Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 10:57:02 -0800 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 10 #117 - 20 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: 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 1994-2003: 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. Jackson seminar (Rudy Timmerman) 2. RE: Future Master is born (Piotr Bernat) 3. A little late on this thread, but... (Charles Veuleman) 4. Re: Civil hapkido (Klaas Barends) 5. Cleaning mats... (Nathan Miller) 6. Welcome to the world Sean Patrick Rowe (Scott F. Barnes) 7. Getting Dr. Kimms' Hapkido books in Canada? (Scott F. Barnes) 8. bad kick - good kick (Burdick, Dakin R) 9. Sean Rowe (Charles Richards) 10. Acrobatics (Chris Holmes) 11. Congratulations Michael and Family (Dunn, Danny J GARRISON) 12. Re: Dealing with a threat (Chris LaCava) 13. Re: A future Master is Born (Chris LaCava) 14. http://hapkidokorea.org (Ray Terry) 15. RE: Martial Arts Licensing (Piotr Bernat) 16. cleanliness (Chris H.) 17. Re: RE: Martial Arts Licensing (Ray Terry) 18. good kick - bad kick (Burdick, Dakin R) 19. Re: cleanliness (Jye nigma) 20. Intellect, Intelligence, and Survival (Stovall, Craig) --__--__-- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 00:13:18 -0800 From: Rudy Timmerman To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Jackson seminar Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Greetings everyone. I'm off to Jackson in the morning (Wednesday), and I'll be gone until next Tuesday. See you there! Sincerely, Rudy --__--__-- Message: 2 From: "Piotr Bernat" To: Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 08:12:46 +0100 Subject: [The_Dojang] RE: Future Master is born Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Congrats Mike and all the best for the boy! My fellow instructors who runs our ITF style branch just told me he won`t be participating at National Championships since his wife is gonna have a baby probably on the very same day! If it will be the case, we`ll have another ITF stylist in our Freestyle TKD Clan ;) Piotr Bernat www.taekwondo.prv.pl --__--__-- Message: 3 Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 23:44:59 -0800 (PST) From: Charles Veuleman To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] A little late on this thread, but... Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Bruce: I think 200-400 is a bit much, but what do you think about variation? I have once or twice found myself having my students do maybe 4 kicks all night long as many ways as possible, example.. Stationary Side kick ( work on kick ) Side kick from front stance ( work on shifting and balance ) back leg side kick/spin thrust kick/spin side kick (work on closing distance ) jump side kick ( for the kids :D and the heart) falling side kick/laying side kick ( work on defending from ground) Ten each leg or so. Maybe even combo's? (side kick back hand blah blah blah, side kick ridgehand blah blah blah, side kick inside middle block blah blah blah, etc). Just curious as to what ya would think. JR WEST: I can't remember, should we bring any weapons/sparring gear/grits? Thanks Ya'll. YITMA Charlie V. ===== ------------------------------------- L. Charles Veuleman Natchitoches Karate Institute 204 Rapides Drive Natchitoches, LA 71457 318-356-7727 http://www.bluewavekarate.com ------------------------------------- --__--__-- Message: 4 Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 08:50:25 +0100 From: Klaas Barends To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Re: Civil hapkido Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net > Klaas - > > You can always take up Aikido..."The Non-Violent" Martial-Art. And why would I wanna do that? If you have time, follow this link: http://www.hapkido.nl/uk/index.php?mode=info&Page=52 Let me end this discussion with the words of the wise Yoda: “Fear I see in you, and fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering.” -- kind regards, Klaas Barends http://www.hapkido.nl/ --__--__-- Message: 5 Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 01:44:53 -0800 (PST) From: Nathan Miller To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Cleaning mats... Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net John Wallace writes: > Oh, that would be sodium hypOchlorite (NaOCl), the > 5% solution of which is > good ol Chlorox bleach. On a related point, how > many of the dojang owners > on the list sanitize their Swain flooring? It used > to be a black belt chore > at our school since weÂ’re the last class of the day > (keeps you humble too), > but they've stopped volunteering us recently. The > mats are looking a little > worse for wear from all the bleach. I think the > owner backed off the > schedule to once a week and does it himself... > When I wrestled in high school we would clean the mats both before and after practice with a bleach solution. During tournaments the mats would be washed at the beginning of every day, should the tourney span multiple days, and generally at "break times" as well, like when we would break before the finals. If a wrestler started bleeding, he was removed from the mat, the areas where blood was spilled would be sprayed down with a bleach solution and then the entire mat mopped down before the match could continue. Competitors had one minute of "blood time" (for the whole match) to stop the bleeding. If they continued to bleed they forefeited the match But let me tell you... having your face smashed into a foam surface that reeks of bleach isn't fun. :) Nathan --__--__-- Message: 6 Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 07:34:31 -0500 To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net From: "Scott F. Barnes" Subject: [The_Dojang] Welcome to the world Sean Patrick Rowe Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Hey, this is fantastic news! Congratulations!!! I'm so happy everything worked out for you. Now the real fun begins ;-) Scott >Michael: >Congratulations to you and your wife. Jere R. Hilland >www.hapkidoselfdefense.com >Sean Patrick Rowe >Born 3/4/2003 at 5:18 am >9 pounds 8.7 ounces >21 inches --__--__-- Message: 7 Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 07:41:17 -0500 To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net From: "Scott F. Barnes" Subject: [The_Dojang] Getting Dr. Kimms' Hapkido books in Canada? Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net I checked the major on-line resources - www.chapters.ca and www.amazon.ca and neither appears to carry Dr. Kimms' books. Does anyone know of a source in Canada? Just looking at the moment. Thanks, Scott At 05:20 PM 2003.02.28 -0800, you wrote: >From: > >Dear Scott: >".....I just wondered what Hapkido practitioners think of "Hapkido: >Traditions, Philosophy, Technique"......" >I have both Tedeschis' book and Dr. Kimms' book and page-for-page Dr. >Kimms' book is heads&tails above the other. Oddly they are both at the same >price point or perhaps Dr. Kimms is a bit cheaper. --__--__-- Message: 8 Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 08:16:58 -0500 From: "Burdick, Dakin R" To: Subject: [The_Dojang] bad kick - good kick Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Argh! Yep, I screwed up last time - let me try again: KICKS I DON'T LIKE: Air kicks for speed or power (includes kicking porkchop pads) Kicking high Breaking Air kicking for twenty minutes KICKS I DO LIKE: Low kicks, performed softly kicking a heavy bag, hard point sparring (for full-contact, the hands and elbows make a lot more sense) sticky legs Ray wrote: >When doing air kicks, go about 3/4 speed or less. Focus more on form. Full speed and full power air kicks can be rather hard on the knees, esp over >time. Doing kicks in slow motion can be very difficult and good for >development. Yep, that's what I was talking about. >Kicking the air shield or muay thai pads or heavy bag or hogu wearing partner >is good. Because of very bad ankles (from toooo many ankle sprains on the >basketball court) I tend to not kick the heavy bag too hard with my feet >and focus more on hard knees and shin kicks. Yep again. We train in the martial arts to get stronger, not to tear ourselves apart, so ANY practice has to be shaped to the requirements of the practitioner. I remember a guy dying at a local dojang during ground grappling because he didn't tell anyone he had a heart murmur. They were training hard, having fun, and all of a sudden he had to stop and then collapsed. Massive heart attack. It was very hard on his partners, who had known him about 10 years. He had never told any of them. As I recall he was about 30. Yours in the arts, Dakin dakinburdick@yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 9 Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 05:28:14 -0800 (PST) From: Charles Richards To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Sean Rowe Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net <> Sean Patrick Rowe Born 3/4/2003 at 5:18 am 9 pounds 8.7 ounces 21 inches Mother, Baby, and Father are doing great Thanks for the prayers and positive thoughts. <> Michael, You sound like a proud papa! And you should be. Cherish every moment you have with him. Be Well, Charles R. