scottnshelly

I spent a lot of time in a local competition circuit and got to know a lot of great Instructors and Black Belts. We celebrated one guys 40th anniversary of being a Black Belt. His belt was pretty grey. Also, my Instructor's Instructor - Sensei Ron Chandler - had a belt that he eventually had to retire because it was so tattered. It was so grey, that it started turning black again. He said that he just had to hold it up to his waist and it would tie itself. I have the utmost respect for these guys and their belts. But in the NBL circuit there were a lot of kids as young as 12 with greying belts. They were crisp and fresh black in the middle, but extremely tattered and grey around the top and bottom and at the ends. My grandpa first pointed this out to me (he was a Black Belt also). As best as we could figure, they either washed them profusley, rubbed them on something or used a sander on them for this effect. I think this is the most disrespectful thing that i've ever seen in Martial Arts history - maybe aside from Sinbad the comedian claiming to be a Blakc Belt under Billy Blanks. First of all, they are trying to exaggerate their Martial experience. Secondly they are disprespecting their, allegly hard-earned, belts. Thirdly they are showing a lot of disrespect for the above two mentioned Masters and all of the others in the world with a greying belt. Can anyone here justify this behavior? perhaps someone could shine some light on this for me...

I can certainly agree that these people are giving us 'real' Martial Artists a bad name, totally demoralizing and degrading our ranks. in a perfect world, i wouldn't want them around. on the other hand. they have helped me see a new perspective on things. i know that i won't be able to explain it all in detail here, but maybe you can understand my point: ranks don't matter. not to us, not to outsiders, not to other schools. they are simply a way of letting others know your skill level. i think that things should be graded on length and experience of training. instead of 'i'm a 2nd Dan in Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do', we should say 'i've studied Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do for 14 years.' So what, who cares what rank you are. Just because someone's a higher rank doesn't necessarily mean that they've more experience than me, or are a better fighter, or a better Martial Artist. Just because i'm a higher rank than someone else, doesn't mean that a lower rank can't beat me in sparring. it has helped to humble me - and others - by realizing that. thirdly, if you're bragging to some outsider (and by outsider i mean someone with no Martial training) about your belt rank and you're worried that he won't think it's that great becuase of these 'McDojo's' then you're not deservant of the Black Belt rank. Being a Black Belt isn't about bragging or showing off. It's not about telling others about it and trying to make yourself look good. If someone finds out that i'm a Black Belt, then i hope that they do think that i'm one of those crappy 'McDojo' guys. I don't want people to think that i'm just the opposite. Anyone that needs to know my training experience should be able to tell it by knowing me, not by the color of belt that i wear. in other words, if someone can't tell that i'm a Black Belt by talking to me, watching me, observing me (in or out of the Dojo) then i don't want them to know that i've ever trained. Two different Black Belts that judged at my first Black Belt test told me afterward that i was a Black Belt for a couple months before the test. In conclusion, Black Belt is not simply a rank that can be bought, it is a state of being. It doesn't matter what the alleged 'McDojos' do because it doesn't affect me.

I'm almost too embarrased to ask this on here, but i'm curious. I know i'll regret this later but here goes: I've been studying the arts for 14 years, Black Belt for 6 of them. I can tell by watching someone walk and act if they have much training, past green belt, ya know. Well, we new Chinese restaurant here in town, three guys from China run the place. They all walk and stuff like someone with training. I've never met anyone from the Orient that wasn't associated with the arts, so I really don't know how to tell... Anyway, would it be rude to ask if they know Kung-Fu? and if not, how should i ask? I don't want to seem like i'm stereo-typing, but just want to make conversation with these guys. Any suggestions?

If i would've seen these cartoon stips any where else, and not seen the real drawings of real moves, i would've been offended. these are very funny though. I noticed that the cartoon strips were numbered up to like, what, 13 or something. i saw about 4, where can i read the rest in the series?

I went to a local dry cleaners here in town - town population was 23,711 in 2000 - and asked. they sent me to a local embroidery shop in a woman's house. she charged me about $60 i think to embroider our school's trademark eagle with my name after i became a Black Belt. so, point is, go to a dry cleaner and ask.

It doesn't have anything to do with grip on the shoes, it can be done barefoot - and usually is. it's not that they are actually running up the wall, they can't keep going up it; they just hit the wall at a fast speed, at an angle that propels them up and out. if they go straight at it, they can get another step in before kicking off and back flipping. if they go at an angle they will be propelled out to an angle allowing them to hit another wall. I've never seen anyone get more than two steps on the wall before going backwards. try it sometimes, but not on a sheetrock wall. by the way, i've never done this, and don't have the ability. i have seen it done several times, though. i don't know if this is a common Korean thing, but i've seen it done at nearly all of the Tae Kwon Do seminars that i've been too.

