mikaveli

At my club, the writing on the belt is purley cosmetic and optional.

They're not kicks, they're gymnastics techniques! They have no application in martial arts.

I've always found that a lot of strength is more useful then technique. A 9-stone martial artist verses a 15-stone isn't even a match!

Most of Tang Soo Do's and Tae Kwon Do's kata are borowed from other styles. I know that the Nai Han JI forms are supposed to be from Tai Chi. It would make sense that when they are 'borrowed' that the new style puts its own twang to the form. Which may be why the dates are slighty later than the originals.

With a legion of 12 year old dan grades who can't even tie their own belts, one-week intensive "Black Belt" courses and McDojo's is there any prrestige left in obtaining a "Black Belt"?

What style of Tang Soo Do doesn't strike to the head?

The modern forms of Tang Soo Do and Tae Kwon Do appeared in the 1960's as an evolution of Moo Duk Kwan - which is derived from Soo Bahk Do which can be traced back to 57 BC or 918 AD depending who you ask. But to answer your question: Naihanji based forms - 950 odd years old Jin Do - 300 odd years old Ba Sa Hee - 450 years old Pyung Ahn - 135 years old The Chil Sung forms were created in the 1980's by Grand Master Hwang Kee

I try to encourage independant learning, which forms part of their gradings. The more impatient someone is to grade, the more they need to learn patience. So I would not spend additional time coaching them over another student. My younger cousin started training under me about 18 months ago. Because he was very keen initially, he was able to grade to Yellow Belt after about 6 months. However, since then he hasn't really progressed. A lot of kids seem to expect that if they just turn-up each week they will keep grading upwards! It may be harsh, but my time teaching is devoted to any student (regardless of grade or ability) that is keen to learn and wants to put the effort in. If a parent is unhappy with the childs progress, tell them to ask their child if they would still train if they never got another belt. If the answer is no, then they are not mature enough to train!

I think that may have been the case traditionally, but nowadays there almost all scored like boxing.

At the club I run as an instructor, I try to teach students techniques which apply to their size/fitness/skill etc.. To me any technique that is executed well that works for the student is a good technique. At the club where I'm the head assistant instructor, if I tell a student anything (slightly) outside the traditional syllabus, it is considered an incorrect technique! Aside from that, if you train in one style for any length of time then move clubs (but same style) you'll probably find that their chief instructors way of teaching is different too!

Thats very true. A lot of people refer to getting their dan grades as a journey, wheras others want it to be more of a short trip.

I think we just have a differing opinion of what it means to no longer be a beginner. What you are describing is to me having basic competancy... Having a good amount of experience, physical strength, technical ability, and combat confidence IS the end of being a beginner... True, but if if can draw from an analogy to explain myself better: Provisional Car Licence Holder - Beginner Full Licence Holder - Coloured Belts Race Licence Holder - Black Belts Champion Racer - Masters Most circa 2 year black belt holders seem to be what i'd class as a 'Full Licence Holder' wheras, i think they should be a cut above. There should be a good distinction between a coloured belt and a dan grade. From my experience, this isn't the case in most clubs now. Training part time as we do in the west, I don't see how anyone training less than 20 hours a week should achieve their dan grade in less than than 5 years!

I've always thought that you should spend most of your time training split equally over what you are best at and worst at. That way, your weaker points shouldn't be that weak and your strong points should be devastating! (Although I've exempted myself from that mindset in skateboarding, because after three years my attempts at Heel-flips still look like I'm having an epileptic fit!)

Because I'm at college full time, I don't get that much time to train (I also selfishly want a social life ) so I was wondering how much time other people spent training each week? I train in class for 2 hours, three times a week. Plus I train at home roughly 8 hours each week on average. Coming to a grand total of 14 hours, not including more general fitness training such as running, cycyling and weights etc... What about you lot?

From my experience, Karate punches are near identical to Korean punches. But chops are much more direct/quick compared to the flowing/powerful form of chopping in TSD/TKD