From: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com To: the_dojang-digest@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #576 Reply-To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Errors-To: the_dojang-owner@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Precedence: The_Dojang-Digest Mon, 15 Oct 2001 Vol 08 : Num 576 In this issue: the_dojang: RE: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #565 the_dojang: Bassai Dae the_dojang: RE: The History of Bassai the_dojang: Re: self defense the_dojang: Bassai the_dojang: Hip Pain, Avascular Necrosis, Arthritis, Gremlins? 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: "Burdick, Dakin Robert" Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 09:29:15 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: RE: The_Dojang-Digest V8 #565 Frank writes: > Incidentally, I have seen many Taekwondo players who have the ability to > strike with speed and power with the front leg. I think that you need to > remember that WTF Taekwondo ended up using safety gear, because Taekwondo > had caused serious death and some fatalities. Master Ho Sik Pak, of the > movie Best of the Best, had told me about a year or so ago, that they had > just had a fatality in a tournament near him... so much for Taekwondo being > a weak system. > > Hopefully, this post will generate some disagreement and therefore some > posts? I imagine it will! :) My take on this would be that: 1. It is possible to strike with speed and power with the front leg. Speed is more important than power in a self-defense situation. 2. Fatalities are not a good thing. This is the third one I've heard about in TKD. If someone dies in a sporting contest, that is a sign that the rules may need to be tweaked. How did this one happen? Head hitting concrete during a fall, or a back spin kick to the temple? 3. Go see Bill Wallace. Yes, there are others who are talented kickers, but the last time I saw him, he was giving it ALL away. I think he's really trying to pass his skills on to the next generation, and he is a master of sport fighting and the use of kicks to best effect. Yours in the arts, Dakin Burdick burdickd@indiana.edu ------------------------------ From: Mary Braud Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 09:29:02 -0500 Subject: the_dojang: Bassai Dae Thanks Ray, I enjoyed the history on Bassai Dae. This is all very interesting... I'm in a TKD school. Since we are not affiliated with any federation, we learn a number of forms. Our colored belts learn some chung-ji (sp?), tae guk, and pal gwe forms. One of our minor forms to test for 1st Dan is Bassai Dae. Since this is one of my favorite forms, I really enjoyed learning more about its origins. I wonder how many TKD schools out there learn multiple forms/styles as part of their requirements? On a different tack, can anyone tell me about the form Dan Gwon? This is most likely not spelled correctly, so please forgive me! :-) This form is another one of my favorites! Thanks! Mary ------------------------------ From: "NESSWORTHY, KEN" Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 12:36:52 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: RE: The History of Bassai I thought you may find this article of some interest. Bassai means not just fortress, but to breach or break the fortress. This is from several sources both Japanese and Okinawan. Bassai is an old form that has been practiced since the last century and most martial arts historians I have read or spoken with regarding it's origin say it probably was introduced to the Okinawan achepelego from China, as were many of the forms and techniques practiced on the islands. We can only guess at the meanings behind some of the names of the forms we practice. However, I do know one thing, and that is that the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, etc. almost never give something a name that has a literal translation. Names are almost always allegorical or metaphors, and to interpret them one needs to understand oriental history, religion, and philosophy to some degree. Oriental martial arts, medicine, literature, and art is very heavily influenced by it's religious philosophies. The Korean flag is an excellent example of this. The symbol on the flag is Tae Guek (Tai Chi in Chinese) which translates to the Supreme Terminus or Grand Ultimate. It is the Um (Yin) and Yang symbol which in Taoist belief is the origin of all things. Surrounding this symbol are other symbols from the I Ching or "book of changes", a Taoist text used as a metaphysical guide to daily life for many oriental peoples, even today. Names of acupuncture points in Chinese medicine is another example. Large Intestine # 11, a point found on the lateral elbow, at the lateral end of the cubital crease, midway between the tendon of the biceps and the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, is called Qu Chi in Chinese Pin yin. This translated means "pool at the bend" which reminds us that in 5 elements theory this point is the water point of the Large Intestine channel, located near the bend of the elbow. In this case, the name gives one a clue