From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #214 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Fri, 31 March 2000 Vol 07 : Num 214 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: Ms. Barnett=glad to see you posting on DD; word to the wise the_dojang: Re: The politics of forum lists the_dojang: First Dan Testing the_dojang: pandora's box the_dojang: Re: Receiving the First Black Belt the_dojang: Re: Lady Timberland [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: Ken McDonough Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 13:00:18 -0800 (PST) Subject: the_dojang: Re: Ms. Barnett=glad to see you posting on DD; word to the wise Ms. Barnett stated, in part: > To: > Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 4:41 PM > Subject: help - distribution list > > Hi, > > All of a sudden I am no longer receiving tkd.net. Is > something wrong? > > Thanks > > Judy Barnett > 1st Dan American Nam Seo Kwan TKD> Response: No you are not alone. First, Mr. Ray Terry (and Mr. Talbott of the Martial Science list) is/are an outstanding and above the board moderator and martial artist. Compare his moderating to another ego maniac on another list. Second, your perceptions are correct. At first you can't believe the childist behavior. Then you start talking to many readers on this list and the Martial Science list and realize that your perceptions are correct and you do not need prozac, that you are not schiz or paranoid. After a bit of anger, you find calmness. You realize that you are now on a list (here) where you are joined by many open minded individuals who will not banish you from expressing your opinions. You may disagree, and you may be slightly criticised. But, you sleep on it and the next day you go on to another topic. Third, you will soon forget about the political nonsense on the other list. You will forget about it since here the policy is you can post anywhere. With that knowledge you realize that who needs some "jive a.." TKD list ? Fourth, you will realize as I do that as I write this there are little spies reading this and reporting back to the whacko's on another list. They are saying "Ken McDonough" is writing on the Dojang List...we will never let him back on." Then you will do a very sophomoric thing, like I used to do in high school. You will "moon" the spies who are reading this and tell them to "Kiss my bumper, baby !" Finally, upon the completion of your mooning episode, you will feel relieved having made a vigorous and important point. In sum, don't worry about it. There are many fine martial arts, individuals and reasoned individuals on this list. Many seasoned martial artists are here who can provide a wealth of knowledge. Revel in that thought. P.S. Thanks for all the input on the report card thread. I appreciate all comments and respect divergent thought. There is no right or wrong answers. Just what you believe works for you. Ken McDonough __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ From: Knife1@aol.com Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 16:08:42 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The politics of forum lists I guess now, I understand why I have not received any more postings from TKD digest. Pretty sad that you cannot participate in several martial forums without political infighting. Also, I would like to send a quick note on my feelings on the "master" thread. I feel that the title is much over rated and sometimes belittled by the plethora of self made masters. My personal take on the whole title is that it is a teaching title awarded for your ability to teach at a certain level. Nurses, Doctors, Judges and other public officials all have certain titles that allude to their status in their vocational field. Are we no less entitled? To attain the title and dan rank of Master, we put in the training time and years teaching that is equal to the effort some Doctors and Lawyers do. I have seen this debate within the American Kempo family also. Their instructor titles run like this: 1st dan (junior instructor), 2nd dan (associate instructor), 3rd dan (senior instructor), 4th dan (head instructor), 5th dan (associate professor), 6th dan (professor), 7th dan (senior professor), 8th dan (associate master), 9th dan (master of the arts). These are simply teaching titles... I like that approach. I feel that one's teaching ability, technical and tactical ability, martial character, and level of responsibility within one's organization play an important part of the title. As I was told as a graduate of Ranger School, "You can either be a tab wearer or a tab bearer." Translated, this means you can either let your ability and works give you the title, or you can wear the belt and title and not be deserving of it. It is a simple choice. ------------------------------ From: "Christopher Spiller" Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 21:51:52 GMT Subject: the_dojang: First Dan Testing >Here's a question for you black belts.... >I was wondering if some of you (or all of you) would share your >experience >when you received your first black belt (1st Dan). What >were you >thinking? Were you scared, filled with ego (be honest!), >hesitant, proud, >or unsure whether you deserved it? Testing for first dan really was one of those things that was totally different than what I expected. Several months before my test my instructor asked me when I was planning on going for black belt. I was going to be leaving for college at the end of the summer (this was shortly after Christmas) so I hemmed and hawed and said I was unsure. I had already been a 1st gup for a few months but was nervous about testing for dan ranking. I had seen a couple other black belt tests and they looked tough (hey, I'm good but those guys were awesome). Anyway, he told me I'd test in mid summer so I should start polishing things up. The following months were filled with the joy of repetitious kicking, patterns, push-ups, sit-ups, skipping rope, terminology memorization, sparring, etc. At the test I felt fairly confident. There were a couple things I wasn't looking forward to. Sparring a second dan friend of mine was one of them. He was really laid back most of the time but when he wanted to he could just score at will (I never liked him! ;)). Towards the end of the test (over an hour and a half) I was getting tired and was worried about how that would effect my scores but overall I had managed to peak physically at the time of my test. At the end of my test I received my temporary black belt and a hearty congratulations on a job well done from my instructor. I was very upset. At the last test I had seen the guy got promoted to permanent BB right there. I figured I was at least as god as he was. Looking back on it I GLAD I got the temp. belt like veryone else. It was a good way to keep me humble. I was young (18) and did pretty well at most of the stuff we do in class. This was definitely a growing experience for me. One of the senior black belts later told me that I looked disappointed when I got the temporary belt, and I was. But then again I still train and am still motivated to improve. Who knows what would have happened if I got the permanent belt right then. Another thing that kept me humble was the next class I went to. I suddenly couldn't do reverse roundhouse kick! I'd only known them for a couple of years at the time. For some reason that night those kicks, and some other techniques, gave me a bit of trouble. It was a reminder that I was a black belt not God. So was the fact that I still had to mow the lawn, take out the garbage, etc. Curses! ;) I honestly think those