tommarker

Vash, First off, welcome to the wonderful world of Korean Martial Arts. As you've already seen, Tae Kwon Do means a lot of things to a lot of people. There are several TKD resources available, both offline and online. Most of them center around forms. For example, you may find Master Mac's Korean Forms Resource Page a good start to get a rough idea as to what some different forms look like. http://mchenry.homeip.net/TangSooDo/forms/ Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do are slightly different animals, and from there, you can work your way back into researching other forms of related martial arts: Shotokan, Shorin Ryu, Shaolin White Crane, Tai Chi, etc. Each of these will give you some interesting spins and opinions. Why does one group do technique A and the other Technique B? Why do two people call something technique C and it looks completely different? I'm going to go on a limb and assume you are either not highly advanced in either martial arts or computers. If so, you would know where to find lots of great free stuff online already. Some of the best ways to start are to see what sort of clubs and arts are close to you. If you don't know what it is, look it up on google. You'll start to see other names and info repeated over and over. Look that up, and continue to dig.

Swords.

We rarely have H2O breaks either... And our classes are about 2 hours with no A/C. Class is in the evening, and you had all day to get hydrated I probably drink about 150-200oz of water during the day in the summer, and at least another 50-100 after class. Personal responsibility is advocated. If you feel sick, tired or hurt, bow out. Signs of heat stroke/exhaustion are closely watched for as well. As for home practice, when I first started, I would try to think about the last thing the instructor said in class, and try to focus on that, in the hopes that they would be looking for it the next class (hint, they were!) Stances, like just about anything else will come with time, so if you feel the need to practice at home, practice whatever you have room for and feel like doing.

In Kali, They would go back to the using the stick. Same concepts apply. Shinai for Kendo.

i've heard club t-shirts referred to in some circles as "a$shole magnets" which, depending on context is true. anywhere that testosterone flows freely... pool halls, bars, high school, seem like a good place to prove that theory right. warning your opponent that you do karate before you pummel him sounds like a great way to completely damn yourself in a post-encounter civil suit.

http://www.dogbrothers.com/

And BTW, good test!

I'm in no way trying to take anything away from the kids testing on the video, but there is at least one important "THING NOT TO DO" on that video which may seem obvious... but. When you are holding for kyuckpa, it is a very good idea to take into account what is around you, and what may potentially be in the damage zone. Unless you're given explicit directions by the testing panel, you should try to do the following: 1. Hold the break in a manner so the testing panel can see the technique performed with as little obstruction as possible. I.E. You probably make a better door than a window. 2. Hold the break so that debris will not go flying into the testing panel. 3. Hold the break so that debris will not go flying into the mirrors. 4. Hold the break so that debris will not go flying into the spectators! Something to think about for the folks out there who have never been called up to hold for a break, but will someday. Trust me, these tips will save you a certain amount of anxiety as you watch a piece of board go sailing towards very high ranking guests who will be grading YOU next

Tang Soo Do. Technically, I should be hanging out in the Korean forum

Went to the local karate store the other week to pick up some sashes for a demo, and I noticed that on their giant wall of belts for sale, they had the coveted (in Tang Soo Do anyways) Black belt with a thin red stripe through the middle. For Sale. In Size 1. for $2.00 Part of me was tempted to buy one, and put it up for motivational purposes. I'm a size 5, and couldn't use a size 1 for a wristband Still, it felt too creepy... like I was cheating SO, I didn't get it.

expensive, but: http://www.weaponsconnection.com/page1.htm

Some schools also teach a nunchaku and kama kata, though they are not isshin-ryu forms per se.

