From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #209 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Thur, 30 March 2000 Vol 07 : Num 209 In this issue: the_dojang: Report Cards the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #208 the_dojang: What day do you become a master the_dojang: titles the_dojang: article on kids and MA the_dojang: re: to whom does it make a difference? the_dojang: Gift ideas. [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: rjorr@exis.net Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 10:47:31 -500 Subject: the_dojang: Report Cards On the subject of how different schools address grades -- when a youngster first receives their white belt, we ask them to make three promises - first to do their best at home, second to do their best at school, and third, to do their best to stay committed for the 3-4 years it takes to make Black Belt. Review of report cards is addressed only in the context of the first question - are you doing the best you can? Without exception, every one of our parents sees our effort as reinforcing their efforts. For those who would ask if we have the "right" to ask to see these cards, I would remind them that, form most of our youth we will be the most consistent adult influence on a child besides the parent - three-4 years, 3 or more days a week, all year long. That's more than any single school teacher and Little League coach. We will influence how they see school and the rest of the world - - either by showing them we do care and support their parents and school teachers, or by showing them that we don't care about school. One poster indicated that he checked for "trends." with all that's going on in the world today, parents need all the help they can get and sometimes we may see something others miss. So long as we continue to recognize our role as supporting the parent, and our greater emphasis on the martial arts as a vehicle to a lifestyle of ethics and fitness, I can't imagine a parent not appreciating the assistance. For those that object, then we respect their wishes. Jaimie Orr Dragon Connections Pak's Tang Soo Do of Virginia Beach ------------------------------ From: Kim Jones Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 08:11:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #208 *ahem* I have read the threads on report cards and the various comments made from all sides of the coin. Now, I would like to offer MY side of the story...it is long-winded. My mother ended up graduating near the top of her school (some couple thousand odd students somewhere in Korea). My father graduated (barely) and worked odd jobs before starting a l-o-n-g yet sucessful military career. Because of the work ethic most Koreans tend to possess, it has been passed on (probably almost genetically) to me and the sibling six years ahead of me. He did really well in high school (can't necessarily say the same for college), finishing off 6th in his class. I, on the other hand, have the honor (burden?) of being salutatorian for the Class of 2K. My high school transcript is full of A's, particular in Honors and a couple A.P. classes, thus my GPA being over 4.0. That, sadly, means nothing to me. It just doesn't reflect all the times I fell asleep during Algebra or Literature and still managed to pass with flying colors. It does reflect that I went home and did my homework, obviously thoroughly comprehending the material. It could reflect me kissing up to the teachers and being handed a grade. Las notas significan nada a mi. (The grades mean nothing to me.) My instructor in GA did request a report card be brought in for evaluation. Of course, it was optional. If you brought one in and made honor roll or showed significant improvement in some classes, you got an Academic Achievement patch that could be worn on your uniform. Nifty thing. I stil have my small dobok top that has that red patch sewn on the left shoulder. On the other hand, my Sabomnim here just requires that I show up to class and give everything I have and then some every time the class is there to train. Outside problems are outside problems. It's like the dirt outside a person's house: Meant to be left out there and not dragged in because it gets cleaned back out sooner or later. Save yourself the trouble in the first place. My grades merely reflect what is most likely my follow-through and/or work ethic. Now, you could interpret many things from looking at my transcript. Whoo, Salutatorian! I'm just worried about trying not to strangle my Dawson's Creek type peers and make it to graduation. I'm more concerned with the fact that my cho-dan testing is Easter Sunday, and the March testing group had a 50% fail rate, with the fact my Sabomnim is a bit irate over it. I'm even more concerned about following etiquette with my date tomorrow night than the fact I'm salutatorian. It just means I might have worked harder than everybody else to become second place or first loser. I'm still a normal person, maybe just a little more dedicated than the rest. Just because I'm now pulling a solid B in AP Calculus where I made an A in Math Analysis and I'm squeaking by with a C in AP Chemistry where I made an A in Honors Chemistry only means that the coursework is much more difficult (college-level, er, supposed to be) and I LEARNED along the way. **Learning does not mean you make an A in school. Learning means comprehending a new concept and fully understanding it, like how to work with nonideal gases or integrating to find the volume of a function revolved around a particular axis...or learning Korean/Japanese/Chinese/Filipino/Thai/etc... commands in your particular martial art.