I think the biggest benefit from underwater training isn't the fun, but the resistance that the water provides. One is able to obtain much deeper stances while underwater but kicks and punches are slowed down. Next time your in a pool or pond, try punching at full speed, it takes more energy.

when i first read this post, i was going to make a reply very similar to Sauzin, but then i saw that he already did. My only question is, do you put your hand over your heart and repeat the pledge of allegence (assuming you're in USA)? what is so different? in fact, i could argue that is more of a form of worshipping a false idol (flag) than bowing to a person that you respect. wait, that's not my only question, do you shake hands, say thank you, excuse me or anything like that, or do you only say 'praise be to god?' maybe this is a gross exageration, but i think that bowing is very similar to saying thank you. by the way, i only read the first page of replies before penning this, so sorry if this has already been stated.

https://www.bbb.org may be able to help also, this may just be for the states. here's a completely irrelevant story: my wife ordered me a iron palm striking bag for valentine's day. she said that when she called to say it was late, it just rang and rang then some guy picked up with 'hello' she said 'is this (business name here)?' and he was like 'uhh...yea'. the item is great quality though.

I'm not a fan of Phil Collins.

My dad started teaching me Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do when i turned six. By this time, we had moved away from his dojang to an area with absolutely no Martial Art schools. He taught me at home, then we video taped my first test (yellow belt) and mailed it to his dojang. I passed the test, by the way. That was the only belt that he would tape and mail. He continued to teach me, but we would travel for the rest of the tests, up to 2nd Dan. I think that, like everyone else has already said, they can be benificial as a last resort. I would not, however, condone this as a sole function. I've seen some websites that offer this with no interaction with the "Instructor" whatsoever and i laugh. Here's a funny one for example: http://www.adrianroman.com/Distant_learning.htm Sorry that i had no valueable input on this topic...

Has anyone read the novel series called "Crane Precious Sword Crouching Iron Pentalogy" or "Crane - Iron Pentalogy" for short? The movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was based on the fourth in the series. I was going to add this to my wish list, but wasn't sure if it was somehting that i'd really like. If you have read it, is it in anime style? because i hate anime style.

I've been thinking that for a couple days myself. All these run-ons and what nots. Maybe we should start a thread for adults only...

In Oklahoma, it is illegal to carry any weapon (or anything used as a weapon) with maliscious intent. You can carry any weapon (except gun, i think) to or from practice or competition. In other words, you can't leave the house with a cane, rope dart, expandable baton, or a pocket stick with intent to hurt someone even if it's in self defense. So, carrying a rope dart would be same as carrying a sword, expandable baton, can of mace, bat, pocket stick, cane, etc. I do like the idea of a cane though. I have had a cane for about 4 years, however, i don't walk with it. I haven't been able to train with it since my Instructor moved, but when i am able to again, i would like to carry it.

I agree. I had an opportunity to meet and take pictures with Superfoot once at a Super Grands tournament that he came to. He was really nice, talked me to everyone, signed auto-graphs and what-not. Haven't seen him fight much, but i know that he's done a lot for the MA.

I have this book. It's a good read. I've no experience in anything Chinese, so i can't really say how much of it is real, but it's a good read. It kinda got boring - to me - about the middle when it starts trying to tell me how i should react to different strikes. Most of the counters don't seem to realistic, but there was a lot of historical information that i liked. i recommend it.

Okay, here’s what you need to do: Just before getting attacked, set up a trip wire over to your right. Dig a large hole about seven feet to your left, and then cover it with leaves and debris. Put a large bear trap about nine feet behind you a little toward the left. Tell your friend and alleged girlfriend to hide and then build them a makeshift fort out of trashcans (where there’s immigrants there’s trashcans!) Now, when the first one approaches, he’ll come from the front. You can easily defeat him with a series of machine gun kicks to the face. Once you’ve defeated him, two more will come from the right; one will trip and fall over the trip wire. As the still-standing attacker approaches, pick him up and throw him on top of the one that just fell. This will defeat those two. Once the other seven see that you’ve defeated the first three they will all attack at once. One will rush in a sprint. Throw him over your head and he will land in the bear trap and be stuck. Two will fall into the large pit that you cleverly disguised. Now you’re down to just four. Clunk two of their heads together, which leaves you with two. And I mean, who here can’t take out two immigrants? You can use your imagination with the last two; get creative! Maybe a toy that you somehow managed to fill with pepper spray and voluntarily wear on your arm like a big freaking dork, or maybe you are carrying a large vicious dog in your pocket. Perhaps this is where your falcon training will come in handy; send your falcon after the last two. Or you can throw them into a large alligator pit… cover them with tar and feathers… give them a wedgie… do some XMA or Tae Bo exercises on their faces. Then you and your supposed friends and girlfriends can leave in peace. The only problem with this scenario is next time there will be 20. you’ll have to bring more traps and wild animals. This has worked for me well over 100 times. We have a lot of immigrants in Oklahoma, too.

