From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #350 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Thur, 18 May 2000 Vol 07 : Num 350 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: Ethics in martial arts training the_dojang: RE: Chuck Norris the_dojang: scenario training the_dojang: re: meditation the_dojang: Re: Wheelchair bound MAs the_dojang: Motivation [none] ========================================================================= The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. 945 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 five years worth of digest issues at http://www.MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Shaun Fortune" Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 14:13:47 CDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: Ethics in martial arts training I completely agree that there is more to rank than physical talent. If it's a sport they want, so be it, but there has to be more than that in *our* school. This brings up something I've been thinking about for a long time. I completely agree with the ethical/emotional aspect of training in a martial art. In the past, that have been students in our school who have engaged in behaviors that were either outright illegal (drug possession) or just plain unethical (cheating on their spouse). I wonder how the people on the list feel about what kinds of possible consequences there should be for such things. I do not see any reason why we cannot or should not hold people to a higher standard when studying a martial art. (Believe me, my students know they are not stuyding a martial sport! :) Should they be held back from testing, removed from class, left to do whatever they feel like? My dilemma comes from the fact that their actions do not actually directly affect anyone in the class (except for themselves) but by participating in such activities, they are going against the true spirit of the martial arts. I have heard the argument that those are the people who really *need* martial art training so they can learn and change their ways. What do you all think? Off-list replies are fine, too. Thank you in advance for your input. Shaun M. Fortune Taekwondo/hapkido shaun_fortune@hotmail.com >------------------------------ > >From: TKDSCRIBE@aol.com >Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 21:49:31 EDT >Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #343 > >In a message dated 5/17/00 6:32:31 AM Pacific Daylight Time, >the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: > > > There are so many young back belts with a great deal of talent that I > > believe they should be promoted to rank befitting their talent > > I know that many people feel that rank should be based solely upon a >student's technical performance. > The way I was raised in taekwondo, however, makes room for other >criteria >that are difficult to demonstrate or judge on exam day. One's long-term >attitude and dedication, not just to one's own training, but to the dojang, >master and art are looked at as well. > I was taught that this is because we were learning martial art, not >martial sport. In sports, technical prowess is often the only thing that >matters. Look at Dennis Rodman, for example. While in the martial arts >there >are the ethical, emotional and mental aspects to be learned and mastered >along with the physical skills. > I wonder how most Americans of the 21 century feel about this? >SESilz > ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ From: Tom Marker Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 15:14:09 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: RE: Chuck Norris > Thinking about this, my question is really this: is Master Norris's > organization part of the ITF? If not, I'm not sure why A) the General > would award him a rank, and B) why he'd care if the General did. AFAIK, Chun Kuk Do or the United Fighting Arts Federation have nothing to do with ITF. I was under the impression that Chun Kuk Do was Master Norris' particular interpretation of Tang Soo Do. Norris formed the National Tang Soo Do Congress in 1973, which dissolved after 1976 when he made the "Chuck Norris System" which is now the present-day UFAF. My book on the "Chuck Norris Fighting System" written during this time looks like traditional Tang Soo Do forms (Pyung Ahn, Bassai) rather than Tae Kwon Do forms. This is not to say that at some point, Mr. Norris didn't train in TKD, or was affiliated with the ITF for that matter, it's just that I am not aware of it:) I have no clue what rank Mr. Norris holds these days, or whom he would have received it from. An 8th Dan in TSD would seem a bit strange, since his one time instructor, is "only" an 8th Dan. But what the heck do I know, I'm just a red belt:) Trying to figure out who left whom and when is extremely confusing, and makes me want to drink. Tang Soo! Tom ------------------------------ From: Oregfightingarts@aol.com Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 15:39:39 EDT Subject: the_dojang: scenario training << Do any of you use reality type scenarios in your classes or sparring days? Illona >> Yes.......It is a big part of the training. Every Friday night (during martial art training), there are at least 3 scenarios. Some are done at the school, but many are done 'on location'. I scout out, or students suggest places where we can do them. Safety is paramount, and a lot of gear is worn, but it is great training all around. There is always a controller (someone