From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #366 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Sat, 30 June 2001 Vol 08 : Num 366 In this issue: the_dojang: RE: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #365 the_dojang: Grandma vs Test the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #364 the_dojang: chose your grandma's birthday over MY CLASS the_dojang: Testing fees the_dojang: Family 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: "Burdick, Dakin Robert" Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 16:39:29 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: RE: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #365 > Stovall's Top Ten Signs that You May Be Training at a McDojang: > And the #1 sign that you may be training at a McDojang... > > 1. Hot pink uniforms!!! Hmm. I think Gene LeBell might take exception to this one. He says only real men can wear a pink gi. And I doubt any of us would class his school as a McDojang. Take care, Dakin PS: Remember, judge your training by what you learn, not by how much you spend for it. ------------------------------ From: "Patrick L" Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 15:28:14 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Grandma vs Test Grandma vs Test On the issue of Grandma's and kid's, let me say I am in favor of both. :) On the issue of 'Martial' thinking being different than 'regular' thinking, let me say I am in favor of that also. I want to make this as impersonal as possible because IMHO the process is worth evaluation. Any feelings that I am judging an individual or their decision are your own. To the instructor who made the decision - I am not saying you made a wrong decision - I am saying NO decision was made by the student - YOU satisfied both of their wants. I am not saying THAT was wrong - your student - your school - your decision. I wanted to offer alternative thinking and the rational behind the alternative thought. I offer that we can make different decisions - regardless of the perspective of the student (since no one thinks they are a "bad" student) and regardless of the reason (since we all feel our reasons are valid). Additionally there was the following submission: >May I respectfully suggest we don't worry too much about things that "tell >us something" about students and their families, and worry more about how >our actions tell them about ourselves.< Seems like a reasonable suggestion . . . However, we are teaching Martial Arts - Using force, hopefully, to defend ourselves. It is very important that we worry about who we are teaching, and how they behave. If a student gets that message then the instructor has acted well. Most who read my post misunderstood my perspective on Grandma vs Testing. Let me attempt to clarify it, and then upset you ,dear reader, all over again! Should one of MY students come to me and say "I will not be able to test this month, I am going to my grandma's birthday party." I would be PROUD, and I would schedule a special make-up test AFTER they returned. Should one of MY students come to me and say "Can I test early, I want to go to my Grandma's birthday party." I would say "No!" If after the "No!" they then asked for a make-up test, I would see if anyone else was doing one - and depending on the students overall attitude, I still might say "No." If after my "No" the student stays for the test, and ignores Grandma, I would FAIL them regardless of performance. Getting in the WAY, Patrick _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ------------------------------ From: Neal Konecky Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 17:30:22 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #364 Kerry, I have been a college student, and a graduate student. I have had my own business that required me to skip meals in order to keep the doors open just a little longer. I know from whence I speak. There are things that I value much more than money. I value loyalty and dedication. I value respect and tradition. And, qutie frankly, if an instructor who dedicates 100's of hours of his time makes $10.00 on a uniform, I do not quibble. Surely the time that I have spent with my Sabum, and the things that he has taught me are much more valuable to me than a couple big macs or a couple of beers (other things that cost $10.00). Neal Konecky ===== "Our government, conceived in freedom and purchased with blood, can be preserved only by constant vigilance" William Jennings Bryan __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ From: Tom McNamara Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 19:19:12 -0700 (PDT) Subject: the_dojang: chose your grandma's birthday over MY CLASS A simular incident happen to myself. It was my 75 year old mother's birthday. That same Saturday was our dojang's annual tournament. When hosting a tournament as many of you know, the hosting school is there before and after everyone else. At that time I was an a 8th Gup. I thought my GM would be disappointed with me. I was picking my mother's birthday over the tournament. When he asked why I had not turned in my tournament form. I no sooner got the words out of my mouth, it is my mother's birthday. He was telling me no problem. He understood, we all have mother's. He sent his salutations and said to tell her she raised a good son. Someone mentioned in a previous digest about our definition of what a McDojang is. I am not sure I could define McDojang, I have seen several Dojang's in my area come and go. I knew several of the instructor's personally. They had good intentions of having the ultimate dojang. Business or luck, did not smile on them. Would you label them Mcdojang's. I don't think so. I can say this much, I feel lucky to train where I do. Business and luck has smiled on my GM. He has been in business for over 30 years. No McDojang here. Tom __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ From: "Rudy Timmerman" Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 10:50:30 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Testing fees Cheree writes: > One of the major problems with teaching karate for $$$ is that many people > think that they deserve to test just because they pay to train... Hello Cheree: IMHO, testing takes time, and time deserves to be paid for. Some schools roll their testing fees into their regular training charges; however, this means that those who never wish to test and just come to train pay for a service they do not require. Just an added observation. I have taught for many years, and during this time I have heard every excuse from students/parents who could not afford to pay for lessons. It never fails to amaze me how these same students would always find a way to pay for testing. Since I now hinge testing on being a "paid up" member in good standing, I do not nearly have as many students who have problems paying tuition. Funny how testing (or not being eligible) miraculously seems to change their financial position. I was just too much of a mark for many years, and I found that these same people I helped out were no more loyal than paying customers (in fact, less so). It was a hard call to make, but I am glad I did make it. Sincerely, Rudy ------------------------------ From: "Rudy Timmerman" Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 11:05:21 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Family Miss Ilona writes: > Sorry, but 100 year old Grandma's we are not surrounded with nor will be with > us too much longer. I would have decided over the Grandma over a test any > day of the week if it had been me ... Hi Ilona: I am with you all the way! I have a simple formula I follow in my schools. Family comes first, school/work comes next, and somewhere behind that we fit in. I run my schools like a family affair, and I would hope that my students would choose our "family" activity over soccer etc., and it seems to work OK for some. Others don't seem to care one way or the other, just like some families :-) Sincerely, Rudy ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 21:01:51 PDT Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V8 #366 ******************************** 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 (top line, left justified) of a "plain text" e-mail 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.