Odysseus

These two schools aren't sport oriented. In fact, they are both a very good mix of traditional Tae Kwon Do, sparring, self defense, and some elements of other styles (karate, kung-fu, etc.). The Grand Masters of both schools are 8th Degree black belts, promoted by Grand Masters Pat Burleson and Chuck Norris, and studied and taught extensively with Jhoon Rhee, the Father of American Tae Kwon Do. I highly recommend either one of these schools.

If you're not hard on yourself, then you might not push yourself to get better, and there is ALWAYS room for improvement. Just watch the line, and don't be TOO hard on yourself. Nobody is perfect. Nobody. And nobody ever will be. Strive to be the best YOU can possibly be (independent of anybody else), and if you do that, you will have succeeded. Also, when being hard on yourself, do it in a positive, and not a negative, manner. Getting angry that you screwed up is not positive. Realizing you screwed up, and pushing yourself to correct the problem is.

"Everyone" is a Grey Belt. Don't believe me? Try mixing everyone's color together - black, brown, red, blue, green, yellow, white, etc. You'll probably end up with some greyish color.

Furthermore, why are all of your questions "crucial", "critical", or "important"? I'm sure you could get an answer without making your questions seem so "pivotal" and "vital".

Well, I can't say much about his karate skills... But he is the MOST OVERRATED singer in history. Granted, he's pretty good, but he's definitely NOT as good as people make him out to be. And I don't know that he was really a great man, or great American, either. He broke quite a few laws in his time. Neither a great man nor a great American would do that.

I think Yoda said it best: "Oohhh, Great Warrior..........Wars not make one great!"

Why is it that I can go to 10 different terminology sites, and find 10 different pronunciations/spellings for the same word? Here are some examples taken from various sites: Cha Ryeo Cherio Cha Rut Cha Rutt Charyot Chah Ryut Kyung Yet Kyon nae Gyeong Rye Kyung Nae Kyung Yea Chun Bi Choon Bee Choom Bi Joon Bi Joonbee Junbi Go Mon Gooman Go Mahn Guemahn Does anybody out there speak Korean? Anyone know the CORRECT pronunciations and spellings for these terms? Is there a better terminology site that gets them correct? Thanks!

Actually, it is more important to get O2 into your system than CO2 out. Oxygen is what fuels your cells. Without it, you'll get more tired and eventually pass out. And Master Jules is correct about breathing with the diaphragm rather than the chest. It's much more efficient, and you'll get much more oxygen for the same breathing effort. Babies breath using their diaphragm, but somewhere in life, we learn the bad habit of breathing with our chests. Doctors tell those with emphysema to breath using their diaphragm so they get the most out of their breathing.

See J. Pat Burleson at http://www.karateusa.com/page2.html

I'm no laundry expert, but I doubt stretching and ironing it would help. Unfortunately, I think your only option is to start saving for a new one. And next time, wash it in cold water and hang-dry it.

Main Entry: mul·let Pronunciation: 'm&-l&t Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural mullet or mullets Etymology: Middle English molet, from Middle French mulet, from Latin mullus red mullet, from Greek myllos : any of a family (Mugilidae) of valuable chiefly marine food fishes with an elongate rather stout body So, are martial artists using fish as a new type of weapon, or is there some other meaning of mullet that I don't know?

I have to agree with Shotochem. Some of these tests that people have been describing are absurd! I pay a lot of money for a martial arts education. I want to learn the proper technique for a side kick, or how to do forms, or how to survive when somebody attacks me. I can run, do sit ups and push ups, and improve my fitness in my own free time. But when I'm paying to be taught, I want to be taught, not conditioned.

I am hoping to graduate to 1st Degree in January 2005. I started in January 2002. So, that would make about 3 years. I went through a period of 3-4 months where I was only able to go 1-2 times per week, otherwise, I probably could have made it in about 2.5 years.

Try sabre fencing. Sabre is faster than either foil or epee. Matches get pretty wild.

That's very true! Additionally, people like to get value for their money. If they are paying for something, they are more likely to take it seriously, otherwise they are wasting their money. Having to pay for classes instills a responsibility to attend.

I once saw a guy with 12 toes. Now those were amazing feet! Huh? What's that you say? Oh, feat? Sorry, my bad.

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It depends on what kind of sword you have. A "finesse" sword, like a rapier or a katana, is much more flexible than a "hacking" sword, like a broad sword or a claymore. A good rapier that is properly made can be bent nearly 180 degrees, and will return to it's proper shape. All swords need to have a degree of flexibility, otherwise they would shatter in combat! Imagine to warriors fighting with large broad swords. One attacks with a overhead hack, the other blocks. The force of the impact on a long blade could easily break the blade if there wasn't some give. Movies just overexaggerate this. Here's a good article about sword quality. http://www.angelic.org/highlander/realswords/determiningquality.html

I find it interesting that so many schools put Brown belt before Red belt. Before I started in TKD about 2 years ago, my martial arts experience was limited. People in general hear bits and pieces about the various arts, and one thing I always remember is that Brown comes just before Black. The Brown belts were always the idols of new students, as they are advanced students but not yet Black belts.

Our instructor decides the earliest that a student can graduate. With me, he has frequently given me the option. He outright asks "When do you want to graduate?", or "Do you want to graduate in (month)?" He makes it clear that, although you've met the requirements, and he thinks you're ready, you do have the choice to wait. One of our Masters once said, "If you don't make any mistakes during a graduation, then we didn't push you hard enough and waited too long to let you advance". He was basically saying that you shouldn't perfect every level, but rather challenge yourself by moving on. Learning never stops; even a Black Belt is just an advanced student.

My first time in TKD, I was around 10. I only did it for 2 months before quitting. I started again when I had just turned 26. I'm now going on 28, and I've been going strong for about 20 months.

I own The Karate Kid (part 1) and watch it occasionally. Yah, Daniel is a geek, and highly annoying. But, Mr. Miyagi is awesome! And, of course, the single biggest reason to watch The Karate Kid: Elisabeth Shue! (In a swimsuit, even!)

Greetings! The rankings in my school go: White Gold Green Purple Blue Advanced Blue (Blue with a black stripe through middle of belt) Red Advanced Red (Red with a black stripe through middle of belt) Brown (That's me!) Advanced Brown (Brown with a black stripe through middle of belt) Candidate Black (Black with a white stripe through middle of belt) Black