not involved in the actual scenario who can stop it at any time), a goodguy(or girl), and 1 or more badguys. If the goodguy says the right things and de-escalates verbally, then the badguys will back off....but sometimes badguys just want to fight, and are not deterred. Many of the scenarios are designed to put the goodguy in a 'probably wont win' situation. Suckerpunching by the badguys is encouraged. The Police Combatives training I do has even worse situations....more suited to Law Enforcement. Last night, I initiated a fellow instructor into scenario training. He has been sidestepping it for months, and I finally cornered him. He told me he didnt think they were worth it, and he expressed fear in doing them. Fear of the fight, fear of injury, fear of performance. The scenario he did was to make the drunk, beligerent moron, asshalf.... (namely me) leave a party at his house(dojang). Lights were turned out, music was very loud, a few 'partygoers' mingling, a few people had flashlights, a strobe was set up.....and I subjected him to some very serious language and sweet nothings. I could tell he was nervous, and when the fight started, he made a number of mistakes and started to freeze up.....but worked through it to eventually control me and get me out. This morning when I checked my email, he had been up till 1am writing and sending me ideas for new scenarios.....he was fired up !!! The results someone gets from dealing with a violent encounter successfully, even a simulated one, will do wonders for their confidence and, I've found, really helps to 'bring it all together' regaring martial training... besides....its a BLAST ! Train hard....sorry for the length. Mark Gajdostik TNT-Police Combatives ------------------------------ From: Arlene Slocum Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 16:26:36 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: re: meditation I practice Sun-Do, which is a Korean version of mountain Taoist breathing meditation. I have practiced about 20-30 minutes a day for the past 4 years and find that the benefits are enormous. Consistent meditation practice has increased my energy level and ability to focus and improved my health. I consider meditation essential to anyone who wants to go "beyond black belt" in their martial arts training. Actually, I view Sun-Do practice as the heart of my martial arts training. Since there aren't many Sun-Do schools in the US it is hard to find pages on them. I found this general article on meditation to be a useful description of how it works and the benefits. http://www.holisticonline.com/Meditation/hol_meditation_intro.htm Arlene Slocum 1st Dan Lawrence Tae Kwon Do School Lawrence, Kansas arlenes@geoaccess.com ------------------------------ From: "Kevin W. Tibbs" Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 14:40:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: Re: Wheelchair bound MAs Hello All, I vascillate on the subject of awarding black belts to those MAs who have limited physical capabilities. On the one hand, I think that martial arts are very personal and that each one of us can benefit greatly by improving ourselves through discipline and dedication; however, I do think that some minimum standards have to be applied irrespective of the inherent capabilities of the person testing. There should be some objective standards. This subject is very close to me at the moment: my wife is in a chair. She cannot move her legs, wrists, or fingers, yet one of the instructors in our studio (where my boys and I train) is encouraging her to train with her so that she could develop adapted techniques. I can't imagine that the range of techniques that could be developed are very broad given her extreme degree of limitation but I do want to be supportive. I love my wife so I also don't want her becoming someone's "poster child" yet I want her to pursue whatever she thinks she can accomplish. So the question boils down to this: are belts awarded for spirit or technique or some admixture that is a function of the testee? If the criterion is then relative, why don't we all win, put on our medals, and _feel_ real good about ourselves? (insert smiley here 'cause I realize that last comment may read a little to harshly). What do you think, Kevin W. Tibbs ------------------------------ From: edwin davis Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 17:40:46 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Motivation this is kind of a serious situation for me.i was taking Tae Kwon Do about 6 months ago and doing really good.i had earned my white belt and was getting ready to take by yellow stripe test,and i was also taking Hapkito and was getting ready to take my yellow belt test in that class.Im over weight and had seen some real improvments in to my ability to complete the classes and keep up with the other students,but i had gotten sick with the flu and had dropped out of class.it has been about 3 months now and i can really tell. my question to you is how can i get my self motivated to get back into the classes or even just doing some of the opening work out. is there a method that some people use to get their selfs motivated or does it just come natural to some people? well thanks Edwin Davis ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 15:11:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [none] ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V7 #350 ******************************** 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.