ninjanurse

A good topic...I am sure it will spark some thought and produce some insight!

Sounds like you are on the right track here!

My advice: Do more research on the schools and individuals that will be teaching you-google is a wonderful thing! Watch more than one class-and one instructor. Watch their higher ranking students take class. Ask questions....and listen to the answers carefully. Do they talk about themselves all the time or are they interested in what you want? Pick the one that suits your needs, i.e., Do you want to be an Olympic TKD competitior on an international level? Do you want a style that will develop your mind and spirit in addition to your body? Do you want to be a sport karate/mma competitor? Are you just interested in self-defense?

Don't recall any of them.

Congratulations!

Sounds like a traditional belt system. There are still many TKD schools out there that still use it...our association did until about 4 years ago-now we change belt colors instead of adding stripes (the gups remain the same regardless of color).

Exactly. Sometimes we have to make the tough decision to hold a student from testing and hold them accountable to not only our standards but their own as well. We have a power test for all red belts and, regardless of how good their technique and skills are, they must pass to be promoted. Getting a rank without meeting the standard serves to only denigrate the art.

Congratulations!

I have a room full of ADHD kids...and sometimes instructors!!!!! Sometimes it is just a matter of figuring out their learning style so you should try to incorporate activities that appeal to each learning styles (i.e., do the same thing many different ways) every class-eventually you will be able to pick out which kid responds to what style. Once you have that identified it is easier to help a student who is "stalled out" by fitting a drill or explanation to his style. Here is one of many links with info on this: http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm

Without knowing your style (or which one your nephew is in the video) I would have to say the while it appears to be a fairly even match the kid in the red belt has more detail and snap in his techniques plus he has a nice head snap when changing directions. The other kid is a little soft in some techniques and his technique is not as sharp-plus no head snap. Sometimes you have to look past the effort they put into it and see the subtleties of technique-you can look good without really understanding what you are doing and sometimes it shows. That being said-judges are individuals and as such have individual ideas of what a form should look like-that is why they have more than one and take a majority vote.

I presently use Martial Arts Organizer for my dojang and I like it. It serves my needs quite well but each school may be different. I was able to make payments if that helps.

Good article!!! Focus mitts are a valuable tool for all areas of the curriculum and can be used in many different ways. Thanks for sharing your ideas and drills!

We have set penalties for being late, dropping your weapon, etc. , but I wouldn't say we use push ups for punishment-classroom motivation is a better way of putting it. It is a good way to improve their fitness as well as remind them of the discipline required in the martial arts.

Welcome...glad to have you here!!

Welcome!

My son took HGH for 3 years starting at the age of 14 to stimulate puberty-growing taller was only a "perk" of the treatment although he is only 5'8" now. It took an act of congress to get approved for a true medical reason...it riles me a bit to see parents getting it to give their kids an advantage in height.

Everything from your shoulders to your toes! Hamstrings, hip flexors, obliques, back, abs, calves-anything that engages when you kick. Set a routine everyday and stick to it-you will see results soon!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome back!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome back!

According to the Dictionary, Religion can be defined as the following: "–noun 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. 2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion. 3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions. 4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion. 5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith. 6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice. 7. religions, Archaic. religious rites. 8. Archaic. strict faithfulness; devotion: a religion to one's vow." So...you could say that most martial artists who are dedicated to their art and follow it's philosophies/principals/tenets/etc. are practicing a "religion". Of course, I am not implying that it is akin to Christianity or Buddism, etc., just commenting on the idea itself. I find my martial art and my ideas on theology mesh quite well but I realize this is not the case for everyone, although I believe that the underlying ideas are all interconnected in some way.

hmm.....