Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 19:48:06 -0700 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 9 #416 - 11 msgs X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.13.cisto1 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.13.cisto1 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Subscribed-Address: kma@martialartsresource.com List-Id: The Internet's premier discussion forum on Korean Martial Arts. List-Post: List-Subscribe: , List-Unsubscribe: , List-Help: Status: O 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. Selling Rank (michael tomlinson) 2. Re: 2002 Gathering (Chosondo@aol.com) 3. GM Seo in Chicago (J T) 4. Re: Western Suburbs (J T) 5. Decline situps using human "plank" (Arlene Slocum) 6. GM Myung Stuff (Bruce.Sims@med.va.gov) 7. Visiting hours (Bruce.Sims@med.va.gov) 8. life after 40.... (Hapkido Self Defense Center) 9. Seabrook Master West post (Hapkido Self Defense Center) 10. over the hill.... (Hapkido Self Defense Center) 11. Bridging the Language Gap (Ray Terry) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: "michael tomlinson" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 12:02:29 +0000 Subject: [The_Dojang] Selling Rank Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net I really can't comment on other instructors training seminars because I don't know what they do, but I can tell you without a doubt, that Master Nabors keeps anyone that wants to "buy" rank away from Doju Nim Ji during training. Everyone in Tampa that trains during these days are there for the learning and not the paper. It's kind of like, if you train hard and consistently the paper eventually comes your way but it is not the main reason behind everything in Tampa. I've always found it strange how some people love the ranking more then the training. Correct me if I'm wrong but the ranking won't help you in a self defense situation or with your doctor if your health goes bad.. training is everything!! Michael Tomlinson _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com --__--__-- Message: 2 From: Chosondo@aol.com Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 08:24:32 EDT To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Re: 2002 Gathering Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net In a message dated 8/27/2002 6:04:08 AM Eastern Standard Time, the_dojang- The 2002 Gathering was organized jointly with two of my affiliates, Master Randy Stigall, and Dr. (Master) Glenn Gavin both of Downers Grove, Ill. It is scheduled for September 27 -29 at the O'Hare Airport Chicago, Hiltion. BTW, GM Seo will not be in attendance, but I will be in attendance as well as some other top notch Korean Martial Artists, such as GM Michael DeAlba, GM Rudy Timmerman, and other notables. For info contact: Masters Stigall and Gavin at the Academy of Korean Martial Education, Downers Grove, Ill. 630-852-4422. Ian A. Cyrus, Headmaster ICF request@martialartsresource.net writes: > The 2002 Gathering hosted by Hanshi Bruce Juchnik will > be held in Chicago this year. This is a great > opprotunity to see a lot of topped rank masters do > demonstrations and seminars. GM Seo is said to be > coming in to participate in this event as well. > > Jeremy --__--__-- Message: 3 Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 05:25:31 -0700 (PDT) From: J T To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] GM Seo in Chicago Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net I apologize if I misinformed anyone. I am looking now where I received that information about GM Seo being in Chicago for the Gathering. That being said, I would stil recommend this event to anyone who would like to spend a day or two with some Grandmasters and masters of different arts and learn a lot of techinques from a lot of different styles. Jeremy __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 4 Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 05:27:17 -0700 (PDT) From: J T To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Re: Western Suburbs Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Gregory and Bruce, If you two decide to hook up on the weekend of the 15th, please let me know. I in Aurora (about 30 minutes from Schaumburg). I may have to work that weekend, but nothing is set yet. Bruce, Do you still go to the main school in Chicago for your kumdo? Jeremy __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 5 From: Arlene Slocum To: "Dojang Digest (E-mail)" Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 09:57:46 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] Decline situps using human "plank" Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net We have recently modified our Hapkido warmup to include decline situps (where the start position has your head lower than your feet). However, instead of using a decline board, the "plank" is your partner who is leaning at a 45 degree angle to the wall, hanging onto a sidebar (bar attached to the wall similar to what you would see in a dance studio). The person doing the situps drapes his/her legs over the shoulders of the plank person and hooks them around the person's arms. You are back to back with your partner as you do the situps. Does anyone else do this as part of their warmup? I haven't tried it yet but I have some concerns for the safety of my lower back and shoulders if I am in the bottom position. I have scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and I also weigh less than most of my partners. Am I being a chicken to have reluctance to even try this? A back injury at my age (47) could mean the loss of months in training. I am considering getting an opinion from a chiropractor but also would like to hear from the experts on this list. Thanks! BTW - this exercise was introduced because we used to do upside down situps with our feet hooked through the top chains of a hanging heavy bag, but our current location is an old building whose structure cannot support hanging bags. Arlene Slocum 2nd Dan Lawrence Tae Kwon Do School Lawrence, Kansas ArleneS@geoaccess.com --__--__-- Message: 6 From: Bruce.Sims@med.va.gov To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 07:38:50 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] GM Myung Stuff Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Dear ???????: "....Today I visited Master Myung's school here in Tustin, California to purchase some items and I got the impression that his school was much larger in