Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2003 07:54:01 -0700 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 10 #164 - 12 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 1994-2003: 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. Re: Existential Crisis (Jye nigma) 2. Fights (Burdick, Dakin R) 3. Giri (Charles Richards) 4. Youth Classes (Charles Richards) 5. =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_In_a_Word---_"No."_?= (bsims@midwesthapkido.com) 6. Re:Hapkido (ABurrese@aol.com) 7. =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_PhD.__=3F_?= (bsims@midwesthapkido.com) 8. PhD Verification (RMoore7619@aol.com) 9. =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_Re-incarnation_?= (bsims@midwesthapkido.com) 10. Mr. A. Boyd=Big Ken responds (Ken McDonough) 11. Thoughts (J.R. West) 12. RE: Existential Crisis (Stovall, Craig) --__--__-- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 06:23:11 -0700 (PDT) From: Jye nigma Subject: Re: [The_Dojang] Existential Crisis To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Jeremy you have all the tools and knowledge now what's missing is you making the system YOURS. This means start analyzing your arsenal and fine tuning it to your needs. You should really increase your sparring time. If you REALLY want to see how you can impliment what you've learned, hold large sparring sessions with people in other styles also. By doing that you'll be able to learn some new tricks as well as see what you can impliment from judo and hapkido training, making mental notes of your weaknesses, then trying to strengthen them. Jye --- Jeremy wrote: > I have been having somewhat of an existential crisis > with hapkido lately that > I am hoping the kind folks on this list can shed > some light on. To give you > some background I have a 1st dan, I have been at it > for about six and a half > years. I have never been in a fight, I don't expect > that I ever will be in a > fight as I don't let my pride rule my actions and > I'm a really fast runner. > It's just not likely. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://tax.yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 2 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 08:42:56 -0500 From: "Burdick, Dakin R" To: Subject: [The_Dojang] Fights Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Anthony wrote about an altercation: "I was ready to act if he should turn on the spectators but I didn't feel the need to jump in to save his friends." Sounds to me like you did the right thing. Nice job! To add to this discussion, I just had a conversation with a 10 year old student of mine. I had heard through the grapevine that he had been in a fight. I spoke to him and his mother at length and in general it all began because there are bad feelings between him and the other kid (same age, same size), who goes to another martial arts school (I'll be calling that instructor when I figure out what exactly happened). The crucial moment came when the other kid charged a friend of my student. The friend was a smaller girl, and my student was afraid that she would be knocked to the concrete. He grabbed the other kid in a rear headlock and held him until the parents came over, at which time the other kid said that my student was the aggressor. We're still trying to untangle the stories! Right now what I'm saying is that I think he did right, except that I would prefer he not grab with a headlock, as it could be too dangerous and is seen as a very aggressive move (even if it is very effective). I would prefer he just wrestle the kid (I teach tkd, but hitting doesn't seem appropriate in this situation). What do you folks think? Yours in the arts, Dakin dakinburdick@yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 3 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 06:43:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Charles Richards To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Giri Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net <> I'm glad I made my wife happy by "growing up" (in her way of thinking). I'm glad I have moved on to a logical base of reaction rather than an emotional one. Still... So there began my question - Does it ever get any easier to be the person of restraint that we are taught to be and that "Do" requires us to be? <> Dear Anthony, Bravo, it never gets easier to be wise. As trained martial artists we are "weapons of mass destruction" and the finger on the trigger all in one... Yin, Yang and Tao all in one. The way I see it you have a great understanding of Giri (duty). At all costs you were to be the protector of your life mate. Even at the cost of others questioning your manliness or unanswered questions about your physical skill. At the same time instead of being a blind doormat, you elevated your awareness from a "green" to a "yellow", and started making a plan for the "red" level. I hope you sleep well knowing you made the right choices. Yours in Jung Do, Charles Richards www.mojakwan.