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ --__--__-- Message: 10 From: "Chris Holmes" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 07:53:15 -0600 Subject: [The_Dojang] Acrobatics Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Hello everyone, Master Timmerman, How do you go about teaching the acrobatic techniques to your students? I know from personal experience that it is difficult to learn these after childhood. I have been trying to do an airel cartwheel for about 1 and 1/2 years and I still cannot make the rotation in a true vertical position. Back hand springs are also an enemy unless I have a spotter. So if you have any suggestions on how to teach and learn these please share. Thanks Chris Holmes _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus --__--__-- Message: 11 From: "Dunn, Danny J GARRISON" To: "'the_dojang@martialartsresource.net'" Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 08:26:55 -0600 Subject: [The_Dojang] Congratulations Michael and Family Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Michael, Congratulations to you and your wife! I'm so glad to hear that everything is all right. If this is your first, now its time for a real life change. Danny Dunn Sean Patrick Rowe Born 3/4/2003 at 5:18 am 9 pounds 8.7 ounces 21 inches --__--__-- Message: 12 From: "Chris LaCava" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 09:32:55 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] Re: Dealing with a threat Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Rudy T.: <> Time!? An TGT 18th dan could do that AND go get a cup of coffee while reading half of the Muye Dobo Tongi. (Only half because no one under 21st Dan has yet to accomplish that yet) ;) Take care Chris "from CT" LaCava's Martial Arts Westport, CT. http://lmaa.bravepages.com Online Store- http://www.cafepress.com/hapkidogear _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 --__--__-- Message: 13 From: "Chris LaCava" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2003 09:41:52 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] Re: A future Master is Born Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net <> CONGRATULATIONS!!! Ah, yet another is brought into the MA fold. :) All the best to you and your family. Take care Chris "from CT" LaCava's Martial Arts Westport, CT. http://lmaa.bravepages.com Online Store- http://www.cafepress.com/hapkidogear _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail --__--__-- Message: 14 From: Ray Terry To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net (The_Dojang) Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 06:55:47 -0800 (PST) Subject: [The_Dojang] http://hapkidokorea.org Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net I am informed that the KHF has a new website at http://hapkidokorea.org. You may recall that there was a website claiming to be 'the official KHF webiste'. But if you checked its whois registration it was out of Florida. Yep, another apparent venture from that 'chubby grandmaster wannabe from down Florida way'. The one mentioned above -appears- to be the real deal, but currently only in hangul. Ray Terry rterry@idiom.com --__--__-- Message: 15 From: "Piotr Bernat" To: Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 16:58:08 +0100 Subject: [The_Dojang] RE: Martial Arts Licensing Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Here in Poland we have quite a long history of licensing Martial Arts instructors. I must admit, that the system with teachning licenses works well in my country and is basically the same for all sports and other kinds of physical activity, including martial arts. There are also some problems, for example there is (almost) no way of obtaining an instructors license for some new style, and I don`t mean "newly developed", but simply "the one that wasn`t practiced here before". You can`t have at the moment an (official) license as Hapkido instructor, TSD instructor, KSW instructor. Although there are some HKD schools in Poland, the Education & Sports Ministry, which is responible for licensing, doesn`t know such a style, and it`s a long way to Tipperary... oops, to a recognition of a new style here. And of course, ther are some MA leaders who will always work against establishing new MA groups. A good example is the rivalry between the TKD fractions, where the ITF leaders in Poland blocked the licensing process of the GTF people for years. On the other hand, there are also some good points involved in the system. If you come to a martial arts school and the instructor is in possession of a valid instructors license, it means, that he is not only proficient in his MA, but that he also graduated from an interdisciplinary course covering sports theory, physiology, biomechanics, basics of sports medicine etc., and that he nad to pass the exams on the subject. The course lasts 5-8 weekends and I must admit from my own experience that we had to learn some things that