From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #199 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Mon, 27 March 2000 Vol 07 : Num 199 In this issue: the_dojang: re: stiff belts the_dojang: Breaking Anxiety the_dojang: Re:Report Cards the_dojang: Welcome the_dojang: Introduction... the_dojang: re: require report cards the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #195 the_dojang: Promotions vs. testing [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: Arlene Slocum Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 08:54:17 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: re: stiff belts << 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. >> I feel comfortable enough on this list now to share a black belt secret. "How to soften a belt quickly" 1. Wear belt to class and sweat ALOT. 2. Place belt in bottom of workout bag, preferably near sweaty gear. Place sweaty uniform on top of belt and gear. 3. Close workout bag tightly. 4. When you get home, stash the bag behind a couch in your living room where you hope it will not be noticed and forget about it for a couple of days. 5. Remove the uniform and wash it before attending the next class, but leave the belt alone. 6. Reseal the bag until you attend class. 7. When you put the belt on, it will optimally be damp from sweat and much more pliable, although it may smell a little. Don't worry about this - your classmates will be impressed that you work out so hard that there isn't enough time to dry the sweat off your belt in between classes... Arlene Slocum 1st Dan - Lawrence Tae Kwon Do School Lawrence, Kansas ArleneS@geoaccess.com ------------------------------ From: CA&B Skjold Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:01:02 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Breaking Anxiety Hi All, First Off I would Appreciate if the responses to this would be sent to me privately at: cabs@corpcomm.net I will be testing for my Yellow Belt (7th Gup TKD) Tomorrow night and as part of the test we have a breaking. For my Orange Belt (8th Gup TKD) it was a standing side kick. For tomorrow it is a turning side kick. This just happens to be my personal weakest/worst kick. I am very confident about the remainder of the test which consists of Kicking combinations, One Steps, Counter Attacks, 3/2 Steps, Sparring Techniques, Self Defense and Korean Terminology and background test. As someone who is normally very confident, I am having trouble being confident about this breaking. I don't understand it how can I over come my anxiety about this breaking. Any Suggestions would be welcome Anne (8th Gup, Tae Kwon Do) ------------------------------ From: IMATC@aol.com Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 10:38:01 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re:Report Cards In a message dated 03/27/00 9:27:31 AM Eastern Standard Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: > Do any of you that have your own schools require report cards be turned > in > also? I actually give trophies to the students in front of everybody at testing ( and a smaller one for improved martial arts student in class) for academic achievement. If they get straight A's, a trophy, if there is a significant improvement since last sememster i.e.-from C's to B+s and A's mixed, a medal. If they are consistant with high marks, I have a plaque with their name plate engraved onto it for the year. Cost about 2 bucks. More emphasis on academic than physical at times. After all they have to be blacks belts outside of the DoJang as well, right? A. Ramirez ------------------------------ From: "J. R. West" Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 10:44:54 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Welcome Rich: Glad to see you made it to the Dojang Digest, I guess there's nothing else to do in Steamboat Springs, CO until the snow melts (he doesn't ski!)....J.R. West ------------------------------ From: "Peggy Smith" Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 09:15:15 PST Subject: the_dojang: Introduction... I hope I'm doing this right. Posting as a reply I mean...Anyway, introducing myself... My name is Peggy and I have a 9 year old son named Chris. We have been taking Taekwondo classes together for over a year now and are red belts in our school. I have been reading of some of the difficulties the instructors experience with the sideline parents. I just wanted to say that our school offers an adult class that the children can take with the parents and it has worked out really well. Many people wouldn't think that the mix of children and adult would work for it does well for us. I really think too that some of the parents that take the class not only learn TKD but how to be more assertive parents as well. I only wish we had more parents IN the class than on the sidelines. Since I have to do what Chris does, I really appreciate the work he puts into it and he seems to like that his Mom is right in there with him. I know one thing, I am one parent that can help him learn his forms rather than hoping he remembers it from one class to the next. We help each other. I am looking forward to reading the posts on this list and maybe I can some contribute too! Peggy & Christopher :) ps....Chris was in a tournament this weekend and won a bronze medal!!! It was for 16 and under and I won't admit my age but you all can guess I'm not 16 LOL! So I wasn't in it. Just a very proud mom on the sidelines for once! ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Thayne_Coffman@trilogy.com Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 12:40:46 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: re: require report cards I've never run my own school or taught other than one-on-one, so this may be a relatively uneducated opinion, but I'm not sure that I would require a certain performance in school when testing at a dojang. I understand that the intent is to help the students do their best in all aspects of life, so I don't question your motives, and I'm definitely not arguing that education isn't important to success. However, I think that sometimes the kids that aren't doing well in school really don't need to be punished again for that by being held back in their chosen extra-curricular activity. (I'm sure martial arts is more than just a hobby for most people on this list, but for many young students, that's primarily what it is.) Maybe they need something that they can do well at, even if they just aren't cut out to be an honor-role student? For them, the self- confidence that we always talk about martial arts fostering could be cut out from under them if they're held back in the studio because they're having problems in school. It may not be the most common case, but maybe they have undiagnosed learning disabilities, and they aren't getting the attention in school that they need to be able to keep up. Anyway, I can agree a little more with holding a student back if he or she is doing poorly in school because of really bad discipline problems, but I don't think it's fair to do that if they're really trying at school, but maybe they're just not as quick as some other kids. In reality, I'm sure it's hard to know the difference. That all being said, the way my KJN does it (which seems like the best to me, of course :-) ) is to have lists that the kids can sign if they got all A's or only A's and B's, and their names are listed in the monthly school newsletter. During childrens' classes, discipline and performance in school are (verbally) emphasized by the instructor, as well as respect towards teachers and parents, and followed up by pushups if the kids aren't paying attention. One particular instructor reminds students of "CHL" every class before they go home - 'chores' (including homework), 'hug' for your parents, and tell them you 'love' them, and emphasizes chores and homework as something you do without being asked. Anyway, that seems like a reasonable way to emphasize that school is important, respect for your elders is expected and required, and still not bias yourselves against kids that are trying, but may not be doing as well at school. "Well, when I start my own studio..." Respectfully, Thayne 1st dan TKD 1st dan KSW ------------------------------ From: DWall1008@aol.com Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 14:59:24 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #195 Hello, some of you may remember me from a previous post. I had studied Kempo for about five years and now I am a student of Master Whalen in Hap Ki Do. Two points first of all commenting on men/women stuff. In my first school two women of slight stature and build signed up for the first class of a new kempo school. We saw at well over a hundred and fifty men of all shapes sizes and ages come and go. Although I have moved on she is still there and is the only student who has excelled from white belt thru black belt. She is exceptional beyond compare in weapons and forms and was kicked name Mrs. Mule kick for her exceptional kicking ability! Remember it is the student's dedication and the ability they develop, not their gender. Secondly, from my previous post I outlined various injuries that I had received over the years and in particular a damaged kidney. Initially I was to be barred from ever working within martial arts but chose to "keep going on my journey" in Hap Ki do. Over the past six months I have found again that "burning desire" to learn. Under Master Whalen, and the other students I have progressed and recently tested for yellow belt. There were three of us who had studied martial arts (different styles) before. We were fortunate enough while testing for yellow belt to be tested more thoroughly to receive our blue belts instead. What an honor! Anyway, while having a check up on my kidney, my doctor inquired as to what physical activity I had been up to the past six months. I explained the change to Hap Ki Do and the types of stretches, breathing, meditation in addition to kicks, blocks, joint locks etc... He had specifically commented on how much better my body and internal organs were better oxygenated than they had been since my last round of tests. I had explained, although I cannot recall the specific name for the breathing exercise, that we do most every class. Master Whelan explained the slow breathing in to the count of 7, holding the breath for 7, and exhaling for 7, in a series of 7 to massage the internal organs. I was happy just for the cool down period at the end of a demanding class, but apparently this really works. Now I do this every day, Doctors Orders! And I have the "Green Light" to continue in MA and in particular Hap Ki Do!! ------------------------------ From: "J. R. West" Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 14:16:36 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Promotions vs. testing This is a great point, and at my school , I am the final word with regards to who is ready to "test" and who is not. Before I give a student the right to be put up for promotion, I am very sure of their ability to perform the required techniques at a level that would indicate their new rank, and I have also seen them do all the required techniques. If there are any surprises on the time of their test, I can contribute it to jitters, phases of the moon, or too much starch in their uniform, but the result is the same, they are advanced in rank. The only test failure that I have had in 33 years of teaching were two juniors that failed to read about 10 pages of required history and philosophy (VERY basic stuff), and then continued to tell me that they, in fact, DID read the info but just couldn't seem to remember the answer (this would be similar to saying that "I really did read MobyDick, but I just can't seem to remember what kind of animal it was about"). As far as being invited to sit on a testing board at another school is concerned, I just write notes to myself and watch their basic motion during the test, and when the test is over I just tell the instructor that their fate is totally up to him. If the instructor is a student of mine, I might discuss some issues with him at a later date, but not then. I think that the last thing some poor instructor wants is a critique of everything he teaches on the night of a test, and nine times out of ten his mind is already made up. Just my way of doing things...J. R. West www.hapkido.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 12:39:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: [none] ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V7 #199 ******************************** 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.