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://tax.yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 4 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 07:00:38 -0700 (PDT) From: Charles Richards To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Youth Classes Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net <> I've been teaching kids since 1987, and my method seems pretty similar to Danny's. Kids generally start at 7 because the 6 year olds often have trouble remembering turns and forms. We have an unusual situation right now because my daughter (4.5 years) is training with us, so we are allowing a very young cohort to enter training, with the reminder that they may not be testing much! Like Danny, I don't use junior black belts -- which means it takes 6-7 years for the kids to get their rank. Other things I've learned about teaching kids: 1. Don't do air kicks -- when those kids hit their 20s, they'll have a bunch of knee problems -- have them kick a bag. 2. Set high expectations, but always maintain safe practices. 3. Break once per year only, and only one board, until age 16 -- the bones don't finish growing until then. We break during demonstrations, not tests. 4. Kids spar with black belts for the first 6 months, and after they get some control, they can spar with each other. 5. Falling is the most important thing they will learn. 6. Don't punish with push-ups. That will link physical exercise to punishment. Instead, punish with time-outs. 7. About half of the kids under 12 have enough self-control to learn jointlocks and fighting skills. The other half don't, so we don't teach that stuff until age 12. 8. Always keep it fun! <> Dakin, Great post! Your approach is very similar to mine, but with some lessons for me as I grow my program from the ground up. In my system Red Belt lasts at least a year, so I think I could take an 11 year old, or even an exceptional 9 year old (see previous post about Dianna) and upadte them on the necessary joint locking information over a year to a year and a half of adult class, which would eliminate the need for a poom belt. None of my students spar anyone but me until I'm comfortable that they have enough control to spar someone else. I use the time-outs too, and like my son, I make them tell me why I made them sit out before I allow them to return :-) We agree on the air kicks, and I need to do even more target and bag kicks, thanks. I'm curious about the breaking, it makes sense. Do you have some research sources I could read up on, and also have you considered what techniques youth break with? This might sound bizzare to the list but breaking is required of green belts in my school, but the first break is a kick with the shoe on. After that people can tell me what they want to do, and based on their weapon formation I may or may not allow it. None of my kids break with their knuckles, but I would thinks Palm strikes (hard and soft style), properly formed knife hands, hammer fists, and kicks that strike with the heel (axe, side thrust, MDK Hook) would be OK if the board is weight appropriate. Any comments from the list? Yours in Jung Do, Charles Richards www.mojakwan.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://tax.yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 5 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 09:04:37 -0500 (CDT) From: To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_In_a_Word---_"No."_?= Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Dear Anthony: There is a premise in Buddhism that "to act when it is time to act is infinitely easier than to not act when it is time not to act." There is also the ever popular definition of Stress. ("Stress is the anxiety that arises when the mind over-comes the guts instinctive intent to serve-up an ass-kicking to an individual who seriously needs it." ) In either case, NO, it does not get easier. In fact, despite what we would like to believe it actually gets harder as we get older. Fear of losing--- loss of health, loss of property, loss of standing--- all confound the simpler desire to bust somebody who is painfully in need of "adjustment". When my students ask about this very thing, I often fall back on the story of the Samurai and the Zen Master ("this way is the path to Hell.....this way is the path to Heaven"). It is an easy and ego-satisfying thing to inpose ones' actions on another in the name of righteousness. It is not easy to stay your hand and allow things to unfold as they need to. Hackworth is seemingly not a very bright person so he will probably learn more slowly than most. However, you would be astonished at how many folks have contacted me over the last few months to share similar stories of abuse by this person. Some have been TKD practitioners and some have been HKD practitioners. In fact, you need only to go back to last Summer to read extraordinary claims by Hackworth regarding the standing of this KMAIA of his and how easily its standing was refuted. We don't seem to be dealing with someone of leadership ability no matter how much he may want to be a leader. And if it comes to that, there is always that OTHER KMA Net which has/had in its own right a number of folks who were likewise assualted by this person. How long will it