are rarely, if ever, taught during the regular MA classes. I`m not really sure which way is better, but this is the way we do it here ;) Best regards Piotr Bernat www.taekwondo.prv.pl --__--__-- Message: 16 From: "Chris H." To: Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 10:07:13 -0600 Subject: [The_Dojang] cleanliness Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net I remember when training shotokan, the instructor would bring out a bucket of steaming hot wash cloths. Each student would stand shoulder to shoulder, then push the wash cloths across the mat in a kind of "bear walk". I understand that this is Japanese tradition to cleanse the mat of evil spirits or something. I'm wondering if this is too much of a cultural thing to be implemented in a KMA school. I personally cannot stand to work on dirty mat, and take it upon myself to sweep, or clean up before our class starts. I've been doing this since white belt, and although I never ask anyone to do this instead of myself, I am sometimes a bit disappointed that those coming up through the ranks do not volunteer for these duties. What's the world coming to? Dr. Kimm has often said "clean the floor, clean your mind", and many times I have witnessed him wielding a vacuum cleaner with great skill. Chris Han Mu Do - Baton Rouge --__--__-- Message: 17 From: Ray Terry Subject: Re: [The_Dojang] RE: Martial Arts Licensing To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 08:12:59 -0800 (PST) Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net > On the other hand, there are also some good points involved in the system. > If you come to a martial arts school and the instructor is in possession of > a valid instructors license, it means, that he is not only proficient in his > MA, but that he also graduated from an interdisciplinary course covering > sports theory, physiology, biomechanics, basics of sports medicine etc., and > that he nad to pass the exams on the subject. The course lasts 5-8 weekends > and I must admit from my own experience that we had to learn some things > that are rarely, if ever, taught during the regular MA classes. FWIW, I am currently in the process of studying for my ACE certification. ACE = American Council on Exercise. The certification material covers topics such basic anatomy, exercise physiology, kinesiology, nutrition, cardio fitness, strength training, flexibility, motivation, injuries, emergency procedures, legal issues, etc. I figure the info is good, it is wise to hold certification from a recognized body, and I might even learn something. Hopefully it will even help me become a better instructor... Ray Terry rterry@idiom.com --__--__-- Message: 18 Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 11:14:10 -0500 From: "Burdick, Dakin R" To: Subject: [The_Dojang] good kick - bad kick Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Bruce wrote: >I tend to advocate the use of kicking shields rather than a heavy bag for >power training. This goes in capital letters for folks just starting to >learn spin-kicks and who have yet to internalize proper distance and focus. I guess it depends on what partners you have. If you have a big size differential, it will be hard finding someone who wants to hold for a big guy, especially for a flying kick. I don't tend to train spinning kicks much any more except in a sort of push hands/sticky hands/sticky legs way. The only one I would recommend for power training would be a spinning back kick (a bread and butter kick if ever I saw one). A wheel kick or spinning crescent kick on a heavy bag is just a bad idea. It also reminds me of another story. A guy at a local dojang got his foot caught in the chains doing a spinning crescent kick on a heavy bag. He ended up hanging by his foot and badly spraining his ankle! Yours in the arts, Dakin dakinburdick@yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 19 Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 08:46:31 -0800 (PST) From: Jye nigma Subject: Re: [The_Dojang] cleanliness To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Hi Chris, I don't think it's too much to ask for. Actually, if you own a school, it's up to each owner to set the guidelines for participation. There are some students who helped to build their school, so the power is in the owner/instructor's hands. Let us not forget that the martial arts is a way of life, so whatever affects us in life needs to be incorporated in the martial arts meaning, as we gain knowledge of new information on nutrition, diet, pathogens, etc that can affect us we should impliment what we learn in our martial studies. **one more thing, someone mentioned that there are some pathogens don't die when exposed to air...and they are 