karatekid1975

I agree. I was coaching a class tonight (required for red belts to help in class) and the instructor used me as a dummy. We were doing throws and joint locks. It hurt a bit, but I didn't complain or anything. It's kind of like what scottnshelly said. I do cherish it when I'm called to be the dummy. One reason, I learn from it. I know what it feels like. Another reason is, I can see the technique done up close. So I don't mind it at all if it hurts a little.

Our school lets us wear one patch of our choice (we HAVE to wear the school patch). But it has to be on the right arm. But no more than that. I'm not really big on patches myself, so it's good for me (this rule). I personally think a lot of patches look "tacky." That's just me, though. Like everyone said here, it depends on your organization/school. Ask your instructor.

I totally agree with you. I did Tang Soo Do first. Got to blue belt, and moved the week of my brown belt test I moved here (NY) and I did a bit of "dojo hopping." LOL

I really couldn't say if I would stay or leave. Early in my MA training, I was all for rank. I couldn't wait to get the next belt. As of now, I have been a red belt forever. I started at this school (after moving to NY). I quit at blue belt. I went to another school and made it to red belt (last May). Then I quit there because I realized that I didn't earn any rank I got there (I passed for barely knowing my stuff). So I came back here knowing I DID earn every rank I got here (I'm kicking myself for leaving in the first place LOL). I had to start back at blue, but made it back to red in three or four months. I've been a red belt ever since. I am supposed to test for high red in the spring but I don't want to, because I don't know my form and some of the requirements well enough. I rather have the knowledge and know my stuff and pass, than passing for barely knowing anything. So, my attitude on rank did change. I probably won't get the chance to test again till November (There's a rumor of my instructor adding one test for red and black belts this year, but I probably won't test till Nov). As of now, I'm happy where I'm at. I could care less if I'm a red belt for another year.

LOL Oops. Sorry about that. We used to say face "Yu Dan Cha, hyung yet" for black belts, and for our master instructor, we said "Face Sah bum nim, kyung yet."

I forgot to mention that our instructors do use us as "dummys." But they don't hurt us. Well, they do show the technique and we "tap" if it starts to hurt (our rule). So that usually stops any injury. With kicking drills, my instructor WILL hit you when showing kicking combos (mostly just the advanced students, though. He said we should be able to handle it by then LOL), but it's more like a quick "tap." Sometimes it stings, but no one ever got injured by him.

LOL. There's plenty of times when some farted during stretching ..... It's usually one the guys But I have slipped one out here and there LOL.

We have the same instructor, and I agree In my TSD dojang, we used Korean for almost everything. I still have a habbit of saying stuff in Korean when I coach a class. I throw people off alot LOL. Like ninjanurse said, we don't say anything in Korean except for bowing, ect. So when I say the name of a kick in Korean, people say "huh?"

I sparred my Tang Soo Do instructor a few times, but he didn't hurt me. He is the type to not only show you or tell you what to do, but he got right in there with us and trained. I was a beginner at the time, so he was giving pointers while I sparred with him. He would "tap" me in the ribs if I dropped my hands, though.

Nice site. Theres a lot of info and videos there.

I did Judo for a while. They hardly kick, except front kick and side kick. So this would not confuse you at all. Lots of breakfalls and throws, though.

I knew my lineage in TSD real good. Go to https://www.imahq.net to check it out This one is a bit tricky. He is a 7th dan in Moo duk kwan Taekwondo, but I can't prove it (8th dan in WTF TKD .... that's easy to prove). BUT we also learn a bit of kung fu with our style and I found this with my research: http://www.sussexkungfu.34sp.com/introduction.htm http://home.wanadoo.nl/info-kungfu-supply/shigaocan/new_zealand.htm Master Quek is my master's ungle. That's my master's last name, too (Spelled with a K instead of a Q). I know that because he told us the story and I didn't believe him till I researched it. I feel like a dope for not believing him LOL

Same with us. Well, I do anyways. Some are a bit rough on the lower ranks, but they get yelled at usually. I do let the lower ranks pound on me if they want so they can feel what a full contact kick feels like when it lands. But I go easy on them. My old TSD dojang used to spar with anything goes (just no hitting to the face or groin for safety reasons). I used to love doing take-downs I kinda .... wrong word. I DO miss that That could be the reason why I hate WTF rules.

I agree with wtKempostudent. I am so fired up with training again because I just realized how to improve even the basic techniques. I'm only a red belt. But like you, I won't learn that much more. I will learn two forms before BB (I'll probably test for it in the spring). That's it (I know the other stuff already). So I decided on improving my technique. Even the littlest things like chambering a punch or a block, that sort of thing. I'm having fun with it

That happens also. You just have to work through it. Don't get discouraged, though. Good luck, by the way.

Our classes are 50 minutes long. We are suposed to warm up before class mainly (by ourselves on the side). But there is a quick 5 to 10 minute warm-up in the beginning of class. Then we do basics for about 10 minutes, then whatever is on the schedule that night (my instructor has a schedule for what will be taught in class each night). Last night we did forms and one-step sparring.

I agree. We might kick high in my dojang, but if you look at our one step sparring, our self defense, ect we use mid to low kicks. One of my self defense tatic for red belt is even kicking to the knee. So I would choose some basic kicks like front push kick, lead leg side kick, ect.

I see it all the time in our dojang alone. It's basically a waste to train just up to BB then quit. I agree with everyone here. BB is just the start. My TSD instructor used to say that color belts learn the basics, and BB's learn how to use the basics. I always believed that. BUT I am all for cross training. Don't quit your main style, just find something that will go with TKD that won't be too confusing (a ground fighting art or a weapons art).

How about practicing front raise stretch kicks and you kick yourself in the head with your knee/shin. Been there .... ouch. The class went downhill from there .......

I can do 25 on a good day. Not because I'm lazy or don't try, but because I have carple tunnel problems in my wrists. But I can hammer out sit-ups (50 in about 40 to 50 seconds). Not bad for someone who hasn't really done those

I haven't had that problem lately. I keep getting partnered with a 2nd dan (I'm 2nd gup/kyu), and she is definitely not lazy. BUT I have been stuck with "unwilling" partners. Most of them were youngsters (I'm not saying all youngsters are this way, just the ones I partnered with). I kinda deal with it, I guess. Once in a while, I do show them a simple technique to wake them up (like kick them so close to their nose, then STOP hehehehe).

Do slow motion kicks. Hold on to something for balance, do your kick, and hold it once your leg is straight out, then re-chamber slowly. Make sure you pivot your supporting foot, also. I don't know about anyone else, but I HAVE to pivot my supporting foot, chamber high as I can, then turn my hip over as I kick to get the kick up there. But the slow motion kicks above help build the muscles you need for kicking. And of course, stretching helps http://www.karateforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=6186 Here's a good thread on stretching. I hope this helps.

My God!!!! You just gave me a flash-back as a white belt. I am flexible now, but when I started I was just like you. It took me 2 or so years to even do a split (right leg out). Then I injured myself and had to start from scratch I can now do the split again, but it took another year. battousai16 posted a good thread (which that thread is loaded with more threads) on stretching. Take a look there. There's some really good advice in there.

You got good advice here, but I think if this was in the Karate forum, you would get more replies

LOL. Nice cold one after class works Seriously, I drink Propel made from the makers of Gatorade. Or Poweraid (basically the same thing). They have vitamins in them. I eat power bars, too do to the fact that some have a lot of B12 in them, and I don't get enough of it with my diet. I don't eat red meat. The two drinks above also have B12 in them. I usually drink one of the above before a workout (and depending on the time of day, I chace it with a power bar). I drink water after a workout. It seems to work for me.