tommarker

check out http://www.warrior-scholar.com/ they love to talk about this kind of stuff, and have all kinds of theories. I'm not saying we don't, but those guys study this quite a bit.

You're right. That is one way to explain it. Please do.

You're kidding me. You can't trip in the state of PA without falling into a TSD dojang! What city are you in?

These things aren't exclusive to TKD.

my point was more that this was a quote from 1971, worrying about the same thing we worry about now.

Sano, Train more, post less. ...off to take my own advice.

Is TKD karate? Is Karate TKD? Does it really matter? Is it going to change anything? Would it change how people practice TKD or karate? What is karate? Is it Shorin/Goju/Isshin/Shito/Wado-ryu? Etc. What is TKD? Is it WTF/ITF/TKD-HKD/MDK-TKD/Songham/Olympic? Etc. To some, "karate" is a generic throwaway term that means empty hand and is really just a japanese word meant to describe a stylized concept of combat. They may call Tang Soo Do, Isshin Ryu, Shaolin, etc "karate." Other people seem to put the word on a pedestal and never really say what it is, but spend a lot of time arguing about what it isn't.

"American karate has blazed across the martial arts world, and like a mysterious light in the heavens, must be investigated-is it comet or a star? Unfortunately, all signs point to the comet but," said Yamamoto, "perhaps it may turn out to be a new star after all." He looked thoughtful. "One of the best ways to rehabilitate American karate," he said, "is to return it to the status of a deadly art instead of a sport as it is today. The best way to determine if we have reached our goal is by realizing that in a sport there are champions and in a deadly martial art there are sensei and students, nothing else. When the false trappings are torn away, the true culture of Bushido will shine like a beacon light to attract all, the fallen-away students of this martial art: karate." 20th Century Warriors - Prominent Men in the Fighting Arts: Gonnohyoe Yamamoto. By John T. McGee Karate Illustrated, July, 1971

I lurk on it, yes.. I thought I was experiencing deja vu for a moment!

are you on the Bata listserv?

btw, if you want to learn to twirl in an intimidating way, find someone who spent time in a flag corps

Shorinryu Sensei, I think the staff you are thinking of (commonly seen in wushu) is a waxwood staff. Usually they are tapered from one end (1" thickness) down to the other (3/4") and they are *extremely* flexible. Usually, in competition, they are a little longer than your normal bo. I think mine was about 77" when I bought it. Rattan has some slightly different properties, but i've never seen a tapered rattan staff, probably because of the fibrous nature of the wood. Waxwoods on the other hand look like someone uprooted a sapling and cut the sticks and bark off.

I just wanted to be the first to yell "That's not the way WE do it!!!"

It's like foil fencing. It's evolved into something sanitary that lots of people can enjoy. It's just happened to evolve in a very specific manner. Some rules in foil fencing have created some "interesting" tactics (such as the behind the head strike whose name escapes me) that would be completely irrelevant in a practical situation. If you don't like the rules of foil fencing, you pick up a sabre You don't like the rules of TKD, change your specialty

that was such a dumb question, i'm surprised you have the ability to use a computer to ask it! :D man, you walked into that one! As it has been pointed out, there are 2 ways to tie the belt, one where it crosses in the back, the other doesn't. I was taught the crossover in the back method. I see people doing it the other way, and I think "wow, that's weird!" but, I'm not that open minded

Hey, that's why we continue to write and teach.

I made one of these once, with a monkey fist knot tied around a large steel shot. You will need a lot more than 6 feet of rope for that. http://www.angelfire.com/pa4/t173/monkeyfist.html http://131.230.57.1/knots/m_fista.htm (animated instructions) not exactly "traditional" so if it is for class, I would definetely get details from the instructor... Unless of course, he's one of those instructors who says "do it!" and won't give you any help until you bring him a first attempt.

$10/month, 3 two hour classes a week. Also a university club. Funds go directly back into club, offset clinic and tourney costs, association fees, targets, etc.

That didn't take long.. "Barefoot Zen: The Shaolin Roots of Kung Fu and Karate." by Nathan Johnson

Kule_guy17, I have a book at home that explains the entire naihanchi/tekki series as a two man joint lock form. I don't know the name of it offhand...

ouch!

I'm looking forward to hearing more. In my research, I've found a lot of conflicting information as to the origins of Okinawan weapons.

In Echanis' book "Stick Fighting" aka the "red book" you can see some pictures of Hwa Rang Do GM Joo Bang Lee demonstrating some interesting cane techniques. I'm a bit young to carry a crooked cane on a daily basis without looking out of place, but I try to carry a crook handled umbrella. Now if I could only find a sturdy one.

Hey, I like driving my suped up Trans Am too, but I'm not going to go out and drive in a Nascar event. scardy cat. Sano, when are you making your debut exactly? I'm looking forward to following your successes. Though, if i was training for k1, i could find a lot better things to do with my spare time than KF. Like training. Or sleeping.

another philosophy.. first move is not a block, it is completely demolishing everything that lies in its path.