MichiganTKD

I can think of several factors that make our school unique: 1. Our Founder has steadfastedly remained true to tradition, even though he could make a LOT more money going commercial and selling out. he has spent a great deal of money (and earned many headaches) calling all over the world to his colleagues, traveling to Korea and just about every continent, arranging trips for us etc. 2. I've seen many students from other organizations come through our doors over the years, and none has ever come close as far as overall technique. That includes speed, power, and level of technique. 3. Our school's lineage is exact. We have documented proof that our Grandmaster's Instructor is Woon Kyu Uhm, and his was Won Kuk Lee, Chung Do Kwan Founder. 4. We have Instructors in just about every region of the country, with access to judges, Instructors, seminars, and class trips. Overall, I feel extremely proud to be a member of our Organization and wouldn't trade it for anything.

The Central Gym when I practiced was definitely serious. Very little joking, and we trained HARD. I still miss that. The Gym now has gotten less serious, to the point where nobody takes it seriously. At the school where I teach, I have consciously tried to maintain the attitude we used to have. The students do joke with each other sometimes, but overall very serious, disciplined, and hard. But the comment I hear more than any other is that, despite the intensity, how proud they are to be a student there as opposed to the other schools, even within the same Organization. I also notice our students do much better at testings and tournaments than other students.

I would agree with some of the posts mentioned above, but add some of my own thoughts on the matter. 1. As stated above, the gun has defined Western self defense for the past 5-600 years. Especially in this country, we have not culturally felt a need a need for unarmed self defense because the gun is our prefered method of personal security. Also, no government has tried to take away our guns, necessitating a need for unarmed self defense. 2. Since our culture is predominantly European-influenced, our unarmed fighting skills would be influenced by whatever we brought from that area. This includes Greco-Roman wrestling (as mentioned above), and English boxing. While techniques we might associate with oriental martial arts do exist in Western culture (kicking, attacking vital spots), they tend to be more associated with hooliganism and gang warfare. Hence, below what decent people would use to defend themselves. Remember, it is still vaguely dishonorable to kick someone in the groin. 3. In China, Japan, and Korea, the influence of Confucianism-Taoism-Buddhism has produced the concept of Do-the Life Path. This is not religion, this a foundation for what it means to be honorable. It also produces the idea of focusing your physical-mental-spiritual energy into an activity and making part of yourself, rather than simply an activity. In the West, our primary religion, Christianity, stands by itself and requires obedience to it separate from worldly thought. While many of the precepts of Christianity are morally similar to Eastern religion, Christianity has always thought of itself as more than just a moral code. It considers itself a Way of Life. I'm not endorsing it, by the way, just trying to put it in the context of martial thought. To KickChick: You're on the right track regarding Koreans not punching to the face. However, there are two reasons why Korean martial arts traditionally don't punch to the face: 1. Kicking is considered more difficult, thus more desireable to learn. Korean activities and games have traditionally valued difficult techniues. Punching was thought of as too easy, the realm of streetfighters and thugs. 2. Korea has a long history of producing exquisite cultural works (pottery, crafts, etc.). Since the hands were the source of one's income, it didn't make much sense to punch someone, break your hand, and lose your way of making money. As a practical matter, it made more sense to develop kicking. If you break a bone in your foot, at least you can still sit down and create pottery!

Keep in mind, when Karate Kid came out the PKA was quite popular, and Ninja movies were all the rage. Karate Kid was the first martial arts film I can think of that wasn't just about fighting, or guys in black Ninja costumes jumping over 10 foot walls in downtown L.A., or pseudo-Eastern philosophy. It really tried to show what martial arts philosophy was about-that karate students weren't adrenalized thugs looking for trouble and sreaming "Kill!" at every opportunity. For the first time, we got to see a martial arts Instructor living the philosophy he practiced, without the hackneyed plot lines. Okay, being forced to train your student for a tournament isn't exactly groundbreaking in MA films. But the film's approach was unlike anything out there. Having non-students do the crane technique with high-pitched screams whenever I was around did get annoying REAL fast! (Thank you, Bruce Lee!)

I've seen fighters who have to be kicking close to that speed knock people out. I just never got caught up in the whole Bill Wallace-Superfoot aura. I didn't think of him any differently than the other fighters of the era. I'm still just as impressed, if not more, than some of the WTF tournament fighters. I really think those guys would give ol' Superfoot a run for his money. Just my humble opinion.

Free fighting is important for several reasons. 1. It forces you to deal with someone face to face. How would you respond? How do you deal with someone taller by 6 or more inches? How do you deal with someone who prefers punching? How do you fight someone with a solid body and power? You don't have to like sparring (I do), but understand it is important. 2. It gives you a chance to practice your technique against someone aside from just drills. If you hit someone with your favorite kick, and your foot bounces off them, you need more practice. Having a smaller student spar a big guy gives the smaller one a chance to practice full contact hitting. 3. Sparring forces you to adjust to different strategies. Everyone fights differently. Some people are very aggressive. Some people try to sucker you in and then use spinning kicks. Some people like jumping. You must become aquainted with different strategies and adapt to them. 4. Having women spar men gives women a chance to practice power technique and going full contact. The men are forced to develop gracefulness and footwork. Women against women is a category in itself. We stick with bare hands and feet sparring until they have shown they understand control and accuracy. Once they understand that, we do periodic sparring with hogu and headgear.