size than it really is. Anyway, it was very impressive to say the least. There were a lot of interesting framed articles covering most of the walls and pictures of various members of his organization. One article stated he had 234 schools located in 120 countries....." I always feel better talking about things on the Net when I can use a first name, but I did have some thoughts on your post for whatever they might be worth. Having trained with GM Myung for a few years I developed a great respect for the way in which he does business. Unfortunately the very high expectations that he has for his students may probably also be the seeds of his un-doing as a commercial success. Not that he has to worry to much about keeping the lights on in his school as he comes from a Korean family which is pretty well off in its own right. Still, his goal to safe guard the integrity of traditional Hapkido has probably driven him to hold his students to levels of performance which most Americans are unwilling to endure. Perhaps this is underscored by the fact that a student, when pressed to higher and higher levels of performance, can look down the street and see another Hapkido school which is not quite so exacting and seems to teach pretty much the same curriculum. In response, GM Myung reported to me on one occasion that he has significantly cut back on the curriculum as he has found that American students seem unwilling to apply themselves in such a way as to truely "study" and hold onto the material. Viewed in this way, it seems a bit like a downward spiral. GM Myungs' background includes considerable experience in both Taekwondo and Kendo and these are well represented in his Hapkido curriculum when you observe his "sword" work and the nature of the hyung he originated. But don't be too surprised at the heavy Japanese representation in his material as GM Myung is a former student of GM Ji which also favors the Japanese rather than the Chinese heritage of the Hapkido arts. As a matter of fact, if you examine the certs in the top row, and half way down the wall in GM Myungs' school you will find the 7th, 8th and 9th (???) dan certs are signed by GM Ji. Its too bad you didn't get a chance to actually sit and talk with GM Myung himself as once you get past the intitial "meetin'&greetin" routine you find a person who is extraordinarily passionate about Hapkido and an exacting technician. He has been burned a number of times by folks and can be a little defensive on an interpersonal level. However, his seminars and workshops are sound, no-nonsense, educational experiences with a good deal of something for everybody and most of the people who have screwed him over were playing the usual game of accruing status and rank and have moved on to other places. I'm not sure about the numbers, but I know that the World Hapkido Federation continues to have schools and networks around the world including right here in the fine state of Illinois. If you get a chance to train with him, take it. Expect to be wiser and a bit sore the next day. Best Wishes, Bruce --__--__-- Message: 7 From: Bruce.Sims@med.va.gov To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 07:51:51 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] Visiting hours Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Dear Greg: ".....Bruce-- you are out there somewhere aren't you? Anyone else somewhere near that area?....." It would be great to have you drop in. Unfortunately I am quite a ways north and east of where you will be in the Bloomingdale area and that could be quite a drive. Let me know. Best Wishes, Bruce --__--__-- Message: 8 From: "Hapkido Self Defense Center" To: Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:14:17 -0400 Subject: [The_Dojang] life after 40.... Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net <<>> Wayne, that was good! Although I am 5-10, 165 and 43 - I sent a copy of that to one of my senior students who is my elder in age and he wants to borrow the last sentence!!! Jere R. Hilland www.geocities.com/hapkiyukwonsul --__--__-- Message: 9 From: "Hapkido Self Defense Center" To: Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:17:19 -0400 Subject: [The_Dojang] Seabrook Master West post Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Kat, you are not going to make it to Seabrook? We will get to see you again in March, yes? We did not get to talk much last March... Jere R. Hilland www.geocities.com/hapkiyukwonsul --__--__-- Message: 10 From: "Hapkido Self Defense Center" To: Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 15:29:21 -0400 Subject: [The_Dojang] over the hill.... Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net <<>> Michael, this is true. Last week I sparred with one of my green belts for the first time. A college student in his early 20's who had assumed that because of my age I would be slower than he was. Much to his surprise he found that this was wrong and after class I told him that I had been practicing these techniques a lot longer than he had been a live and that I was still getting better every year. Now I also work smarter, not harder. :) Jere R. Hilland www.geocities.com/hapkiyukwonsul --__--__-- Message: 11 From: Ray Terry To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net (The_Dojang) Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 19:46:32 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [The_Dojang] Bridging the Language Gap Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Bridging the Language Gap Courses around Seoul boost expatriates experience If the source of all expatriates' frustrations in Korea were to be summed up in one word, language - specifically the language gap between host and guest - might well top the list. The enduring irony is that few foreigners ever avail themselves of the numerous schools, commercial resources and private exchanges that offer a chance to learn the native language and make for a more satisfying life here. "I think foreigners get into a comfort zone," said Arjun Mehra, an East Asian Studies major at Cornell University who is in Korea for language immersion this summer. "It's easy to find each other and form little groups where they speak their own language and don't have to worry about what's outside." Yet, several thousand people in the country like Mehra do actively study Korean, and opportunities to acquire the language have expanded significantly in the last decade. A number of universities in Seoul, for