** It's something you never knew before. Your ability to learn...NO, YOUR DESIRE to learn should be the thing that people weigh in heavily when taking you in as a student and keeping you. *cracks knuckles and ponders in deep thought* Your desire to learn is what should drive you in class. You want to learn everything you can try and learn...life is short...do not obsess over the little things like grades much. Yes, parents do have the right to be concerned and shocked if their child is not performing to the top of their ability...but it's different for everyone. I have heard countless times how I could have scholarships denied to me because I didn't make straight-A's or I'm pulling C's in Calculus, or how a B on my transcript will guarantee me a job as a fry-cook at Burger King...but does it really frickin' matter? If I performed to the best of my ability and pulled an F (like I almost did in AP Calculus first quarter), my parents would believe that I wasn't studying despite the fact I have a 100% homework grade. I make stupid mistakes allt he time in my work because I am HUMAN. Failing Calculus owuld probably mean the Engineering Program at Purdue would laugh and point at my Calculus grade, then maybe demand I retake Calc even if I pass the AP exam in May. So what? But all the time, if I don't bring an A home (because my past performance has been nothing but), I hear the stories for days and days on end. My mother may have been the academic brain. She didn't go to college though, because of lack of fundage. My father may have been the guy who would still be roaming the West Coast on a motorcycle had he not joined the Army. However, I am the product of two people who worked very hard to raise two children so they could start off with better things than they had growing up. I choose to take the brighter and more grueling path, thus my motivation for doing well in school. Image has an impact, so I should do good in my classes...but only to the best of my ability. Your child's all into their academic performance is all you can ask, and the letter grade they bring in exchange is all you can expect (if they tried their best). If they're not doing well in school because they're NOT TRYING, they will most likely not do well in their martial arts or sports. It's all relative. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Gently encourage your kids to do well, but do not expect them to be the Brain and bring home a (near) perfect transcript after 13 years of public (or private...or both) schooling. Expect them to do their best and LEARN. These schools are turning out people who only know how to memorize. Be involved, but don't be overbearing. It can make your child neurotic (as I have been on many occasions because I'm not making an A in a hard class like Calculus or Chemistry). Sorry to drag it out...I felt I had to say what I could while the topic was hot (in the DD and on my nerves). I hope maybe you realize how important a balance of all things is important, even to the little ones. Too much of a good thing (like studying) CAN BE BAD! Enough. I've typed my fingers to nubs. =^_^= ===== ~~Kim Jones *ladytimberland@yahoo.com* ICQ: 52828008 AOL: Lady Timberland "The path of excess leads to the tower of wisdom." Enigma, "Gravity of Love" __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: "J. R. West" Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 12:58:04 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: What day do you become a master First, let me give you some background. I have been teaching HapKiDo for 33 years, and during that time I have been operating a school for 27 years, and hold an 8th dan from the DaeHan KiDoHwe in Busan Korea. I am STILL very uncomfortable with the title of "master". I am master of NOTHING, and the only difference between the first night white belts and me is the fact that I have been confused a lot longer. Oh sure, I know a lot of techniques and a lot about basic motion and I've trained a lot of really good martial artists (even a couple of "masters"), but I'm still waiting to receive the red cape and boots that go along with the title of "master", and I only have one promotion left to look forward to, and I'm starting to think that I won't receive them then either. When I was coming up in the '60's, a master was a 7th dan or above...great!, I've got a looong time before I become a master, but when my mentor, Dr. He-Young Kimm first started referring to me as "master West" almost 20 years ago, I felt like a fraud. I never liked the term because the word itself indicates a certain level of control over something else, or a knowledge of the highest order of a topic or topics. I preferred the simple salutation of "mister" (certainly I could be called "mister" and not feel like I was selling somebody something). When I was promoted to 7th dan, I felt like there was something wrong, now there was no excuse for me not to be called "master", but I told my students at the next class that my techniques were no better than they were a week before, my knowledge was no more "all-encompassing", etc., soooo, let's just continue with the word "mister". When I received my eighth dan, I started hearing the even more-dreaded "GM" put before my name, and, by this point, I had given up chastising my students for calling me master and even used the title myself for official purposes within our organization. I guess what it all boils down to