joesteph

In Soo Bahk Do, the dan belt is actually midnight blue, not black, and white stripes are placed on the left side of the belt (hanging down from the knot) for second and third dan. When it's fourth dan, there's a red band through the middle of the midnight blue belt, and no stripes are used from there on up.

Stop sparring and speak loudly and firmly, "Would you mind exercising some control?" If the other tries to say it was your fault, respond loudly and firmly as you shake your head, "I really don't appreciate you trying to play the victim," and call for your instructor. Assert your thoughts with, "My understanding is that we're sparring in a martial arts school, not having a brawl." Another would be, "If you're trying to assert yourself that you're the alpha student in the class, I'm not impressed." (Or, "If she's trying to assert herself . . .") No matter what the other person says, you can respond with, "Since you obviously lack control when sparring, perhaps you and I shouldn't be sparring together at all." Don't be afraid to bring up the initial incident and don't worry that others will hear you. Remember that others may have already been on the receiving end of this individual, and may be glad someone is standing up to her. And don't try to make her admit she's wrong, Sibylla. That's a dead end.

Then you have experience to fall back on in judging what happened. Do you think he was trying to psych you out? Make you feel self-conscious so he could lash out at you and have you feel you're to blame? Are you new to your school and he's been there for awhile? Has he some sort of rep as the Alpha Dog? Or that he thinks he is? Are you, an experienced person, seen as a threat to him? I'm not kidding about the "Alpha Dog" comment. I ran into a problem last year with a wiseguy who I think felt he was exactly that. I told him off and spoke with my teacher twice. She arranged it so that we no longer worked together, and I don't remember the last time he attended class. I suggest you don't hold back from speaking with your instructor about those improper strikes. S/he may be unaware of them, or may even have seen them but with no complaints may think that you like to spar rough. Set the record straight, Sibylla. You're not fodder to feed his ego.

I put on excess weight during '09, so my resolution for '10 is to continue the weight loss concentration I started in December. I feel it'll make me a fitter martial artist. If you include December, then as of this morning I've lost twelve pounds, down from 200 to 188.

I don't practice Shotokan, but I do respect that it has traditions its practitioners are proud of. However, time marches on, with new--certainly not meant to be disrespectful--ways of doing things introduced. I find an aesthetic appeal to the layering way of wearing the belt, and my own art accepts both. I've noticed that the newer the (teen/adult) student, say 10th, 9th, and 8th gups, the more likely it's crossed in the back, while starting at about 7th gup there's a tendency to imitate the higher belts, who layer.

I hear you, Kuma, but if I'm in line, say to order a burger and fries at McDonald's, and a guy as big as Butterbean cuts in front of me, I'll . . . Hmmm. . . I think I'll pretend I didn't notice.

Hey! Congratulations, WireFrame! The multi-colored belt is yours to start off the new year.

A friend emailed me, asking if I'd ever heard of Genki Sudo, a favorite of hers who's recently retired though only thirty-one. I checked YouTube and found a "Best of" video. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlW0_r_japA The connection to this thread starts at 5:25, where the 155lb Sudo is against a man-mountain. The video takes turns between that fight and other events, but if you watch at 6:30, it's incredible to see Sudo defeat this giant.

My teacher is a woman (fourth dan), and her teacher (fifth dan), a woman, is the regional judge for promotions. I teach in an all-girls academy, and I've found that many had studied karate (usually TKD) while in grade school. When they're in high school, or at least in my high school, besides the usual sports appeal, they become drawn to dance troupe, the school play, and chorus--i.e., fine arts--which take up a great deal of their time. My adult class has one female student, a black belt. I do sympathize with him, especially since he's a beginner. Even though my art is non-contact, I remember hesitating with punching motions (but not others, for some reason; perhaps too "realistic"?) against my teacher, although I did carry them through. It took some time for me to "resocialize" about it. He'll get there.

Continue the weight loss concentration I started in '09. I believe it'll make me fitter as a martial artist, especially for endurance.

If you go to People Finders at: http://www.peoplefinders.com/?from=googsc4563690&gclid=CLTpxJyVr4gCFSoIFQodGEOjhw and put in his name, it shows that there is info available on him, but for a price. You'll need to have some info on him to help make certain it's the right man. Why not visit the site and see if you're interested in taking that next step?