don't worry about looking like an idiot, but more importantly, don't worry about whether or not you are getting "beat" when practicing. Learn from your mistakes, emulate others, and always keep your guard up. I've gotten into the habit of stepping back away from the engagement when i hear the term "STOP!" in case the other person doesn't hear. Headgear and adrenaline is great for causing tunnel vision and deafness

here is a brief selection that I wrote in my Dan Essay on using improvised weapons for self-defense. The "expert opinion" is that there are 4 elements to determining whether you are legally defending yourself. This is more a rule of thumb than a legal document. --- A frequently asked question by students of martial arts is “When can I legally justify my use of force on a potential aggressor?” In the current legal environment, people who choose to defend themselves face the possible aftermath of unsympathetic police officers, overzealous prosecutors, and most frightening, the possibility of a civil suit in which one could be left penniless. Using a weapon in the process makes it even more prudent that your usage is within the letter of the law. Sadly, there are many who carry weapons for self-defense without thinking of whether or not their actions are legally, much less morally, acceptable. “Better to be tried by twelve than carried by six,” these people cry. While a person doesn't need an ironclad legal excuse to save them from danger, it is irresponsible to give no thought to legality. These moral and legal responsibilities are, in the author’s opinion, as important to be knowledgeable about as the use of the weapons themselves. While there is no one clear set of rules to follow that will ensure the legality of actions, there are several excellent guidelines. In his book “Fundamentals of Defensive Shooting,” author John Farnam lists 4 elements of Self-Defense: Ability, Opportunity, Manifest Intent (Imminent Jeopardy) and lastly, preclusion. Ability is the capacity to injure. An aggressor must have the ability to kill or inflict bodily harm. Opportunity combines the aggressor’s ability with a reasonable chance to use it. Farnam uses for example, a man with a knife who is 50 yards away may have ability, but not opportunity. At this point, any action you take would make you the attacker rather than the victim. Imminent Jeopardy is “when the attacker unmistakably indicates, by words and/or actions, that it is his intention to kill or seriously injure you, and further, that he intends to do so at once.” Preclusion means that all other options, such as retreat, have been exhausted or otherwise ruled out. All of these options must be considered. An eighty-year-old unarmed man behind a 20-foot razor-wire fence threatening to kill you may have intent, but is seriously lacking the ability and opportunity to carry out his threats. While this may seem clear-cut, there are situations that may seem to call for the use of force that could be avoided by merely leaving the scene. The 5th tenet of Tang Soo Do, “In fighting, choose with sense and honor” should serve to guide us in these situations. ---

Certainly not dumb, mate.. it's a common question. To refer to a school as a McDojo is indeed an insult. I also think it is one that is thrown around with entirely too much levity. In essence, a McDojo could be defined as a school that hands out rank in exchange for funds without any necessary marked improvement in skill. I once heard a phrase that essentially said "don't attribute to malice that which can be more easily attributed to incompetence." In other words, (insert your favorite politician here) isn't an evil soulless jerk, he probably just doesn't know any better. I think there are several schools out there which suffer from this. Black belts with no real understanding of the art or its essence. They never get beyond kick/punch to see why they do what they do. Never questioning, never experimenting, etc. It's just something to do, not necessarily a lifetime pursuit. I don't think these are McDojos. A McDojo is run, IMHO, with the intent to make a profit, above all else. Where conferring a blackbelt upon a student is just the natural end of a 2 year long financial transaction than the culmination of hard work and accumulation of proper skills. They may require their students to "know" forms or skillsets in order to "pass" a test, but the level at which they must understand is completely subjective. I believe in calling a spade a spade, but I think too many people shoot from the hip in describing a school as inferior, or a mcdojo, etc.

