Nihilistiskism

Regarding the Hyungs: Yes, TSD focuses on these a lot. It's not exactly a secret. However, where most instructors in TSD drop the ball, either because they are preoccupied, yes, with teaching the form, the lesson within teaching the form is what counts: I had the great benefit (and still do) of enjoying instruction from someone who really took the time to explain the forms, as opposed to just "teaching" them. Every move, every step, every strike/block/kick...has a real-world potential for application. The thing is, most TSD instructors know these potential applications, but forget to explain them because they are too focused on students learning the "moves." However, since they know them, it's a simple matter to just ask them. I reserve the term "bad instructor" for only one type of instructor: the type that doesn't respond to the needs of the student. Ask a TSD Sam Dan to explain the Hyungs in a practical sense, and you will be amazed: The traditional TSD Hyungs (forms) are choreographed "fights" against multiple (imagined) assailants. Seeing a hyung, even the most basic hyung, executed with grace and proper technique is a beautiful sight. I wish more instructors took the time to explain the "fight" to students. (sigh) To the question at hand: TSD is a Martial Art in its truest sense. The school of thought governing TSD (regardless of federation, organization, or affiliation) is that every person is different, and every person has his or her own individual strengths and weaknesses. I, for example, have some problems with my hips. I will never be flexible enough to kick someone my height in the face with a roundhouse. A good TSD instructor doesn't care about a student's weaknesses, however. The goal is to grow and nurture a student's strengths. I, for example, may not be able to kick you in the face, but that doesn't make me any less a true Martial Artist than the person who can. My strengths simply lie elsewhere. TSD, I'll say also, is an extremely well-rounded Martial Art, on the whole. As with any Martial Art, the first handful of "levels" are simply building-blocks. Simple kicks, punches, etc. By the time you achieve Black Belt, however, you are versed in dozens of effective self-defense techniques against multiple-dozens of variety of attacks, both armed and unarmed. Specifically, TSD is not a developmental tool for 1-on-1 fighting. Going back to what I said about the Hyungs, for example, I'll expound to say that TSD is a system for defense against multiple assailants, to take it to its purest form of physical technique. When it comes to schools, well, schools are as different as the instructors who run them. Some TSD schools are no-contact, some are full-contact. Ideally, just like Goldilocks, the best schools are not too hot, nor cold. They are somewhere in the middle, i.e. "just right." -nihil