example, now offer Korean courses through affiliated foreign language institutes. Seoul National University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Konkuk University are among several schools that have followed in the footsteps of Yonsei University's Korean Language Institute, the largest and longest running Korean program. Every three months, approximately 800 students from around the globe embark on one of the various levels and curricula Yonsei has on tap. "It's a lot of fun to be with students from different cultures and gain a broader perspective," said Jeff Faller, an American missionary who is in the final stage of the school's two-year program. "It's hard to have relationships with Koreans sometimes, but as a Westerner, we have a real responsibility to the people here to not just come to take but to give. Part of that attitude can be expressed by learning the language." Yonsei's intensive program is the granddaddy of Korean language learning options. For four hours a day, five days a week, ethnic Koreans getting in touch with their motherland, North Americans holding part-time jobs and Japanese exchange students get pounded by grammar, vocabulary and concentrated training in expression and comprehension. Students learning Korean enjoy the graduation ceremony at Yonsei University. "I came here expressly to study Korean, but coming from a completely different background the language is very difficult for me," Mehra admitted. "I really work at it and try hard, and studying takes up most of my time." As rigorous as the program can be, the connection between language and culture cannot be overemphasized. Edward John, a student from Britain, sees it by way of a Korean proverb, "If you're in another country and you don't know the language, it's like licking the outside of a watermelon." Some students engage in study for more personal reasons. "I wanted to learn more about my mother tongue," said Kang Kyoung-pil, an ethnic Korean visiting from Argentina. "At home I speak Korean with my parents, but I couldn't write. So I came here to learn how to write and then stay for a couple of years to work." Kang believes the experience has also made her more aware of her identity. "In Argentina I was in the middle. I didn't feel Argentinian or Korean, and I didn't have many gyopo (overseas Korean) friends," she said. "Now that I realize how much we have in common, when I go back I think I'm going to make more gyopo friends." For the many expatriates who are not able to make the commitment to an intensive program, however, evening courses are also available. Ewha Womans University, for instance, has co-ed classes from 7 to 9 p.m. three days a week that stress acquisition of listening and speaking skills. While finding the motivation to trudge to class after a hard day's work can be tough, students urge those weighed down by full-time jobs to make the extra effort. "Even if you're only in Korea for a year, learning the language is a great investment," said Liam Watson, who teaches English during the day and studies after dark at Ewha's Institute of Language Education. "There are fewer misunderstandings on the street, and it gets rid of a lot of ignorance." The 28-year-old Irishman points to other advantages of the night session. "Students in the evening are more tired, but I think it's easier to get close with your classmates. There are more social opportunities like going out to eat and drink together after class." Kwon Hyuk-min, marketing manager at Ewha, says that the evening program was structured specifically to meet the needs of expatriates on the go. "Our number-one goal here is communication in a professional environment," Kwon said. "We designed the curriculum from years of teaching businessmen and responding to their needs and requests." What working foreigners in Korea want most, according to Kwon, is speedy development of oral communication skills. Still, the schedules of many international residents cannot accommodate formal instruction in either the day or evening. Those disciplined enough for self-study have a choice of Korean language textbooks and audiotapes available at major bookstores, not to mention several million potential candidates for two-way "language exchange." Another unique option to emerge in the last couple of years is online Korean courses. Choe Jeong-soon led the development of Sogang University's seven-level, interactive Web tutorial that is offered to users free of charge. "When I started creating the online program, I thought it would substitute for classroom learning, but now I realize it's just a different kind of teaching instrument," Choe explained. "My quest is to develop a model that meets the needs of specified learners." In other words, young ethnic Koreans in America require a different educational approach than Japanese businessmen, and a completely flexible and adaptable online format remains more of a goal than a reality. Based on the 200,000 total hits the Sogang site has received, and the 3,000-5,000 users from 96 countries who regularly access lessons there online, however, Choe's current model is holding its own. Through point-and-click language drills, listening exercises, and even written assignments that can be submitted for feedback and correction, the Sogang online course is much more than a passive learning experience. "The advantages of studying online is that it can be done from any computer at any time and students can go at their own pace and repeat what they don't understand again and again," Choe said. Students sometimes take the Web lessons for surprising reasons. "I love Park Ji-yoon (the Korean pop singer) very much," read a message posted on Sogang's bulletin board by "Kate," a high school student in Hong Kong. "As a result I would really like to learn Hangeul." Whatever the motivation, the tools for expatriates in Korea to live a better life are close at hand. For more information on enrolling in either on- or offline Korean language courses, go to the homepages of Yonsei (www.yonsei.ac.kr/~kli), Ewha (ile.ewha.ac.kr), Sogang (korean.sogang.ac.kr) and other major universities. At most schools, the fall quarter is slated to begin between mid-September and early October. Registration and a placement test are usually required, and tuition fees run between 450,000 to 1,200,000 won. By Christopher Cole Korea Now 2002.08.24 --__--__-- _______________________________________________ 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