KickChick

TKD's was heavily influemced byJapanese karate that was introduced into Korea just after World War II. Efforts "koreanize" the Japanese karate influence have left TKD divided into two entities: a traditional martial art (ITF) and a competitive sport (WTF). There are few written records on ancient Korean history so factual information on Korean martial arts is scarce and sketchy. Because of this, most Korean martial arts writers find something in Korean history to support their claims that TKD has been around for many thousands of years. Many modern masters of the Korean martial arts claim they can trace the origins of their systems back to the dawn of Korean civilization. Unfortunately, virtually all records of the actual techniques of the ancient Korean martial arts were destroyed by the Japanese forces which occupied the Korean Peninsula from 1909-1945. The earliest known names for Korean martial arts that formed the foundation of TKD were Subak or Taekkyon. Taekkyon did not use many stances, but it had very developed kicks, leg jams, and sweeps. The aim in Taekkyon fighting was to defeat the opponent, not to injure him. Kicks were below chest level and most were circular in movement, not straight. Hand techniques were circular movements without using fists. They primarily were used for palm-push blocks and grasping to set an opponent up for a kick attack. As the Japanese arts gained in popularity in Korea, several kwans (schools) that taught Japanese influenced martial arts sprang up in Korea. I won't go into the whole history (in the 1940's) of the 8 Kwans (Korean schools) but in 1953, majority of the kwan masters met and chose "Tae-soo-do" as the name for Korea's developing martial art. Two years later Tae kwon do was formally recognized as a martial art in Korea developed by Gen. Choi Hong Hi. He had developed and taught a new style of Taekkyon he called Tae kwon do to the Korean army, air force, and police. At the time, his TKD was a merely Korean version of Shotokan Karate that he had learned in Japan. An effort to "Koreanize" TKD and remove its Japanese karate connections, and to "competitionalise" Taekwondo ... so these changes were implemented in 1963 .... the beginning of KTA which eventyually I believe became the WTF somewhere along the way.

I am just being realistic here ... time will tell. (and so will the body ) I won't desert you ... I will be involved as 2nd dan in TKD for as long as I can.

Bravo Don ... this is both entertaining and informative. I have learned so much from you and have had my memories reawakened of those catholic school girl days when Sister Bernadine used to crack me with the yardstick out in the courtyard. I thought she was gonna kill me I swear!!!

Thanks... ... I have Po Eun memorized, now just have to "perfect" it. I have been following the mpegs on the ITU site ... and have written copy also. Next is Ga baek. Although my instructor said I could test under the old requirements (because of the new change) I feel it isn't right. This may be the last "dan" for me .... so I want to "do it right"!

In some schools (like mine ) women martial artists are treated no differently than men rankwise. For example, women at gold belt and up are expected to be able to withstand the same intensity of contact as men of the same rank. This is good and not good. From the standpoint that it teaches women a more realistic viewpoint on what can happen in a true self defense situation, it’s good. But rank for rank is usually not pound for pound when it comes to sparring and self defense. That’s why professional boxing matches limit the weight differences to about 4 pounds. It’s not that women are pansies necessarily (think about childbirth) it’s that they’re usually outweighed by 20,30 or even 100 pounds! If you’re a guy, six foot and 200 pounds, then fighting a five foot, 100 pound female might not seem like that big a deal (to you). But reverse the proportions and think about fighting a guy 7’2" and weighing 400 pounds ... It’s the same ratio! Is that a fair fight? I think not!!!!! Then theres the flip side.... The guys take it super easy on women and they never really learn what a real attack feels like ... so they may be lulled into a false sense of security, thinking they can successfully defend themselves when in reality they just don’t know. Then again, some instructors won’t even allow women the opportunity to test their skill in sparring against the big guys. I was at the receiving end of a powerful sidekick to the ribs (which were damaged) from one of those big guys early on in my training but it taught me how to block more effectively in the future! So overall, guys should help women by being realistic in self defense attacks without going overboard by breaking ribs (or noses) in sparring. Are there guys out there like that? Sure there are, and as women we can also help them learn what we expect and how to handle sparring and self defense situations appropriately. "Not too hard, not too soft, but just right". Most instructors who have had women students have enough finesse to help the male students understand this. And a supportive instructor is key. _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-07-15 12:52 ]

