparring. Fourth, free sparring has many degrees of freedom. It can be very difficult for students to see how their movement is losing the fight when it seems to them it is their kicking/punching/stance/etc. The best method, that I know of, for helping people is progressive training, and repetition. Progressive training is simply building ever more demanding drills around a signle concept/technique. Thus, if you are trying to teach a dollyo chagi counter, you might start off with kicking the target. Kicking a target with holder advancing. Kicking advancing partner. Kicking attacking partner, "free sparring" with set attacker and defender, and finally, free sparring at 50%, 75% and 100%. Repeat often. You will begin to see students use this technique over time. I also find students will be more experimental if I state explicitly, "I do not care who wins or loses while sparring. Today I want to see who can use the techniques we have been practicing while they are sparring." This changes the critiria for success from points to trying techniques. Another teaching technique that I find useful is sparring with special rules. Ones that I use are one partner kicks only other partner punches only. No dollyo chagi (roundhouse), No single dollyo chagi (doubles only). For using the sides and corners I emphasize "ring management." This means that all things being equal you should have the center of the ring to your back with your opponent in front of you. The optimal position is to have your opponent in the corner. This changes the thinking from "do not get in the corner" (negative action) to "get your opponent into the corner" (positive action). Positive action suggestions are usually easier for students to implement. I occasionally reinforce this by sparring with the rule that the winner is the one who "owns" the center for the majority of the time. Owning is placing yourself between the center and your opponent. Sometimes when a student is being especially resistant to moving sideways, I will step into the ring during the sparring session and place myself at the students back. This effectively forces them to move to the side to escape, because I am blocking the rear. I hope these suggestions are helpful. Finally, remember it is an instructor's job to teach and and student's job to learn. When it seems your students are not listening to you, it is not productive to focus on their lack of attention, rather figure out how you can present the lesson in a different manner so that they have no choice but to learn. Sincerely, Mark M. Smith Merrimack, NH email: msmith@p2software.com ------------------------------ From: Ambrose Raymond-RAMBROS1 Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:47:48 -0500 Subject: [none] << and what do you think of instructors that let higher ranks put on a lower belt to compete? >> Here's a good one. I taught at a school up here in Lindenhurst,IL (Sidekicks). We went to the AKA Grand Nationals. The head instructor/owner took two of his cardio kickboxers (aerobics on steroids) gave them free uniforms and equipment and posed them as martial artists. Although they were entered as beginners their skill was nowhere close to that and they placed 1st and 3rd in fighting. 1st in forms and weapons, this girl was an ex-gymnast. All this so that the owner can have bragging rights, (the amount of tournament goers dwindled over the years, people are tired of the politics). And then to top it off on Monday night we had a discussion about the incident, many parents voiced their disapproval to me, I asked him to please not lump his cardio's accomplishments in with the martial arts students. This was fine for the moment so I thought. End of class rather then mention them separately he wasn't going to mention them at all. Then one child asked if he was going to talk about the tournament. He berated the child asking him if he always needed to be patted on the back and so on, the poor kid was ready to cry. I saw the real side to this person I thought was a friend, I taught for this guy for years for free just to help him out. He proceeded to tell the students that cardio is really a martial art and that there was nothing wrong with what he did. Earlier when we had our discussion he told me noone would say anything to him and you know what he was right. They knew I would speak up and that was good enough for them their ideas heard but I would take the heat. I even spoke to the holder of the Grand Nationals his answer was hey these things happen we cant police the tournaments, well if not us then who. The following day I removed my certificates from the wall and walked out. Integrity is supposed to be taught in the Dojang, to me there's no compromising that, the children learn faster than you think. raymondambrose@hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:11:07 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: from the USTU Received from the USTU last week... Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com - ----------------------------------------------------------- To: USTU Board of Governors and Club Presidents From: Secretary General Soon Ho Kim Re: Replacement Election for Vice President As you my know, our Union currently has a vacancy amongst our officers; we are short one vice-president. Due to the intensity of the upcoming Olympic year, it is vital to our Union that we have a full compliment of officers serving our membership. In accordance with our recently amended bylaws, any USTU Member in good standing is eligible to be nominated, and, subsequently elected, by our Board of Governors. The USTU's Nomination and Election Committee has recommended a replacement election to fill this position at our upcoming annual meeting in Las Vegas. The newly elected VP shall serve for the remainder of the current administration's term - a period of about one year. NOTICE: Any individual seeking election for this position must submit a letter of intent by certified mail to the office of our Executive Director prior to October 25, 1999. The eligibility of those nominated will then be reviewed by our Nomination and Election Committee. Eligible candidates will then be publicized to the known members of our BOG by November 5, 1999 by fax or mail. Please share this information freely with any interested party. I look forward to seeing you all once again in Las Vegas. ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 13:31:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: USTU History Project Forwarding. A memo received last week from the USTU about Master Silz's important project at the union. Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Dear BOG Member or USTU Club Owner, Re: USTU History Book Project For the last twenty-five years the USTU has striven to reach the goal of bringing American taekwondo-in ("taekwondoists") to the Olympics. This year, primarily due to the efforts of President Lee and Executive Director Jay Warwick, the US Olympic Committee upgraded the USTU to their highest member status: Olympic Sports Organizations (or "OSO" for short). This means a full team of four American athletes (a feat accomplished by only 5 countries out of 160) will contest for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, where taekwondo will be a full medal sport. The history of this progress is a rich, exciting and inspirational story that I have been given the honor of researching and compiling into a book to be published late next year. This is not one man's story, nor is it merely a story about our political leaders. Neither is it just a story about our elite athletes. This is OUR STORY - the story of every American who has in any way been involved in the "Taekwondo Movement" over the last two-and-a-half decades. For this book to be as rich, accurate and detailed as it can be, your contributions, photographs, suggestions and assistance are absolutely essential. Please send me photographs that you feel have historic significance; I will duplicate them, and guarantee their safe return. Also, please send any stories or anecdotes that you believe may be interesting to others about the development of Olympic Taekwondo in America. As I shall be working closely with President Lee on this project, please address these items to my attention at his office: U.S. Taekwondo Center 1316 N. Academy Blvd. Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909 Fax: 719-596-0866 Please contribute and ask other to contribute as well. You may soon see one of your photographs, or read one of your stories, memorialized forever in our Union's first history book. Yours in taekwondo, Master Steven E. Silz Project Historian ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 14:02:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #512 ******************************** 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 an 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.