TSDforChrist

I prefer the first movie as well, even though it was not only set outside of America, it was MADE in France, haha. Still a good movie. In Chirst, Phil Stewart

You may have seen this post on other message boards - I am posting it on several across the internet, because I am interested in the response to this. Recently, I have been studying the development of Tang Soo Do, and various martial arts in general. The following is my opinion and result of my research. This is probably guaranteed to be controversial. Ok, so Tang Soo Do is a Korean art, that is the "Way of the Chinese Hand." Our traditional hyung, however, are Japanese. We all know Hwang Kee used these Shoto-kan kata, that he found in a book, as a marketing device, as before this time there were no TSD hyung. Assuming you accept it, Hwang Kee has traditional Korean kicking techniques from his observational study of Taekkyon. Our art is from Korean and Chinese sources (Hwang Kee was the only kwan founder without a Japanese Dan ranking). But, it rather looks Japanese. So where is our Chinese hand? Where is our Chinese influence? Did Hwang Kee really train with Jang Sam Bong (it is disputed by the Yang family that anyone of that name existed...)? What exactly did he learn in China, and how does it reflect in our art? I beleive that TSD, as currently practiced, reveals a trend towards Japanese style, and does not remain true to the original art. TSD is a front-foot fighting art. As such, it does not make sense to fight from a lunging, or a boxer's stance, nor the traditional Japanese or Okinawan fighting stances. So what stance do we fight from? Chances are, it is Hu Gul Jaseh, or Koyangi Jaseh. Now, look at the Koyangi Jaseh. Go ahead, stand up in it. Now, shift your weight so that it is centered over your legs, rather than being primariily on the back. Rotate the lead foot in, to mirror your back foot, and turn your torso to match your pelvis. If you understood what I just said, and did it, you are in the Chinese-style pigeon-toed horse stance. Both this stance, and the rotated form of it, that we know as a koyangi jaseh, are common in Chinese arts. But what about power development, and how the body is held? I did not notice this until I began practicing Wing Chun, and read these lines in the Song of the Sip Sam Seh: "If the base of the spine is erect, energy flows to the head. Keep the body relaxed. The head should be held as if suspended from a string." (paraphrased) That last sentence is common in Chinese arts, when being instructed about how to hold the body. But, I want to focus in on the base of the spine. The base of the spine is the coccyx, and it is curved. In order to have it erect, or straight, it must be TUCKED UNDER - a la Chinese arts. Go ahead and try this one - back in your Koyangi Jaseh, tuck your pelvis under. Not so much that you are thrusting forward, but enough that your back is straight from the base to the head. Loosen your shoulders, and kick something. See how much power you have, from that body position, even if you weren't trying? What I wonder is where this emphasis has been lost. To me, this shows that TSD is not just "Koreanized Shotokan" or "stolen karate" - though it can become that, and has in some practicioners. Do we not have a responsibility to rediscover our lost "Tang", and practice TSD as it should be? I feel we do. Your responses are appreciated. In Christ, Phil Stewart Sa Dan Tang Soo Do

Try a hammerfist to the clavicle, for disabling. It's hard to fight with a broken collarbone, but not that hard to break a collarbone. If you are in a life-threatening situation, put that same hammerfist int he sterno-clavicular notch - you can dislocate one or both, but if you fracture the clavicle there you run the risk of driving it south into a lung (or possibly the heart, but don't count on that). Either way, the idea is not to kill them, but the joint is a more dangerous technique - but, then, if its all you can reach and your life is in danger....Also try the good old brachial stun, kicking the peritonial or sciatic nerve (yeah, I know, you ahve to be behind them for the sciatic), and a knifehand, ridgehand or hammerfist to the temporo-mandibular joint for dislocation. Or, right below that joint to break the jaw, but that has reprecussions, as the court will wonder just how you can justify making this guy have his jaw wired shut for 18 months. A palmheel to the curve of the ribs (draw straight line down the nipple to the end of the ribcage) also works wonders, but it will break ribs. Oh, and do use these responsibly.... In Christ Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do

I love my lead led kicks, personally. I fight from a cat stance (not a back stance, though many schools call this the same thing) that's not quite square. I actually get as much power from my lead leg as I do my back leg, because of the speed involved. My right leg is dominant, and I favor fighting southpaw, unless facing someone who fights southpaw in which case I will switch. I also have a tendancy to do thrusting kicks, turining the hips over, from the lead leg, and not just snap kicks off the lead leg. Cross-stepping, or shuffle-stepping for lead leg kicks gives me more power than my back leg, beleive it or not. In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do

God in the Old Testament is no different than God in the New Testament. Period. (Take it from someone whose major is theology, haha). Turning the other cheek was talking about response to insult, not attack (seriously, guys, a slap??). It is in no way unbiblical or unchristian to defend onself or others, and one fo the big things about Jesus dying was WILLING sacrifice for our sins - yes, he could have gotten out of the situation, or fought back - but the fact that he did not, and was killed though he was undeserving is a major part of it. Oh, and to the comment about the writings of Jesus' followers, well, either all the bible is true or none of it is true (self containted statement, see 2 Timothy 3:16), and Jesus was one of three things: He claimed to be God, so he was either a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. There's really not another option, with such a bold claim. Personally, I beleive the latter . Anyone wishing to enage in any further discussion is more than welcome to bring it up on here, or PM me. In Christ, Phil Stewart

