From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #189 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Fri, 24 March 2000 Vol 07 : Num 189 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: Learning to do the impossible the_dojang: Re: #187 ( New Member to the List) the_dojang: Women Instructors the_dojang: Prejudice Against Female Instructors the_dojang: female instructor predjudice the_dojang: softening of belt the_dojang: predujice against a female [none] ========================================================================= The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. 800+ members strong! Copyright 1994-2000: Ray Terry and 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! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Brett Erwin Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 09:07:21 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Re: Learning to do the impossible Anthony, First off, I am not a swordsman, nor do I play one on TV. :) I sounds like your problem could lie in one of several areas. Basically, you are facing 12:00. And you jump up, doing a "rearward" side kick to 6:00 with your right leg, while your left knee tucks up pointed to 12:00. All this while performing a slashing motion with the sword from upper left to lower right in the 12:00 direction. Is this correct? I would try isolating the individual moves and add parts to it as you go. In other words, try the kick without the sword, then try it with the sword, but without slashing the sword. Then try doing the jump with the sword motion, but without kicking, etc. Your body has a natural tendancy to counterbalance every motion. I would imagine that the kick would tend to force your body to turn clockwise. I don't know swordsmanship, but you could try using the "slash" motion of the sword (which is going somewhat left to right) to induce a counter-clockwise motion of the upper body forcing it to go right to left. Thus, you have a balance. - -- Regards... ************************************************************ J. Brett Erwin Raytheon Systems Co. Phone: (972) 952-3738 Antenna/Nonmetallics Dept. Pager: (972) 598-3616 2501 W. University M/S 8019 Email: jberwin@raytheon.com McKinney, TX 75070 Fax: (972) 952-3773 ************************************************************ ------------------------------ From: Knife1@aol.com Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 11:08:39 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: #187 ( New Member to the List) Hello to all - My name is Jim Mahan and I have just joined the list. I am an Active Duty Soldier serving at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Have been in the military for 14 years. I have trained in Kuk Sool, Hapkido, Shendo Aikijitsu and Kali~Silat. I am currently starting a combatives program here at Ft. Knox. I just wanted to say hello to all and am looking forward to some new knowledge and good discussions. Very Respectfully, Master Jim Mahan Master Instructor Kali~Silat 5th Dan Shendo Aikijitsu 3rd Dan Hapkido ------------------------------ From: TaoArt@aol.com Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 12:03:37 EST Subject: the_dojang: Women Instructors Hmm. I don't seem to have the problem that you describe... half of my students are male. But I also am cognizant of the fact that I have a personality (assertive, confident) and physique (6'0 tall) that makes it easier to instill confidence in those men who limited by such notions. However, I have also noticed that I tend to attract a different kind of male. None of them have an issue of being "beaten" by a woman in sparring. All seem to be well adjusted when it come to their relationships with women. And even though the testosterone has to be watched in our contact matches, none (and I do mean none) of the men get out of control. None of the women do, either. :) I think that perhaps part of it may be that the newer male students see the current male students show a great deal of respect to myself and the other women students. So they set an example. One other thing that comes to mind... does you wife _want_ men in her class who view her this way? I would suggest that she be true to herself and let those types go elsewhere. Meghan Gardner Guard Up, Inc. www.GuardUp.com "Carry love in your heart and a knife in your pocket at all times." me ------------------------------ From: "Silke Schulz" Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 10:17:34 -0800 Subject: the_dojang: Prejudice Against Female Instructors Jaimie wrote: >The problem? Other than kids, it's real tough to get folks to sign up for >classes. At least three or four times a week, someone will come in, >express interest in Tang Soo Do, and then, when they realize that my wife >is the instructor they get this look....and that's the end of the interest. >My partner's classes tend to be much more tournament-oriented, so he >even >tries to steer those who seem to be looking for a more traditional class to >our system, and yet anyone (alright, any male) between the ages of 15 and >35 just is not interested. >How do you other female instructors address this? I wrote my instructor thesis on this topic. For one, I'm not sure there is a proven way to address this. I have encountered the phenomenon to a degree, but only in as much as the young men with egos are the ones that have difficulty learning from a woman. It has taken a while, but I now have a number