"There many examples of proliferation of distortion and disinformation in the field of Tae Kwon Do. That is .... the nonsense that TKD is a native ancient Korean martial art. This has been a long-standing cultural and political effort by the Koreans, both abroad and here in the U.S., to expunge from the record, the fact that the origins of Tae Kwon Do are in fact Japanese, NOT Korean. The term itself wasn't coined until 1955. The founders of these styles, which were not founded until after 1945, were either taught their martial art in Japan or Japanese instructors. The founder of Ji Do Kwan, Dr. Kwae Pyung Yoon, received his training in Japan. His style's curriculum uses Japanese forms entirely. The Korean forms that are being practiced in many styles today were not developed until the early 1960's. Until the early 1970's, many Korean styles were using Japanese forms and terminology. The Korean Federations that govern Tae Kwon Do did not exist until the early 1970's. This is not an art that goes back "thousands" of years (even hundreds). At best, it goes back less than 60 years." _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-07-14 18:49 ]

We are still following the same ITF forms ... just increased the number of forms for each dan level. (basically all we needed to know for 1st dan was Kwang Gae. I am finding a real hard time with Po Eun only because the form repeats half of the 36 movements mirrored for the opposite side. That is you finish the form by doing left to right techniques facing forward but then do them right to left.... what makes it difficult to learn is that you must also do them with the opposite hands/feet that you used in the first half of the form. Also becuase we are following the example of how forms are being performed by the ITU there is much more "breathing" emphasis ("phft" ) and lower stances, circular sine waving, and much more crisper blocking techniques that are now required....

ok.... most of you are aware I will be going for 2nd dan soon (9 lessons more!) Well, last week our school joined the ITU ... forms/belts haven't changed but dan requirements have under their organization. We will still have a breaking requirment of: Breaks 1 BOARD SPEED BREAK PUNCH 1 BOARD SPEED BREAK RIDGE HAND 1 BOARD SPEED BREAK SPINNING HOOK 1 BOARD SPEED BREAK ROUNDHOUS Black Belt advanced techniques must Be adequately demonstrated Form: Kwang-Gae (now we have to learn 2 additional black belt forms, Po-Eun and GE-BAEK) in order for 2nd dan Now since this is a recent change my master instructor has told me that I needn't learn them for my test but if I choose to "try" and learn and perform for my test I can. I've decided to, yes, learn both and do to the best of my ability for my 2nd dan test.... which I now believe won't happen for a few more months! Has anyone ever had a change in their requirements such as this? _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-07-14 14:44 ]

Basic history .... you need to learn before you open up your mouths. If you aren't sure of what you are saying ... please don't look like a fool. I only hope that all of us as martial artists strive for harmony in all things ....

hey guys, we are talking about the performance of "kata" being a waste of time ...not fighting and not which country or what race jumps, fights or dances better..... because I train in TKD, am female and probably look far better than you in tights.... does that make me a better ballet dancer than you! Bon, you have to view kata as a training method (physically & mentally) .... not a fighting method per se. .... and certainly not a waste of time if in fact you are developing these techniques: Stronger, faster, and more effective kicks, blocks, and strikes Stronger and more secure fighting stances and positions Sparring techniques Defensive and offensive moves for every self-defense situation Build endurance Condition muscles to be harder and stronger Rhythm and grace of movement Awareness of oneself and body Effective breathing techniques _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-07-14 14:19 ]

...yeah, I'd imagine breathing would be difficult in that given situation. When punching or kicking the technique has to finish while air is coming out or the lungs. Breathing should be done with nose at all times. Breathing with the mouth comes in most cases more natural but is less healthy then breathing through the nose. In sparring it is very dangerous to keep the mouth open. In case of a punch or a kick hitting the head while the mouth is open can cause teeth to chip, tongue damages or the jaw can easily dislocate with painful conseguences. It's very important to remember that while performing hard physical work (e.g. sparring) the body requires extra oxigen intake. While sparring it is essential to show the fact that you are not running out out of breath .... so working proper breathing is important!

