From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #523 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Fri, 22 Oct 1999 Vol 06 : Num 523 In this issue: the_dojang: Test questions the_dojang: Gen. Choi, ITF, WTF the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #521 the_dojang: Credo the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #521 the_dojang: Re: videos Re: the_dojang: Gen. Choi, ITF, WTF 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: "Christopher Spiller" Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 12:41:16 PDT Subject: the_dojang: Test questions >Were you please with your performance at your last test? Did you >ever >take a test, receive a belt but think that your performance was >not up to >par? If so, what did you do about it? Did you ever think >to refuse the >belt being given by your instructor? Overall I thought my last test went pretty well. There were some things that I wish went better. For example, when I was performing Juche (a pattern to promote to 3rd dan) the slow motion side kicks to slow motion reverse hooking kicks could have been better (a little wobbly). But in my own defense that is one hard pattern (Gen. Choi outdid himself this time)! Also, it took me three tries on one of my breaks. The rest of the test went rather smoothly, however. As far as not thinking my performance was not up to par for the rank I received, well not really. My instructor has his students run through a "pre-test" in which they perform their patterns, kicks, breaks, etc. BEFORE the actual test. Plus, it's not like he hasn't seen them in class (The man still teaches nearly every class himself after 28 years). If they aren't prepared at the pre-test they don't test. This saves the student money and disappointment. There have been a couple times when I was getting ready to test when I was unsure about how I was doing ("Should I test, should I wait"). At that point my instructor would tell me what to work on and what not to worry about. There were a couple times when he said, "Why not wait a couple more months" but then again there were a couple times when he said "you already ARE that rank - go ahead and test." My theory is "He's the instructor, he must know something." :) Taekwon, Chris ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: JEREMYT@ATFI.COM (JeremyT) Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 15:02:52 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Gen. Choi, ITF, WTF Kim wrote: "General Choi developed the Hyungs (traditional patterns) practiced by the ITF. When he left South Korea for a Communist Country, dissassociation to General Choi and the ITF began. Thus began the WTF. In the process, the Palgwes were formed to replace the Hyungs as the WTF patterns." General Choi had a vision of and made many promises about the expansion of Taekwondo worldwide. This was the catalyst to start the organization called the Korea Taekwondo Association in 1959 with General Choi serving as President. General Choi's promises never happened due to the poor economy of the country at that time. With that came the fall of the organization, and the 1959 Dae Han Taekwondo Hwe dissolved almost as soon as it was created. In 1961, the RHEE Syng Man regime ended in South Korea, and with it went General Choi's power and influence. In 1961 the new Korea Taesoodo Association was created and General Choi was left out of the organizational structure and he was sent, to Malaysia as Ambassador. The first president of the new 1961 KTA was former ROK Army General CHOI, Myung Shin, who did not practice any type of martial arts. In January 1965, General Choi was made President of the Korea Taesoodo Association, and he immediately began lobbying to change the name of the art to Taekwondo and to have the KTA adopt his Chang Hon forms as the new official forms. In compromise, the KTA changed their name to the Korea Taekwondo Association, but did not adopt his forms, mainly because most of the Kwan heads and pioneers did not like those forms and it was not a group effort, but rather the creation of a single man, General Choi. In January 1966, General Choi completed his one year term as KTA President and in March 1966, he created the International Taekwon-Do Federation. "Thus began the WTF. In the process, the Palgwes were formed to replace the Hyungs as the WTF patterns. " The WTF was not founded until later and it was nothing more than the authority over the sport of TKD. Jeremy WJDKF/MACS ------------------------------ From: d.d.parker@juno.com Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 14:07:40 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #521 Lady Black, During my last test, I felt that my performance wasn't my personal best, but I did meet all of the testing criteria. What bothered me about the test though, was that there were others who did not remember their required forms and took up to four tries before they were able to accomplish their required breaks, yet they were still promoted! It seems that at this school, if you show up for the test, you are promoted. This situation also existed at the taekwondo which I attended previous to my current one. At this other school, there are black belts who don't know the forms and are physically unable to do the required techniques in the curriculum. I left this school after being physically attacked by the Masters star black belt after practicing self-defense techniques. I didn't antagonize this individual on purpose, I just performed the techniques better than him and he beceame frustrated and humiliated. Because he was "shown up" in front of the rest of the class, he felt like he had to defend his honor. I believe this individual was promoted prematurely. I remember reading in the May 1999 edition of TKD Times of a 15 year-old teenager in Texas being promoted to the rank of Master in her organization. While I don't want to belittle her hard work and accomplishments, I do not believe that she is a "Master" of her art. There is also a local Master who