From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #94 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Thur, 8 Feb 2001 Vol 08 : Num 094 In this issue: the_dojang: belt color the_dojang: Gun Disarms the_dojang: RE: Sword Competition the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #91 the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #91 the_dojang: Iai/Guhap/Swordsmanship the_dojang: RE: Certifications the_dojang: Belt colors the_dojang: Contract Situation the_dojang: Pepper spray the_dojang: JT's socks the_dojang: . ========================================================================= The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~1111 members strong! Copyright 1994-2001: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The premier internet discussion forum devoted to the Korean Martial Arts. 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 the online search engine for back issues of The_Dojang at http://www.MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Brian Emery" Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 10:36:06 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: belt color whoever wrote the in-depth article about the belt colors please email it to me directly with what extra you have would be grateful. thank you _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ From: (George Popofski) Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 10:54:51 EST Subject: the_dojang: Gun Disarms Has anyone seen a video series on gun disarms produced TRS (Threat Response Solutions). The instructors claim that through their trial and error research (using real handguns with wax bullets) they found that clearing the weapon to the inside of the attackers body (pushing on the back of the hand holding the weapon) will cause them to pull the trigger involuntarily much more so than clearing the weapon to the outside. I have never heard this before, do others use this principle in their handgun training? ------------------------------ From: "Sims, Bruce W. NCHVAMC" Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 10:48:28 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: RE: Sword Competition Dear Todd, Dakin et al: This could be a very exciting move for Hapkido practitioners. I practice HwaRang Kum-Bop under GM Koo here in Chicago. Although he is probably a bit more liberal in pressing his students to push their training limits he still adheres to a traditional approach to the art. For me that means that though I am learning quite a bit in the way of Form and biomechanic and philosophy I have only in the last couple of weeks been introduced to shin guem practice, and that focusing primarily on drawing and resheathing. Cutting practice is probably at least another couple of years off. However, single and two-man forms are practiced quite often and most of the students will donn their armour and bang away at each other with great regularity. For whatever I could contribute I would appreciate being included in you tournament effort, Todd. You also mentioned an organization in your last post (or at least the initials). Can you give a bit of a run-down about that group? Have you established guidelines for competition, or this to be something more like the yearly Daito-ryu demonstrations in Japan where people have an opportunity to show what their particular efforts are about? Did you want to include participants from Japanese sword arts? I can think of a few people who might even come just to provide input, suggestions and the benefit of their experience, perhaps even James Williams (BUGEI TRADING Co) and some other "lurkers" from E-BUDO. If you like I can approach GM Koo and solicit in-put from him regarding what suggestions he could make for your efforts. Perhaps his position as the head of WORLD HWA RANG KUMDO ASSN. May allow for some connections which could give your effort additional support. Let me know how I can help, Bruce ------------------------------ From: Chereecharmello@aol.com Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 11:55:21 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #91 << I was flipping through the new Century Martial Arts catalog and found several descriptions of the reasons behind the colors chosen for belts. I found that white was supposed to represent the purity of a new student. Red = intensity. Blue = loyalty. I thought this was fairly interesting (although not exactly useful). Does anyone know what other belt colors are supposed to represent, such as brown, yellow, or any others? John >> If you are looking to find the Asian origin of the meaning of belt coloring, you will not find an honest answer...the "color" system is an "Americanized" invention... I can tell you that in Tang Soo Do, our 'Black Belt' is actually Midnight Blue because the color black represents death...and achieving a 'Black Belt' is not an end, but a beginning :o) - -Cheree - -Cheree ------------------------------ From: Chereecharmello@aol.com Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 12:10:57 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #91 << How many instructors use their school website to advertise the school and as an information site for their students and do the students refer to it often or is a school newsletter still the best way to inform students of upcoming events? What do you think? Richard Hackworth www.americandragon.org >> I am my Do Jangs webmaster. (although I may be less of a web 'sa bom nim' and more like a web 'Gup') My first suggestion is to take an inventory of your students' socioeconomic status. If the majority of students actually own or at least have frequent access to a computer, then it seems to me to be more economical and efficient for you to build a small site. I officially posted my site in December, and it has had quite a positive response ever since. The newsletter never really took off... You may be able to get web hosting entirely free. Try www.bizland.com (if you are not soliciting purchasing) Also, E-commerce has given grants to colleges to build sites for business/non-profits for free (but you pay for hosting/domain name) There are a number of students were I train that do graphic design too... Let me know if I can help. Check us out for ideas... - -Cheree www.cskimkaratebloomfield.com ------------------------------ From: todd miller Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 12:43:17 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Iai/Guhap/Swordsmanship > > I've been training in Hoki-ryu Iaido for three years now, and > am a first dan. Before that I had done some fencing and some > Chinese saber (Preying Mantis). I haven't done any test cutting; > I'm still waiting to hear from my instructor (Dr. Tetsu Nakamura) > as to whether I should move on to live steel or just get a new > iaito. Where are you planning to have this get-together Todd? > There was an iaido instructor in Minnesota who was writing me about > making connections as well. > > Yours in the arts, > > Dakin Burdick > burdickd@indiana.edu > Dakin, This tournament will be held in Dover, NH. This tourney will be sanctioned by the NABA. How this will work is we will hold a seminar for the first half of the day then hold the tournament the 2nd half. The seminar will focus on cutting and the proper procedure for the tournament. It should be a great learning experience for all. There will be 2 divisions Forms/Katas/Hyungs and test cutting With novice - under 2 years experience & Shodan and above or over 2 years experience. If we have enough competitors we may have an instructors division so instructors do not have to compete with there students. I am planning to have this as an annual event. It will be open to people with all levels of experience. If you do not have a cutting sword, don't worry we will provide them. We will also have some great demonstrations of swordsmanship. Take care Todd Korea Jungki Hapkido & Guhapdo Assc. ------------------------------ From: "Sims, Bruce W. NCHVAMC" Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 11:50:39 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: RE: Certifications Dear Dr. Hackworth: Thank you for taking time to "stick your neck out". Having gotten more than one or two "haircuts" I know that it is much easier to sit back and watch so I have to take my hat off to people when they get involved. Thanks again. To answer your question ("...But, Does it REALLY matter where GM Choi, Yong Sul learned what he knew? And if he was certified...") in a word, "yes." Believe me, I understand the position you are advocating and within the context of American culture people make some pretty compelling arguments for just that position. I think your use of baseball as a simile' is particularly telling. I can imagine that not a few American students view Hapkido and the Hapkido arts (much like modern Baseball) as little more than a past-time predicated on winning and losing, rank and standing, commercial success and adulation. Nor will I take issue with the idea that participating in Hapkido can be social and enjoyable and need not be a fanatical pursuit or a personality cult. There are however four very good reasons I can identify for pursuing these issues and they all bespeak a greater good for Hapkido. 1. Preccupation with history and tradition even where there is still much to be learned bespeaks an abiding respect for the culture and circumstances that gave us this art. A person who is invested enough to learn all that can be learned about Hapkido (or baseball, for that matter) passes to the next generation a richer appreciation of what they are working to accomplish and why, not just a series of actions and reactions. 2. Preoccupation with history and tradition encourages us to work against the natural tendency of people to drop material in deference to time and place and circumstances. As was mentioned in earlier posts the MA are ever attacked by an erosion of material and understanding. In counter to this perhaps it is worthwhile to repeatedly affirm connections and exchanges and so regularly renew ourselves and our understanding of our art. 3. Sensitivity to testing and certification and authenticity can certainly be belabored. There is, however, some matter of self-protection in this. I am very aware that there are individuals who have much greater experience and understanding of the MA than do I. These folks can be said to form a de facto "club" of sorts and are bonded by their sincere passion for their art and its greatest good. Using myself as an example, this "club" has absolutely NO reason to trust that I share their passion and ideals. For all they know I am a self-serving bastard who can't wait to identify some aspect of the art that I can parlay to my own advantage. While a certificate in and of itself is not a pass into this "club", a pattern of regularly submitting oneself to testing and scrutiny by such people can be. This may also address the incredible abreaction many people (including myself) have to the extraordinary traffic in licenses and certifications. 4. Finally, Hapkido is more than something that we do with our body. Like the great American fad of Dieting, some people think that Hapkido is something one does only with the body, and most often for immediate gain. True Dieting, however, is actually a change of life-style and a way of changing the way a person looks at their life--- and so is Hapkido. Afterall, it is no accident that the label for these arts ends with a "-do" suffix rather than "-sool", yes? To respect the history and traditions of the art is to respect ALL history and traditions including the emotional, ethical, spiritual, communal, interpersonal and moral. Is it harder to learn and practice these things. Yes. Is it hard to teach these things? Absolutely. But since out students learn much more from us by our example than merely by what we say, keeping a focus on our heritage and traditions finds its way into our deportment and demeanor and allows our students to see that what we offer is something much greater than merely what we say. I feel as though I should close with one of those disclaimers such as "the views of Mr. Sims do not represent....." In this spirit I also hope that my post does not come across as preachy. Perhaps this has been of some help. Best Wishes, Bruce W Sims www.midwesthapkido.com ------------------------------ From: "J. R. West" Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 12:24:08 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Belt colors When I first started HapkiDo, I was told that the belt colors were representative of the Korean Flag. A LOT of white, some blue and some red, and VERY little black. Seem pretty basic..J. R. West www.hapkido.com ------------------------------ From: J T Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 13:23:49 -0800 (PST) Subject: the_dojang: Contract Situation I have a friend who pulled his kid from classes for two reasons. One the kid was kind of getting bored with the classes and two the GM or any high ranking black belt was not teachning the classes at all. Instead they had a 8 month old black belt (Age of belt not student) teaching the classes. He only had 3 months left on the contract when he pulled out. Now the GM has the credit company hounding him for the final payments and he feels he shouldn't have to pay due lack of qualified teaching. Question number one: Does he have any legal recourse to stop the creditors? Question number two: Who do you feel is in the right? Question number three: Where are my black and stripe socks? Jeremy __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ From: Chris S Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 16:11:10 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Pepper spray Greetings, I was hoping someone might be able to help with this, I'm in the dark. I had a discussion over Christmas with my sister who wanted some form of defense for herself and her home. She wanted something non-lethal, and wasn't very interested in MA or self-defense classes, at least at this time. Does anyone know of a good pepper spray or similar chemical defense spray that they have tested and liked? Could you tell me what you liked about it, disadvantages, etc.? Since this is off-topic, you can reply to me off the digest if you wish. Thanks, Chris ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 15:14:35 PST Subject: the_dojang: JT's socks > Question number three: Where are my black and stripe socks? You're wearing them, inside out... Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 15:34:59 PST Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V8 #94 ******************************* It's a great day for Taekwondo! Support the USTU by joining today. US Taekwondo Union, 1 Olympic Plaza, Ste 104C, 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 1994-2001: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource Standard disclaimers apply.