Date: Sat, 12 Apr 2003 03:01:49 -0700 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 10 #165 - 7 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. Self-Assurance (Rudy Timmerman) 2. Re: Existential crisis (Eric Walker) 3. The Dojang: Existential Crisis (Kirk Koskella) 4. Existential Crisis (bill hon) 5. Mr. Robert Block (bmac2) 6. Sword Dealers (J T) 7. no warm up (freddie bishop) --__--__-- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 12:34:12 -0400 From: Rudy Timmerman To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Self-Assurance Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Jeremy writes: > 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. Hello Jeremy: In almost anything we do in life, there has to be a practice of sorts in order to become better at the particular components of whatever it is you wish to accomplish. In baseball, the best players swing bats etc. etc. until the cows come home, a boxer spars, hits the heavy, does the jogging, and skips rope for months before a fight. Their reasons for doing this is simple -- to get a better chance at the real thing. The "real thing" in Hap Ki Do can mean very different things for many people. I guess you might say there are as many reasons to practice as there are practitioners. When it comes to preparing for a real fight, all you can do is practice the components of a fight and that includes avoiding it. When the swinging starts, other things (like having the heart to finish the fight and the strategy to put the skills you practiced to their best advantage) take over. This is why the most skilled fighter does not necessarily win. If he does not possess the other ingredients (and a big portion of that is the drive/heart to win) all the skills in the world will not help him. As in the Marathon run, the winner is usually the one who can forget the pain and keep on running where others give up. Nothing is ever certain in a fight, and you must go into a fight knowing full well that you might end up hurt or dead. You just can't let that fact be an overriding issue. Bottom line is to get real good at eying up situation long before they ever start. For example: In Ken's case of the barroom brawl. I would have noticed that there might be a potential problem with the pool players because the pool table was situated too close to the seating at the bar. One could say that the whole issue could have been avoided by simply not going near that area. No ego lost by anyone:) If you know there are mines on the road, it is best not to go there. In life there are things you just stay away from, and there are other things you confront because you believe there is a need to do so. In closing, I hate to see you quit practicing Hap Ki Do because you think Judo is more realistic. Like your Hap Ki Do practice, Judo will also not allow you to go full out. The bottom line is that there is NOTHING you can do in the way of practice that resembles a real fight where you can lose your teeth or your life. All you can do is practice the components of whatever makes up a fight; and like I said, an important part of that is learning how to avoid or talk your way out of the situation (it should be in that order, because someone may not back down when talk starts). Sincerely, Rudy --__--__-- Message: 2 From: "Eric Walker" To: Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 14:43:04 -0500 Subject: [The_Dojang] Re: Existential crisis Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Jeremy, First of all let me say that you out rank me just a little, I'm testing for 1st Gup in about three weeks, having said that I have been training about six years in hapkido. I have been feeling that I'm actually begining to really learn the potential of hapkido technique. Master Toth has a lot of MA background, and we actually use some of the judo throws. I would remind you to that judo is the "gentle way" or a sport style that is not intended to injure but to score points. I don't mean to denigrate judo in any way, it can be made to be crippling with very little modification. My understanding of judo, is that it was extracted from Jiu Jitsu and modified so that you can go full power in training with a partner with out doing real damage. May I suggest that you may have come to a point in your training in which your instructor may not be able to offer you much more? I don't know who your instructor is, but it's possible. I know there is a lot of "my art is better than yours" going on in the MA world, but I am continually surprised by the diversity, and power of technique in hapkido. I find it to be most effective. I've not been in a fight since I've been training, but I did have to grab a guy in a bar once. It's kind of a boring story, but he was shooting off his mouth, I guess he didn't like the way I look. I had just started getting around again after ACL replacement and was wearing my knee-brace. He was making some stupid remarks about me, my mother, my sisters you name it. I didn't feel threatened really, so I was trying to steer the conversation a little, he was well into his cups, plus pretty big too. I tried talking about having the ACL surgery, blah, blah, blah, and something about martial arts...."HA! MARTIAL ARTS....I bet you $1000 I could kick you ass..." and nonsense like that. Well I looked away slightly and he shouts "HEY!" I turn back and he throws an elbow at me. Well before I even realized it I was under his arms and throwing a collar choke on him, and had him tipping backwards in the bar stool. He was so limp that I immediately realized that we wasn't trying to fight, just to scare me. Maybe make me fall off my stool...well I let his bar stool down onto the feet again and backed off three steps or so. He talked his BS some more, and I got out of there. He never got off his stool though after that, didn't try anything else. That was the first time I really knew that what I was training was real. My body just did what I needed it to do. Everything around me was so slowed down that I even had time to evaluate his threat level, and avoid perhaps really hurting some stupid redneck, and maybe getting myself into real trouble. My 190lbs riding his 300 to the ground with the back of his neck could have been really bad. Like hitting some one in the neck with a 500 lb sledge hammer! Anyhow, I'm sorry about the rambling. I guess I'm saying sometimes in class it might be tough to practice some of the hapkido techniques, but they are real self defense, and in my limited opinion perhaps the best. Cheers and keep up the good work. Eric Walker --__--__-- Message: 3 From: "Kirk Koskella" To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2003 15:21:00 -0600 Subject: [The_Dojang] The