of young men who are in my Taekwondo program. These young men, however, don't have an ego that stands in their way of learning a martial art from a woman. Frankly, I'm not sure I would want one of those ego-driven guys in my program, and when they inquire about the Taekwondo program, I give them no indication that it matters whether or not they join. To some degree, I think this eggs them on a bit....I could be wrong, but in the 18-24 age group, I think they really want it to make a difference to you. One possible help would be for the other instructor to perhaps provide a more enthusiastic endorsement of your wife's program. However, I will tell you that once you have attracted a couple of men into the program, the ones who are interested will see that they are not alone in a class of all females (which helps, believe me) and you should start to see more sign-ups. In the beginning, I had only one man in my adult classes, now the composition of my adult classes is approximately 25% male. I have been open for six months. I don't know if this helps. I will tell you that after I wrote my instructor thesis on the subject (and if you are interested in reading it, I'll be happy to e-mail it to you privately), I wasn't very optimistic about ever getting young men into the program. But once you have the respect of a couple of the daring ones, it seems to build upon itself. Miss Illona....what has been your experience with this? If you wish to discuss this further off list, you or your wife should feel free to e-mail me privately. Silke Schulz ------------------------------ From: Laura Kamienski Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 23:16:28 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: female instructor predjudice Hi Jaimie, This is an all too common reaction and problem. You may consider joining and all women's m.a. list I'm on, to discuss this in further detail. It's a topic which has been discussed in the past and there is a lot of experience and wisdom on that list. :^) If you want info on joining, please e-mail me privately. I think you sum it up well when you say you're not sure if you want that type of student in your school. From where I stand, YOU DON'T!:^) I deal with it by doing what I do best. Teaching. I simply teach the men who are there. I demand respect while I am doing so. The rest is up to them. If they aren't willing to learn from me, that's absolutely fine. They can go elsewhere. This would not be an indication of my value as an instructor or a martial artist. It would say nothing about me at all. It would speak volumes about them. Have you considered teaching a 'women's only' class? That's a whole market I'm trying to tap in to. There are a lot of women who wouldn't consider entering a co-ed dojang, who would feel comfortable and enjoy learning in a female only environment. I think that women's only m.a. classes and schools are great for many women for this reason. Not only would it bring in more students for your school, but it would be helping a population learn martial arts that might otherwise never have taken the opportunity. Good luck! I wish you all the best! Laura - -- lkamiens@ptd.net lkamnski@bucknell.edu http://home.switchboard.com/LKamienski ____________________________________________________ "Why don't you give me a call when you decide you are willing to fight; for what you think is real, for what you think is right." Ani DiFranco ____________________________________________________ ------------------------------ From: Jack Jensen Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 23:46:52 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: softening of belt My son just got his yellow belt, and he has a problem keeping it tied, partly because he's 5 and can't pull it very tight, and also it's obviously still somewhat stiff. Is there a method to soften it up, so that it stays tied better, and is it appropriate to do so? Thanks much. ------------------------------ From: Graham Hills Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 16:15:05 +0200 Subject: the_dojang: predujice against a female We have some female instructors in our country who have established themselves through demonastrations of their ability and over time through having good senior male students. The people watching classes can then see the quality of the instruction by the student. Positive reinforcement through your taking part in class and learning from your wife (better half?? :-)) will also help to improve perceptions of others as well as the self-worth aspect. We have also helped in starting a dojang by having some of our senior students attend the classes in support which helps bolster the senior classes and others watching see the quality of instruction. This does not address the initial predujice which relates to peoples expectations of Bruce Lee or Van Damme instructing them. But until Michelle 'Mouse' gets a starring role and ends up beating up Arnie the expectations will probably still be there. Regards Graham ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 06:22:31 -0800 (PST) Subject: [none] ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V7 #189 ******************************** It's a great day for Taekwondo! 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 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. Copyright 1994-2000: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource Standard disclaimers apply.