100% CORRECT, in fact there was a study that showed that money has a large amount of bacteria on it...so I think the best thing to do is to use common sense, proper hygene, and to take proper care of wounds, and things of that nature. Jye __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ --__--__-- Message: 20 From: "Stovall, Craig" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 11:32:59 -0600 Subject: [The_Dojang] Intellect, Intelligence, and Survival Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net <<>> I guess I'll never be a wonderful martial artist;) Seriously, if you're talking about applying a martial art in the context of a violent encounter...then WHO CARES how you beat/control/defeat/subdue your attacker? When survival is on the line...survival is all that matters. Now, being overly concerned about the health of the guy who just pulled a knife on me and my family might really do wonders in terms of building up my karmic bank accounts, but I'm afraid that I'll be redeeming those credits in short order when my "just enough" wrist lock fails, my entrails are leaving a beautiful crimson stain on the pavement, and my dead eyes watch the scum bag manifest one of his more favored sexual fantasies upon my wife and daughters. As Dr. Phil would say...let's get real. I'm quite sure that running over John Q. Carjacker with my car won't put me at the top of 2003's list of "Most Beautiful and Honorable Display of Martial Technique", but if it's going to save my wife and kids...well, then I hope the mortician can get the tread marks out of his face so that Mrs. Carjacker can give her baby daddy a nice open casket funeral. I don't go around attacking people. I don't steal in order to make my living. I don't rape women and children in order to have some sense of power and control in this world. So, if some mugger/murderer/rapist decides to use me and mine as the object of their bad intentions...I could really care less if his precious wrist remains intact. In fact, I'm not too concerned about his or her ongoing ability to draw air. Bottom line is this...I'm not going to use the point in the space-time continuum at which his knife blade is hurtling toward my throat, to take the moral high ground and "be nice" in terms of how I'm going to solve this pesky dilemma. I took the moral high ground when I agreed to hold up my end of the social contract. If somebody comes after me with a knife or a tire iron, then I assume that contract is null and void, all bets are off, and the last thing I'm worried about is whether or not my tombstone reads, "He Was a Wonderful Martial Artist". Don't get me wrong. I think it's a beautiful thing to cultivate a high level of martial skill in terms of being able to defend oneself with a minimum of violent energy. I've been on the mat with people that could literally PLAY with resisting opponents, and it's just simply wonderful, beautiful, and spooky all at the same time. I love it!!! But that ain't got a flipping thing to do with a violent attack. Now, before everyone thinks that I'm Mr. Short-Fuse-Rambo-Kill-Em-All-Let-Yer-Deity-of-Choice-Sort-Em-Out...I'll provide the following scenarios. 1. Some skinny 16 year-old kid who's hopped up on Mountain Dew and Robitussin thinks I gave him a dirty look, and he decides he wants a piece of Clark Kent here because it'll be cool to brag to his friends about how he beat the crap out of some "old dude" on Wal-Mart parking lot. Yeah, it's nice to be Mr. Aikido at that point, since he's not really a threat and it's going to be hard to explain the necessity of snapping his pencil neck when I'm on the stand at court. Plus, he "wuz a youngin', and ain't had no idea what he wuz a doin'"...as his Mom would testify. This falls under the ever-popular, and common 'Drunk Brother-in-law at the Family Reunion' category of violent attack. You either run, make peace, or turn into Mr. Aikido. I guess. 2. Same scenario, except this time Skeeter has a tire knocker that he picked up at 'Free Bat Night' at a local AA Baseball game two summers ago...plus the fact that his friend "Dog Killa" is backing his play, and he wants to practice his field goal kicking on my head once Skeeter has prompted me to assume a prone position. Here, you swallow your pride and run tell the door greeter at Wal-Mart to call the police. This is because they're enough of a threat to cause you to be drawing short term disability for the next 13 weeks, and the fact that a civil court is still going to award them $40 million if you beat the hell out of both of them. At any rate, Mr. Aikido never enters the picture because even if I subdue Skeeter with my Compassion-jutsu technique, Dog Killa is going to send me to the emergency room with a cracked skull or collapsed lung. You either run, make peace, or (if you can't) get violent in a hurry (anybody remember the Mike Tyson vs. Marvis Frazier fight?), and pray for an inept prosecutor. This falls under the 'Drunk Brother-in-law at the Family Reunion Who Just Picked Up a Piece of Fire Wood' category of violent attack. 