Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2005 03:04:01 -0800 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 12 #2 - 3 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. 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Copyright 1994-2005: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The Internet's premier discussion forum devoted to Korean Martial Arts. 1800 members. 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. Age, mind, life (David Weller) 2. TKD article... (Jye nigma) 3. Re: Footwork/distance (Beungood8@aol.com) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: David Weller Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 16:15:51 -0600 To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Age, mind, life Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Mr. Bareli, As a late bloomer myself I can speak with a bit of knowledge. I started TKD at the same age as yourself, 38. If you feel 25 inside and work out with intensity (which it sounds as if you do), there is no reason you will not be in MUCH better shape in 2 years. I'd guess that somewhere in life there is a turning point and physical skills and ability will deteriorate, but my feeling is that it must be in the 80's or 90's. I can kick higher and harder at 49 than I could when I began, and I really don't feel that I'm losing anything (except hair) as I age. Push yourself as hard as your body (and mind) will allow. Sooner or later your body will get the message that retirement is far in the future and will start acting more in line with your mind! Good luck, and keep kicking!!! dave weller On Jan 3, 2005, at 2:29 PM, the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net wrote: > From: "Bareli, Sol" > To: "'the_dojang@martialartsresource.net'" > > Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 10:39:17 -0500 > Subject: [The_Dojang] Age, Mind and TKD > Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net > > Not sure if my question is spiritual or physical but I am 40yo and > been doing > tkd for past 2 years and I love it. I definitely feel that I gained > momentum > and stamina but those 2 or 3 minute rounds of practice are a killer. > So, my > question is that in my mind I think I am 25 but in reality I am 40 and > not > sure to what point I should push myself; I don't mind doing it until I > physically drop with the hope that 2 years from now it will not be a > big issue > - but am I loosing as I am aging ??? so in 2 years I will be at the > same point > or worst ??? > > Sorry for the long dragging question - have a happy and successful new > year. > > Sol. --__--__-- Message: 2 Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 16:20:04 -0800 (PST) From: Jye nigma To: itf-taekwondo@yahoogroups.com, the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] TKD article... Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Taekwondo the SangRok way By Harry Heneage and Avner Wishnitzer (2004/12/23) / Recommend: 1 We have all heard the complaints that as Taekowndo gains popularity as a competitive sport it drifts further and further away from its original concepts as a martial art. How the traditional forms and inherent grace of Taekwondo are being pushed aside for sporting victories. The term Martial art its self is nearly void as competition pushes aside both the "martial/self defense" aspect of it, as well as the art itself. One look at the segmented nature of Taekwondo federations and the profit spinning nature of some (no names) organizations one starts to think that for some at the top in Taekwondo its basic principles mean nothing. This can all be pretty disillusioning for some of us who have been doing Taekowndo for many years, Yet still have a love for the energy, control and grace that Taekwondo has. So where can those of us who wish to find about the more traditional, martial and artistic parts of Taekwondo go to learn? Where can we find out about living the Taekwondo way from a Master that teaches both Taekowndo techniques and how to live the philosophy of Taekwondo as necessary to Taekowndo improvement. For some the answer lies in the Seoul. Grand Master Chang Seong Deong started The SangRok World Taekwondo Academy in 1974 to give foreigner's the chance to learn Taekwondo in Korea, in English. He took a lot of criticism at the time from Koreans who felt it was wrong to teach non Koreans their training methods. In the modern world the contact between the master and his student is very often restricted to the Dojang. Master Chang, however, believes that Taekwondo needs a much more meaningful human relationship, one that is built on mutual understanding and respect. Before a student can really learn from his Master he must understand him. The same works in the reverse. This is one of the reasons Master Chang chose a rather unique style of life for himself, a style which was more common in older times. Master Chang lives with his students in his academy, sharing with them almost every aspect of his life. The students in the academy live together in what may look like a "Taekwondo guest house". They train, eat, and sleep Taekwondo together with Master Chang. The time students spend in the academy varies. Some stay for a few weeks, some for more than a couple of years. To find a place in the world where people have dedicated so much time and thought to Taekowndo is remarkable. To have the opportunity to train and speak with these people is a wonderful thing. In this context another important, and often neglected aspect of Taekwondo is being emphasized: the relationship between fellow students. When living and training together for a long time with people who are interested and motivated, Taekwondo