take for Hackworth to learn that his way of doing business is NOT acceptable or productive. Hell, thats anybodys' guess, and he is undoutedly headed for a fall. But imagine what it must be like to watch folks like Rudy, JR, Ji, Myung and others build followings of people who need NOT be coerced, mislead or manipulated. So what does this have to do with your original question? The poor schlep that you saw tussling with his friends was having a hard time understanding right from wrong. You were the lucky person because you KNOW right from wrong---- and you have a great partner who has vowed to continue to help you remain true to that vision of yours. Mr. Young&Drunk will need to learn what you know and (please God) that will happen without too much damage to his Person. In a way its a little like passing a swerving car on the highway. The bad news is that car is probably headed for an accident. The good news is that it won't be with YOUR car. If you see the swerving car coming you can take appropriate actions to avoid involvement. You don't have to go after him on YOUR car to bring him to a stop at the risk of your own property and health. Is it as satisfying as playing Superman? Probably not. But you left that guys' problems behind you. Him? Hes' still stuck with them. FWIW. Feeling pretty centered today, Bruce --__--__-- Message: 6 Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2003 10:32:03 -0400 From: ABurrese@aol.com To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Re:Hapkido Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Hey all, Yes, those were actual words! :-) With the news of a friend being sent a note such as last weekend, got side tracked from sending some positive Hapkido news out. So, with a more positive thread, just wanted to share that a demo we did this last Saturday went very well, as did the class on Korean Culture that my wife, Yi-saeng, gave. Both of these events were part of a weekend long event put on by the Historical Museum celebrating 50 years since the end of the Korean War. They had veterans speak, and others about the war, about Korea, etc. It was a good opportunity to introduce things about Korea that many of those attending didn't know about. I was glad they wanted a martial art demo included, and they asked me to include some philosophy regarding Korean martial arts with the demo. So it was nice to share. This weekend, I'll be in Boise, ID, and one of the items on the agenda is to meet with the host of an upcoming seminar I'll be going down there to give, and work out the details of that. Probably get around to discussing and maybe doing some HKD too. Just depends on our timing. It's a pretty quick trip for me, with other business I have to attend as well. All this has kept me from adding to the web site as much as I'd like, but stay tuned. More about the seminars I offer and more articles will be added this month! When Ray gets back and the list is full speed again, I want to pose some questions to the list to get you thinking. Same questions I posed to my students last night in the HKD class. Till then, Yours in Training, Alain --__--__-- Message: 7 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 09:09:45 -0500 (CDT) From: To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_PhD.__=3F_?= Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Dear Folks: ".......A PhD is pretty doggone (that's Southern) easy to verify if one knows the accredited institution from which it was granted. Heck, I think my alma mater keeps all accepted dissertations on file for public review at the university library. I'm pretty sure things aren't too different elsewhere, so it wouldn't be too much of a trick......" The listing in John Gradens' publication give "Dr. Richard Hackworth, PhD. Lac." I, for one, would be interested to know what that Ph.D is in and who certified it. I know we talked about dissertations before, but is there a central clearing house for such information? Best Wishes, Bruce --__--__-- Message: 8 Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2003 11:12:37 -0400 From: RMoore7619@aol.com To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] PhD Verification Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net In response to Mr. Stovall's statement concerning verification of a PhD, verification of an accredited PhD has gotten even easier thanks to the Internet. UMI Proquest is a subscription based service that archives dissertations from accredited institutions so that they can be referenced (if you want to buy them) by up-and-coming PhD students. All one needs to access the dissertation title and granting university is the individual's first and last name. I am behind on my e-mail and don't know how the PhD conversation started, but if someone needs a dissertation checked then let me know, as my university subscribes to the service. Bobby Moore The University of Southern Mississippi --__--__-- Message: 9 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 09:55:23 -0500 (CDT) From: To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_Re-incarnation_?= Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Dear Jeremy: ".....I feel like in hapkido, we practice swinging the bat, we practice hitting the ball, we practice running, catching, throwing, and even sliding into bases. When were all done training we assume that we can play baseball well, but we never play the game itself, because we can't. Since I started taking judo, I don't feel as confident in my ability to defend myself anymore, I have come to doubt my ability to pull this stuff off, because I have never actually done it. Hapkido is still one of the most important things in my life, but there is something missing that it doesn't provide. I was wondering if these feelings of mine are par for the course or somewhat unique. Have you guys experienced this as well. What became of it?..." Its about that time again, yes? Just as sure as Christmas and April 15th each year, someone will raise the matter of efficacy in Hapkido, and once again you need to hear that you are mixing two different things. Judo is a sport and, whatever its historical underpinnings, or the physicality of its technique, you do not have to worry about dealing with a dedicated attack beyond a certain point. It is enough to win your points and leave the mat. True, some folks get pretty rough and there is always ground-work, but the intention is not to injure one-another in a match. On the other hand, Hapkido is not a sport. Its intention is to stop the fight. To this end perhaps you use benevolent indifference, or, perhaps you separate a persons' collarbone. But the idea of using the more drastic measures is usually what brings people to question things as you have done. The question often becomes, effectively, "how can we act violently without having to accept responsibilities for our violent behavior." In some cases, as in the training hall, we pull our punches and kicks and often times moderate our chokes, locks and throws. Out in the real world we hope that adrenalin and circumstances will push us to use the techniques we have learned with the necessary authority to do the job. HOWEVER--- the reason we keep coming back to this question of yours, over and over again, is because the problem lies not with the art that we practice but with the retiscence we have to do the damage that we are capable of. For a majority of the cases, in which fights are not fights but technically "challenges," this is a good thing. But for those rare life&death situations, we need to know that we can turn on the passion to do the necessary damage--- and it seems that you are unsure that you are able to do that and are wondering how to get to that point. In my own case it took going to war and the aftermath of coming back to an indifferent nation. For some people it takes a rape, assault, loss of a friend and so on. What it will take for you is anybodys' guess. We are a species born without an "operators' manual" and are expected to write our own even as we operate through life. Seems as though you have just comes across a blank page. I'm wondering what will be written here in the coming months? Best Wishes, Bruce --__--__-- Message: 10 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 08:20:16 -0700 (PDT) From: Ken McDonough To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Cc: martialscience@topica.com Subject: [The_Dojang] Mr. A. Boyd=Big Ken responds Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Mr. Boyd, your wrote a detailed analysis of an event that happened to me several weeks ago. I enjoyed reading your post along with the interesting responses of others here. I will now respond in a succinct and reasoned approach. This is not a rebuke to your comments. You stated, in part: "I thought, "Why didn't he just leave the area where the pool table was? He was clearly going to continue to be in the way." However, I also thought, "The pool player is a jerk." Response: Well, I did move to another seat immediately. Then I looked for other places to sit. None were available. As I was thinking to leave, my friend walked in. We immediately walked away across the bar to another location. Hence, my thoughts were to move away but since only a few words were exchanged my arse was still sitting on the chair. So, I properly retreated 3 times. Once to let the creep make his shot, once to another chair, and then to a location clear across the lounge. Not only that-- but prior to moving I was seeking out the bartender to intervene. Now some posters indicate that I should have left the "lounge". If we were to leave locations everytime mere negative words are exchanged we would have miserable lives and let others control our destiny. Of course if a thug in a bar really came on strong then of course you move away. Common sense. You indicate that I had many verbal interactions with the individual. Wrong again. I had one or two verbal exchanges. Then left. You indicate that if I left the area this would make me look weak ? Well, who is concerned with looking weak. I am concerned with avoiding trouble. So, I moved to another seat, then moved completely away, i.e., clear across the bar where couples were sitting. Sounds like a retreat to me ? Now, here is my premise based on a similar situation 30 years ago in a bar in upstate New York. In life, there are certain out of control individuals who will make your day miserable if they can. There is no reason for this to occur. It just happens. And, although you can Monday morning quarterback and talk about avoiding danger, the reality is that crime statistics outline many victims who did not ask for trouble. 