From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #431 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Mon, 23 July 2001 Vol 08 : Num 431 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #430 the_dojang: Somebody has OD'ed on Chomsky the_dojang: Round Kick the_dojang: Re: korean/japanese roundhouse kicks. the_dojang: Re: Meditation? the_dojang: Re: Roundhouse Kick Stuff the_dojang: Re: ancient weapons the_dojang: Meditation the_dojang: Re: Meditation Stuff the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #430 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: Mary Braud Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 12:19:59 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #430 Dear Craig, What are the other 7 French words?? :-) Mary > Craig "I know Savate, and 7 other French words" Stovall ------------------------------ From: "Craig Stovall" Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 12:27:55 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Somebody has OD'ed on Chomsky "We Americans have this nasty habit of barging into other peoples' cultures and taking what we like, damning what we don't like and deriding just about everything else. Our missionaries denigrate belief systems that are centuries old, our corporate and banking interests bully alien economies, and our military and intelligence communities intimidate while undercutting and dictating foreign policies among cultures." To which I offer my counterpoint: BOLLOCKS!!! Craig "The ugly American imperialist" Stovall _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ From: "Rudy Timmerman" Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 01:41:41 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Round Kick Mr. Loeffler writes: > As we all know that the Korean roundhouse uses the instep, while the Japanese > emphazise with the base of toes. Greetings Mr. Loeffler: In our Korean art, the use of the instep v/s the ball of the foot v/s the toes, depends entirely on the intended target. It has nothing to do with the country of origin of the art. Sincerely, Rudy ------------------------------ From: Loucat101@aol.com Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 13:48:46 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: korean/japanese roundhouse kicks. In Hanmudo I've been taught to kick with the top of my foot, I don't know if this is the traditional way or whether it's a new style. Do any other martial artists do this? Louise ------------------------------ From: "Peter Kim" Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 14:20:13 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Re: Meditation? Meditation.. Funny thing is back 20 yrs ago in Korea, our school (TKD) or other school (TKD) around the area didn't teach meditations. But, the current school I'm attending (TKD and Hapkido) does meditation at the beginning of class. Masters of my school never really told me how to do the mediation, so I just do the zen meditation I read in some book some time ago.. I prefer to sit in lotus position. Kneeling position tend to hurt my knees little too much. I rock back and forth few times to find the central balance. make sure my back is straight through my neck.. Head is some what slightly lean towards the front, eyes are almost closed, but not fully closed. my shoulders are relexed.. My hands are resting on the point where my two legs cross each other. I breath in through the nose, and exhale through the mouth. Make sure to breath with stomach and not with lung (meaning, I'm using diaphram instead of chest muscles to breath). I imagine string going through the nose and coiling in my stomach and that same string coming out of my mouth and un-coling the string in my stomach. Just concentrate on breathing.. until my mind is cleared, and I'm ready for work out. It takes some time to get used to not thinking about breathing.. or hearing your breath internally.. but it will come.. When I was learning kendo and aikido, my kendo and aikido masters tought me the same meditation methods. Peter Kim ------------------------------ From: "Bruce Sims" Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 12:50:56 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Re: Roundhouse Kick Stuff Dear Folks: I just KNOW I'm gonna get burned for saying this but I would like to propose that for the purpose of distinguishing between Japanese RH and Korean RH kick the point of impact would indeed be an important characteristic. During my incarnation in the Japanese arts (spec: Shudokan Karate) RH kicks were indeed executed with the ball of the foot. The rationale given at the time was that the ball of the foot was tougher, that the kicks were expected to be low and fast, and that the culture did not traditionally wear shoes obviating the need to kick with the top of the foot. As has been stated there was also a considerable emphasis on applying hip action to the kick resulting in full body weight behind the kick for power. During my later introduction to TKD the first thing I was told was that RH kicks are executed with the "top of the foot". The rationale was that such kicks could go higher, and faster with relatively less preparation (stretching) which produced a more satisfying result for newer students needing reinforcement. There was also the matter that in our culture people do wear shoes and the top of the foot made more sense than trying to flex the shoe to kiick with the ball of the foot. When I came to Hapkido the RH kick is also delivered with the top of the foot but in this case it was actually the instep/arch of the foot. The rationale was similar to the TKD explanation except that the instep was identified as being able to withstand impact better than the extremities (toes) of the foot. The use of the toe area was derided as more of a sport application that was conducive to high fast kicks. (BTW: This was another reason I thought that Taek Kyon figured in here. From what I understand being able to kick the top knot of ones' opponent in a Taek kyon match was the sign of high skill. I can see where such a biomechanic would be a good choice for this.) The Hapkido version focuses at waist level and below. I, myself, teach my students that a RH is essentially a "sacrifice technique". By this I mean that unless a measured risk suggests that I have a better than average chance of winning