Bon this can be a combination of many,many things. People get nauseated when their blood sugar is low. You should eat some carbs 45 minutes prior to your workout. Also some people can't drink water, even lukewarm, during an aerobic workout, or they immediately feel like vomiting. Drink prior to not during and wait say 15 min. after. Also make sure to breathe in & out correctly while doing your aerobic activity!

Forgive me ... I'm not saying this is a stupid question, but wouldn't the martial art you are training in be your favorite? And if it isn't ... shouldn't it be? As far as being put in the spectator position ... now that might be a better question to ask

...find a new sparring "partner" ... that may give you that needed motivation! But seriously, I go through that "slump" quite often (I know you know that!) .... I'm sure many of us do .... it's normal! I just got off "taking that week off" and it does help you reorganize your "thoughts" ... priorities and such. I missed my training so much that I dove in with much more vigor than usual when I returned to class. Our school has just undergone a major change in remodeling the dojo, change in schedule (times & days).... there is now an all Black Belt class which is far more challenging to me now. Change is good ... not many people like it, but I found it has profound affects on my psyche. Maybe you need some too!

Yes.... plain & simple, but as far as eating less for people with slow metabolisms, let's clarify! Your metabolism will work harder and 'go faster' if you eat smaller, nutritious meals 5 or 6 times throughout the day as opposed to our traditional American way -- 3 meals a day routine...eating before we go to work, in the middle of the day as a break from work and then, we eat our big meal after work. This is NOT optimal for the human body. Some people do have radically slow metabolisms, a rare medical condition. While everyone's metabolism varies, the difference is in how much lean muscle mass we have. Building muscle increases metabolism Someone who adds five pounds of muscle can burn an additional 250 calories a day. If they keep that muscle on for one year, they will burn a total of 91,250 extra calories. Divided that number by 3,500 calories... which equals a pound of fat ... they could lose more than 26 pounds in a year. So not only "exercise" per se will suffice .... 25 percent of your exercise to cardiowork and 75 percent to strength and resistance training. _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-07-14 09:57 ]

hmmm... Late night dinner.... just me and Bruce Lee!

Hey Dee ... Welcome to KarateForums.....take some time to familiarize yourself with the site .... good start is here: http://www.karateforums.com/forums/faq.php You'll find this site has a wealth of knowledge to share ... and you'l have fun too!

Welcome to KarateForums .... good luck in your next promotion!

Welcome and thanks for joining KarateForums!

We've have had similar posts prior to this one ... it seems to be a very popular question.... (I believe you should train in a style that is well-suited for your body type and personal goals.) See me my post and others below...... http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=3379&forum=2&10

shaolinprincess ... check out my post here about "diet" ... http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=3232&forum=19&start=15 watch what you eat, do cardio, and once you burn off some fat.... define and tone with simple weight training! Good Luck!