30 years ago, I tried an avoidance method and got hammered, ended up in the hospital, and had a couple of stitches over my head from a beer bottle. That particular situation did not work. Being nice was not effective to me then. 30 years later, a similar situation developed where I retreated then initiated a premptive strike when I realized a lunatic was in front of me. What surprises me is that some martial artists here appear to have been in few real time fights. They think they are in a Dojang where you can call time out, pat each other on the back, and bow to each other and be all around nice chaps. Unfortunately, in life things come our way that we do not ask for or plan on. It is how you react, based on your training, and assessing the situation that can save you. My reaction to a situation presented to me was to strike first after I realized that I was not going to be permitted to escape or descalate the situation. Legally and behaviorally I believe my reaction was correct since I protected myself by ending a situation quickly and decisively. If I did nothing I probably would have been attacked. I used the environment to my advantage on that night. I believe that if you walk away from a confrontational individual and that individual walks after you and is escalating, that person is either a nutcase or wants to do you harm. Being nice or trying to placate may not work. Walking outside where his friend is certainly is not a great idea. So you either freeze in fear or use your senses to size up the situation, remain calm, and determine what is the best course of action. My point was that there is a martial artist who preaches trying to avoid a situation. Then if your not permitted to retreat, strike first, fast, and get out. Worry about court and other legalities later when you have safely taken the appropriate action. My only surprise here is that other martial artists or teachers are not imparting these real life scenarios to students to properly defend themselves. I mean, you can talk and debate for hours on the nuances of a form or breaking boards. But, what do you do when a lunatic is standing over you and threatening you in front of friends and appears to be ready to hurt you. Do you really think that all of these individuals want to chat and sip tea with you ? Maybe that etiquette you picked up at your school will really calm that lunatic down. Perhaps he will simply walk away delighted by your true martial artist spirit and positive vibes ? Good luck if that is your mindset. But, I won't be training at your school. Anyway...I ramble. McD... --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more --__--__-- Message: 11 From: "J.R. West" To: "Dojang Digest" Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 10:46:12 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] Thoughts Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net 1) Since there seems to be no venue for the planned upcoming event, allow me to offer my hospitality at the next "HapKiDo and Korean MA get together and goat roping" in Jackson, MS, on the weekend of the 13th of Sept. GM Timmerman can always be found here on the mats, we're quite close to FL, and gambling is legal. 2) It always seems to be the big (tall) guys that get challenged. On a recent roadtrip to MD, one of my long time dan holders mentioned how folks would come in during the late 70's and early 80's and "challenge the chief". A 4th dan student asked why this hadn't happened during his tenure at the school, and was told "by now, everyone knows the chief is a psychopath". 3) I don't think there will be any "internet cafes" in the part of Amsterdam that Ray will be frequenting, and if there are, he'll probably be broke. 4) Best wishes to Rick Nabors, and thanx for the visual with "coffee break's over, back on your heads". I remember my dad telling that story at an Irish wake in NYC when I was a lad, and I remember laughing my head off then (as now), but I didn't see the message behind the story until I was much older. J. R. West www.hapkido.com --__--__-- Message: 12 From: "Stovall, Craig" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 11:32:06 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] RE: Existential Crisis Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Jeremy wrote, <<>> Your post really struck home for me because it relates to an issue that I struggled with for years. The issue at hand is the concept of "aliveness". Before I begin, I want to give credit to Matt Thornton of the Straight Blast Gym for coining that term...at least I don't remember anyone before him using that term, and he's been one of the main forces in preaching and promoting the concept of Aliveness over the last 5 to 7 years. His material has also greatly helped to shape and illuminate my own