My use of the term "Oriental"

Just for clarification, Chuck Norris' foundation style was TSD, he was an undefeated "karate" champion simply because that's what the tournaments were at the time, and he was not portrayed as a karate man in the movie. Coincidentally, his "student" in the movie (Bob Wahl, I think?) was his student in real life, and the shot of them arriving on the plane was actually them arriving in Italy for the filming - Bruce Lee taped them arriving, and wanted to use it in the movie, thus the last minute inclusion of Norris' "student" in the movie. Oh, and his technique, in the movie, was TSD. Not karate. Not only can I tell the difference, but the scene was choreographed by Lee and Norris together, without any other involvement, thus Norris' technique would be that of his own style.... In Christ, Master Phil Stewart

I had no idea it was condiered offensive by anyone - sorry! That's the deep south for ya. In Christ, Phil

I thought causing the jaw to tap the base of the brain was done by striking along the jawline, to either side of the point. To break the jaw, you're better off striking the Tempero-Mandibular joint, or directly below the ear (on the "curve). Ah, wait, I just reread your post and understand what you are talking about (I thought you were talking about coming straight on to the chin). Anyway, the jaw-breaking statement is still true. In Christ, Phil Stewart

Very much true. Another option is the ball of the foot, but that depends on training, and largely what shoes you are wearing. In Christ, Phil Stewart

The point of the chin?? If your wrist twists at all, you'll shatter your metacarpals....ouch... In Christ, Phil Stewart

Well, it depends on what your emphasis is, and where your natural proclivities lie. With the flexibility from ballet, I would suggest a Korean style (but, then, I'm biased), such as Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do, or Soo Bahk Do. Be careful, though, and make sure you are at a traditional-style dojang, not one that emphasises point sparring and tournaments if you are looking for protection. Nothing against those dojangs, but there is a large difference between martial art and martial sport. Other suggestions for you would be Shuri-ryu Karate (if you can find it) and perhaps kempo. Korean arts will take advantage of your (assumption here) leg strength and flexibility to a large extent, giving you a natural advantage, but any art can fit the practitioner. I would strongly caution you against learning from books/videos if you have had no prior experience. It's not impossible, but it is very difficult to do properly. You live in an area that is sure to have some instructors, so, please, get someone to teach you how to do it right rather than learn bad habits. Anyway, I hope this helps and if you have any other questions, there are many here who are willing to be helpful. In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do

When kicking the knee, it's generally best to strike it from the inside, prefereably with a side thrust kick (in my opinion, lol). A straight on kick will tend to slide off unless the knee is locked, and roundhousing the outside of the knee is a BAD IDEA. Think about it: You roundhouse to the outside of their knee, they flex their knee and point it towards your incoming foot (I've seen it happen). Knee vs. Instep, knee wins and you just broke your foot - even if they don't see it coming, a misplaced kick or moving target can have the same result. This all necessitates that the knee kick be a very up close and personal attack, and not a starting off fight-ender. You have to be right on them to get that kick to the inside of the knee, so you have to be willing to go in for it. The other forms of knee kicking are great as a distraction, or to draw hands down, but if you really want to break that knee (say, to discourage pursuit), you have to mix it up first. Oh, and it's nasty from a clinch, too, especially if lifting that foot makes your opponent think you are going to try to bear him down (a la most street fights) and he shifts weight in that direction.... In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do

Well, I'm also coming from the philosophy that if I have to strike someone, I need to do enough damage to incapacitate them. A palm strike to the sternum, clavicle, the curve where the ribs join (draw a straight line down from your nipple), and the top of the pelvis (yes, all hard points) would be my ideal targets on the front of the torso. The only other one I can think of that I would use a closed fist on would be in attempting to drive the xiphoid process upwards into the heart or a lung. Straight on solar plexus shots, I prefer a spearhand...but, then, I've had a lot of finger training . I can't honestly think of any reason I would wish to hit someone in the "gut", when there are so many better targets there. Now, this is from a very limited viewpoint - I'm not a big guy, at all, and there are only 3 steps in my use of force: 1) you don't know what you are doing, I can walk away or control you. 2) you have a weapon, are significantly larger than me, outnumber me, or I'm in genuine fear and can justify some serious force, incapacitating you. And 3) you threaten my life or that of my wife, in which case we're talking about things more brutal and more designed to stop you than breaking ribs or knocking the wind out of you so I can get away. Anyways, what I'm saying, is for me, personally, because of the amount of damage I can cause with it compared to a punch, if I have to strike I will palmheel before punching (most targets, anyways. And, honestly, if I have to strike, I'd rather snap off a knifehand to the clavicle and end it there - beleive me, it works). In Christ, Phil Stewart

Personally, I prefer the palm strike to a punch. Really, the only closed-fist technique I like is the backfist. It's all about knowing where to hit, too. A palm strike done improperly is less powerful than a punch, yes - but a properly executed one means you are hitting with about the same surface area, and about the same force. On the subject of targeting, a palm strike to the ribcage or jaw joint works a lot better than a punch, and is more likely to incapacitate an opponent. Plus, it's easier to not hurt your hand, haha! In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do