I don't recall hearing of a 'throwing weight', but sounds similar to the rope dart. http://www.wle.com/products/w211.html

I would go with the Rope Dart or the nine section whip chain. *non lethal (if used unproperly *no batteries or compressed air *concealable *works well in striking and grappling.

I concur with everyone else. What used to help me, was to break the form down. I would take a step, then think about how it coordinated with the last step, then how it flows into the next step. Asking myself questions like this while breaking the form down seemed to help. This was, by the way, done at a very very slow pace - slower than walking pace. This was especially helpful when i learned Kenpo Long Form 6, which as it's name suggests, is a very long form. Try this once. it may not work for you, but it did for me. Whatever works for you, never practice faster than normal - i didn't believe my Instructor the first time he told me that, but it's true.

I remember a couple years ago, i was at a new years eve party, not one of those crazy drinking ones, but we all gathered a rich friend's to play nintendo and pool. There was a lot of people that i had never met before, but we all got along well. This was in a town about 20 miles south and east of here. i used to take private lessons with a kickboxing star turned Aikido practitioner in that town. This is just a preface to this story: I ended up on a couch next to some guy that i'd never met and we were playing some nintendo fighting game. i don't remember what it was called, but it had a lot of different characters and each character had it's own style. it seemed fairly accurate, with exagerations of course. anyway, this guy is sitting there telling everyone about each of the styles like 'oh he's good, he uses Aikido. Aikido is primarily about...it originated...' After an hour or two of his talking i said 'so, you must go to Mr. Gorrell's here in town?' he said 'no, i've never done any Karate, i have leg problems.' anyway, the punchline is, he never found out that i have done a little (14 years) of Martial Arts and sat there all night making everyone believe that he was so knowledgable. Some of my closer friends that were there got the joke, most never did find out about my Martial experience...until...well that's another post. now that i've typed this, it doesn't seem as funny, but i went through the trouble of typing it, so i'll post it. anyway, i imagine that i'm not unique in this situation. how often do you guys run into this?

I've read a few of Bruce Lee's books and have all of his movies. I don't claim to know JKD though. I have a question for those of you who are more knowledgable than I. I know that JKD is supposed to be the styless style, or style with no limits. My question is, i've seen in writing that JKD - or at least in the beginning - was created of a definite amount of other styles, seems like it was about 23 or something. Seems like a style that doesn't limit itself to techniques from only certain styles would be better fit to be called the 'styless style'. I'm sure that i'm wrong on this, just need some clarification.

I'm not expert or anything, but i think that the belts are a good tool. You only need belts until you become a Black Belt. When i say 'become' a Black Belt, i don't mean wearing a black colored belt around your waist. there is a difference. Once you become a Black Belt, you realize that you don't need the belts. Rank doesn't really matter anymore. but the belt ranks are a good tool, like has been stated previously, to encourage students. It is easier to accomplish an objective if you break it down into smaller goals. Therefore it is easier to become a Black Belt if you go through smaller underbelt ranks. how bout it?

man, i wanted to be the first one to say something about the extremely bad grammar. oh well, not being the first isn't going to stop me: Wow! one punctuation mark in the whole 289 word post and i'm not fully convinced that it was used properly! i mean, i didn't pass English class with a 4.0, but i've spoken and written it long enough that i can make sense of about half of the stuff that i write/type. I'm not the biggest advocate for proper English (i don't capiltalize everytime i'm supposed to) but i can't even read this garbage. Take it back, put some punctuation, re-read it and try again tomorrow. Disclaimer: this post was meant purely in a comical sense. this post should not be taken serious by anyone. Any part wishing to take said post serious takes full responsibilty. Poster assumes no liability to any responses resulting from this post.

Are these the arts that are available to you in your area, or just words that you've heard before? if the former, you should attend a class and speak with the Instructor if the latter, find out what's available in the area then attend a class and speak with the Instructor.