From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #532 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Wed, 27 Oct 1999 Vol 06 : Num 532 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #530 the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #530 the_dojang: Belt Colours the_dojang: Re: ROFLMAO the_dojang: belt colors, uniform colors Re: the_dojang: belt colors, uniform colors the_dojang: Re: white and black the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #529 the_dojang: Re: TaeBologna the_dojang: 3 art talks + North Korea exhibit, U of Maryland 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: MissIllona@aol.com Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 16:32:54 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #530 In a message dated 10/26/99 6:18:40 AM Pacific Daylight Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << When the instructor feels they're ready, he simply calls the student in front of the class and congratulates him or her for oustanding performance and attitude, here's your next gup certificate or belt, yadda yadda yadda. >> Yes, this would simply make it easier for us teachers ... and I am sure that back in the "olden" days ... it was done this way. But if I even attempted to do this ... some parent would come up and accuse me of favoritism, I am sure. Because no one is there to see what I see ... or can conceive this student being if promoted now ... they will rely on what they have seen in classes that their children had attended (and maybe they don't attend the same classes all the time). And parents are prejudiced !! Very much so. So no, I am not going to do this. My old instructor ran his school his way and I have my own way. If he chooses to kick people out of his school when he asks them to test ... they say yes, and then don't show up ... well, that is his loss, not mine. I, too, recognize the fact that things do come up ... but then they are not tested again till I test that particular belt rank again. I personally pre-test each and every student before I ask them to test. I want to know for sure if they are indeed ready to move on. We also have a set number of classes they have to attend, too. Illona ------------------------------ From: MissIllona@aol.com Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 16:38:54 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #530 In a message dated 10/26/99 6:18:40 AM Pacific Daylight Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << These are school not for children, but I know of schools where if you even miss two or three classes in a row you are kicked out of the school. These schools are not easy to get into given what is taught, but not showing up for class, especially w/o calling ahead to let the instructor know, just shows that you aren't really serious about learning that style/system. >> Yes, the one student he did release from the school was a green belt woman and she changed her mind and didn't show up. He had worked extra hard for weeks to get her ready for the test (as I am sure all of us instructors do) ... and she didn't show because she didn't feel ready enough. And that for some reason ticked him off and he told her to leave. Then he announced to the whole school if any of us ever did that ... we would be out, too. So I took him at his word and never refused to test if he said to test and then worked hard with me getting me ready for it. I made sure I was there ... even if I was sick ... I was there. He explained it to me as it being a slap in his face when she did that to him ... and he said he doesn't like getting slapped in the face. He said he had worked extra hard in building her up for the test and then she backed down ... it told him that she had no faith in his teaching. He was also very Japanese and this was just his way. You either got used to his way or you left. He was also an excellent teacher and I enjoyed my 12 years there to the max. Illona ------------------------------ From: "A. Boyd" Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 15:45:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: Belt Colours The last time the topic of belt colours reared its head I was trying to learn HTML by making a webpage. I had obtained the services of a translator to speak to my kwanjang-nim about some facts and so I took a moment to ask him about the coloured belts and possible meanings. His reaction was a hearty chuckle. I must admit to an immediate sense of relief. He continued to relate that the whole idea of a ranking system is a fiarly new one in martial arts and that the only reasons our art even used them was for "Keeping our pants up, our jackets closed and the western familiarity factor. He feels that adding a 'traditional' meaning to the coloured belt is inappropriate as their tradition (a Japanese one at that) is to serve the function of indicating the level of competence of different students *to the instructor*. It's function for the student is the aforementioned clothes fastening. ;} We went on to have a wonderful, frank discussion on Korean martial arts and I haven't regretted asking the question for a second. ===== Anthony BT Boyd: Swordsman and English Teacher For illumination on this curious occupation please follow this link: http://victorian.fortunecity.com/operatic/739 ICQ#: 45348443 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Bid and sell for free at http://auctions.