3. You're umping a Little League game, and Timmy's 300 pound ex-biker Dad decides to take a swing at you because Timmy's outside curve ball actually clipped the strike zone, whereas you informed the batter to take first. This, of course, is the perfect time to be Mr. Aikido. The chink in the armor is that there aren't many 300 pound ex-bikers to practice on in the dojo, and every fiber of their mental and emotional being is not invested in your imminent death as you two play "beat up uke". Remember the "Big Beefy Dad" that beat the "Little Pipsqueak Dad" to DEATH during their kid's Hockey practice? In any violent encounter, err on the side of your own health...it can happen to you. This falls under the 'I Thought He Was a Cool Guy Right Up Until the Time I Lost Consciousness" category of violent attack. Run, beg, or put him down quickly. Juries hate bullies, anyway. 4. Nightmare scenario. He's big, angry, armed, and about to show the whole world just exactly who they're messing with. I can't run because I've got on these darn loafers that my mother bought me for Xmas, and there's no way I can outrun him carrying a 2 year-old girl and a 6 month-old baby in a pumpkin seat. Begging doesn't seem to be working because he just kicked my 2 year-old in the chest, and he's been constantly blathering about how people of my particular ethnicity are going to pay for everything they've done. Do I have your attention now? Have I sufficiently painted a picture that may once and for all obliterate the notion that being a "wonderful martial artist" or "highly developed, and civilized human being" has any relevance during a VIOLENT ATTACK? If I get this guy to the ground, do I sit on him while I try to tell my 2 year-old how to re-assemble the shattered cell phone, and call 911? Or, do I test the density of the pavement with the back of his head, and go get this sucking chest wound taken care of (wife's gonna be pissed if we're late for dinner again). This falls under the 'I'm Glad That Stovall Cat Wrote That Goofy Diatribe, and Set Me Straight' category of violent attack. I'm not one of these "Kill or Be Killed Types". Peace Brother!!!...that's my motto. But not everybody likes to play it that way. So, I guess you're left with two choices. In the unfortunate event that you are pressed into defending yourself against a serious threat from a person that is mean, strong, fast, and capable: 1. You can try and live up to the moral example of your favorite seminar guru or dojang avatar, and take this guy down with your "Hands Like Soft Pillow" strikes, and "Arms Like Mother's Caress" takedown. It's your life, playa. Live it like you please. 2. You can do everything within your power to survive without some "dojo morality" hanging over your "very-likely-to-be-worms-food-in-short-order" head. Yeah, yeah, yeah...I'll worry about the lawyers after I prevent these two idiots from performing their personal brand of tag team bedroom antics that they picked up at Pelican Bay. A silat teacher put it all in perspective for me one time. His position was, "I'm not a martial artist...I'm an entertainer. Out there...that's the world of the gun and the knife". To which he also added, "In a fight, there is no such thing as dignity...there is only survival". Let me blunt. In a serious attack, it's unlikely that the guy is going to be coming at you with the "Five of clubs, and the Ace of Spades" (as my old man used to say), although that can be deadly in its own right. Don't pre-program yourself toward compassion...the other guy isn't thinking/living/playing like that. Sad but true. So, please understand...I don't mean to be disrespectful. Ok, maybe a LITTLE disrespectful. But, the disrespect is toward the NOTION that you should live up to some higher standard of personal conduct at the moment that your life is on the line, as opposed to toward the persons espousing this doctrine. Sorry for the long-windedness. Craig "I Reserve Compassion for the Deserving" Stovall --__--__-- _______________________________________________ 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, 104C, Colorado Spgs, CO 80909 719.866.4632 FAX 719.866.4642 ustutkd1@mailsnare.net www.ustu.org Old digest issues available @ ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com Copyright 1994-2003: Ray Terry and http://MartialArtsResource.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember 9-11! End of The_Dojang Digest