I tried this with the stripes starting on my left side, did the layering and, after the knot, had the stripes on the left side for the finish. A benefit of this layering, as I see it, is that you have a better chance of each end of the belt being the same length as the other at completion.

I do it the first way, but I don't start on the right-hand side. Because I have stripes on my belt, and the stripes (in my art) are expected to be shown on the left-hand side, that's where I start it. When I get my boys ready for our classes together, I tie their belts the first way, which doesn't cross in the back. When I take my adult classes, there's a kids' class before mine. If a child's belt has come off, our teacher will put it on quickly with the second way, which crosses in the back. It's faster and easier.

I remember taking a course in the past called "Street Survival," Phoenix, and one of the techniques we were working on was what to do if bear hugged from behind. It was a simple maneuver, seizing the little finger of the "attacker" and bending it just enough to have your attacker/partner let go of the hold. One of the guys I was working with had a panic response and wrenched my finger (in an actual attack you'd wrench or break it). I just accepted what he'd done, with our instructor reemphasizing to everyone how to do the finger-seize without causing injury. Some people just react that way, and desensitizing--in the case I cited by doing the technique slowly and repeatedly--is probably the best way for someone to control overreaction. Would you describe yourself as an anxious person? Are you a physically small person? Was there bullying in your background? These are contributing factors that may set you off even in a practice situation. Would you feel more comfortable taking private lessons first, and then a self-defense course with different students?

Check out this video of Lee playing ping-pong--with nunchaku! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDD1NaxNan8

Blade, I agree with JusticeZero's observation, "Imagine you were someone else and read what you wrote from different eyes." I would also pay particular attention to what ninjanurse, an adult woman, said, "I am a bit uncomfortable reading about your situation Blade," and her advice to talk with your parents. As for me, I've been teaching in an all-girls academy for thrirty-five years, now. I'm fortunate to have a good rapport with my students without all the "touchy-feely" that's being expressed by your sensei. You sound young, and I don't like the regularity of attention that I believe an older female would not accept.

Thanks, Kuma. It's interesting that Jim Grover refers to it as a "disarm"; it neutralizes and allows infighting techniques.

Welcome to the Forums, Turtle!

There are many videos that instruct how to defend against a knife thrust, but this is the first one I've seen that addresses the question, "What happens if the attacker simply pulls his hand back?" The video by Moni Aizik (Krav Maga) is at: http://blackbeltmag.com/moni-aizik-commando-krav-maga-wiz-weapon-disarm/videos/215 Do you think he makes a valid claim?

"Crash & Claw" is what I think of when viewing what's referred to as a Krav Maga "Rhino" defense. It's at: http://blackbeltmag.com/moni-aizik-commando-krav-maga-rhino-elbow-defense/videos/216 This is different from Iain Abernethy's "Crash & Seize" (as I call it) attack. What Abernethy interpreted from a kata is a two-armed crash, then a seize to infight with elbows and knees. The defense demonstrated by Moni Aizik uses one arm to crash, then clawing motions with both hands against the face. I imagine it could be customized to palmheels, instead.

Congratulations, gzk. I agree with Pitbull; your instructor knows you earned it.

Sounds great, Lupin. Welcome to the Forums!

The curriculum my teacher has for us has requirements that have been in advance of what my art's federation requires for each rank, too. I just consider myself fortunate to have her, as I'm sure you feel about your past sensei and training. Are you sure you'd be allowed? I'd think you'd likely be held to the same rules of time and present rank to be allowed to take this test. Have you checked with your sensei, or just found out you were ahead? Did your present sensei inform you of this and say s/he's willing to vouch with an organization your school is affiliated with regarding your ability? A fellow student at my school was allowed to enter a forms competition, but he knew the forms higher than his rank. He was permitted to enter at his rank level, not higher, even though the regional judge passed him for the rank he was at based on the requirements of our teacher, not the federation. The rank you speak of is an extremely important one, a threshold to a new begining. In the future, you want to be able to look back at such an honor and feel honorable. I agree completely with Ichi_Geri's quote of Confucius, who wisely advises us to follow our hearts.

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all! :pony:

Hi James. Welcome to the forums. I see that TAGB is an organization in the UK. Is this a special way of establishing uniform TKD practice?