sensei8

But once you got back onto that horse, so to speak, everything came back....huh? Aren't you glad that you did despite the pain?

I've noticed that students today strive and push and drive and train and whatever else that's necessary to reach THEIR own personal goals. In the martial arts, the ending goal is for the laymen is the black belt. Once that is attained, they move on to something else!! Their black belt was their goal, and now that it's been attained....mission accomplished!! Students of today, imho, seem to have it in their minds that multiple Dan rankings are for only the career minded martial artist, not for the laymen black belt.

Surely you're joking?! Those are considered to be the same level technique? Gup & Dan Manual published by the US Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation, Copyright 2009, p. 96: - Breaking (Kyok Pa) - Tuel Oh Choong Dan Kong Kyuk or E Dan Dollyo Cha Gi It's a kicking art, and the finale of the 3rd gup test is the board break by E Dan Dollyo Cha Gi--jump roundhouse kick. The inclusion of Tuel Oh Choong Dan Kong Kyuk--reverse middle punch--makes sense to me if you're just interested in someone being able to break a board. It's likely claimed to be there to accommodate persons with health issues, but I still find no reason to have a jump roundhouse break as proof (fail it, you didn't pass the test; redo the break attempt within a month; what happens if you still can't do it?) that you're a 3rd gup. Me? I'd choose the reverse punch board break. I don't believe my promotion should be held up or denied based on acrobatics. Funny how it is...that the governing bodies are so often second-guessed when it comes to rank requirements by those who are close as well as by those who are afar!!

First of all, please allow me to congratulate you, no matter how premature, so...CONGRATS!! My very first grading almost became my last grading. Why? I literally wet myself!! Just as soon as my Dai-Soke barked at me...I wet myself. Wet gi pants and all, I ran home, totally embarrassed. I was only 7 years old. Even now, I'm embarrassed in sharing my first grading because it wasn't my most proudest moment. How did I feel? I wasn't scared at all, no, I was totally and utterlly PETRIFIED!! How did it go? It didn't...well...I did...all over the front of my gi pants. Did it turn out the way you expected it to? Ahhhh...no...it didn't. It's bad enough to have had a public wetting display, but it's even worse because just as soon as I had wet myself, I didn't even complete the grading, no, I ran home immediately, and I didn't even bow out. I didn't have to I guess because I left a trail behind me. Ok...now I've got to put a bag over my head!! Total shame!!

That's cool, but, what's easy for some, is difficult for others no matter the rank.

Patrick, Do you think that Moss could've "fit" into the Dolphin way across the board?

Shindokan does have tameshiwara in it's curriculums, and it's one of the requirements to advance in rank. Curriculum's are age/rank based. The younger the student the less is required in both technique and material. The older the student the more is required in both technique and material. Having said that, the "more" is dependant on two things: Experience and/or rank. No child students are premitted to train on the makawara!

No, I said that IT CAN limit mobility. Lack of experience in using this particular stance is how IT CAN limit mobility. The more one uses it, the easier the mobility is.

Impressive!! When you listen to her explanation it does all fit and fall into place. Thanks for sharing Joe!!

MLB fans, you might like this interesting regarding the upcoming FREE AGENT info... http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AgwXQQtclkdAlv8xA9yeIzc5nYcB?slug=jp-freeagenttracker110810 What do you think? See anything you like/dislike?

Well....the Bengals got more points than I had predicted, but, the Steelers still won, as I predicted. Final MNF score...27-21. TO had 2 TD's himself. Bengals used all they had, but, the steelers used Harrison's shoulders to save the win on the Bengals last play.

LOL...good point!!

If what you're saying is true, then I can only hypothesize that all styles of the martial arts shall never find that common and/or that neutral ground for the betterment of the martial arts.

Absolutely! Tuite is very big in Shindokan, so much so, that everything is built around it, and in that, everything leads up to and ends at Tuite. Enjoy this... http://www.ikigaiway.com/2009/tegumi-okinawan-grappling-and-wrestling/

While I still like to watch and judge the Creative/Freestyle Kata divisions, I do agree that most of the techniques used by the competitors in these divisions are for pure "entertainment" value, and in that, their acrobatics and the like have no valid effectiveness across the board when the martial arts are concerned. Irregardless, I enjoy these divisions because of the free expression of self in their movements. I'm judging on creativity and the likes akin to a judge of gymnastics and/or Ice skating, not on whether their "technique(s)" are valid and effective technique(s), because, most, not all, of their technique(s) are superficial, imho. I say not all because basic kihon can be seen. Like in a reverse punch or in a front snap kick or downward block. These are mixed in with the other acrobatics to, if for no other reason, fill in the blanks here and there. No, for me, it's the expresson of self that I enjoy, just as I would if I was watching some other form of entertainment; self expression in the Creative/Freestyle Kata divisions, to me, is just that, entertainment. Imho, entertainment isn't suppose to be taken so serious. After all, when I've spoken to competitors before and after these divisions, they all, in their own ways, tell me that they do it as a way to relax and to be not so rigid in thought and fixed and bounded in the methodologies and the like that is found in the traditional divisions. The olympic ice skater is bound and fixed in their performances for their run at the gold medal. Then, this same gold medalist olympiad is now skating, for example, with/for the Disney On Ice, now, this same skater uses her/his free expression for their, as well as our, entertainment purposes. That same Pro Tour skater wouldn't ever think of using those same "movements" that are used while on tour for their reclaiming another olympic gold medal. Freestyle/Creative divisions are meant to be fun for all; competitiors and spectators alike.