miraculously managed to jump from 3rd dan to 5th dan in the space of about a year, thanks to his joining a new organization. It seems to me that promotion and rank hold little substance in some schools and organizations. Would I personally refuse a belt that I feel that I didn't deserve? This past May there was a test at my school that I could have attended and I am sure that I would have been advanced. But I knew that I wasn't ready, so I didn't test. That might not have been the best way to handle the situation, but at the time it seemed to be the most appropriate. I guess I could have gone and tested, and in all likelyhood, I would have advanced. I could have then, either publicly or privately refused the promotion. But I felt that this would have just been seen by others as me trying to make a "statement" or cause trouble. And, one could argue that it would have been presumptious of me to challenge my Masters decision to advance me. So, to avoid stiring up controversy in my club and at the same time, be true to myself, I just didn't show up for the test. Sorry if I rambled too much while answering a relatively simple question. Cheers, Daniel ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 14:21:25 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Credo Regarding the request for inspirational quotes. Ray CREDO By Theodore Roosevelt It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or now the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and dust and blood; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in worthy causes; who at the best, knows in the end of the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat. ------------------------------ From: "Aaron Harmon" Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 14:46:53 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #521 >From: "Lady Black" >Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 10:06:08 EDT >Subject: [none] > >In the Jamaica Power tradition.... here's a tough, thought provoking >question for u guys: > >Were you please with your performance at your last test? Did you ever take >a test, >receive a belt but think that your performance was not up to par? If so, >what did you do >about it? Did you ever think to refuse the belt being given by your >instructor? > >- - Lady Black > Yeah, on my last stripe test, my endurance was not up to par. Push-up after push-up after push-up, etc, etc,etc... then sit-ups and more sit-ups, then forms over and over and over, you get the picture. My techniques and forms were there except for the natural degradation to motor skills that occurs with exhaustion, but I had been working on my endurance and it was still not up to the goal I had set for myself (I personally think it is my weakest link). It was a good learning experience though, since it made me do some reading and I found some things I was doing wrong (Who would have thought I could work out TOO hard, I thought other people could, but not me, I am too lazy, but that is what I was doing), so I have changed my workouts a bit and I think I will fare better, I already feel better about my performance in class. I would never refuse a belt, because I KNOW for a fact that my instructor would not give it to me if I did not earn it (I have seen him do it!), but I did have a bit of a scare at that last test. As I said I felt bad about my endurance, and was mentally beating myself up after the test for my poor performance and I thought to myself 'I would not be surprised if I did not pass the test.' Well, the instructors were going around putting new stripes of tape on belts and walked right past me! Oh No! Then I realized that the instructor had cut off too few pieces of tape and was on his way to the shelf to get more, whew! and I got my stripe... Aaron Harmon The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat. -- Lily Tomlin ------------------------------ From: ABurrese@aol.com Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 19:04:51 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: videos >>What would be good videos for self-defense related >>martial arts? >>thanks, >>Mike You might want to check my new one out. It will teach you some basic self-defense joint locks and throws from Hapkido. You would probably really like the new set I'll be filming next Spring, but you will have to wait for that one. You can see ads for my Hapkido Hoshinsul video in the current issues of BlackBelt and Inside Kung Fu magazines. (December issues, but on the stands now) It's sold through Paladin Press. You will also be able to find it on their web site www.paladin-press.com after November 1st. Or you can order one from me in November too! I sell them for the same as Paladin. 39.99 plus 3.00 for 1st class shipping. Yours in Training, Alain Burrese ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 16:55:40 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: the_dojang: Gen. Choi, ITF, WTF > In January 1966, General Choi completed his one year term as KTA President > and in March 1966, he created the International Taekwon-Do Federation. After he left office he was asked by the KTA to create a group that would help spread TKD to the world, thus the creation of his private organization, the ITF. > The WTF was not founded until later and it was nothing more than the > authority over the sport of TKD. It was formed a few short years later to be the world authority over all Korean TKD. Of course Gen. Choi's ITF was still out there in the world and several other came into existence. But the WTF was always to be the one and only world authority -else- Gen. Choi's goal and later the KTA's and SK gov's vision of getting TKD into the Olympics would have never been achieved. So we can thank Gen. Choi for the early push to get TKD admitted into the Olympics as a full medal sport. Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 16:48:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #523 ******************************** 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.