tenshinka

Was He Justified? Well yes and no. I would say that it is indeed "Joe's" responsibility not only as a martial artist, but as a human being, and upstanding citizen to try to protect the store clerk. One the other hand as a trained martial artist, you would think that he would have been able to control the situation a bit more, than simply causing the death of the attacker. It would really just depend on the moment, the state of the attacker etc. We can talk about it all we want, but in reality, put yourself in the situation, really be there...You dont know for sure how you would react.

Shureido is Hand-Crafted and Made In Okinawa Classical Kobudo Weaponry, and Dogi. http://www.shureidousa.com/ For Chinese weapons, I know that Wing Lam Enterprises has connections for some good stuff, and even some antique weapons. Now, Japanese swords are ANOTHER story...There are many capable craftsmen here in the states, and abroad...Although I have heard many good things about Bugei Trading Company.

Its up to the student, and their instructors...Some have the aptitude for it right off the bat, and some dont. Dr. He-Young Kimm (founder of Hanmudo) has a 9th dan in Judo/Yudo from the Kodokan, and the Korean Yudo College. He also has 9th dan in Hapkido, and 8th dan in Kuk Sool, and a 5th dan in Tae Kwon Do, I believe. He encourages his students to study one martial art as a primary, and two martial arts as minors. Its an interesting way to look at it... Personally, I think it all depends on the individual...Hell some have simply more time to devote to MA than others. But also, one need to keep in mind that if you chase too many rabbits into the hole, you come up with none...Jack of all trades, master of none etc. Its totally dependent on the individual and his/her instructors.

Its not lifting your knee so much, as it is lifting it with power (a strike). There is another consideration for you to keep in mind, is that you actually want to avoid fully extending, and snapping your knee joint, same goes for blocks, and punches. When I started I actually got some elbow injuries from gedan barai (hadan mahkkee)... Your issues, sounds as though you will have to work extra hard on the conditioning...Try doing bicycle exercises (laing on your back, and "pedaling"), as well as squats, and stretches. Also, work on the front knee strike, with power. Since you are already doing OK on that, continue the motion with the kick, just do it slow, as far as you can, and hold it for a few seconds. Be sure to train equally on left and right sides...Its just going to take practice, and perseverance my friiend (which is what MA is all about)...As an example, I can throw great spinning hook kicks with my left leg, and can barely do one with my right...We all have "things" we must work on harder than others. The key is to train with intelligence (do not engage in senseless or reckless practice), and keep at it...Don't get discouraged, and don't give up And oh, the ball of the foot is the "pad" right below the toes. take care,

Chizikunbo, Credit Card

In our art we have a set of guiding principles...your post reminded me of a couple of them...First: 10.) Ask questions freely of the master or superior because you must strive to understand what you are learning. and Second: 2.) Be polite and obedient to the master and other superiors. Be courteous among fellow students and followers. You must strive to develop humbleness. Your instructor should take joy in being able to help you learn the art, and understand what you are doing. If they do not know an answer to a question, they should be able to find out...We are all learning...If they become defensive, or do not want you to ask questions, maybe its time to find another place to train. The second principle is important, because you should ask questions, so as to be polite, and maintain a respectful tone, and attitude. Be patient, if an instructor does not know an answer to a question, don't make a big deal about it in front of the class, but maybe ask him/her on the side after class if he/she could find out. The mark of a good teacher, and a good student alike is respect. If this is kept in mind, it is likely with you will not have issues imho, --josh

Go with a 5, or 5 1/2, 6 would be a bit too large.

One Word: Marketing... Look at the American Tae Kwon Do Association, and the like...The Korean Styles were not afraid to do what the "traditional" other systems would not...Achievement patches, screen printed uniforms, 500 belts (so you always feel like your progressing, hell ATA has a "camo" belt)...The squared the market on "krotty" and keeping mommy and daddy happy...If I remember right, the concept of the "jr black belt" came from the TKD camp...Joon Rhee (of TKD) invented the popular foam dipped gear, that made sparring more palatable to the masses, who would not want to endure the knock out, bloody kumite matches of 1970's karate. Early TKD, was VERY simply, and easy to grasp, which allowed many practicioners to quickly become proficient, open their own franchises, and spread the art like wild fire. Everyone is worried about that "black belt" the Korean arts knew that, and in addition to the jr black belt, they began allowing practicioners to achieve a BB in as few as 2 years, whereas traditional karate is take 4-10 years. They allow you to be called "Master" at 4th dan...There is so much... Granted this is not true of ALL KMA, or TKD...Hapkido for one, is not easy to progress in, and they dont care so much about the marketing and the like...But TKD simply saw early on what was needed to succeed with westerners, and were not afraid to adapt to make it work...It was not hard for them, as *most* Korean Martial Arts modern history dates to 1945, not too much tradition to change lol fwiw, --josh

Weight Positioning.

