rmclain

Hello, Have you ever had the chance to train under Grandmaster Han's instructor, Kum Hong Lee? R. McLain

I believe Master Yang Moon trained in Houston, Texas with Grandmaster Kim Pyung-soo in the late 1960's & 1970's. You should contact Grandmaster Kim Soo. http://www.kimsookarate.com I found out that Master Yang Moon retired and moved to S. Korea a few years ago. R. McLain

It's mostly a marketing technique when you see a sign for a "karate" school and they teach something else. Most Americans know what karate is from television or friends, etc. But, many are clueless about Muy Thai, Taekwondo, Hapkido, etc. So, many schools simply use "karate" on their signs whether it is technically correct or not. R. McLain

I asked some Korean martial artist from the old days about her. Certainly someone would have heard about a woman training back then in an all or mostly-all male endeavor. No one knows or ever heard about her until a few years ago. Especially, someone claiming being the first female master or Grandmaster should be able to give verifiable sources and contacts for these claims - unless it was a situation where she said , "Proof! I did that kick very well, so now I am promoting myself to a Grandmaster!" Interesting as to how many "Grandmasters" these days leave out the details on who they trained with (for years) to achieve their status. I started seeing her ads a few years ago also - showed her with lots of makeup using some sort of MA posture with clawed hards and smoke all through the photo. (Does anyone remember those?) Looked like a nut to me. Now, she has a new image - like a female Tony Robbins, talking about inner power, etc., dressed in a nice suit. IMO: She looks like a business woman that is able to influence people. I've never seen any of her classes or if she teaches anymore. So, I'd recommend asking questions to her instructors and dig for more information. Let us know what you find. R. McLain

Since you're adding Tomari-te forms, why not add Jut-te. R. McLain

Our karate lineage can be traced back to Toyama Kanken through our Grandmaster Yoon Byung-in. He was Korean, but grew up in Manchuria in the 1920's & 30's studying chaun-fa from a Mongolian instructor. He was later sent to study colonial rule at Nihon University by his family, which is where he met and trained with Toyama Kanken. In Toyama's book/instructor directory published in 1946 or 47, Yoon Byung-in is listed as a 4th dan and the Chosun YMCA representative (after he moved to S. Korea following WWII). Yoon Byung-in then was taken to North Korea in August 1951 by his brother (Captain in the N. Korean army) and never was able to return. Anyway, three of Yoon Byung-in's students (Lee Nam-sok, Park Chul-hee, and Hong Jong-pyo) taught my instructor (now Grandmaster Kim Soo) beginning in 1950. We still preserve both karate and chuan-fa in one comprehensive system called, "Chayon-Ryu" (Natural Way). http://www.chayonryu.com I'm sure the forms and interpretations have been changed over the years, as arts naturally evolve (for good or bad). But, we have the same root as many of you - which confuses many TKD teachers as why a Korean is teaching something other than taekwondo. R. McLain

I did this demo a few times in 1997-98. The first few times were fine, but my finger joint ended up getting sore and started hurting after the last time. So, I stopped doing this demo. Don't want any arthritis when I get older. R. McLain

Go to any manufacturer of handgun ammo and you can get the specs. R. McLain

For a 1st Dan instructor, use the title, "Kyo Sa Nim." R. McLain

Assistant Instructor (under Black Belt): Jyo Kyo Nim 1st or 2nd Dan: Kyo Sa Nim 3rd or 4th Dan or head instructor that is not yet a Master: Sa Bom Nim Master: Gho Sa Nim Director: Kwan Jang Nim Branch School Director: Jee Kwan Jang Nim Founder: Do Ju Nim Grandmaster ("Old Expert"): Noh Sa Nim R. McLain

Yes, Bassai Dai and Jin Do are karate katas from Okinawa. These forms were the primary forms taught in Korean Tang Soo Do (Kong Soo Do) following WWII. The forms were brought back to Korea by Koreans that studied abroad during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1909-1946). That's why you see them taught in some Korean martial arts schools still today. R. McLain

I don't know how much of the arts he adopted, but Bruce Lee spent time with Jhoon Rhee (Taekwondo) and Ji Han Jae (Hapkido). R. McLain

In Chayon-Ryu, there are 29 forms required for 1st Dan: 26 empty-hand forms, 3 staff forms. R. McLain

The Korean Taekwondo Association (KTA) was formed in 1965. It came from the Tae Soo Do, under the Korean Amateur Athletic Association, which was formed in 1961. The KTA was involved in the creation and formation of the Palgue forms and the yudanja forms (koryo, Tae Baek, Baek Jae, Ship Jin, Jee Tae, etc). The KTA became the WTF in 1974. R. McLain

