Chazsinger

Good on ya! I started at 42 or 43 and don't regret it a bit! Chaz

Tae Kwon Do only reaches up to 9th Dan. I don't know where they came up with 10th dan. Chaz

Isometrics could easily work! I guess all these methods could work, but I suppose putting in the serious time to do it is the most important. I injured my shoulder last January and stopped working out like an idiot. I gained back some weight I'd just lost....bummer! Went back to working out again this summer and dieting again. Lost 7 of the pounds again and I'm seeing results in just the last three weeks. Relearned all my forms from white through brown and learned half of my red. I go through all the belts daily so I won't forget them. CHaz

I bought the Tom Kurz book and found a lot of it difficult to understand the first time around. Reading it a second time and focusing made a huge difference. I just bought a used stretching machine by Century that is only 4 months old for $125.00 dollars. I need something like this as I cannot spread my legs apart and bend over in the sitting position. It's very frustrating and I'm testing for my black belt in a few months. I think the machine will make things a bit easier as I have something to grab onto while spreading the legs apart. I'm 45 and it's not easy, but I guess nothing worthwhile ever is. Chaz

Some schools differ slightly. The net will give a variety of belt orders and meanings. Your school should have them listed somewhere if you ask. Our color scheme runs, white, orange, yellow, green, advanced green, purple, blue, brown, red, recomended black with a red belt with black stripe and then decided 1st dan black. After that you can go up to 9th dan black if you are very persistant and dedicated. I'm at red belt and have enjoyed the ride so far. The biggest thing to remember is not to rush through your color belts. Enjoy the ride up to black and don't forget that black is only the beginning. The color belts only teach you the basic techniques. The black belts teach you how to use these techniques. Chaz

Guess you have to look at it this way. Is the instructor out to make a profit from his or her school? What do you pay for lessons every month? There is a lot to consider here before making that decision. To be fair about this, I'll tell you what I pay and you can go from there. My instructor stated that the school makes enough to keep the lights on and doors open. The teachers and owners have other careers and the teachers do not get paid a penny. The cost is $80.00 dollars a month US currency. Your first uniform is free. Testing is free. Belts are free. Gloves and foot protecters and mouth protectors are out of your own pocket. Cost of black belt test and certification is free. Cost of lessons have added up over the time, but it's all been well worth it. Tournament fees are also out of the students pockets. The school has fund raisers and garage sales to help pay for over night lock ins and other fun things for the kids. Camp is around $200.00 dollars if you choose to go. Like I said ....lots of things to consider and it sounds like my school gives a pretty fair shake. Anybody else? Chaz

Good question! My dojo gives you your first gi for free. It's not spendy or heavy duty, but gets the job done. You will get a patch from you dojo when you've completed your 2nd or 3 belt and you are expected to sew it on promptly! You are given a white uniform like the rest of the school to show that you are a part of this school and not an individual. The uniforms are the same style and you can find someone to take the pant legs or sleeves of the jacket up to fit your size. Our dojo has a lovely lady who sews the school letters on the back as well as tailoring for a nominal fee. She does great work and the school loves her! The hash marks on the belts are ranks for the black belts only. A first dan will have 1 mark while a 5 dan will have 5 marks. You are expected to wash your uniform on a regular basis so as not to offend others around you and make sure to use some bleach if your dojo uses the white color. Don't disgrace yourself and others around you by coming to the floor with a smelly and wrinkled uniform. The instructors will make an example out of you if you don't! I waited till I got to the upper ranks before ordering a new gi and my chief instructor even told me I should order all uniforms and equipment from her as she could save me money. She was right about that as I price checked her against other companies and I was quite thrilled. I hope this will answer most of your questions....and good luck in your schooling! Chaz

I've sparred with some teenage black belts who would be a problem on the street and I've sparred with a few that wouldn't last 5 seconds. Some of the female instructors would have a tough time as well. Sparring and fighting for your life are two different things and should be kept seperate. Our dojo is good about that and explains the difference. Light contact sparring is used to practice technique and build endurance. The real deal is that I've never been one who wanted to fight, but I've been taught how to throw a real punch as well as blocking. This will work in real defense. I've learned how to kick with power and acuracy so that an oncoming attacker will receive a side kick to the stomach or a good shot to the knees. I've also been taught that if you can't breathe, stand or see...the fight is over. A kick to the groin, a shot to the eyes with the fingers or to the throat will usually stop things long enough to get away. I've been taught how to tie a belt which does nothing for me on the street, but I've learned how to disarm a person with a gun or knife if it comes down to it. I've learned self-control and how to keep my mouth shut when needed. I've learned to respect others and most importantly I've learned how to how to walk away from a fight before it ever starts. I've learned to de-escalate a situation and use my brains. A black belt is so much more than martial arts technique. As far as instructors technique working on the streets? My chief instructor is also a metropolitan police officer and chief instructor for the department as well. The other instructors are officers and deputies. I'd say they are well qualified and so is their art form. Not all dojos can claim the same level and that is when the studient must do some soul searching. chaz