Hello Lachrymosa, This is the exact problem I was used to facing with many of my own students, in teaching Tang Soo Do (which is known for its high, dynamic kicking techniques). I found that many of my students could not initially perform a front kick to our standards. Basically, our job as teachers is to first, and foremost aid the student in gaining pugilistic ability. Throwing sloppy front kicks is not going to aid in "fighting skill". If we analyze the technique, we know that like all power techniques, it follows the same theory of power generation: Power Moves From The Largest Joint (Hip) to the smallest join (in this case toes) in order, without interruption. The second joint in the front kick is the knee, which is a hinge joint...It only bends one way, that is, the same way it bends when we walk or run, or whatever. With this in mind, I teach the technique initially to my students, not as a kick, but rather in the form of a front knee strike (ap mu roop chagi). The front knee strike is basically an exaggerated walking movement (thus the muscles, and the movement itself are already partially developed). Because this is already a familiar movement, it also is more practical for initial students defensive needs. So is you practice front knee strikes, aim for the soler plexus level on your opponent, and just practice with both legs over, and over...It helps develop and stretch the muscles and tendons, and aids in developing balance. When you become proficient at the knee strikes, all you have to do is start unfolding the knee, curl back your toes, strike with the ball of the foot, and you have a VERY good front kick. best wishes in your training.

There are several reasons the student could be at your school: perhaps the old school closed, the student moved, instructor quit teaching etc. etc. etc. As teachers we should TEACH. I find that most often when a student shares with an instructor, the way they have been taught to do things in the past, it is not often a "my way is better" scenario, but rather is it the student seeking to understand the hows and whys of the difference, and the methodology that makes each work as a component in your particular art of style. In the west, we are an inquisitive people. We don't just want to mimic movements, but we want to understand why we are doing things, and what causes them to work, and be a beneficial part of our training. fwiw, --josh

Awesome...Thanks!

Have you looked into any of Iain Abernethy's work? He delves into katas quite a bit, and has done extensive research on the applications. Ian Abernethy has done some interesting work, but it is no where close IMHO to the surface of the depth of which Taika Oyata reveals through his art form. Abernethy's stuff would sort of be like reading a book about dissecting frogs, while trying to operate on a human. The Kata are indeed quite unique, and I would suggest that the best reference guide, Ryute-Newbee is your instructor. fwiw, --josh

No Problem... Yeah, The the founder of the Kwon Bup Bu, Byung In Yoon, went missing sometime during the war (leaving the KBB defunct), and thus some of his senior students started (Lee, Nam Suk, and Kim, Soon Bae) started the Chang Moo Kwan as an extension of their teachers lineage, and it evolved in its own right...That is until the adaptation of Kukki TKD. Within the Kukkiwon, Kwans exist only as "Fraternal Friendship" organizations. The Moo Duk Kwan is the only one that never merged...It has a strong an interesting history...If you want to read about the other side of the story I would recommend Hwang Kee's "50th Anniversary History of The Moo Duk Kwan"...It is usually for sale on eBay from the US Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation...Its a good read, and I would say essential for any Tae Kwon Do'in interested in the "other side of the story"...TKD is tried to cover up the MDK's past for whatever reason... --josh

Juche as a philosophy may have clear ties to NK but in reality does its name really affect the pattern? The definition given to ITF practitioners is Juche in its barest form minus the political applications and for the majority fo your average students a lot of them don't even know what Juche really means. For me the name is quite fitting if you use the definition given by the ITF. Its a tough pattern to do and requires a lot of work to get it right; i.e. it requires mastery over oneself in order to perform each and every move perfectly. You don't have to follow the political applications at all as long as you take away the general meaning of it. Hi DWx, I know that the General created his tul very carefully. Even from the number of movements to what side of the body the final technique is executed on. So the name change does not really change the pattern (your dead on there)...But as stated before, it obviously must bother some people...ITF-C, as I understand it, has always been a bit drastic on changing things...But c'est la vie. If they have happy Tae Kwon-Do'in thats all that matters right?