is how you view yourself, but a good rule of thumb is, if you have to demand that people call you by a title, then the title is worth nothing. If your organization says that you are a master, then you are a master, but be very careful about how you react to this title. Will you behave as a master at all times, both in the dojang and outside of it? Will you continue to learn from your seniors (and your juniors) or will you find infinite knowledge in the same box as your cape and boots. Will you continue to teach your classes on a regular basis, or will you become a "missing master". Will you still be able to relate to your new students, or will you be too high in rank to spend a lot of time knowing who they are and what they're all about. In short, will you behave and interact like you wanted YOUR masters to behave and interact. Good luck on your upcoming promotion and wear the title well, don't ever let the title wear you!!!... Mister J. R. West www.hapkido.com ------------------------------ From: Tkdtiger@aol.com Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 14:34:12 EST Subject: the_dojang: titles you asked how we feel when someone addresses us as master - the first time i was addressed as Master Sweet - I looked around to see who they were talking to - then I got embarassed one of my best friends and one of the people in this world that I feel deserves the title of master - Guy Poos - refuses to answer to that title - he won't accept it. I almost think it is like Robert Heinlein's book "Job - A human comedy." The main character ends up after the rapture as a "saint" - he insists he can't be and they tell him that's the first sign that he is. I see too many people who DEMAND that u use this or that title - if u have to demand it, you haven't earned it. If u haven't earned it, you don't deserve it. And if u deserve it, u probably never use it. My other favorite anecdote in this related category is a guy I tested with for 2nd degree. When we got our 3rds, he put on a 4th degree belt and insisted on being called Master. We were no longer in the same school at this point and I asked him how he could do this. He explained that his new master had given him a 4th degree in Tu Kan Mul Sool, and it was to honor his master that he wore it. I said ok - but why do u claim 4th degree? everyone assumes that it is kkw and they know u don't have enough time in. He said he was a 4th degree - TKMS So I asked if he knew TKMS - no I asked if he taught TKMS - no So I asked how a 3rd degree Moo Duk Kwan instructor could honestly claim a 4th degree - he said, because he had been given it by his master. What can I say? I must have been missing something. ------------------------------ From: Arthur Lee <7akl3@qlink.queensu.ca> Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 15:04:58 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: article on kids and MA Hey Andy, If i recall... Reader's Digest had an article up no more than 3 years ago (sorry don't remember when it came out... i read it in a barber shop 8), and it was a father's opinion on letting his own children into MA. The article also gives some good ideas as to choosing an appropriate dojang for you and your child, IMHO. Uh... the front cover had a picture of the father (who is a teacher of MA... i think karate... can't remember) and his children, also in doboks. This article might help you, and it might help out in the current thread of kids and MA we have now... Arthur ------------------------------ From: Arthur Lee <7akl3@qlink.queensu.ca> Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 15:11:18 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: re: to whom does it make a difference? Hey Anthony I tend to like the analogy that each person's actions are like drops of water. When you are alone in your actions, your drop seems very small. But when you join yourself to the rest of the world, your drop becomes an important part of the waterfall that crashes down. Although the nice things that we do for other people may seem petty and small, like holding the door open for someone else, allowing someone else grab the cab before you, picking up something that a total stranger drops and handing it back to them, etc., I feel, IMHO, that I am, in my own way, contributing to the wellness and kindness of humanity itself... kinda big eh?, just do what you can... Arthur ------------------------------ From: Ian Miller Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 05:18:50 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Gift ideas. Hi, I wanted to ask some advice from the collected members of the digest. I took (and passed, thankfully) my first dan in Tae Kwon Do last night. I've been training with the same school for 4 years, and regretfull, since it's a university school and I'm graduating in a month or so, I'm going to have to leave for another school. I've really appreciated all of the help and friendship that I have recieved over the course of those 4 years from my master, and I'd really like to buy him a gift in thanks. I'd like to get him something to do with Tae Kwon Do, but I'm kind of at a loss for ideas. He doesn't need any training equipment obviously, but I'd like to buy him something nice as a thank you. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance, Ian Miller ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 14:02:15 -0800 (PST) Subject: [none] ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V7 #209 ******************************** 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.