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: WojoSG@aol.com Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 20:42:19 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: ROFLMAO I've figured out most of the simple ones but I must admit I am stumped on this one. << ROFLMAO >> Could someone please enlighten me? I think someone had published an address where some of these shorthand things were documented, but I can't find that either. Thanks, Stan Wojcoski ------------------------------ From: "Emil J. Fisk" Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 10:07:06 +0800 Subject: the_dojang: belt colors, uniform colors Hi, It's obvious that everyone has different meanings for different belt colors. Personally, I like Mac's the best (see issue #528). This topic has come up several times, and just like everyone has different manners of coloring the gups, so do they have different meanings for each color - although the meanings are somewhat similar. What I'd like to know are why most of the MA uniforms from the orient are white. Look at any style of Japanese MA or KMA, and uniforms are usually white. Why? Trying to answer my own question, I'm guessing that white clothes were cheaper as they didn't have to dye the cloth. If clothes got stained with mud or blood, it would be cheap to throw the uniform away and make a new one. However, this doesn't sound that cheap today even with modern detergents. No matter how hard I try, I've got some stains that won't wash away, and it makes me wish I had a black uniform. I'd still like to know how this practice of white uniforms came about? Then again, this theory of not needing to dye clothes might not be true as MAs from South East Asia seem to be quite colorful. I've seen golden pants, black uniforms, blue ones... In this case it seems like people now wear normal traditional clothing. You can still see people dressed like Pentjak Silat exponents at weddings and other formal and informal gatherings, and it has nothing to do with dressing up like a warrior. It's just traditional loose-fitting clothing that must've been very comfortable in the tropics. So why are uniforms from Japan and Korea usually white? Is it some cultural thing? An economic thing? Or is it a 'new' invention, possibly starting with Jigaro Kano? Sincerely, Emil Fisk ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 19:44:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: the_dojang: belt colors, uniform colors > thing? An economic thing? Or is it a 'new' invention, possibly starting > with Jigaro Kano? Yes, more or less. Look at the old pics. Kano instituted the concept of wearing a uniform when practicing MA, it fit well with Japan's strong military emphasis around the turn of the century. Before that people just wore their standard everyday wear or just their underwear when practicing. This, of course, didn't fit well with the Japanese mindset. Funakoshi saw the standardization in what Kano was doing and started it for his Karate. This is another reason why the 'white belt turning dirty black' doesn't ring true when you realize just how very recent (in relative terms) the use of the black belt is. IMHO Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: ChunjiDo@aol.com Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 22:45:29 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: white and black In a message dated 10/26/99 2:12:50 PM Central Daylight Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << Yep, I agree. Better yet, lets go back to NO colour belts at all!! Just wear a white belt until you are ready to be a Black Belt. Saves everyone the trouble of worrying about their next test and allows them to concentrate more on training. Also removes the confusion of how to line up in class!! >> actually, i have a friend who is doing this in his new school. he's tired of all of the b.s. and decided he only wants devoted martial artists. when youre ready....you'll get the belt....period. ------------------------------ From: d.d.parker@juno.com Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 20:39:29 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V6 #529 Illona, Well, I guess to answer your questions, we were practicing some joint locks and throws that night, and I am not exactly sure what happened. From what I remember, I did the technique on this individual and he got up off the mat very mad at me. He threw a roundhouse kick at me and then a punch. I realized that this guys intentions were definately hostile and so I blocked the punch with a tan sao and chain punched him until he went down to the mat with a smashed nose and lip. By this time, the instructor came over and yanked me