From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #645 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Sat, 7 Oct 2000 Vol 07 : Num 645 In this issue: the_dojang: trim of uniforms the_dojang: Adaptation the_dojang: TSD forms the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #644 the_dojang: Beungood's Forms question the_dojang: . ========================================================================= The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~1200 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: Ray Terry Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2000 8:31:40 PDT Subject: the_dojang: trim of uniforms A good question someone sent me... Ray - ----------------------------------------------------------------- Forwarded message: Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 23:53:15 -0400 Subject: trim of uniforms Hi, I hope you can help me. I have been searching for an answer to this question for quite some time. In Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do, black belts trim their white uniform jackets with black trim. (right?) I would like to know the origin of the trimming of the uniform in this fashion. Is it to emulate the aristoracy of ancient Korean history? ( I have found pictures of Yi I (Yulgok 1536-84) and Yi Hwang (T'oegye 1501-70) two of Korea's most outstanding philosophers who are wearing white clothing trimmed EXACTLY the same as the Tae Kwon Do uniform. I've also heard this is to honor fallen Korean soldiers. I am not convinced. Thank You for your time. ComSam Hamineeda. ------------------------------ From: David Reed Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2000 09:45:45 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Adaptation In a previous post I read "The arts must adapt to the people learning them, that way everyone can benefit." This opinion is one of the causes of adulterated, watered down, or prostituted styles though 'prostituted' suggests that there are other motives. My understanding is that in a traditional 'Do' whether it is Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, or Hapkido, the primary emphasis is on the meaning of the 'Do' Otherwise, the arts would have been named differently. Clearly, the founders thought this was of paramount importance. Not to share this orientation makes what is taught not a 'Do'. It is impossible to share the 'Do' aspects if everyone essentially has their own martial art. While this happens naturally after training for 20 or 30 years, it is not the original training intent of the 'Do' curriculum. If you are tall, short, fat, or disabled it makes no difference; you must learn the traditional curriculum. This is one of the primary benefits and the core of the 'Do'; making the best you can with what you have and having an uncompromising standard of personal quality and effort. 'Do' is about following a path layed out and overcoming obstacles, principally those that are self-imposed. If an instructor adapts, lessens, or eliminates a portion of the traditional criteria to accomodate a student, they are cheating their student, their school, and their own instructor. People have to reach for a standard not have it lowered for them. Real compassion has nothing to do with making martial arts easier, just the opposite; it has to do with providing the encouragement and example to make it obtainable. Students benefit by adapating themselves to the demands of an art not the other way around. I know this idea may offend many instructors who believe they are enhancing self esteem of students by altering techniques or requirements. I believe that if you asked any older, traditional Korean Masters how this was approached when they were training you would get an interesting answer. While this is perspective may be mostly cultural in nature, it may be one of the best aspects that non Asian martial artists can learn. Clearly, there are times when a technique is impossible or very dangerous. The student must understand that they are not going to learn the entire curriculum. They are also not going to be able to pass on the art to another generation. I believe everyone can participate, but not everyone can master what is needed due to one limitation or another. A final note is that I was quite disabled as a child with a bone disease that left me in crutches and with braces for a number of years. I understand the needs of disabled folks. After that and some fifteen years after starting martial arts, I shattered my right leg in a parachute mishap. I've had numerous surgeries, most of them of little to no help. I have one leg significantly shorter than the other, a useless knee, and bad arthritis in that hip. However, I've successfully tested through four additional Dan ranks at the same level as my peers. My instructor allowed for no compensation on my kicking techniques, forms or breaking. I thank him for doing this. Tradition, etiquette, and character developed from traveling via a 'Do' art is what makes martial arts unique and special from sports or other athletic activities. Mastery of the art is mastery of self. This cannot be done if your instructor adapts to you only if you adapt to the art. Regards, DGR ------------------------------ From: Joan Bostic Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 11:45:37 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: TSD forms << Pyung Ahn, Naihanchi, What are these forms? >> In World Tang Soo Do Assn., we start learning Pyung Ahn Cho Dan as a 7th gup (orange w/stripe) for the 6th gup (green) test, and test Pyung Ahns through green and brown. The Pyung Ahn Oh Dan (the last of the Pyung Ahns in WTSDA) is the testing form for 2nd gup (red belt). Naihanchi is taught to 1st gup students (red w/stripe) and is one of the testing forms for Cho Dan Bo/blue belt (black belt candidate); it is IMHO one of the most exciting forms to watch when executed well. Joan Bostic ------------------------------ From: CKCtaekwon@cs.com Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 16:14:11 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V7 #644 In a message dated 10/7/00 9:54:38 AM Central Daylight Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << If YOU were taught the correct BASICS, how come you sustained a concussion? Did you become sloppy? >> I make it a policy not to hang around with negative or rudely critical people. How about something good to say, anything? Have you NEVER made a mistake? Gary Pieratt ------------------------------ From: "Mac" Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 15:37:03 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Beungood's Forms question From: Beungood@aol.com << Pyung Ahn, Naihanchi, >> What are these forms? These are the older forms practiced by the Kwans prior to the Palgue or Taegeuk patterns. The Japanese names for them are Heian (Pyung-ahn) and Tekki (Naihanchi) in ShotoKan for example. In TKD (TaeKwonDo), the Naihanchi forms are called Chul-gi. Even some of the Chang-Hon TKD patterns still looked simular to Pyung-ahn (Pyung-ahn Yi-Dan is very simular to Won-Hyo for example). You will see a lot of moves in the more current pattern sets that came from the old forms. As many of the Moo Duk Kwan TSD (TangSooDo) members didn't join with the TKD movement, you will still find them performing the old forms: Kee-cho(1-3), Pyun-ahn(1-5), Bas-sai, Nai-han-chi(1-3), Ship-soo, Chin-to, Kong-sang-koon, Ro-hi, Ji-on, Ssa-shin/Sei-shan, Wang-shu, Oh-ship-sa-bo, etc. When I first began TKD, it's roots was a from MDK so did both the Pyung-ahn and Palgue form sets. Hope this helps, Mac TANG SOO! ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2000 17:26:26 PDT Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V7 #645 ******************************** 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.org 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.