more than I would lose using it, the RH kick stays tucked away. Bill Wallace has an absolutely devastating RH kick, but even he has indicated that it would not be his top choice in a combat situation. FWIW, Bruce ------------------------------ From: DrgnSlyr5@aol.com Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 14:23:15 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: ancient weapons In a message dated 7/22/2001 6:15:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time, the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com writes: << I don't worry about someone drawing a sword on me or a Korean Fan,,,etc.. I am more concerned with a knife and a firearm,,, we are in the United States remember,,, not the Silla Kingdom!! >> Good point, but just to be difficult.... >;) A few months ago here in So. Calif. an off-duty officer went into a convenience store. When he came out he was accosted by a man wielding a samarai sword. Unfortunately for the officer, he had left his weapon locked in the car (lesson learned the hard way). He managed to keep the vehicle between him and his would-be attacker, who shortly gave up and ran off down the street. The attack had attracted enough attention that someone called the police and they were able to take the man into custody before he harmed anyone. DS ------------------------------ From: "jere-hilland" Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 14:33:25 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Meditation Mark: I do not know what part of the planet you are on but if you are in the Midwest of the US, I invite you to a mini-workshop I am having on this subject August 11 (the weekend before I teach in Jackson). I also teach this as part of my morning classes three times a week. We hold mini-workshops the second Saturday of every month with a different topic. However, concerning the subject of meditation, we practice relaxing the body (muscles, senses, etc.) for about 20 minutes, then we spend about 20 minutes in 'relaxing' the breathe (with the practice of abdominal breathing) and then about 20 minutes of 'relaxing' or clearing the mind. It does not matter if one is sitting, standing or even walking. Yes, one can practice walking mediation (when I saw this in China the movements were very slow). The manner depends on ones tradition and practice. I teach beginners in a laying down (the yoga corpse pose) and then we move towards sitting as one does when practicing sunmudo. However, meditation is not always easy. The "fluctuations of the mind" do not like to be calmed. It's amazing how many thoughts, how many stories, how many little movies can run through your head in the space between two breaths -- especially when you're trying to meditate. If you do a search on the internet on the subject of meditation you will see that there are many traditions. I would recommend that you find a teacher as the questions that you ask have many answers depending on one's level of training. Jere R. Hilland www.geocities.com/hapkiyukwonsul ------------------------------ From: "Bruce Sims" Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 13:08:55 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Re: Meditation Stuff Dear Mark: "....Any guidance for someone who is beginning to realize the benefits of some 'quiet time' in the midst of the flurry of activity most of us call our day..." Of course you know that there are whole books written on this, and I suppose I could go into the connection of meditation to various religious practices but thats not what you asked for so here are some general points to consider for meditation. 1.) Early morning and early evening are probably the best time thought you can take some quiet time just about anytime you like. 2.) Relatively quiet location, free from distractions and interruption. Loose clothing, comfortable temperature and ventilation. 3.) Sit. You can use a chair, meditation bench, pillow or stack of encyclopedia to place under your butt. Don't try any fancy postures or something sophisticated with your legs like a full lotus. Sit straight and allow your eyes to come naturally to a point about 6 feet in front of you. They will naturally come to a half closed position. 4.) You can focus on some thing (Meditation w/ Seed) or focus on allowing your mind to remain clear (meditation w/o seed). If you focus on something allow your attention to remain on the item (breathing, a mantra, a mandella, phrase from the Bible) until you find that you have naturally strayed off onto other thoughts and then gently bring yourself back to the item. If you focus on a clear mind, you will find in time that thoughts pop in and that you need to keep a mind "like teflon"--- nothing sticks. You don't try to toss the ideas out as much as let them slide off on their own as you move back to keeping your mind clear. 5.) Take the time you need. You'll start with 5-10 minutes and gradually you will find yourself taking more and more time--- not because you are suppose to but because it seems like a very natural thing to do. Setting time like 20 minutes or a half hour is another contrived limit--- like forcing yourself into a full lotus posture. If you fall asleep--- well, you must have needed it, right? Give yourself a chance to sleep. The most important thing is not to force yourself into a particular discipline. The Buddha learned a long time ago that it didn't work. Best Wishes, Bruce ------------------------------ From: Chereecharmello@aol.com Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 15:35:09 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #430 I studied a Japanese style before finding Tang Soo Do. I remember leaving the dojo in agony, partly because we did not pivot our foot as we carried through the kick. This puts a hell-of-a-lot of strain on the hip-nearly forcing it grind. Perhaps the instructor was not emphasizing the correct elements of the roundhouse, but I was overjoyed when I learned the Korean, Tang Soo Do version of a roundhouse kick. (Rear foot pivoting nearly opposite of your target, kicking leg using hip and knee to carry through the kick) MUCH less painful! - -Cheree ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 18:51:11 PDT Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V8 #431 ******************************** 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.