back to find out what happened. I told him and he pulled his black belt off the floor and had a long talk with him. We were seperated for the rest of the class and after class in the locker room, the instructor came up to me and told me that this indivdial has a difficult time with controlling his temper and that I should have seen how bad he was when he first started studying. He said no disciplinary action would be taken with the student and that I should use this as a learning experience. At the time I was only a white belt and I felt there was something patently wrong with a school who would tolerate such behavior from a black belt and I personally feel that an individual such as that is unfit to receive martial training. Currently, I am a green belt in tae kwon do. I have six years previous experience in Ving Tsun kung fu and Tai Chi Chuan. I have started studying taekwondo to improve my kicks. In my current school, they write the test date on the bulletin board, the instructor goes over the requirements for the test a week before the actua date, and then he tells everyone to show up and do their best. I hope this clears things up a little. As far as an instructor expecting me to show up a a test because he or she told me so, I would probably leave that school on my own accord before they even asked me too after missing a test. I study the martial arts because I enjoy them and for exercise. I know that some schools require that level of commitment and discipline which you allude to in your letter, but that is not what I want out of a school at this stage of my life. I always do my best in class, but my martial arts training has to fit into a busy schedule which includes work, family and school, and unfortunately reality dictates that all of these take presedence over my kung fu and taekwondo studies. I can manage to find time to train almost every day, but other responsibilites do come first. Cheers, Daniel ------------------------------ From: ChunjiDo@aol.com Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 22:52:14 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: TaeBologna i got this from the Asimba Advantage e-mailings: "Working Out - --------------- TAE-BO SAY OW When Billy Blanks' Tae-Bo hit the fitness scene, everyone and their gardener wanted to get kicking. But now some people are injuring themselves and pulling things that weren't meant to be pulled. Educate yourself about kickboxing before you start; your groin will thank you. " ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 03:52:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: 3 art talks + North Korea exhibit, U of Maryland Forwarding. Ray - ---------------------------------------------------------------- For those of you in the Washington, D.C. metro area: I am delighted to announce three talks by three of the most renowned Korean American artists on the East Coast -- B.G. Muhn, Y. David Chung, and Wonsook Kim Linton -- as well as a North Korean art exhibition. E x h i b i t i o n : Art from the Other North Korea SELECTED PIECES FROM THE DONG HOON SHIN COLLECTION, THE SANG J. KIM COLLECTION, AND THE HOFFMANN/KHIN COLLECTION November 8 - 30, 1999 Parentsą Association Gallery, at the University of Maryland, College Park Opening Reception: November 8th (Monday) at 4:30 PM with an introductory talk to the exhibition about the development of North Korean painting since 1948 ---------------------------------- The Korean Artists Association, The University of Maryland's Dept. of Art History & Archaeology, The Dept. of Art, The Committee on East Asian Studies, The Korea Council, and the Office of International Affairs are sponsoring three talks (on Oct. 27, Nov. 3 and Nov. 10) by three of the most renowned Korean American artists on the East Coast: October 27, Wednesday: 4:00 PM in room 2309, Art/Sociology building, UNIVERITY OF MARYLAND, College Park B.G. Muhn (Georgetown University), will talk about "Resurrection of Emptiness;" his talk is followed by a reception For some of B.G. Muhn's works, see here: http://www.artseoul.net/artist/muhn/ http://www.plexus.org/muhn.html November 3, Wednesday: 4:00 PM in room 2309, Art/Sociology building, UNIVERITY OF MARYLAND, College Park Y. David Chung (George Mason University), will talk about "Mega Morning Calm: Aspects of Korean History, Folklore, and Art Forms;" his talk is followed by a reception For detailed info about Y. David Chung and his works, see here: http://hpwi.org/artists/dchung.html November 10, Wednesday: 4:00 PM in room 2309, Art/Sociology building, UNIVERITY OF MARYLAND, College Park Wonsook Kim Linton will talk about "When Worlds Collide;" her talk is followed by a reception For info about Won Sook Kim-Linton and for some of her works, see here: http://wfuna-art.com/docsheets/linton_jan.html http://www.erskine.edu/news/linton.html ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Wed, 27 Oct 1999 03:42:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V6 #532 ******************************** 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.