as to the point's location. Other point's names give clues to their functions, and so on. However, not one of the 361 main meridian points are named as to their literal location or purpose. Most traditional, Asian, civilian martial arts in some way either directly or indirectly descend or were influenced by either Shaolin (Buddhist) or Wudang (Taoist) temple arts. In both Buddhism and Taoist theosophy, "the fortress" can symbolize the conscious mind. Forms were practiced not only for their self defense and health giving values, but as forms of meditation. Breaking the boundaries of the conscious mind is how one achieves enlightenment. In other words, diligent practice of a form such as Bassai over time, should enable the practitioner to be able to transcend any mental and physical obstacles that would prevent him from using the movements instinctively and spontaneously if attacked. So, the practice of Bassai is a tool that could enable us to breach the walls of our mental and physical limitations in order to meet life's challenges. For me, this has seemed a more credible rationale both in my own practice and in teaching my students than trying to come up with a way that the techniques in Bassai could be use to break through a castle portcullis! Tang Soo !!! ------------------------------ From: Loucat101@aol.com Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 13:10:53 EDT Subject: the_dojang: Re: self defense Sorry, I didn't make my post very clear. I was talking about a course of basic self defense for my 'academic' school, not martial arts...just basic what to do if someone grabs you stuff. It's an all girls school, I was guessing mainly 12-16yr olds would be interested as the older girls already have a similar (very popular) course running.What I was mainly wondering was whether American schools (academic) run courses on self defense and avoiding dangerous situations. Again, sorry I was unclear! Louise ------------------------------ From: "T. Kennelly" Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 18:06:40 -0400 Subject: the_dojang: Bassai > From: Creed71963@aol.com > Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 16:07:13 EDT > Subject: the_dojang: Re: Bassai > Tae, on the other hand, starts with the hands in the same position (left hand > over right fist) at the belt level, but you turn your body (keeping the balls > of your feet in the same spot and using them as a pivot point). You then push > off the left foot and jump forward, landing in a crossed stance (left foot > behind right) executing a right backfist to the face. then turning 180 to the > left, step forward with the left foot into a LFS, (LFS), executing a left > inside to outside block (A'nesor Bakooroh ma kee), followed by a right > outside to inside block (B'akesor anooroh ma kee). The Form goes from there. In the US Chung Do Kwan Association (USCDKA) Bassai is a required form for second to third Dan testing. USCDKA is a Taekwondo association but GM Sell discusses Ba Sai as a form he learned a long time ago as a martial arts student in Korea. He notes that this a karate form from Japan in his BB Poomse video. I bring this up because Ba Sai (GM Sell spelling) starts like the Tae version of Bassai described above. Does anyone know of a web site that has Bassai on video so we could compare the two versions described previously (and, of course, the version I learned as part of USCDKA)? As a side note I looked through "Forces of Taekwondo", authored by GM Sell, 9th Dan Kukkiwon and there is a picture of GM Sell in 1962 standing in front of a sign that reads "Tae Soo Do (Karate Gym)". Is Tae Soo Do related to Tang So Do and maybe the reason for Bassai in USCKDA? ------------------------------ From: Gregory Giddins Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 15:50:08 -0600 Subject: the_dojang: Hip Pain, Avascular Necrosis, Arthritis, Gremlins? Howdy all, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with a condition called avascular necrosis? Ive been nursing a bad hip for a few years, after a casual diagnosis of "probably arthritis" from an MD I went to see an Orthopedic specialist, who took a ton of Xrays that really didn't help much, tentatively diagnosed early Avascular Necrosis (AN) (based on my use of steroids as a child for another medical condition) assigned some PT, and Glucosamine/Chondroitin (which was probably for my bad knee, but that's another story)) and said if that doesn't help significantly to come back in ~4 months for an MRI. The thing that puzzled him was the complete lack of information from all the xrays (they looked great), which made him tentative about the diagnosis, and very hopeful that this would be easily cleared up through PT. I guess the question I have is, anyone have any experience with AN? Is it common to not be able to detect through xrays in the early stages? Greg Giddins ------------------------------ From: Ray Terry Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 18:41:48 PDT Subject: the_dojang: . ------------------------------ End of The_Dojang-Digest V8 #576 ******************************** 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.