miguksaram

I'll go on the assumption that your instructor is teaching you Haidong Kumdo. It is a new trend of sword system (well I should say it is new trend in teaching as the system is said to be THE original Korean sword system) I have seen them popping up all over the TKD schools. Find out if you are learning Haidong kumdo. If so I can direct you to some videos. If it is Daehan Kumdo, then you will have to find out the orgnization which he teaches because each organization will have different forms.

Have you checked out the World Combat Arts Federation? They are located out of MD. If you get a chance, train with Sifu Arturo Gabriel. He is my sifu and close friend. He would be a good addition into adding some things into your group.

Very true. I also believe in a buyer beware policy. A healthy fit body does not come in a can and learning to defend yourself does not come in a video or dvd. So if a person pays out good money think they can learn all that there is about a system from a video, well they deserve what they get.

Agreed...however, money is money. He knows what it takes and I'm sure as an instructor he teaches well, but there are people who are just to lazy to go to the dojang but not too lazy to order some videos. These are usually the same people who have the very expensive Bowflex clothes hanger.

Actually some do get paid, or some get free lessons or fee equipment. It is somthing that should be agreed upon between the individuals. Sometimes people do it out of kindness in trying to help the school.

Jhoon Rhee is a very humble and kind person, who I pray I would never tick off even at his age now. ha.ha.ha.ha.ha....I met GM Rhee at Chuck Norris's KDOA in Chicago. He was kind enough to talk for a bit and take some pictures.

Actually Sasori I believe the position is that of Dojo/Dojang manager. The Head instructor should in fact focus on curriculum, goals for the school and the student. People like Ises who are appointed school manager or in this case President, handles more of the tasks of making things happen to meet the goals. Ises, I know of several good instructors we can discuss offline or here. Howvever, Sasori is right, it will not be for free. Most all who seminars have a set price. What system do you teach Ises?

Hey Go, did you ever decide?

The only time my wife gets involved is when she gripes at me for returning home with more bruises and injuries than what I left the house with. ha.ha.ha.ha.ha.. With your spouses and significant others in other schools, do you take time to exchange techniques or ideas in training?

OK...now let's put some things in perspective. Though your statistics may be correct about the 100 people trials, where do these people come from? Majority of the time it is due to either a) walk-in traffic or b) word of mouth advertisement. These two are the biggest suppliers of prospects with walk-ins being the biggest of the two. So let us focus on the 2nd part which is word of mouth? How do you get it? 1) Current students already enrolled, naturally 2) School's involvement in the local community. Again we can break this up knowing that currently enrolled students are the biggest contributor of the word of mouth advertisement. So let's focus on the community involvement. Now this can range anywhere from fund raising to (hold up....dare I say it....by golly I will) DEMOS performed for local functions or events. So you see a demo team does have impact in the school. So Tumadre I understand where you are coming from, but I think you are failing to go deeper in your analyzation of the whole picture. New prospects will be coming in regardless and the time spent on that is already established. Demo teams is just another avenue. And who said the head instructor had to be involved? It could be something that the assistant instructors may do. It should be treated, however, as an extra curricular activity outside of regular class time. If the student isn't attending classes regularly, then he shouldn't be on the demo team. If he is not doing well in his regulars classes, then he shouldn't be on the demo team. The people at my school practice on the weekends and outside of class. It is ran by 3 of the black belt instructors. In order for you to get on the team you have to either request to be on or be invited. If you request, they will evaluate you in class to make sure you are doing your best there first. If you are then you are invited to the work outs for the demo team. However, you must make the minimum requirements of attendance or you will be cut. The uniforms are nothing fancy, outside of a different color with Demo team written on the back. For routines I would recommend some open forms, breaking if it part of your system, weapons, traditional forms,.

Well if you ever get a chance to train with KSN Timmerman, take it. Great and humble guy with some wicked throws for a 60 year old man. If you study HRD's throws with KSW throws, you will see a lot of similarities. I'm sure they interacted pleanty of times with each other in the past.

KSN Doug, are you familiar with GM Timmerman from Canada? I had the honor of attending one of his seminars when he was in Chicago a couple of months ago. It was a blast to say the least. Great guy and technician.

Just a side note but isn't it funny how the Emblem for KSW and the Emblem for HRD are extremely similar?

Well then , perhaps I will see you at the AKA Grand Nationals. My new instructor, is the President of the AKA, so I know he will be expecting his students to participate. I also enjoy when they break the sections down to disciplines. That way the judges know exactly what to look for and their is less chance of biased judging.

Chuck Norris was the man who rocked the circuit with his kicking back in the days.

Just recently got back into the AKA...once I get used to that, I may progress to the NBL, but it as been awhile since I have been in the scene.

Wing Chun is a very nice compliment to TKD. Where TKD can develope your kicks and long range combat, wing chun will help your arms and short range combat..

Also just to be fair, I have seen HKD advertise they teach TKD and don't know squat about it as well. Though I think it is a lot easier for and HKD stylist to pick up on TKD than the other way around.

Then it sounds like you do ITF forms and he is adding a couple of school forms to begin with.

Perhaps a newsletter of upcoming events, people's b-day, self defense tip of the month or form tip of the month.

Are you talking about the kung fu weapon? If so I know what you are talking about. What do you need to know?

Check out all the information on James Mitose and Kosho Shorei Kai Kempo. That will answere your question. I believe his book is called This is Self Defense. If you can find it, good luck.

I am guessing that the Si-jak is his own personal form. Sijak in Korean means begin. UTA seems to be an independent organization from USTU or ITF. What are his more advanced forms called?

The trouble I have ran into are the instructors that say they teach HKD, but barely learned it themselves. Or they pass of the Pelligrini's CHKD as HKD, which is worse in my opinoin. I am all for mixing arts together as long as the teacher is competent enough to teach them. In this day and age of seminar black belts, I have seen too many instructors take a weekend class of XYZ style and instantly become a master of it.

I disagree. Class is exactly where you need to be working on it. Anything from sparring to free form self defense. If your instructor isn't teaching you this, you need to ask him to start teaching it. This is crucial in any situation. What good is all the martial art knowledge in the world if, at the time of need, your body freezes because it can't handle the stress?