Talk to the person about it...If they are unresponsive/rude etc. or pose a risk to your health, talk to your Sensei about it...If it continues...Find a new place to train...You are not their to be hurt....some discomfort is part of the package, but not abuse. best wishes,

Why do you NEED rank? best wishes,

http://www.oniforge.com/

One only need to look to Cannon Fist to see the true meaning of Taiji...Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming has some interesting books that detail some of the more combat oriented methodologies of Taijiquan...Taiji Theory and Martial Power is a good place to start, in addition to Taiji Chin Na, and Tai Chi Chuan Martial Applications... I have not seen the CFA article, I will have to check it out...Thanks!

I know in Kukkiwon you need to be a 4th dan to recommend students for dan rank...However, in most other systems a 2nd dan is able to award a 1st dan (usually under the supervision of a chief instructor) but its not unheard of. I would look at some independent associations, that can help you out...For instance, I would personally recommend Grandmaster Rudy Timmerman's National Korean Martial Arts Association, which is a Non-Profit organization that is truly their to helps its members. GM Timmerman is a great man, and an EXTREMELY knowledgeable and capable teacher. His website is https://www.nkmaa.com Another man that has a good reputation that could help you out is Master George Petrotta and his International Sung Ja Do Association (https://www.sungjado.org)...He is a Kukkiwon certified Master, and is also certified through GM Humesky's Universal Tae Kwon-Do Brotherhood (https://www.utbtaekwondo.us)...Both of the latter organizations can help you in furthering your own Tae Kwon Do knowledge, and gaining further rank and instructor certification (including Kukkiwon, and independent is desired). Best Wishes In Your Training! --josh

Being the instructor you should correct his form, and techniques to your schools standards. Which means, if his stances are too shallow for your schools stances they need to be corrected to be deeper. The students ability to take on instruction, and constructive criticism would certainly quickly bring out what kind of student he/she is. Look at is this way, if he performed Chong Ji tul at a belt testing in your school, would he pass or fail it? That should tell all. fwiw, --josh

The five original Kwans were Song Moo Kwan (Byung Jik Ro), Chung Do Kwan (Lee Won Kuk), Moo Duk Kwan (Hwang Kee), Kwon Bup Bu which became Chang Moo Kwan (Byung In Yoon/Lee Nam Suk), and Yun Moo Kwan, which became Jido Kwan (Sang Sup Chun)...These 5 kwans were established after the liberation of the Korean peninsula in 1945. Subsequently Han Moo Kwan, Oh Do Kwan, Kang Duk Won, and Jung Do Kwan were later established, and became major players. To be sure, it was mentioned earlier that the Moo Duk Kwan exists in TKD and TSD. The TRUE Moo Duk Kwan exists now, only as SOO BAHK DO. The founding Master of the Moo Duk Kwan (Hwang Kee) was involved in the unification talks with the KTA when it was being formed, and later decided to drop out of the Tae Kwon Do movement...Along with Jidokwan I believe. Hwang Kee, Kwan Jang Nim, went through many legal battles and won to keep his Moo Duk Kwan and Korea Soo Bak Do Association seperate from the Tae Kwon Do movement. Some students of Moo Duk Kwan decided to stay with the TKD movement, and formed their own Moo Duk Kwan within the TKD (without the knowledge or consent of Hwang Kee, Kwan Jang Nim). His style was Tang Soo Do until he changed the arts name to Soo Bahk Do. fwiw, --josh

This change was only implemented by the ITF-C of Master Choi Jung Hwa (son of General Choi Hong-Hi)...The change is in name only...The physical pattern Kodang has been dropped, what they are doing is taking the name Kodang and applying it to the current form Juche. General Choi wanted TKD to be universal, and for all people. For those who dont know, Juche is the "official" political ideology of the communist North Korean state. Thus, Juche has close ties with communist ideals...this is not OK with many people, and thus ITF-C wants to make the change, so that the form is more palatable to current TKD practicioners, avoiding political ties that could potentially cause riffs within TKD. fwiw, --josh

Rotating the foot serves a couple of purposes, foremost it is a needed action to properly align the hip for impact into the target. The proper rotation of the foot (as I originally learned it) is about 45 degrees, pivoting on the ball of the foot, the toes point away from the direction of the hip. Be careful not to hurt yourself though...develop gradually! Best Wishes! --josh

http://utbtaekwondo.us/itf.htm