Something that is interesting... I spar quite a few folks who are taller than me, and I usually don't have any problems. I'm about 5'10", but lately our club has been importing some giant newbies. The height average of the last 5 students has been about 6'3". Now obviously, as a black belt, I should be able to outspar them even though they are bigger than me. I work to negate their biggest advantage, the kicks. I've also got a lead leg side kick that comes out really quick. No problem there. I merely take refuge in the eye of the storm so to speak. I move in past their comfort zone, and finish the exercise. Only one of them makes me truly apprehensive, and despite the fact that he's only an 8th gup, I know that his upper body is *considerably* stronger than mine. In other words, I still have a moment of panic when sparring someone bigger than me. I can feel my brain actively resisting the urge to tangle with someone who I know, without the context of rules, would most likely beat the hell out of me. In his case, even without considering his extensive military experience, he would probably beat me on sheer strength. There's another guy in the club, who while not much taller than me, played football, boxed a bit, and has a superior jab. It is almost completely unavoidable. Also, playing quarterback and having large men trying to rip his head off on every down has given him the perfect composure, and despite the fact that I may be better than him, he is very difficult to shake. He recently tested for 1st Dan, and I'm fairly certain he could also tear my head off in a fight I think to a large extent, the thought process of "hey Tom, this dude is bigger than you; are you quite certain you want to tangle with him?" is a natural self-preservation reflex. The key question is, do I use it as a catalyst in my training or does it inhibit my ability to grow as a martial artist? For me, it has done both. I have in the past been intentionally apprehensive about fighting people I thought could beat me out of (honestly) a fear of getting hurt in the process. Call me a pussy if you like, but that's the honest truth. I was doing myself a disservice, by beating myself before the fight even began. After realizing that, I've tried much harder to seek out people I think may be better than me, and work with them in that safe environment. Will I get beat? From time to time, sure. Will I get hurt? It's almost certainly unavoidable. Will I learn something? Yes. As the highest ranked student in the club, I sometimes feel like I have to cover my nut, and appear to be the best fighter in the club at all times. How DARE a green belt get a kick on me? Or, maybe I should avoid that new guy with the E Dan in TKD. He might show me up in front of everyone. It's what the Koreans call ah jip or Ego. If I don't seek out these opportunities to improve, I will stagnate, and everyone else will eventually surpass me, even though we're all (on the surface anyways) training just as hard.

if you stick with studying shorin ryu, you will most likely be able to find ways to combine what you like about muay thai and make it your own. sounds like you've made your decision already..

It's just a 1st dan folks, and the practice is certainly not going away.

http://www.karate.org.yu/Matayoshi%20sai.htm

join a college club, and stop going home... simple

There are so many schools of thought out there, that all swear that their system is the most effective and injury-proof that we may as well be debating which martial art is the best. Being able to do the splits may or may not have any effect on your ability to move dynamically. I have very high dynamic flexibility, but still have trouble touching my toes. Stretching for flexibility and stretching for warmup differ greatly in duration, repetition, etc. Stretching for flexibility will require multiple repetitions of the same stretch for a longer period (45 seconds to 1 minutes) This should be done only after your muscles have been warmed up properly. Otherwise, you're probably wasting your time (and getting poor results too.) Some people swear by yoga, others use PNF stretching, partner stretches, etc. I like this guy's site, and have found his stretches (and the order he does them in) to be helpful. http://www.trickstutorials.com/tutorials_flexibility.htm

Don't forget that he's also pushing, if not at least 60. Chuck trained old school style as a serviceman, in Korea. He failed his first black belt test, and was only the 4th American to get his black belt in Tang Soo Do in Osan. I'll guess that he earned it a lot more than I earned my Cho Dan And if he fights like any of the gentleman from his time, I imagine he would pound me into a grease spot.

Americans only get ripped off due to lack of research. The easiest places to train are the easiest to find. Those are located in health clubs and strip malls. Those locations carry extravagent overhead in terms of rent, because they figure a retail place will be likely to rake in lots of sales. Think about it, you'll spend $100 no problem buying clothes at a store in one month. How does the TKD store next door stay open? Getting you to bring in approximately the same amount. Universities, YMCAs, Rec Centers, etc often have outstanding instruction at a considerably lower price. You just have to do your homnework.

My secret? I train at a University club. no rent overhead to pay for. we basically pay our instructor's gas and training fees, targets, and a big party at the end of the year We pay $30/quarter (10 weeks) 3 classes/week = $1/class Another reason to go to college for some of you Ohio State probably has some excellent instructors in many arts.

$10.00US / month