I'm not sure where you get your sources....A slow-moving handgun bullet is more like 800ft/s or 545mph. This means that if you are 50 feet away from this handgun being fired at you, you only have 0.063 seconds to respond. That is less that 1/15th of a second to hear the sound and respond to it. Good luck. R. McLain

Off topic, but question for any Younwha student: Where is Master Han teaching these days? Does he have a main school? R. McLain

The following are some photos of TaeKyon. http://www.kimsookarate.com/gallery-old-days/song-duk-ki.html Taekyon was mostly lost during the Japanese occupation on Korea (1910-1945). There has been a recent interest in Taekyon in Korea. I believe this is a copy of that BB Mag. article you wrote about. It is from the author's web page: http://www.kimsookarate.com/articles/history2.html R. McLain

No, YMCA Kwon Bup was not the Ji Do Kwan. The YMCA Kwon Bup was started by Byung In Yoon, who taught at the Ji Do Kwan for about 1 year, before opening his own school, the YMCA Kwon Bup which later became Chang Moo Kwan. R. McLain

The Koreans would use "sul" instead of "jutsu." Both mean, "technique." R. McLain

Jake Strickland looks really talented and dedicated. I'm sure it takes lots of hard work to do those tricks. While XMA takes lots of skill and work, it is more of a circus act than martial arts. It's the same way in the movies. But, movies are really meant to entertain people, not to teach or show good martial art. R. McLain

Hello Champ64, Which forms do you practice in Ji Do Kwan? R. McLain

There are many titles for instructors: Jo Kyo Nim, Kyo Sa Nim, Sa Bom Nim, Gho San Nim, Noh Sa Nim, Do Ju Nim, Do Sa Nim, Kwan Jang Nim, etc. When you add the "Ke" in the end of the title, it means, "towards." "Charyot," means "Attention" "Sa Bom Nim Ke" means, "towards the instructor." "Gyung Yae" means "Bow." Just add "Ke" to the end of the instructor title when you wish the students to face that instructor. R. McLain

1st Dan is a great accomplishment, but it is only the beginning. What is 5 years of study (or however long it takes in your school) compared with the next 50 years of training? When I was riding home from the rank exam that I was promoted to 1st Dan Black Belt at, I got the feeling, "I don't know anything." All the way home, I couldn't shake it and it really bothered me. This fueled the fire in me to train harder, study more, and truely educate myself on lower rank requirements as well as my new requirements. I am very glad I did this because it really opened my eyes to how much I didn't know and how much more knowledge there is to gain. I look forward to what I will find in my training in the years to come. I don't recommend that someone stop at 1st Dan. Too many people achieve 1st Dan then quit because they think it means "graduation." There is much, much more to learn after this rank, but you have to put in the study and sweat to find it. R. McLain

10th Gup (White Belt): Kibon Hyung Il Chol, Kibon Hyung Yi Chol, Kibon Hyung Sam Chol 9th Gup (Orange Belt): Kibon Hyung Sa Chol, Kibon Hyung Oh Chol, Palgue Il Jang, Bong Hyung Il Jang 8th & 7th Gup (Yellow Belt): Pyung Ahn Cho Dan, Pyung Ahn Yi Dan, Palgue Yi Jang, Bong Hyung Yi Jang 6th Gup (Green Belt): Pyung Ahn Sam Dan, Pyung Ahn Sa Dan, Palgue Sam Jang, Palgue Sa Jang 5th Gup (Blue Belt): Pyung Ahn Oh Dan, Palgue Oh Jang, Danjon Hohub Hyung 4th Gup (Purple Belt): Palgue Yuk Jang, Sypsoo, Koryo, Tae Baek 3rd Gup (Purple Belt): Dan Kwon, Doju San, Bong Hyung Sam Jang 2nd Gup (Brown Belt): Bassai Tae, Palgue Chil Jang 1st Gup (Brown Belt): Jee Tae, Palgue Pal Jang 1st Dan (Black): No Hai, Chulki Cho Dan, Chang Kwon (Offensive), Bong Hyung Sa Jang 2nd Dan (Black): Ahm Hak, Chulki Yi Dan, Chang Kwon (Defensive) 3rd Dan (Black): Chulki Sam Dan, Bassai So, Wan Shu 4th Dan (Black): Kong Son Kun, So Ho Yon, Tai Jo Kwon, Ban Wol, Cha Un 5th Dan (Black): Jin Soo, Oh Ship Sa Bo, Ship Pal There are more forms 6-8th Dan, but I don't know which are required. R. McLain

If you let someone in an arguement get close enough to be "in your face" then you've already put yourself at a disadvantage. Who strikes first has the advantage in this case. I wouldn't ever let myself be put in that situation. That sounds more like an "ego" over smart self-defense. R. McLain