path, and I credit him with helping put to bed a great deal of internal conflict that I felt about certain aspects of my training/experience. First of all, it's not fair to say that there aren't "dangerous" moves in Judo. The moves are as dangerous as you choose to make them. A key lock taken past the range of motion will dislocate a shoulder or elbow, and a choke (if held long enough) can render irreparable physical harm. In the same vein, a standard hip throw in which the aim is to throw your opponent onto his/her back becomes a totally different animal when the thrower alters the trajectory and causes the thowee to land on the crown of the head, or point of the shoulder. It's not that Judo techniques aren't dangerous as much as Judo promotes a training method that allows players to survive the training. Where aliveness comes into play is during the randori phase of Judo training. Here, you are taking those same techniques that were refined and developed during the kata phase of training, putting them on the mat, and "contesting" them against an alive opponent who is seeking to thwart your offense while at the same time impose their own will. Again, to borrow terms from Matt Thornton...this type of training involves motion, timing, and energy. Motion in the sense that your opponent is not standing there and "dummying" for you. They are moving in response to your actions, as well as trying to accomplish their technical goal. This simulates what I call the "maelstrom of fighting". Then you have timing. Timing is critical to everything you do whether it is striking, throwing or grappling. There is a time for everything in a fight, and one must either learn to recognize and capitalize on those opportunities, or learn to make those opportunities by utilizing proper tactics (i.e., set-ups). It's hard (some say impossible) to internalize this ability or develop these skills by endlessly repeating dead patterns. Finally there's energy. You will never get into a fight with a wooden man, so it makes no sense to devote 100% of your training against one. Humans don't fight by grabbing your lapel, and then conveniently waiting for you to eye jab and wrist lock them. On the striking end, humans don't fight by throwing an all-or-nothing lunge punch, and then standing there in a locked out position while you strike them with impunity. Humans move when they fight. They push, punch, kick, grab, shove, and tackle. And this is all going on constantly...there are no breaks in a real fight. Aliveness is the fighting environment, just as water is the swimming environment. If you want to be a good swimmer, you have to get into the water. I bet you can guess what I'm going to say next. Needless to say, there is no amount of training in the world that will adequately prepare you for a real fight on a physical, mental, and tactical level. But many (including myself) believe that using the concept of aliveness in one's training is the most logical and effective method of moving toward the goal. In a nutshell, aliveness is the environment (context, if you will) in which a fight happens. Taking aliveness out of a physical altercation is like taking water out of swimming. Without water, you can't be swimming...you're just practicing your strokes. Without aliveness (or whatever term you want to use) you can't be fighting. Now in fairness, kata (and there are different theories as to what this should be) is an invaluable training method. It cannot, and should not be replaced. To use the boxer as an example, it is not enough to simply get in the ring and slug it out with a sparring partner. The techniques and body mechanics (tools, if you will) must be refined through shadowboxing, focus mitt work, heavy bag and speed bag training, etc. The important thing to remember is that the boxer is using "kata" in a very specific manner...he/she is refining techniques that will eventually transfer "one-to-one" to the sparring environment (within the context of aliveness). I can't say the same for a lot of the "one step" type of training that I've done, as well as some of the "jujutsu style" locking and throwing that I've done. I can also say the same thing about a lot of the energy drills I spent countless hours perfecting back when I was totally immersed in the JKD Concepts world. These days, I apply a generalized version of the "see it taught, see it fought" concept in order to filter out the types of training environments that I want to be involved with (which is now slim pickings because of my current geographical proximity). BJJ is a good example. There is absolutely no disconnect between the techniques that are taught, drilled, and sparred (and eventually taken into a ring/cage). The same can be said of boxing, wrestling, Sambo, Judo, Muay Thai, Savate, and a host of other arts that a great many of the "combat experts" deride as being "nothing but sports". Now, before the host of people that I may have insulted through some inadvertent implication start pounding their keyboards in furious response...let me tell you something that you may not hear coming from many people that adhere to the concept of aliveness. Specifically, I