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

Y'know, I wouldn't exactly call TSD a hard art. Not soft, really, but not hard either - its supposed to be in balance. In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do

Or, you could stick with your SBD, talk to an instructor (one that's good at the aerials...) about your focus. Remember, for a while the MDK was famous for its jumping kicks - check out some of the early early publicity, and tournaments - double jump back spinning kick anyone? The trick with any art that does those style kicks is a proficient instructor. I teach MDK TSD, but I don't focus as much on the jumping kicks as others do, both because of a self-defense focus and because (GASP) I'm just not as good at them - its hard to teach what you're not great at. In this case, someone who can help you understand what it FEELS like to do will help the most - someone who is or once was very acrobatic. Other arts to consider, are, of course TKD, Wushu, some forms of Hapkido, and Capoiera. In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do

Here's a monkey wrench for what everyone is thinking - I am a 4th Dan in Tang Soo Do, was most recently a youth pastor, teach martial arts through a church and I'm in college studying to be an international missionary for the Southern Baptists. I'm even able to be a preacher, if a church wants me. And as for the old thing, I'm 20 (for those of you doing math, 4th Dan at 20, yes I got my 1st far too young, but I KNEW the technique, and if you really question it, come train with me ). Offer a general self-defense class, call those churches and preachers, back it up with some biblical texts (the examples of David and Abraham (he chased four armies with 318 men...) are good, turning the other cheek it talking about insult not attack, and there's a good verse in 2 Timothy about defending the family - Ill look it up later), encourage them to come. Teach awareness, situational avoidance, not acting like a victim, and the most brutal, effective things you can think of - and emphasize that your wallet is not worth your life. Oh, and yeah, the Catholics include the 7 books of the Apocrypha, which most Protestants don't accept, but they are all in the Old Testament, and there's no big doctrinal difference in there. In Christ, Phil Stewart

I get studio insurance from FL Dean and associates (https://www.fdean.com) at a competitive rate, good coverage. Again, never had to make a claim though, so who knows about that. In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do

Well, obviously I'd pick TSD, but we train pretty bloody hard . A high kick is a very effective self defense tool, when used properly (unfortunately, MMA examples of anything have NOTHING to do with self defense...). The trick to that is, a kick higher than your opponent's pelvis is a defensive tactic. Let me explain: a circular kick anywhere near an opponent's will get caught, almost every time. A linear kick will probably get caught too, unless you are bloody fast. You may sill hit and cause damage with either type, but you stand too much risk of getting caught. Now, in a "street" fight, you have an excellent chance of your opponent telegraphing a punch, even if they have had training (adrenaline, gross motor movement and all that jazz) - so the best possible time to kick them is between their chamber and their strike, because it is then an indefensible technique. Personally, it would depend on the situation, because I can't kick much over 6 ft, maybe 6'1" or so (I'm 5'8"). But, watch some steet fights, or some video clips. Watch how people hold their arms (guarding the face), how they prepare to punch, how much space there is in the movement. Yes, you have to be fast, but that's true for anything. Hit the sensitive areas, and hit with power. Given the choice of opportunities, I'd rather kick, and I'd rather end it with a kick quickly, but since we don't get those choices, take what you can get. Oh, and the legal ramifications of destroying someone's knee are a whole other ballpark from simply contusing or knocking them out.... In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do

Fasting isn't bad for you.....

And, now to illustrate some major differences within TSD: at the dojang I run, beginning students do wear hogu and protective equipment, and there are no shots below the belt. As the students advance, we get to the point where sparring has three rules: dont kick the knee (thigh and shin are ok though!), dont strike the groin, and try to avoid straight on face shots. We spar continuously, complete with takedowns. Sometimes we wear equipment, and sometimes we wear none at all (though I usually will wear shin/instep guards - some of my students have picked up my habit of elbow striking an incoming foot. ouch.). We do tend to kick mainly front leg, but I think that comes from the body types of the few students I have, rather than a style question. I tend to limit some of the grappling techniques (full speed neck crank anyone?) and of course no one does the "serious fight" techniques(like spearhanding the throat). We don't tend to implement many jumping or flying techniques, but that's a question of being a small dojang. I only have two students who know how to do much in the way of proper jumping techniques, and they both telegraph them badly. Of those two, I only use jumping techniques against one of them (he knows how to deal with them, and the other is my wife. She just got her headgear yesterday, and still doesn't have a mouthpiece...I may not look it, but im wise enough not to kick my wife in the head....lol). Coincidentally, though, when I train at my friend's Shuri-ryu dojo, I use them a lot more often - they seem to work better because no one really expects me to jump in sparring. I have noticed, in TSD at least, a tendancy towards one of two sparring styles. Either someone would rather close to hand range and is very agressive getting there (like my wife) or would prefer to stay farther out and uses kicks, but mainly counterfights. Makes for funny dances when we pair the two who would rather kick you while you are attacking, and they circle around for the whole match...... In Christ, Phil Stewart

Well, if you grow up in Korea, you get TKD as your gym class in school (at least you used to). They also have compulsory military service for every adult male. Now, this information is a bit dated, coming from a friend who went through this 30-odd years ago, but he told me that the compulsory term was shortened if you got a TKD 1st Dan (I guess to make you more effective? I dunno.) from 5yrs to 3. That, or he may have been saying that acheiving 1st Dan in TKD was required to be released from the compulsory service (he's hard to understand sometimes, and my Korean is worse than his English). It makes sense, though, since they can call any and all adult males back into service at any time (happens in Europe, too - think Switzerland, they even let you keep your gun so they won't have to reissue you one!).

Taekwondo forms, just as any other forms, should not really be evaluated in terms of complexity. They are a catalogue of technique, both obvious and less so. You can teach any idiot to go through the motions. With a little bit of effort, that same idiot can make those motions look good. But the entire point of the hyung is the application of the techniques contained therein, both those that are obvious (a punch is a punch, a kick is a kick) and those not so obvious (areas sometimes called "hidden movements" meant to remind the advanced practitioner of techniques). While a hyung may appear simplistic, it takes a thorough understanding of its depth, and even the fact that forms have depth to them to begin to see the "why" of a hyung. In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do

"Ho Sin (or Shin) Sool" is Korean for self defense techniques. Sool = techniques, Ho Sin = protecting or defending the self. Hapkido, however, is a complete art of striking, kicking, and grappling. Many of the kicks will be familiar to you from TSD, but there are some that will take you by surprise, and be totally new. Same with hand striking. Hapkido, in my experience, is very strong on standing grappling, and far exceeded my TSD experience with jointlocks. HKD tends to focus a lot on the wrist, as well. As for ground grappling, well, I'm getting ready to test for my 1st Dan in HKD and we haven't covered it yet, so I'm still not great on the ground. If you have an extra $100 to blow, I'd check out Dr. He-Young Kimm's Hapkido books (you can contact them through https://www.hanmudo.com, I think). The Hapkido I and II are the same book, just laid out differently - It has multiple pictures, well taken, of every technique required up to 5th Dan, but again, neglects groundwork. In Christ, Master Phil Stewart 4th Dan Tang Soo Do