Dojang: Existential Crisis Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net >Message: 9 >From: "Jeremy" >To: >Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 13:30:37 -0500 >Subject: [The_Dojang] Existential Crisis >Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net >I have been having somewhat of an existential crisis with hapkido lately... >[Hapkido Training] Some how all the training still feels preliminary, like >I'm getting ready to train for real. Yes, we do realistic drills, I am >forced to improvise, and what not. Dear Jeremy Callner: I don't comment often as I feel that most of my comments would be repeated by others more qualified than I. I hold ranking in Judo as well as Senior Master Ranking in Hapkido under Grand Master Bong Soo Han. I have trained in Hapkido under several others previously and have found some of the same questions of myself that you now face. About 3 years ago GM Han and I were having breakfast in Korea and I brought up the fact that I had practiced a much more extensive curriculum prior to my training with him and wondered why there seemed to be certain limitations on his system. he was quite frank. he told me that he has taken certain things out of the curriculum which (he felt) did not work. He refined the simplist techniques and focused on a students grasp of the simplicity. Later a student refines the techniques, expands and embelishes on the knowledge gained, then works the techniques in practivcal sparring and attack situations. The result is Instructors which have been with GM Han for more than 30 years who have "just" earned a 6th Dan Black Belt. I was asked not to practice certain techniques with these seniors until they had grasped and had obtained the ability to demonstrate complete confidence in their abilities. It may take as long as 5 to 7 years to reach a first dan Black belt under GM Han. Your confidence, however, is ever strong. I would encourage you to repeat the lessons learned - so they become second nature. In sparring or self defense practice, I would encourage you - Control the situation - Act, do not react. And contrary to popular opinion, volunteer, assist others in the refinement process. Doubt may be there. If I were challenged, I would do everything in my power to walk away. However, if I were protecting you or others - No one could prevent me from my responsibility... my victory. As a 1st Dan, take baby steps. Let's talk about it again when you are a 3rd, 4th or 6th Dan. You shouldn't have to wonder. Judo for me is a fun diversion. Hapkido for me is a splendid way of life. Kirk I. Koskella Executive Vice President Grand Master Bong Soo Han's International Hapkido Federation _________________________________________________________________ STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail --__--__-- Message: 4 Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2003 21:02:09 -0700 (PDT) From: bill hon To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Existential Crisis Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Hi Jeremy, I think I was/am in the same boat. I am TKD trained but was not sure I could use my training & will I be not as able as I grew older & is TKD not for self defense etc etc. Doubts & more questions. So I took up Wing Chun but I found the art very different from TKD & was not as easy to apply as most adverts make it to be. Anyway I am still continuing both arts but I would most likely use TKD if was in a bad situation. I did change my TKD training somewhat & focus more on combinations & condtioning thru combinations. I know combinations might not be a good method of training for self defense situations but I was trying to improve muscle memory. I still have some doubts on TKD blocks being effective but it may me rather than TKD blocks which is the problem. I train alone most times but I think increased sparing time would help. All said I think if I persevered my TKD would not let me down in a self defense situation & hopefully over a few years my Wing Chun would have reached a level of competency that would complement my TKD. Bill Hon __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://tax.yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 5 Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 10:41:39 -0500 From: "bmac2" To: Subject: [The_Dojang] Mr. Robert Block Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net First please let me apologize for using this forum to communicate with an individual. Hello Mr. Block, I have attempted to answer the email you sent me yesterday, unfortunately it keeps getting kicked back. Please contact me at BMAC2@ev1.net or feel free to call me at the dojang (713) 283-6000 with a better reply address. Thank you again for your interest in NKMAA and I am hopful we can help. To the DD, thank you for your patience and allowing me to use this forum to contact Mr. Block. Sincerely Kat ________________________________________________________________ Sent via the EV1 webmail system at mail.ev1.net --__--__-- Message: 6 Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 13:53:36 -0700 (PDT) From: J T To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Sword Dealers Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Does anyone here or in Korea have connections to a good sword dealer? Jeremy __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://tax.yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 7 Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 15:09:03 -0700 (PDT) From: freddie bishop To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] no warm up Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net I have trained in the martial arts for about 20 years, although I have not been interested in rank promotion, I am now regretting my decision for not seeking advancement. I have read in many books regarding the subject of warming up muscles before stretching them or performing athletic movements. My sons' Tae Kwon Do instructor makes his students stay seated before class starts. The class begins with meditation, and then they go right into ballistic stretching. This instructor has obviously not come out of the cave recently! I have tried to passivley hint around about various training subjects, which the instructor brushes off with "Thats the way I was taught" and "It works for me". The other Tae Kwon Do school is even worse. I might keep my kid outside and run him around in the grassy area to get him warmed up for stretching. Does anyone have suggestions? Fred __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://tax.yahoo.com --__--__-- _______________________________________________ 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