karatekid1975

Good logic, GreenDragon Lots of good points there. But this could start a debate. Not that it's a bad thing. Just no flame wars, or art bashing, please

I agree, Hobbitbob, with both your posts. I went from a 6th gup/kyu to 4th gup/kyu in my new school. BUT my instructor keeps telling me that there isn't any rush. He rather me know the techniques, than rush through them and get them confused. But yet, he does challenge me. Some stuff I picked up quick (slight changes in forms and techniques that I already knew), so he would give me a few more than last time to work on. The other stuff that I have problems with (like Taegeuk 6), he works with me on.

I do. Well, to and from class. If I choose to go out after, I bring a change of clothes. But I usually go straight to class and straight home, so I don't bother. I usually just thow a jacket or a sweat shirt over it. If I know I have to make a quick stop after class, I'll take off my belt and top and throw on my sweat shirt. In the summer, however, I do change into a t-shirt. Even if I am going straight home. My uniform is too hot to leave on. But I wear the pants out, cause they are soooooo comfy My dojang doesn't have a policy on that, or I never been yelled at, anyways LOL. I would have known it by now if there was. One day when I did wear my uniform (not the belt) to make a stop at a "quick mart," the cashier thought I was a nurse (my uniform is white TKD thing). I just said yea LOL.

Nope. It goes right in the wash after I wear it. I sweat so bad that I can't wear it a second time ..... yuck LOL.

Green (6th gup/kyu) in TSD was the hardest rank for me period (I mean after I got it). I just started to spar, break, and I was finally developing good technique. And I had to learn one of the hardest forms (I thought back then) pyung ahn e dan. Now that I switched dojangs, blue is the hardest. Taegeuk 6 is a b***h (and I'm still struggling with Taegeuk 5), plus I have to relearn everything from white belt to blue belt. I've been there a month or so, and learned almost half of the stuff, so I think I'm doing pretty good.

Old school metal head Coolness

I donno either. I have to ask. If they are open, yes. If not, no

LOL. It's a little off topic, but it was funny.

I agree. Mine is faded because of hard work. But I think the ones who purposely damage their belts, is just plain disrespect to their art, and themselves.

In self defense drills, we defend against kicks. One we do is parry and punch their inner thigh, and backfist/punch to the face ..... well we are not allowed to do that during sparring, but it definitely works.

We use our hip. The supporting foot turns away from the target, and we turn our hips over for power.

I didn't used to. I wash them in cold water (and hang it to dry. I don't put it in the dryer) when I first get them, so when I sweat, the color won't "run." After that, I can't wash them once we get "tips" or stripes. They would come off

Hey, just keep at it. It's a fun way to spend time with your daughter And I welcome you both

What was that? Ya callin me a bad name???? Na just kiddin ya Long time no chat

I'm not starting a flame war here, but as a blue belt, with a faded look, are you gonna put me down? I've been a blue belt for almost 7 months now (prolly be 10 months before I test for brown in my new school). I didn't purposely "fade" my belt with bleach. It is just plain hard work. I agree that if a belt looks really bad, replace it. But I don't wear a stinky old yellow dobohk/gi, but my belt is faded .... so???? It's not to the point of "fraying" yet. It doesn't stink, and it shows my hard work. I don't have a problem with that.

I agree. A black belt in two years is definitely a Mcdojo. My last instructor offered a 2nd dan in three years .... What ?!?!?!!?!?!? No way. I have a blue belt (I've been training almost three years) now, and I don't plan on testing for my brown (3rd gup) for a while (it'll be 10 months at this rank before I do). This school teaches a lot more than he ever did. Then again, I'm not in it for rank. I want the benifits (self defense, not sport) of MA to the fullest. My blue belt is looking kinda white now, but I don't care. I'm learning what I need to learn for even MY rank in this art.

Good attitiude, GhOsCeLL. We like people like you here

LOL. Pretty funny (eventhough I donno what ya look like ..... just kiddin). Anyways, I am making fast friends with some folks in my new dojang. Everyone is cool there. Very helpful.

Welcome. Some MA schools allow a special MA shoe if you need to wear them Good luck

Yes, I agree there. I just wasn't happy with the "sport" end of it. He and Mr. C. kept bugging me to do sparring matches. Yes, I can spar, but I didn't get into MA for sport. It was hard for me to "have faith in his art" when all it was (to me) was sport. And he charges an arm and a leg for it. I pay much less now and get a well-rounded version of TKD.

My school teaches it somewhat at color belt levels. But all the time at BB level.

My belt looks white (almost), and I'm a blue belt LOL. Yes, I agree. It does show exerience for BB's to have a faded belt. My instructor's is faded and frayed a bit. I think it looks kinda cool. But when some people purposely fade and fray their belts without having it very long is just plain wrong.

What I call a McDojo has nothing to do with test fees. I paid them when I did TSD. But when the owner/instructor charges more than what is needed for up-keep of the dojo, and to make a living, that means the instructor is in it for the money, not the art. For example, one instructor I had charges $100 (just raised it to $120). The dojo is small, so it's not like he has to pay BIG rent for it. He bought a $100,000 dollar house and BMW, and a racket ball club. He teaches a watered down (to me) version of TKD. Tell me he isn't in it for the buck. My instructor now has a much bigger dojo, but he only charges $75 a month. He teaches a h@ll of a lot more than the previous instructor, and definitely isn't in it for the money, eventhough it is his only source of income. He lives in an apartment, and drives your average car. He cares about TKD, not the green stuff. There is a big difference there.

Here's mine: TSD: My master instructor was like a brother to me. He took me under his wing, as a martial artist and as a friend. He showed me that I "can" when I said I can't. He taught me so much in martial arts and beyond. He was tough, but he made the classes fun. In class he was your typical MA instructor. Hard on you, tough with technique, and very respected. But when he was in street clothes, he was an average guy. Joked, laughed, and just a fun loving guy. TKD (first dojang): My instructor Mr. C was cool. You can talk to him about anything. He made classes fun. Not up-tight one bit. Smiles all the time. The master instructor, however .... I don't agree with you, Heidi. I'm not saying you are wrong, just my opinion. He is very close-minded to his art. Yes, he was tough on basics, which is a good thing. But he doesn't allow cross-training, going to tournies outside his, and he charges way too much. There's definitely a lack of self defense at that school. It's sport, even if he doesn't admit it. There's a lot of other issues, but that's between me and him. TKD MDK: My instructor is awsome. I love my new dojang. He is very tough on technique, but yet he is very laid back. Jokes during class, and makes classes fun. The self defense he teaches is second to none in this area as far as TKD goes. DEFINITELY NOT sport TKD (except for the sparring part, which we don't do often .... we usually stay with self defense techs).