asynk

Well, testing done and wife and I both did well. Funny thing is, I was only nervous right before and then after my techniques. Once I started the pattern, it was like everyone else disappeared. Lucky for me, MOST of the people left before adult testing started. Kids were first so they and all their parents were outta there. I can see that it will get easier the next few times. Maybe all of this will help beat my 20 years of stage fright! Thanks for the comments.

Well, soon I will go stand up in front of 100+ people and do my stuff. Chung-Ji, 6 walking drills and possibly some 1 step sparring. I SHOULD come home with my Sr White belt, and my wife is testing for her Yellow. I'm confident in my technique, just nervous about the 100+ people part. (always had a problem with doing anything in front of a group). Hopefully, it gets easier on that part in future tests.

Good luck! I've got my first ever test this saturday as well. You sure have alot more to remember than me I bet.

I'm still reserving my judgement of our school. Being a lowly white belt, its hard to determine how much of our teaching is sport vs combat. I know that one instructor always goes over self-defense, knife defense, boxing drills, etc. The other teaches drills, kick drills,etc. I do see how some of this could help in a fight, but I'm concerned at green belt (when we start sparring), that the focus is going to be on competition and sport vs self defense.

What a joke! LOL

I'm new to TKD but already this subject has come up in my mind. I studied Juko-Ryu Ju Jutsu for about a year. There we did joint locks, takedowns, throws, etc. What I consider to me alot more self-defense and combat oriented. TKD seems to be alot more sport oriented. I watched a tounrament this saturday and I can say I'm not interested in sparring for points. Can someone help me feel better about doing this? I don't see the application of this. Would any sparring skills be useful in self-defense or is it not meant to be self-defense in nature? I love our instructors and I am enjoying class, but I don't want a black belt in something if it's not going to mean I can defend myself ANY better than being untrained.

I know each school is different, but I am wondering general what is learned at each new rank. I'm ITF/USTF TKD and for white belt we have to know Chun Ji pattern, some one-steps and some block/kick punch drills. Is each rank mostly just a new pattern, or are there new kicks/blocks/strikes also? I thought maybe you just build on the base ytou get in the low ranks by perfecting the things you already know. Surely the difference in white and black belt is more than just a dozen patterns. Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question.

We are in the USTF, but, I understand the USTF is part of the ITF. It's the more traditional of the TKDs... I think. I'm still a newbie so I'm still learning all the history.

Hes an ITF master: http://www.itf-online.com/masters.htm Also, more info http://www.koreanhapkido.com/norris.htm http://www.nav.cc.tx.us/staff_pages/dana/martial/chuck.htm

I asked this question last night to my instructor. He said that there ARE alot of McDojo's.. what he calls "feel good martial arts". Our school, however, is different. Yes, we are a USTF affiliate school. We do the real TKD according to their guidelines ,etc. We ALSO crosstrain alot. Last night, we did boxing drills. Hitting the mits with jabs and hooks. We also have an optional ju jutsi grappling night. A separate teacher comes in for that. I've been told we end up also doing Arnis/Escrima, joint locks,etc. I look at us as more of a "combat TKD". We do have tournaments and point fighting, but they always clarify what would work in point fighting and what would work on the street. I think it helps greatly that our cheif instructor is a police officer.

[ Your not alone I'm right where you are. If you don't quit then I won't either Your on! Now we can have accountability! My first belt test is Sept 11th, last night I got my red stripe (not a rank, just means I know the basic blocks,strikes) The few months in ju jutsu seem to have helped me pick up the first few things quickly. I've almost have chon-ji nailed down also.

New TKD student here! Glad to have a place of accountability and support.

Wow! Thanks for all the quick replies. I'm glad I found a community that supports my new hobby. I really enjoy the class, and I can't wait for the next one. I do find that once I get in that 'zone', that I hardly notice anyone else around me. My wife even attends sometimes.. and we thought that would be odd. We actually hardly even look at each other or talk. I'm sure those initial butterflies will go away as I attend more classes. I've done some ju jutsu in the past but I'm hoping to make this one last to at least black belt.

I just joined up with a local TKD school. I really like it and am looking forward to advanceing and learning all the new stuff. The only small issues I have is this: I am 32 years old and MOST of the students are 15 and under. There are adult classes, but often the 12& ups still come in. I feel kinda silly that I am SO much older than those kiids and I am just starting out. There are many 10-12 yr old brown and black belts,etc. I even saw a 7 year old that was a purple belt. Does anyone else feel this way or did you?