Musipilot

This one has me going back and forth with everyone from fellow students in my martial arts school to my co-workers...and people seem evenly divided on the subject. My school is a satellite of a larger school nearby. We go to the larger school for our testing. I'm a high brown belt, and when I'm done with my testing I will usually hold boards for breaking for other students. So...I pick up the wood and gesture this 40 year old man over for his breaking session. I shake his hand, ask him if he knows his breaks...then we face the master, bow, face each other, bow, and go about the breaking. I have him face front, ask him to bow, and he doesn't. I asked if something was wrong...he says, "I don't bow, it is against my religion.". He is a Muslim, and apparantly he feels he cannot bow. Ok. Keep in mind I'm just a lowly brown belt, but I felt a little awkward about this, and got a little annoyed at the student. I didn't say anything to him, as I felt it really isn't my place, and did his breaking with him. He was polite, and seems to be a good student (he's going for his high yellow belt) but the bowing thing bothered me. I asked my instructor about it, and he said "Well, if the Master is okay with it, I guess we should be too". I suppose thats the case...but I'm still not okay with it. Personally, I feel if he can't bow, then go do something else, but some of my friends think thats too hard a stance to take. Others think that if the master is okay with it, I should have no issues with it. What do you guys think?

I appreciate all the input! I will work on the "moving about" technique, and see what I can come up with. As far as the spinning stuff, I stay away from it, its way too slow to be effective against him. Keep the tips coming!

Greetings all I've been doing TKD for about a year now, and progressing nicely, and I really love it. We spar once a week, open all technique sparring, and a new challenge has me coming to my friends here for some help Up until now, I've been sparring other adults my age (I'm 38) and having no real problems popping them a few times, blocking most of what comes my way, and basically holding my own. My instructor has now matched me up with my ultimate nightmare, an 18 year old black belt who is fast, strong, talented, and seems to have unlimited reserves of energy. His technique is good, the main problem I'm having is that by the time I think of executing a move, he's not where he was a second ago. He's so fast compared to me I'm having trouble landing anything, and he's usually popping me good with kicks and punches, usually to my sides and my legs. Any tips on how a slower, older person should deal with Mr. Lightning? By the way, he's only about 2 inches taller than I am, and about 20 pounds lighter, so our sizes are pretty compatible. Thanks to all!

Highlights of our recent test. This one is a little subdued, I didn't have anyone to hold the camera! Enjoy. (3:05, 10.9Mb, Stereo, Windows Media Format) http://www.hbtaekwondo.com/tkdtesthighlights3.wmv

I think in the 'lore' surrounding the philosphy of TKD, the red belt signifies 'danger', that the student is nearing the black belt, and should be respected to that level. It makes sense if you think of it that way, although I always thought brown was right before black myself.

Our system has 12 belts before you reach black. White Yellow High Yellow Green High Green Blue High Blue Brown High Brown Red High Red Advanced Red Provisional Black 6 months after receiving your provisional black, you are retested for black, and if you've maintained and improved, you get a 1st dan black.

I remember the request...."We look forward to more videos from your future tests". You know the old adage, be careful what you wish for ... Here it is. Enjoy http://hbtaekwondo.com/hbtkd/viewtopic.php?t=95&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Sparring without EQ is not a good idea, for the reasons you stated. Once at class we didnt' have our EQ, but we sparred "light contact" only. I have rememberances from the "light contact" still fading on my arms and legs. The nice thing about wearing the EQ is that you can strike and not be concerned about doing damage. I know putting it on can be a pain, but it makes the session much more enjoyable, and you're less afraid to try new things, especially against a better opponent. When my son and I spar just "for fun", he puts on his EQ, and doesn't fear mighty dad popping him with a kick so much. I don't have to worry about explaining anything to his mother

If you list where you're from Vash, you may get some more specific tips.

I'll help First, what operating system are you running? (Win98, XP, etc...)

Grandmaster H. Kang teaches in Brooklyn. Where are you in NYC?

