From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #117 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Fri, 16 Feb 2001 Vol 08 : Num 117 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #111 the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #111 the_dojang: Training locations. the_dojang: RE: bare knucle fighting and one step sparring the_dojang: Re: Time the_dojang: buying knives online the_dojang: black belt essays the_dojang: re: time Re: the_dojang: re: time the_dojang: RE: BARTER the_dojang: the North ========================================================================= 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: Chereecharmello@aol.com Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 10:22:45 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #111 <> << I began my training in this phase. I was tired of being picked on. Being Hyperactive and such leads to many children being cruel. Not to mention that I was didn't reach 130 pounds until the end of my sophomore year (though I was 6'2" already!). I wanted the arts for all the wrong reasons. But I trained hard in Pang Gai Noon Ryu Karate. >> My younger brother must be your clone. He is an ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) very slight-of-frame student. Cruel is not the word! I don't condone violence, but the day I saw him square off with a boy he used to run from, my eye's well-up w/ tears of joy! Self confidence is key ingredient to success in life! The self-discipline and consequence-of-action factor taught in MA is a Godsend. When MA becomes difficult for me, part of the reason I remain is to set a good example for him. - -Cheree ------------------------------ From: Chereecharmello@aol.com Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 10:31:44 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #111 << Mr. Lasich said: >I am curious, however, how many of our "do" arts (TaeKwonDo, TangSooDo, >Hapkido, etc-do.) actually TEACH, or otherwise make available to the >students information on making their art a "way" of living? >> It is often stated that Tang Soo Do is a "way of life." Practitioner's are adamantly opposed to referencing it as a "sport." We are taught to live by virtue: 1. Be loyal to your country. 2. Be obedient to your parents. 3. Be loving between husband and wife. 4. Be cooperative between brothers. 5. Be respectful to your elders. 6. Be faithful between teacher and student. 7. Be faithful between friends. 8. Know the difference between good and evil. 9. Never retreat in battle. 10. Always finish what you start. I think any serious practitioner (minus the bad-seeds) can't help but carry the positive, self-assured attitude of MA into daily life. ------------------------------ From: J T Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 07:40:08 -0800 (PST) Subject: the_dojang: Training locations. Up until recently, I was attending two different schools. One I would go to for my hapkido, kempo, and taichi classes and the other I would go for my taekwondo and kumdo classes. I still visit the HKD school for the seminars, but my primary station is the Kumdo school. Jeremy __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ From: "Dunn, Danny J RASA" Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 10:17:27 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: RE: bare knucle fighting and one step sparring Maybe I'm missing something in your terminology, or I just don't understand your question. Il soo sik dae ryun, or one step sparring, teaches distance, timing and focus. Related to these, it also teaches very quick reaction, quick accurate target selection, and how to use stances to control distance, and dealling with different size opponents. Bare knuckle fighting is at best boxing without gloves, which is bloody. At worst, it is street fighting. Teaches how to survive if you can stand it long enough. If you are talking about ja yu dae ryun, free sparring, without pads, then it is an exercise in the discipline of selecting clean target areas, avoiding blocks, and very good technique control. Danny Dunn <<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>> ------------------------------ From: JSaportajr@aol.com Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 12:22:31 EST Subject: the_dojang: Re: Time Regarding the time it takes to achieve black belt rank, it reminds me of one of my favorite stories. I have not posted it before because I thought that probably almost everyone had heard it, but since it hasn't been mentioned, I will post it for those who might not know it. Some of the details are a little altered to adapt it from the original form of a sword master and student to a more modern martial arts context. A young man approaches a great martial arts master and asks to become his student. The master says sure, and tells the student to come three times a week. The student then asks, "How long will it take me to get my black belt?" Master, "Mmm, maybe four years." The young student says, "Oh, well, what if I come and train every day?" The Master replies, "Mmm, maybe then six years." The young man is now confused and says, "What if I come twice a day and on Sundays too?" The Master replies, "Then maybe, mmm, eight years." The confused and frustrated young man asks, "Why is it the harder I say I will work the longer you say it will take?" The Master answers, "With one eye always on the goal you only have one eye left for the path." Apologies to purists who know the story for how I may have altered it a little. I love the story, and sometimes tell it to psychotherapy clients who ask a lot, "How long is this going to take." Jose' ------------------------------ From: Daniel Monjar Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 12:33:14 