From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #568 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Thur, 11 Oct 2001 Vol 08 : Num 568 In this issue: the_dojang: Re: Form Speed and More the_dojang: An Academic Approach the_dojang: Re: Stabbed in the belly the_dojang: Hapkido Forms? the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #566 the_dojang: . ========================================================================= The_Dojang, serving the Internet since June 1994. ~1000 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://MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: "Elizabeth (Libby) Wiebel" Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 16:55:24 -0400 (EDT) Subject: the_dojang: Re: Form Speed and More I don't claim to be any kind of expert, but I have had lots of experience practicing forms in different schools under different instructors. From all of my instructors' wisdom, I've garnered the following... There seem to be lots of reasons to practice forms at all. Some say that it's to improve skills as if you are fighting an imaginary opponent... thus "counter forms" that go along with most of the standard forms. Some say it's more of an artistic thing to demonstrate many different skills. Some say it's the putting together of the movements that matters... teaching patterns. Some instructors I've been under have worked hard to have all of the students doing the forms at the same speed.... others let students take them at their own speed. (insert comment... I've had multiple instructors because I've moved a fair amount in the last few years) I personally think that _all_ of these are good approaches. Before every class that I attend, I do a sort of quick "walk thru" of all of my forms starting with my current form and moving down to my first form. I do this rather quickly, mostly as a memory exercise... and to get myself a little bit warmed up and start my focus before class. It seems that if you practice forms for speed that this could be very beneficial in other aspects of MA... i.e. improving one's sparring. And as I said above, it also helps with memory. However, if we practice for speed alone, then we are probably missing out on the definitive practice of the *skills*. If I am so worried about getting to my next front kick or block or whatever, then chances are I'm not as worried about proper stances or about snapping that block out with power. So... it seems that slow and conscientious practice is also valuable. As far as form in tournament... As I'm not a black belt, I've not judged. However, from participating in tourneys and from watching tourneys... and from the advice of various instructors... it seems to me that you need to incorporate both the _speed_ and _accuracy_ aspects in a reasonable way. The form needs to flow and show no hesitation between movements. However, each step needs to be executed accurately and with purpose. I think of it personally, as almost a dance... and that helps with the "performance" aspect of it in a tournament, too. Now... I pose another poomse question... There is quite a difference between the motor skill ability of an adult and a child. Understanding, of course, that in tournaments age brackets are established... but asking more in a testing and promotion sense... how do the judges and instructors here compensate for the differences in ability of children and adults to accurately, cleanly, purposefully, etc execute the moves of a form. How do you all feel? Is it enough for a 4-year-old white belt to simply know which way to turn and which hands and feet to use in TaeGeuk Il Jang? Or should more be expected? What about, for example, a 10-year-old blue belt? Penny for your thoughts... Best, Libby Wiebel - -- - ---------------------------------------------------------------- Libby Wiebel | ewiebel@cs.wm.edu | http://www.cs.wm.edu/~ewiebel - ---------------------------------------------------------------- "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it." - Helen Keller - ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ From: "Patrick L" Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 14:06:08 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: An Academic Approach Dear Mr. Myers, RE your post: An Academic Approach... Try to keep focus on the bigger picture. A Martial Art is bigger than any one teacher, or any one student's relationship with same. Be the best student you can, move onto being the best instructor you can, and then be the best master you can. Getting in the WAY, Patrick _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ From: "J. R. West" Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 16:01:50 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Re: Stabbed in the belly > I personally would only attempt the foot to knife/knifehand defense if my > hands/arms were pinned behind my back and I was about to get stabbed in > the belly. > > Ray Terry Ray: Didn't this sort of thing just happen to you?.....J.R. West ;-) ------------------------------ From: "Patrick L" Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 14:25:44 -0700 Subject: the_dojang: Hapkido Forms? Dear Mr. Sims, >... as a traditionalist in Hapkido I don't support competition. However, we >still practice hyung in our classes ...< What hyung do you practice for Hapkido? - Are you refering to short bo, middle bo, or or mok-kum patterns? Getting in the WAY, Patrick _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ From: "Dizzy S." Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 01:24:09 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Re: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #566 I wrote: <<<<>>>> Ray_responded: <<<<>>>> Thanks Ray :o) The reason a brought it up was because this girl in my school. She's a 6th gup, but she has 10 years experience (she bounced around alot cause of the military) in other styles. We were praticing the technique, and I happened to mention that my reaction time is slow. It seemed like when she heard that, she started testing my speed. Not in a "helping" way either. Like she was showing off. It seems like when she finds a weakness of mine, she "preys" on it, and makes me feel terrable. It seems like everytime I work with her, she "brings me down" ..... like "why am I wasting money to be here if I haven't learned anything". I donno if she realizes that she does it. maybe she is really trying to help, but she goes about it the wrong way. Dizzy _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Thu, 11 Oct 2001 9:12:28 PDT Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V8 #568 ******************************** 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. 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