I'll be stopping in KC on Monday to deal with CompUSA on a return, but I'm heading straight to Omaha. I'll be in Salina over the weekend of the 10th, but that's quites a distance from you. I'm sure I'll be perfoming in the KC area again soon. Used to work at the Argosy quite often. Played at One Block West in KC back in the old days, but I'm sure that's before your time. Anyway.....oh yah....back on topic...hehe....do you have any flexibiltity issues with the hamstrings or muslces surrounding the knees and thighs? I've been at this a few years and I still can't touch the floor with my knuckles without bending at the knees. It really does affect my side kick in height and I thought that dynamic stretching to the side might help.

I drive through on my way to Oklahoma and Texas down I-35. Lived in Lenexa off of 87th and Quivera years ago. Nice folks and good area to live in.

No....not a problem. She drives me nuts with it sometimes. (G) I was a certified drafter for AEC consultants in downtown KC, MO back in the early 80s. CAD was just barely out back then. Now I sing for a living around the country. TKD is great to take on the road as you don't need any equipment. Where is Ottawa? I lived in KC for years and still perform around Kansas as I live in Omaha these days. Right now I'm out by Indy for a three week stint.

Thank you Ken for correcting my eronious spelling. My gal does this to me all the time and she can't help it. She's a proof reader at her job. Drives me friggin' nuts sometimes. (G)

Your friend might have a black belt, but have you seen his certificate on the wall of his room? Anybody can buy a belt, but a certificate signed by the chief instructor is the valid proof. Also....Tai Kwon Do promotes good health, but will not give you a great body by just attending classes. He can attend all the classes in the world, but might have a problem with pushing away from the dinner table. A black belt must take the required courses for 9 different belts before testing for a 1st dan black. He must spar, perform mulitple board breaks and perform the given poomse as well as the poomse from previous belts to prove his knowledge. He must also prove himself daily as a worthy student showing respect to others around him. If the red or brown belt forms are not performed and the student doesn't have the poise or balance, the teacher will hold them back until they gain this. How long ago did this person gain black belt status? Ask this person to perform all the forms and you'll find out how serious a student they really are. I learn and re-learn all my forms if I feel myself slipping. I do all 9 forms on a daily basis so my feeble old mind won't forget them! (G)

In our dojo, we are warned that we must spar at the lower level of our sparring partner. If I'm with a white belt, I must only use punches and kicks from the white belt form. I always advise the lower ranks to come at me with a combination of 3 punches or kicks and sparring is a give and take system. You give each other a chance to attack and defend so each party can learn. My greatest fear is sparring against male adult green belts. They have enough power and knowledge to really hurt someone, but not enough training and restraint to hold back. The cup and jockstrap is your friend at this point. One steps are benificial as they start you a foot from your target when kicking and striking so as not to injure a student. By the time you reach black belt, you should be able to perform a cresent kick while grazing the other persons uniform, but not strike them. Sparring is not usually performed until green belt in our school and only after the completion of one steps. Keep your eyes on their belt and watch the hips and torso move. You can begin to spot what leg or arm they'll use to strike and you can block easier this way. Keep moving in circles...if you get dizzy, you know your're doing it right. DON't stand still and remain a target! Many times our instructor will tell half of the class can only defend while the other half attacks. Or half can use their legs only or hands only. Makes you think a little more. Most of all....enjoy the sparring! If you get hit, laugh it off....that's what I do.

I love your additude Old Rookie! I started back when I was 43 and I'll be 46 in a few months. I just stumbled onto this board after checking around and I really like the vibe here! I'm still on my red belt and in no hurry to reach the black...maybe this winter sometime. Anyway....I was the ONLY adult for the longest time. I felt so self-aware during belt ceremonies and such. I would watch the parents sitting on the sideline and sometimes asked if they would consider joining themselves. Lo and behold, many did and now the class is filled with adults and we have a blast! A few of them commented that if an old geezer like myself could do this, then they could as well. I would always come in early to stretch out and watch the younger students go through their forms. Watching a 10 year old black belt go through forms is a thing of beauty as flexibility is not an issue! I still have flexibility problems, but at least I'm working on it!