Nutrition should be easy not only to understand but also to live with. Fact is, it isn't for some ... so here goes plain and simple! Many people just stuff food in their mouths without even knowing what is in it! Now that almost every food product must have the necessary nutritional information on it, take advantage! An example is yogurt. In nonfat or light yogurt, we get about 90 to 100 calories per serving. Not bad. But if you look closely at regular yogurt, it can clearly be discovered that there are over twice as many calories for the same portion size! So, 2 light yogurts=1 regular yogurt The artificial sweeteners in the light yogurt make it possible to reduce the amount of carbs, and thus calories, without sacrificing taste at all. Look at the information on the back of all food products and take a huge step toward better eating habits. Most people eat carbs all day long and into the wee hours of the night without paying any attention to protein. Get more protein! Think of protein as the toolbox for the body and carbohydrates as the immediate fuel. Americans get too much of this fuel which, by the way, can cause severe problems over the years such as diabetes. So substitute some of your daily carbs with foods that contain a higher protein content. Look at the labels! Here are some examples of protein rich foods as well as carbohydrate rich foods: protein - turkey, chicken, beef, cottage cheese, fish, beans, protein powders. carbohydrates - breads, rice, potatoes, cereal, ships, candy, regular soft drinks, donuts. And fat is good! That doesn't mean rush to McD's and commence guzzling mass amounts of super-sized Big Mac meals down your throat until the natural volume capacity of your stomach screeches to a halt. When I say fat is good, I mean that a sensible diet is fine as far as fat intake goes, look at the labels! ...and now for my favorite word! Moderation! That's all you have to remember. Super-sized meals are a major no,no. Here's why, in simplistic terms. Basically, when you eat, food is utilized as energy for bodily functions, so when a huge amount of food in ingested, the body uses the extent it needs to function and stores the rest. Make sense? However, how does the body store this energy? FAT. So, when you gorge down five hamburgers and a soda, the body is going to take what it needs and pack the rest right down there in that "problem area." A good way to prevent this is to keep yourself from getting ravenously hungry. Pick good snack(protein) throughout the day for in between meals. I love protein (Slimfast) bars!!! Most people eat dinner and have four to five hours until bed time ... this is when an attack of the munchies sets in. They are not a bad thing. Think of them as a helper to remind your body to keep your metabolism going and, in effect, burn more fat! The term munchies has become associated with chips, popcorn, or any high-carb snack. Not an intelligent late night snack. Think of it like this: Carbs are the body's immediate source of energy. So, when you eat a lot of them, the body uses them right away to fuel all activities. Now, what happens to carbs if the body does't need them right way, like at nighttime when you sleep? It stores them! And what does it store them as? Fat! Get the picture! The point is that a low carb, high protein snack at night is ok. Again, look at labels, especially until you get a sense of what foods have what in them. Good Snacks: 1. Cottage Cheese - High in Protein, low in carbs. Eat lowfat or nonfat to cut the calories. 2. Beef Jerky - Yep. The same beef jerky that has been at the checkout counters all the time! Just check the labels to make sure it isn't fat-filled. A little fat is okay, but some are really bad. Makes a great snack in between meals! 3. Eggs whites - perfect protein. Having a 5 egg white + 1 full egg omelett for a snack once in a while is good. 4. Tuna - high in protein and low in carbs Make sure you get it in water, not oil. 5. Turkey - Turkey is an excellent, lean meat. Stick to the white meat in order to stay away from excess amount of fat. The five wonderful miracle foods that make great high protein, low carb. snacks and meals. Happy eating! _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-07-13 08:33 ]

First of all I want to for Don! Good going my man .... (I especially like that you chose Matt's exercises ... good choice for you ---- one day you will be doing those Hindu push ups!) Hey it took a long time to get to the weight you are, with patience and hard work you'll reach your goals ... (just make sure they are attainable in your mindset .. what you perceive for yourself is of great importance on the road ahead. Hope you are doing cardio also as part of your slim down routine ... start off slow and increase duration of your workout each week .... (even if you start off fast walking to a jog ... ) Remember you need to rev up your metabolism in order to lose the weight! Which means small nutricious meals through the day on top of exercise. Lack of exercise and poor nutrition ... with a lack of self -esteem. Sometimes I think I have way too much self-esteem --- I am to the point where I think I obsess about the way I look, --- but I think I'd much rather be overly health conscious than not at all. Don --- check out the weight loss tips in this H & F forum. _________________ KarateForums Sensei 1st dan Tae Kwon Do (ITF) Cardio/Fitness Kickboxing Instr. [ This Message was edited by: KickChick on 2002-07-13 08:06 ]

shaolinprincess, you don't need to develop bulky muscles like a man in order to gain strength by bodybuilding/weight training. Females can double our strength without any noticable change in muscle size. In fact, most women don't have the genetic potential to develop large muscles because we have significantly less testosterone than men have. You train to develop strength, improve your posture, prevent training injuries by maintaining bone density (crucial for women as you get older!) ... and a little muscle definition (need I have to say it) looks sexy on a woman! ... but then you would have known all this if you had taken the quiz here! http://www.karateforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=3454&forum=19&14

Hi and welcome!