Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 03:32:35 -0500 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 9 #377 - 7 msgs X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.8 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Sender: the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.8 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net List-Help: List-Post: X-Subscribed-Address: kma@martialartsresource.com List-Subscribe: List-Id: The Internet's premier discussion forum on Korean Martial Arts. List-Unsubscribe: Status: RO X-Status: X-Keywords: Send The_Dojang mailing list submissions to the_dojang@martialartsresource.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/the_dojang or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net You can reach the person managing the list at the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of The_Dojang digest..." <<------------------ The_Dojang mailing list ------------------>> Serving the Internet since June 1994. Copyright 1994-2002: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The Internet's premier discussion forum devoted to Korean Martial Arts. See the Korean Martial Arts (KMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of The_Dojang at http://MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! Today's Topics: 1. RKD in MS (Hapkido Self Defense Center) 2. Organizations stuff (Hapkido Self Defense Center) 3. asking for help (michael tomlinson) 4. Bruce's musings (michael tomlinson) 5. resend, please (Ray Terry) 6. RKD in MS (Mac) 7. Is NK Trying Experiment for Survival? (Ray Terry) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: "Hapkido Self Defense Center" To: Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 18:09:46 -0400 Subject: [The_Dojang] RKD in MS Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Ray, glad to hear you were invited to teach at MS. That offer is not an easy one to get from Master West. Unfortunately, I will not be teaching this August as I am staying here at the dojang due to my wife's illness which has lasted all summer. At last, they are finally figuring out what to do and she is slowly improving. But I will be teaching in March and I will see you then. BTW - I will be attending Master West's seminars in both Fort Wayne and Houston. Jere R. Hilland www.geocities.com/hapkiyukwonsul <> --__--__-- Message: 2 From: "Hapkido Self Defense Center" To: Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 18:17:34 -0400 Subject: [The_Dojang] Organizations stuff Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Bruce, you post reminds me of when I was down in Galveston decades ago as a 3rd dan and ran across a guy who was a green belt and had his own dojang. He then pushed his way through a private tkd organization (I won't mention it here, but it is one of those private tkd orgs that uses Japanese terms, such as dojo, not dojang, etc.) and now he outranks me in paper by several dan ranks. The strangest things was that his organization had warm up exercises on audio tape and to begin class he pushed the play button on a cassette machine. That was the strangest thing I ever saw in a dojang. The head of the organization was featured on the audio tapes and they were required during class. Very odd... But you are correct, anyone can start their own martial art,, school, etc. no experience required, we are not covered by any title act such as architect, surgeon, etc. But when the BS stops, you then get to see who can walk the talk. Jere R. Hilland www.geocities.com/hapkiyukwonsul --__--__-- Message: 3 From: "michael tomlinson" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2002 22:56:27 +0000 Subject: [The_Dojang] asking for help Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net To repeat what I said earlier, the schools I have worked out in over the years: asking for help and pointers has always been ok but to walk up to a senior belt and say hey would you spar with me, in most schools is not done. Most Dojangs expect you to learn what you are given and then also use your powers of observation to "watch" what others higher in rank are doing. You will be surprised how much you can learn by watching quietly. Usually after doing this you will become much more astute at what you actually need work on. Again this is just what I have seen over the years but what do I know, not that much. Michael Tomlinson _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com --__--__-- Message: 4 From: "michael tomlinson" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2002 23:02:09 +0000 Subject: [The_Dojang] Bruce's musings Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Bruce writes: <> BINGO!!!! Michael Tomlinson _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com --__--__-- Message: 5 From: Ray Terry To: eskrima@martialartsresource.net (Eskrima), the_dojang@martialartsresource.net (The_Dojang) Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 19:29:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [The_Dojang] resend, please Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net More list server problems over the weekend. Sorry. If you sent an email that you have seen yet, please resend. Thanks! Ray Terry rterry@idiom.com --__--__-- Message: 6 From: "Mac" To: Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 21:54:04 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] RKD in MS Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Ray: <> That sounds interesting. I look forward to seeing you there and training with you again. <> I have a rubber knife and two wooden tanto's - will that do? I'll be teaching a session on various kicks (instead of specifically low kicks, close quarter kicks, spinning kicks, hop kicks, etc.) - I thought I'd mix in a little from all categories. See y'all there! Mac --__--__-- Message: 7 From: Ray Terry To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net (The_Dojang) Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 20:48:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [The_Dojang] Is NK Trying Experiment for Survival? Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Is NK Trying Experiment for Survival? August 5, 2002 Juggling the ideals of communism with elements of capitalism, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has again stolen the spotlight in a world of predictable diplomacy, as he did two years ago by embracing President Kim Dae-jung, a stalwart supporter of democracy and the market economy, in a surprise summit in Pyeongyang. His seemingly quixotic pursuit of economic reform drew mixed views: Is it for North Korea's transformation into a market economy or merely stopgap measures for its survival? It is too early to say which way North Korea is heading now, but the reclusive leader will likely visit North Korea's former ally and mentor, Russia, next month to check up on his experiment. With snippets of news on economic reforms filtering out of North Korea, Kim's trip to Russia's major cities could give him a chance to witness the reality of how far his country has been left behind. Kim plans to visit Vladivostok and Khabarovsk in late August to inspect economic conditions there, according to sources, reinforcing the fact that North Korea embarked on the path of Chinese-style economic reform, albeit in baby steps. It may have occurred to him that keeping the country Stalinist is not the only way to keep his grip on power, and that instituting reforms, if successful, could catapult him to the pantheon of communist visionaries like Deng Xiaoping. The challenge facing him is how to maintain his integrity and not to give apparatchiks the impression that he is abandoning his late father's state governing ideology of "Juche" (self-reliance) that has underpinned his hereditary rule. Another Lie? But critics point out that it is ludicrous to think that Kim Jong-il and his reclusive government suddenly found their concern for starving North Koreans unbearable enough to push them to swallow their pride and start mending fences with their neighbors. Unfortunately, conservatives have learned from countless disappointments in the past to scale down their expectations, discounting the argument that the North's decision to resume dialogue and institute economic reforms is a sign of its decision to subscribe to capitalism and democracy. For them, it is difficult to imagine a state, extremely opposed to these two Western values for several decades, wanting to embrace them all of a sudden. At best, reform is likely to proceed in fits and starts, encountering local opposition among North Koreans, especially those who benefit from the status quo and the general public, who have been brainwashed by propaganda and rhetoric. It would probably take many years and be complicated, or even completely derailed if reforms become too extensive and costly - like a loose thread, which, when pulled, unravels an entire bolt of fabric. Survival Matters Nevertheless, it is widely speculated that economic reasons are behind the communist country's sudden diplomatic blitz. Pyongyang instituted economic reforms last month, which may revive or further burden an already moribund economy. While it is likely that grinding economic difficulties prompted Pyongyang to seek outside help, it is also possible that the reforms were put in place precisely out of the desire to paint a picture of the North's willingness to change. It is no coincidence that it launched a campaign to resume and strengthen dialogue with the South, the United States and Japan, which may be taken as a general attempt to reach out to the rest of the world. If Pyeongyang were merely using diplomatic efforts as a means to buttress its ailing economy, it could still be used to the advantage of South Korea and the other parties involved. At the very least, experimental reforms may expose the North to the advantages of a freer economy and society. It is more likely that Kim Jong-il's moves are calculated to benefit the foundering communist country as a whole. Kim may have realized that North Koreans could be starting to lose faith in the ideals that form the foundation of the ``workers' paradise.'' The number of defections through China is increasing at an alarming rate. Even the burgeoning of the black market, where farmers opt to sell their produce instead of at state markets, shows that people are willing to go against the government for their survival. In a state of hardship, the North Korean leader cannot expect his people to be buoyed up by propaganda permanently. Time Running Out for Sunshine Policy? If Pyeongyang's sudden switching of gears is indeed a mere act to deceive and mislead South Korea and the rest of the world, as "Sunshine Policy" critics suggest, it would only prove that North Korea is not worth expending efforts as diplomatic and constructive as President Kim Dae-jung's single-minded pursuit of rapprochement with North Korea. With the resumption of dialogue with South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, the communist country's rejection of the western sea border signifies that it is yet unprepared to follow the rules of the international community, according to critics. In this sense, President Kim's engagement policy faces yet another test on whether the North deserves peaceful, conciliatory or cooperative means of diplomacy. How will South Korea's enthusiasm at the prospect of unification prod North Korea to embrace a genuine path of change toward reform? "South Korea, the U.S. and Japan need to exercise more patience and do what they can to support North Korea's attempts at reform, because their support can put the North on the road to bona fide change," said Suh Dong-man, professor of Sangji University. --__--__-- _______________________________________________ The_Dojang mailing list The_Dojang@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/the_dojang http://the-dojang.net 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 719-866-4632 FAX 719-866-4642 ustutkd1@aol.com http://www.ustu.org Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com. Copyright 1994-2002: Ray Terry and http://MartialArtsResource.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember 9-11! End of The_Dojang Digest