Thanks for the comments...and YES, we both were graduated to the next belt, thanks for asking. Now I get to look silly trying to do 180 crescent kicks

I'd love to see em Monkeygirl, if you want to send them to me, I'll be happy to make them "digital" and send them back. PM me if you're interested. That goes for anyone else out there that wants an analog (or regular VHS) tape digitized for DVD, AVI, MPG, etc, I'd be happy to do it.

How so Miks? You're looking at a 3 min compilation from a 6 hour test.

The music is a Korean pop song -- we bought a CD of "Top Ten Asian Pop Songs" at a garage sale -- and this one was on it. My son loves it, and the beat is nice and heavy for this kind of thing. Thanks for your comments!

Just got a new digital video camera -- and I'm having LOTS of fun with it Here's a "music video" my son and I made with highlights from our recent belt test. Its about a 5 MB download, so its recommended for high speed (broadband) access only. Enjoy, and let me know what you think http://hbtaekwondo.com/hbtkd/viewtopic.php?t=76&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=video

Tae Kwon Do -- just started in December of last year, in the middle of testing for my third belt, high yellow, this week. I'm studying under Master H Kang, Kuk Mu Kwon style. Love the art, and I'm amazed at the parts of my body I can reach I never could before Just curious about some of the other testing methods in other dajongs...I watched part of a black belt test last week, and I was told the test totals about 36 hours, broken up over 3 days. I also heard someone who locally attends a Tiger Karate place say their test for black belt was a "grueling 2 and a half hours!". Some difference! What are your tests like? Our colored belt tests are broken up over 3 days, with about 2 hours per day of testing. I'd love to hear about other dajongs great to be here.

This is a good question...and I never realized the answer until I thought about it. When I'm in my whites, I change at the dajong, in my black uniform I put it on at home. One cup of coffee on the way to training is a standard procedure (its a 35 minute ride) and whites and moving coffee do not mix. We don't have good changing facilities where I train.

Here's a good one... Our adult class is sparsely populated on some nights, and on this particular night it was myself (male) and two women. One has been in class with me for a while (we're good friends) the other is brand new, and brought with her her 'techniques' from gymnastics class. At the end of the class we're going to do situps, and we realize we don't have partners, so I ask for someone to hold my feet. At this point, the new lady shouts out "Thats okay, lets do a three way!" My instructor shot me a look so fast I felt it My tongue still hurts!

Funny you said that Nathan, I was watching a tape of some TKD qualifying matches, and I must have said to myself "My instructor said never to do that..." a dozen times in the first match alone.

A guy walks into a bar with a roll of asphalt sheeting under his arm. He says, "Hey, lemme get a drink...and one for the road!"

Sheesh, can't ignore this thread A termite walks into a bar and says, "Hey, is the bartender here?" (RIMSHOT)

I'm glad someone started this thread, because I've been dying to ask. Can someone explain the point system? I have a tape of some matches, but the commentary is in Korean. I noticed too at the Olympic trials it was mostly kicking, but after watching several matches it was hard to figure out what exactly was scoring points. What do you get/lose points for? Are some attacks worth multiple points? Thanks

Great topic On a separate interesting note, our Grandmaster just authorized a new set of forms that have been created by his son, a master, and some of the suh buh nims in the school. They have wanted to "update" the forms for several years, and finally got around to it. I'm not an advanced student, but immediately you can see the new forms are more fluid, more modern, and address the skills learned at each rank more completely. What makes this even more interesting is that many of the instructors are learning the new forms with us, which makes for some interesting dynamics. Our main style is Kuk Mu Kwan, and the new forms are being integrated into the "book" of the style slowly as they are learned. My point here is to address the initial post about learning the forms in advance -- don't bother, for the forms have been chosen by your instructors or masters for reasons, and their instruction is an integral part of your training. Learning them by rote off a chart or a video does not begin to substitute the "feel" of the form, which is one of the most important components. If you're that enthusiastic, which is great, after you are given the form practice it often to master it, then you can enjoy it, and realize the important depth it contains. They're more than just movements. Know what I mean?