don't believe that there are martial arts that are more inherently "alive" than others. I do believe (emphatically) that there are training methods that are more inherently alive, and therefore more effective in moving the artist toward a specific goal (fighting effectiveness). I would caution you against "reevaluating Hapkido" on a macro level. In other words, don't throw the baby out with the bath water. I would suggest reevaluating the way in which you are training Hapkido, and whether or not changing the training method would move you toward your internal goal. In the context of this discussion, I would challenge you to find ways in which to bring more aliveness into your Hapkido training, rather than reevaluating (and perhaps discarding) the entire art itself. Frankly, I believe there's a TON of great material in Hapkido, and it's a shame that I don't have the chance to train some of it...maybe in the future. What I will offer (and perhaps piss some people off in the process) is the fact that a good many Hapkido players may not have taken the time to bring more aliveness into their training, and rely on methods/drills that may be antiquated and sub-optimal in the context of moving toward a certain goal (fighting effectiveness). Whether this is done out of tradition is a matter of conjecture...but it's my suspicion. I don't for a minute question the techniques and philosophy of Hapkido...the only question in my mind is whether or not the training methods can become more alive. It's hard to bring eye gouges into an environment of aliveness, but I question the validity of any technique that "looks deadly on paper" but at the same time you've never been able to practice (internalize) at full speed and power against a resisting opponent. IMHO, you will always fall to the level of your training/prior experience...you will rarely rise to your expectations (especially under stress). Honestly, how can one learn to redirect energy if one has never experienced real energy? Then again, there's the question of whether or not changing the training methods is changing the art itself. In other words, if you started training Hapkido in a strictly alive manner, and starting filtering/adding based upon your training experience (necessity) have you stopped training "Hapkido" and started doing something else? But I think that's a question that needs to be addressed. Would aliveness filter out some of the pet techniques that are considered the hallmark of Hapkido (and a host of other arts)? That probably scares the hell out of some people...don't you think? For me, the bigger issue (and one I hope to write an article on someday) is whether you take a "context" or "technical" approach to martial arts as they apply to dealing with physical altercations. The "context" approach recognizes violence as a problem that happens within the environment of objective reality, and martial arts are a logical method to deal with that problem based upon observation, experience, and testing. In other words, the problem dictates the solution. The technical approach takes martial techniques and tries to retro-fit them to reality through intellectual rationalization, role playing, and cultural norms. In the first approach, you are the empowered creator with problem solving as the all-important goal. In the second approach, you are the disenfranchised inheritor with technical preservation/validation as the all-important goal. The first group uses aliveness (gets in the water) all of the time because it's the most effective method to solve the problem. The second group never uses aliveness because it's too uncomfortable...nobody wants to find out they've been using a screwdriver to drive a nail that's not even there, and to find out that their self-esteem was built upon a house of cards. Now, in anticipation of the cat calls...here's what aliveness is not. Aliveness is not about getting into a cage and beating the hell out of each other. It needs a little dose of it from time-to-time, but anyone can train with aliveness without degenerating to the level of a mere gladiator. Aliveness is motion, timing, and energy. It is not bare-knuckle boxing without a mouthpiece, or "all in fighting". In other words, it's not the exclusive domain of the young, strong, and aggressive (and possibly stupid). Also, people will invariably accuse me and my ilk of having a skewed context. They cry, "Martial arts isn't about fighting...it's about becoming a better human being. Get a life, barbarian!!!". Fine. Let me offer this. When I train with aliveness it is challenging, taxing, humbling, and productive on a myriad of physical, mental, and spiritual levels. When I train alive...I feel better about myself, and about what's going on around me. Does it get any better than that? Not for me. Jeremy, I hope this helps because you're at an important juncture as a martial artist. At least feel comfortable in the fact that a good many will never have this same epiphany, or (more unfortunately) suppress it because of the painful questions it demands answers for. Asking the question is a big step. Craig 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