fuses into life and life fuses into Taekwondo. The students get a chance to learn different techniques from each other, to familiarize themselves with various styles and to exchange ideas and experiences about Taekwondo and about the martial arts way in general. The spirit of students at Sang Rok creates an excellent culture for learning about Taekwondo and people. In the actual physical training, Master Chang emphasizes some of the traditional aspects of martial arts. Competition style Taekwondo has taken over and pushed away one of the key principals of the old-school art. The main objective of many practitioners today is to beat an opponent in a ring. The concept of "SangRok" alludes to the more traditional concept of constant self-improvement. SangRok in Korean means "ever-green". It signifies the Korean pine tree which stays green all through the hard Korean winter when all the other trees stand naked. The Taekwondo student, says Master Chang, should strive to grow just like the pine tree, in spite of all difficulties. Competitions are thus, just a means towards that higher objective of constant growth which is directed towards one's self. The SangRok idea also implies the concept of the natural. Taekwondo, according to Master Chang is not separated from life. Taekwondo is life, or rather a way of life. Just like life flows Taekwondo should flow in the most natural way possible. In order to achieve that, the student must let go of anything that is confining the natural flow of movements. Rigidness, un-necessary force and exaggerated movements all have to disappear, thus giving back to the body its natural movement. Master Chang's style of teaching is old-school too. The students are expected to prove their seriousness and understanding before getting the master's attention. New techniques are only added once the older ones have been assimilated. There are no fireworks of any sort, just hard work. Not many words are spoken during the training as Master Chang prefers to direct his students to understand their own problems by themselves, with guiding ideas not constant corrections. In that too, the SangRok concept is evident: the rat race stops at the doors of the academy. Here Taekwondo gets all the time it deserves. Master Chang's sparring technique, however, is very modern. His students spend more than half of the training time improving their foot-work, which is Master Chang's specialty. Here too the key is the natural way. Movement should be fluent, effortless, graceful and powerful. The same ideas are to be seen in his Poomsae. His interpretation of the Poomsae emphasizes the combination of linear and circular movements and the ascetics of the patterns. Unlike in Poomsae competition though, the performer is not a mere actor going through the movements for the referees and spectators. Here the Poomsae is mainly for inner self improvement. The audience is thus not needed. On this base an actual fighting ability is built, one that is good not only for the ring. The martial art is filled with meaning again. The basic skills of effortless movements combined with timed attacks enable he student to develop a high-level ability to defend himself. Master Chang, also a fifth dan in Hapkido, usually saves the self-defense techniques for the more advanced students, who are already familiar with the basic principals of movement and body positioning. One must learn to walk, he says, before he can start running. For those of us who have felt that Taekowndo had more to offer yet felt unable to find it, visiting Master Chang is a great experience. For many of the students Taekowndo in the SangRok academy is the way it should be. Watching the way Master Chang moves, aged 52, is inspiring. The ease and perfection of his movement is intoxicating. In this environment, to have the chance to learn more about the body and the mind from people live what they preach is a unique thing. To spend time at Sang Rok is to bring deeper meaning to what it is to do Taekwondo. SangRok World Taekwondo Academy: www.sangrokgym.com --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Send holiday email and support a worthy cause. Do good. --__--__-- Message: 3 From: Beungood8@aol.com Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 19:42:05 EST To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Re: Footwork/distance Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net In a message dated 1/3/2005 4:53:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net writes: There was a time when I tried to teach techniques "off-the-punch" but the idea of dodging, redirecting, and assessing an incoming target just created more problems in comprehension. A grab obviates the need to assess appropriate combat distance and allows the student to focus solely on the technique. Footwork is paramont so I am willing to use grabs uniformly at lower levels (2nd guep to 10th guep) if it means the student develops go coordination between hands and feet. FWIW. Best Wishes, Bruce But if you are understanding what the footwork is accomplishing(unbalancing, and controlling distance) and teaching it that should not bew a big problem,no? I think the assessment of combat distance is as important as handplacement., Especially when dealing with bladed weapons. JAck --__--__-- _______________________________________________ The_Dojang mailing list The_Dojang@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/the_dojang http://the-dojang.net Old digest issues @ ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com/pub/the_dojang Copyright 1994-2005: Ray Terry and http://MartialArtsResource.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember September 11. End of The_Dojang Digest