Solid post!! I turned off the video, which I've seen before, just as soon as I saw, this "7th Dan", how he tied his belt...sloppy.

Not really. Kumite and any form of rule based fighting you can only practise say 30% of potential techniques as in a real fight. You/we are practicing timing, footwork in a stand up fight with guards etc. When was the last time you saw someone lift their hands up in a guard positon for a street fight, measure the distance and pull off a straight reverse punch? I haven't. Do you practice glassing someone in your dojo? Do you practice poking eyes out? Tearing a set of keys across someone face? Ripping a finger out of it's socket? stamping on peoples rib cage? Pulling out a pen from your pocket and stabbing someone in the face? Pushing one opponent away from you as someone else comes in behind you with a knife? What you practice in the dojo is different to what you would use in a real fight. I've already offered up my thought/opinion, therefore, the summation of 'why' is to the summation of 'because'!!

It boils down to one thing, imho, and that is....SELF EXPRESSION. Isn't that the core, and the right of every martial artist? To express themselves honesty to not only themselves, but to others as well. After all, self expression is of one's own personality, feelings, or ideas. The practioner of music Kata is doing it for themself, first, and for the observer second. Hopefully, not always, the observers sees and feels what the practitioner is displaying through movements. The music sets THEIR Kata alive and without the music, it's STILL that practitioners own interpretation of body movements. Kata to music allows just that!! A chance to see the practitoner put movements to music; this, imho, is beauiful to behold. Just as when we see dance put to music; its the dancers chance to express themselves honestly, as the visual properties of that music comes alive. It's the beauty of watching the human body EXPRESS ITSELF!! Isn't that beautiful to behold? It is to me! I don't watch Kata done to music for it's effectiveness as much as I do for its beauty through expression. Effective techniques will exist no matter the venue!! They either are or they aren't. But, imho, that's not what's important about the Music Kata division. No. Music marries Kata, and that is beauty, both in art and in the individual. I've never seen a rose as beautiful as THIS ROSE!! Nothing will change that fact! In that, art is interpretated differently by its viewers. I see this picture my way, and someone else sees that same picture their way and the next person sees that same picture their way, so on and so on, but the picture remains the same in our eyes. So, is music Kata only for its effectiveness in the martial arts? Imho, it's not!! Parameters change because people change; it's inevitable, and in that, we need to accept that change. Take a step back and don't judge music Kata for only its martial arts context, but judge it for its martial arts beauty! As a matter of fact...don't judge music Kata at all; allow it to just exist for what it's meant to be. Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction, hence music Kata! See it for what it is...BEAUTIFUL SELF EXPRESSION!!

Rule based fighting=A safe means to fine tune knowledge/skills Real fighting=A real means to those fine tuned knowledge/skills Imho!!

OUCH....Dallas Cowboys...1-7!! The only saving grace is that the Bills have a worse record of 0-8. Well, there's always next year! How about them fighting JETS!! AWESOMENESS!! Tough loses for the Chiefs and the Dolphins...sorry Patrick and Brian. 6 real closes games...congrats to the winners of those real close games! 3 blow-out games...congrats to the winners of those dominate games! Congrats to the other winning teams!! MNF...Bengals (2-5) hosting the Steelers (5-2)...the Bengals have lost 4 straight games...so, my prediction for this game will be...21-7 for a Steeler win. This weeks bye teams: Broncos, Titans, Rams, 49ers, Redskins, Jaguars Next weeks bye teams: Packs, Raiders, Saints, Chargers GO COWBOYS!!!!

"Teaching martial arts" can be a very difficult task for both the writer as well as the reader because not all black belts can teach!!

In your opinion...The martial arts PLUS a controlled environment EQUALS...what?

Funny thing about the back/L stance is that, for the most part, I've primarily seen said stance used only in one venue time after time...KATA!! In Kumite, I've rarely seen this said stance. Front and side stance seem to be the stance of choice. We don't see the cat or diagonal side or hour glass or the many other unseen stances used in Kumite. Now, the weight distribution to the rear in the back/L stance can limit mobility. However, imho, lack of experience ISN'T the true reason of it's limited use in Kumite. The true reason is more than likely a choice of "comfortability" preference. Nonetheless, the back/L stance is an effective stance when it's used in its proper context. Obvious to me, Kumite isn't the proper context for most practitioners.

Thanks Bob! But I don't actually have any students atm... would love to have my own class/school in the future but with all the studying for uni and other things I don't really have time for my own training let alone have time to teach others. These are just some teaching ideas and methods based on my own learning and experiences which I occasionally get to inflict on others at the school I train at and that I'll work on with sparring partners if they're less experienced. Well, then your fellow TKD practitioners are luck to have you to train with and have fun with!! However, when, and if, the day comes to you and you open your own dojang, those future students will be very luck to have you as their instructor!!

You're welcome Patrick!!