things helped me realize that I was still just me. You promote in rank not to being a superman. This doesn't mean you don't grow as a person but you ARE still a person. It was a great lesson that I will never forget. Taekwon, Chris "Every experience of beauty points to infinity." Hans Urs von Balthasar ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: "rich hodder" Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 15:32:49 PST Subject: the_dojang: pandora's box At the the risk of opening another Pandora's box. When did learning, teaching, or being involved with the martial arts become an extra curricular activity, instead of a life long pursuit of knowledge? Just a question, Rich ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Judy Barnett Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 18:39:52 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Re: Receiving the First Black Belt > From: Morgan Kochel > Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 08:30:02 -0500 > Subject: the_dojang: Receiving the First Black Belt > > Here's a question for you black belts.... > > I was wondering if some of you (or all of you) would share your experience > when you received your first black belt (1st Dan). What were you thinking? > Were you scared, filled with ego (be honest!), hesitant, proud, or unsure > whether you deserved it? Boy can I ever answer this one as the bruises still have not all gone away!!!!! Thinking: First a little background in how our school does it. In our school, after the test is completed, the black belt board leaves the room and discusses the candidates. This can take anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. During that time, the candidates stand in line in ready position. After the board has made their decision, they return to the room and promotions are made. As we stood there, my son to my left, I remember thinking. " Well its over (the test that is), I pray we all passed, and thanks for survival!" Then as they started announcing the promotions, it went to "Let Aaron make it" to "Thanks". Then as our instructor got to me, he started telling a story about his instructor being flown to a school to administer an exam, and saying that even though the student paid his way and all, he still had to flunk him. At that point, I know my eyes got real wide and I was thinking " Oh God, I flunked !!!!!". Then my instructor went on to say that he was glad he didn't have to do that and gave me my belt. I said many prayers that day. Scared: You betcha. I have severe test anxiety - I turn white and get physically ill. I had decided that all I wanted was to survive the test. Ego: No, still in disbelief. Hesitant and unsure if I deserved it. Yep - I think back and know every mistake I made and feel I should have done alot' better. Feels real weird to be standing with the "black belts", and at this point I don't really feel worthy. Proud Yep - of my son. He knocked their socks off with his one-steps, self-defense and board breaks. As we were all doing forms together I didn't get to watch them, and come sparring time, I was still gasping for air as he was wiping out his opponents. All this said, It was a journey well worth taking, and I have already started down the path to learning more. GO FOR IT!!!! Judy B. ------------------------------ From: Kim Jones Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 17:18:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: the_dojang: Re: Lady Timberland To start things off, I have 52 days until I turn 18. Yay!!!! I have been very active in WTF Taekwondo for almost four years now and test on Easter Sunday for my first degree black belt. Of course, I have heard that cho-dan often refer to first degree, so anybody feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. *snip* If a student has the desire to learn and does that a reasonable ammount of time per day, it is more than enough. If he/she will get an "A", "B", "C", or "D" is the last thing on world that matters. If a student gives their best, how can anyone demand more? When the pressure is repeated again and again, it will mentally destroy the kid. *snipped* I completely agree with you here, Mitar. There are countless times where the extreme pressure and disappointment exerted on me by my parental units almost forced me to do something I might have otherwise regretted (like enlist in the Army right out of high school). Having spent almost 18 years in different locations of the world interacting with different people shaped my views maybe a little more differently than my parents had wished. I have always been the independent child, doing things when I felt they were appropriate even as much as I adhered to my parents' wishes. (So speaking and becoming pottytrained at four was right for me. Sue me.) Much as I know my parents love me more than anything in the world, I can attribute a lot of my insecurities on their behalf. It's a sad thing to say, but true. Now, something I forgot to mention (or think I did) is that the report card programs can be beneficial. It just depends, again, on how much pressure is exerted to do well. Going off on a tangent for just a minute - I have had much pressure and even words of discouragement coming from a particular parental unit of mine when it comes to Taekwondo. My daddy didn't get to continue in his TKD training many years ago because he injured his knee (well, his Sabomnim did) very badly. He still jogs regularly, has since he joined the Army almost 30 years ago. He's very supportive of me testing for my black belt and is doing everything in his power to make sure he's down in Seoul that weekend in April. My mother...on the other hand...I'm not quite so sure about. She's been more the one to ask me not to go to class sometimes for any number of trivial reasons (transportation reasons despite the fact I rely only on the post shuttle run sometimes and my two feet). My daddy has always been the one to kick off in my fat lil' rear everytime I missed class (not counting illness, social functions that happen once in a blue moon or loads of schoolwork). My mother grew up here in Korea before much of the industrialization began (and when the country was still mostly dirt roads from Point A to Point B). Her mother, my halmoni (grandmother), didn't think it was proper for my mother to be active in gymnastics and forced her to quit. Now, my mother believes it's a great thing that I'm active in Taekwondo, but she still believes in a way that it's inappropriate for me. That gets me to no end, and it really pisses me off (it does, people) when she tells people that she's the one who encouraged me into the martial arts. I got in to feed my desire of learning martial arts and to become physically fit, not because she thinks I need more hand-eye coordination. (I am a klutz. Still.) However, these days I just deal with it as maybe pure jealousy because I am able to do more things than she was...and maybe she's still stuck over the past. It's different from generations to the next. I'm trying not to make the same mistakes my parents made. Sorry if this was really long-winded and off-topic. You guys are really a great forum of people to interact with. The constructive vibe here is simply awesome. ===== ~~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: Ray Terry Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 18:43:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [none] ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V7 #214 ******************************** 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. 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