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: buying knives online the latest knife thread got me fired up! OK, not really (though it was a good thread). But I've wondered for a while about buying a knife online. There's a couple of Cold Steel models I've had my eye on. It seems like I can save quite a bit of money buying from a distributor rather than direct from Cold Steel. Anyone on the list have good experiences with online knife purchasing? - -- Daniel Monjar (mailto:dmonjar@orgtek.com) ------------------------------ From: JBoorstein@aol.com Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 12:38:03 EST Subject: the_dojang: black belt essays This may be a new one for the list. Because there have been no black belt tests at the school where I study for some three years, there is a "backlog" of testees, all of whom have to produce essays about the significance of becoming a black belt. To help this happen, I have agreed to run a kind of black belt essay tutorial. Since I'm a professional writer, helping people get words on paper and shape the words into thoughts, sentences, and paragraphs is easy. And to judge from the response thus far, I've succeeded in getting everyone moving. The catch is this. People are asking me about what to write about and what are the "judges" of the essays looking for. Obviously, it is inappropriate to ask the sabumnim. So the question for the digest is: what do write about in these essays? When you have read one (or more) of them, what do you look for? Thanks. JB ------------------------------ From: HardCoresixpax@aol.com Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 12:52:15 EST Subject: the_dojang: re: time To the guy that wrote that in his style, to acquire a black belt, takes 15 years and because of that they are better than other black belts. I have a small question? At what point is the martial artist's code of morals taught? Have you ever heard of modesty? I have an important lesson to teach, time and practice can strengthen the body, but without the mind the body cannot survive. The mind can be manipulated in a very short time to do very amazing things... so basically what I am saying is that, 15 years spent striving to acquire a black belt, which symbolizes both strength of mind and body, with out the proper mental training and decorum, is empty. Also, please, with out offense, knock this c*&P off. It makes me sick when martial artists exploit their talents and conceitedly exaggerate the efficiency of their training. It’s these attitudes that are the makes for terrible martial arts movies with generic plots (of underdog high school students vying for the girlfriend of the bully that inspired his training due to mindless beatings) and standard cliques. Please let me refer you to an article that recently appeared in the magazine Combat Arts, about master Sun I don’t recall the article well but when a student of the grandmaster asked why he stresses modesty in his students when they can easily defeat any opponent. His answer was, you should stay as low on the ladder as possible, because should some one push you off, you wont fall from such high grounds. So let me end my by saying, the abilities of the mind are timeless, and limitless and can doubtlessly over power brute strength... even with technique. - -Gary P.s. what style are you taking anyway? ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 10:39:41 PST Subject: Re: the_dojang: re: time > To the guy that wrote that in his style, to acquire a black belt, takes > 15 years and because of that they are better than other black belts. I > have a small question? At what point is the martial artist's code of > morals taught? Geezzz folks, he was kidding. That should have been obvious. Ray Terry raymail@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com ------------------------------ From: "Joel S. Weissler" Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 11:37:57 -0800 Subject: the_dojang: RE: BARTER Yes Barter is income!!!! However, if the proceeds of barter are used for deductible business expenses (your lessons for school repair or school equipment) it is a deductible expenditure as well. For martial arts schools operating at less than optimal capacity, barter can be wonderful . . . not with current cash paying students but through a barter exchange -- where barter dollars are earned for the students you get through the exchange. These barter dollars can be spent with other members of the exchange and sometimes between exchanges for things like advertising, office supplies, and repairs. It is in some cities even possible to build up an adequate barter balance over time and use it to buy real estate (say for that perfect new Dojang location) . These Barter Exchanges will 1099 you (notifying the IRS obviously) of the amount of Barter income you have for the year. Report it as income and for barter dollars spent -- report it as expenses. Of course professional courtesy is sometimes confusing similar to barter, where a professional performs services without fee as a matter of respect and as a matter of respect is never charged by the school. But these arrangements can be scrutinized. We all know the custom of doing favors for our Sa bu nim as we would our own fathers. Its part of training right ??? - --- JSW ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 12:34:23 PST Subject: the_dojang: the North FYI... Fear of Flying: North Korea's Economic Reforms Summary North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's comments during his trip to China on Jan. 15-20 sent waves of speculation through the international community regarding Pyongyang's plans for economic reform. His remarks suggested that he would look to Beijing as a model. For Pyongyang; however, following China's development strategy is both impractical and unrealistic. North Korea boasts few of China's attractions for foreign investors, and Pyongyang's reluctance to relinquish control will undermine most initiatives. Analysis According to the South China Morning Post, Kim Jong Il, chairman of the North Korean Workers Party, took an 80-member entourage to China in January. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji accompanied Kim during his four-day visit to Shanghai, where Kim toured the Shanghai Stock Exchange and a Buick plant co-owned by General Motors. As reported by Chosun Ilbo, Kim Jong Il remarked, =B3The state of Shanghai's development is proof that the policy of reform and opening-up adopted by the Chinese Communist Party is correct. South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Lee Joung Binn suggested Jan 29 that the visit presaged economic change in the North. Speculation spread that North Korea would look to China as a model for economic development. No doubt North Korea would like to bring its centrally planned economy out of the doldrums. North Korea's New Year Joint Editorial, printed in Rodong Sinmun, Chosoninmingun, and Chongnyonchonwi, stated, =B3Refashioning the national economy is now a master key to economic projects and is an urgent task which cannot be delayed.=B2 From 1997-1999, North Korea sent over 200 officials to numerous countries including China for economic training. For Pyongyang, however, following China's development strategy is impractical and unrealistic. When China began to liberalize its economy in 1978, Shanghai enjoyed a number of advantages. Among these were the existence of eager investors, including many overseas Chinese; a massive building boom, fueled in part by government resources dedicated to the improvement of its infrastructure; and trade. Shanghai is a port city, adjacent to the bustling shipping routes of the East China Sea. It has long served as an entrepot between China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. These factors were crucial to the city's growth that, according to Sheinet, averaged 9.3 percent in annual growth from 1979 to 1996. North Korea has none of these advantages. Its territory is mountainous, cold, and infertile. With an economy based on Kim Il Sun's concept of juche, or self-reliance, Pyongyang refused most economic interaction with other nations. Although in recent years, North Korea has accepted international aid, largely due to prolonged famine and drought, the government has been loath to engage in trade with non-communist nations. The result is one of the world's most isolated and controlled economies. North Korea does have some port facilities, but political uncertainty and official inconsistencies serve as a deterrent to investors. The port of Nampo closed its docks to South Korean ships in December 2000 without explanation. Poor infrastructure will also undermine North Korean attempts to move ahead. Talk of connecting railways between Russia, South Korea, and North Korea has been in the news. North Korea's railroad system, however, operates on a single line, whose tracks were laid during Japanese occupation, from 1910-1945. Circumstances have conspired to undermine North Korea's intentions of going it alone. The collapse of the Soviet Union put an end to Soviet subsidies and trade with the Eastern Bloc. Floods and drought devastated agriculture, a sector that accounted for almost 30 percent of GNP in 1996, according to the U.S. Department of State. Famine and deprivation have forced the regime to reassess. Indeed, articles such as the one in the Chosun Shinbo surface regularly now, to assure citizens that the country will undertake self-styled reforms. There is much to do. But North Korea cannot look to its former allies for further aid: Russia lacks the funds and China is currently wrapped up in its own economic reform. South Korea is North Korea's primary source of outside income. November 2000 figures from the Unification Ministry indicate the total volume of inter-Korean trade during November was $34 million, increasing 40 percent from $24 million the previous year. Kim Jong Il, however, will not allow the relationship with Seoul to threaten the regime's unity. Therein lies the crux of the problem. The country does not have the means or capability to go it alone, but it is unwilling to relinquish enough control to allow effective economic reform. Having watched both Russia and China wrestle with reform, Pyongyang is aware of the potential for failure or, even worse, the loss of political control. This fear explains the regime's contradictory statements and actions. So, although recent consultations with China and an upcoming visit by Kim Jong Il to Russia in April indicate that Pyongyang probably wants to pursue similar reforms, the regime denies this is the case. The Chosun Shinbo, an online newspaper associated with pro-Pyongyang Koreans in Japan, denied that North Korea intended to model its reforms after China's. As reported by Dong-A Ilbo, the publication said that Kim felt Shanghai would only serve as a rough guide in the development of North Korea's future policy. China's ability to pursue reform appeals to North Korea. But factional fighting in Beijing and popular challenges to party control frighten Pyongyang. North Korea is unwilling to place its control at risk. Investors might overlook the tight controls and bureaucracy in North Korea if the state had some sort of economic incentive, such as natural resources. But, unlike China, North Korea has little to offer and won't allow the type of opening needed to bring in money. ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V8 #117 ******************************** 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.