PKA used to impress me when I was 15 years old. In retrospect, it was boring. Just a bunch of boxers who learned enough kicking to get by, did their 8 kicks per round, and started punching. I really can't see myself as being impressed with Bill Wallace. What exactly did he do that anybody else couldn't do? Keep in mind, at the time he was a novelty. Honestly, I've seen people who kick better in tournaments, particularly the Koreans.

You know, I'm not going to argue this because it would accomplish nothing. You have your point of view, and I have mine. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just our opinions.

Interesting post Bkendrick. I also noticed on your tagline how many styles you practice or practice. Do you practice all those currently? I find it hard to believe that you would have the time to do all those. The impression I get is that you approach martial arts as a buffet-sample as much as you can without going in depth into one. Believe me, Tae Kwon Do is no worse than any other style as far as the problems you mentioned. Again, if you are under 4th Dan, you are considered an assistant, responsible to your Instructor. WTF and ITF will tell you the same thing. If you are 1st-3rd Dan, and NOT practicing with your Instructor or being involved with his/her Organization, you will not advance. It doesn't matter how much on your own you practice. If you are happy with this, fine. I still believe in the Instructor/Student relationship. After 4th Dan, yes the magic number, you are more or less considered autonomous to make your own decisions. But even 4th+ Dans love, respect, and follow their Instructor as a parent. I guess this makes us freaks. But as far as practicing other styles to make up for not practicing with your Instructor, no, that is not Tae Kwon Do (or any other art for that matter). I doubt if an aikido Instructor would tolerate his student doing that.

Well, the way things are headed, the WTF and ITF might be obsolete in a couple of years. However, until that actually happens, you can no more practice both than you can be a member of a Catholic and Baptist church simultaneously. These two organizations have nothing to do with each other, teach entirely differnt forms, have different rules, and different approaches to technique. It's like trying to practice Tae Kwon Do and Karate at the same time-you can't do it. You body will get confused trying to execute the same technique two different ways. Anyone who thinks they can doesn't get it. If you practice ITF style, why are you concerned about the Olympics anyway? If you really want to be in the Olympics, quit the ITF and join the WTF and USTU.

I can't comment on other systems, particularly Japanese or grappling, because I'm not involved in them. But I will say this: In Tae Kwon Do, particularly in the system we practice, 1st-3rd Dan is concerned with physical practice and learning technique. Etiquette and being a good student as well, but primarily technique. If you are a non-Master BB, and living somewhere where practice sessions are few and far between, or not practicing with the Organization in a class, or practicing with just non-TKD people, it is almost like you are retired. You will not advance because you are not really training in Tae Kwon Do with your Teacher. One of the rules of 1st-3rd Dan is: Follow your Instructor because you need his/her recommendation. If you don't follow me, I don't recommend. You will be one of the MANY people who say "rank is not important", which means "I don't practice with my Instructor anymore." After 4th Dan, you can practice on your own because a different set of standards are used. But if you are still contributing to Tae Kwon Do (judging, self-practice, helping the Organization etc.) you can advance in rank. No, rank is not the sole reason to practice. But I find it interesting that the examples above, students who have essentially no contact with their Instructor and just learn what they can learn through whatever means, are the ones who claim rank is irrelevant. Reminds me of the fox who couldn't reach the grapes and then decided they wouldn't be any good anyway.

Watch all you want, just let me know if any hairs are out of place.

The problem with the above argument is that in today's world, we have grown accustomed to dan ranking, regardless of how authentic the person claiming it might be. I realize 150 years ago, the Dan rank didn't exist. But this isn't 150 years ago. In 2004, one of the first questions people ask of any Instructor is "what rank is he?" And any Instructor who has been training for 25 years and only holds 2nd-3rd Dan has to be prepared to explain WHY he has been in martial arts that long and only holds 3rd Dan. People will assume he is not very good, because if he was any good, he would be higher ranking. Even non-students are familiar enough with Dan ranking to realize that different Dan levels are achieved in X amount of time, and there is something suspicious about putting all that time in and only achieving 2nd or 3rd Dan. Sad but true: Incompetent 7th Dans are assumed to be better than truly talented and knowledgable 3rd or 4th Dans because of the 7 after their name. Probably not what Dr. Kano envisioned, but the reality nonetheless. In WTF Tae Kwon Do, you can assist teaching from 1st-3rd Dan. Only after 4th Dan can you teach your own class.

True, no sense kicking a dead horse (no pun intended!) On to the next topic.

My suggestion is that others get a thicker skin. If Christianity is as string as you believe, then it can withstand a little criticism. I do not mock religion, only stupidity. And I point out problems as I see them. If someone says I'm wrong or challenges me on an issue, unlike some people, I can handle it. My skin is pretty thick.