karatekid1975

I agree, Sam. I do WTF, and we are even taught that. I do the fancy stuff for fun, BUT I know it won't work in a self defense or sparring situation. Maybe the pure sport dojangs teach it, but not ours (I learn the fancy stuff on my own).

I tried a few times, but when I would almost get the 540 down, I'd hurt something The first time was my hammy, then my knee, ect (injuries didn't happen when I practiced the 540). Anyways, these sites may help you: https://www.bilang.com http://www.trickstutorials.com/ Hope this helps

I'm wondering why I haven't read this article yet LOL. Anyways, for a while, I was into learning the fancy stuff. But I realised a few months ago that my simple side kick was "lagging." So I forgot about the fancy stuff (for how long, I don't know), and I worked on all my basic stuff. I cleaned up a lot of them that I haven't worked on (except in forms) in forever. Now my forms look sharper and cleaner. And a simple side kick is my fav kick I can do the jump spinning whatever kicks, but I perfer the simpler stuff now (oh Lord ...... my age is showing LOL).

A good friend of mine plans to open her on dojang. She has almost 30 years experience in MA (I believe). She'll correct me if I'm wrong And she asked me to help. We are both females. She is an awsome technique buff, to boot! She will make a great school owner!

I agree. I was scared ..... I think the better word is "timid" when I first started out. But I learned that most black belts are the best to work with. They have good control with the beginners, and most of them are willing to help. Now that I'm up there in rank, I am asked to help (from the beginners). I have no problem helping. Of course, when I'm up against one of my black belt buddies, we talk trash, go at it, then laugh about it. But when it comes to someone who is new, I don't have a problem going back to the basics to help them. It benefits both of us. They get the help they need, and I get to work on my basics So don't be affraid to ask for help. Most of the higher ranks are willing to help, unless they are so full of themselves that they don't care about anyone else. But that's rare.

I agree here. I NEVER wash my belts, except if I get a "stiffy" when I first get it. Then I wash it once, then never again after that. UNLESS, it gets a little "funky" But I shower twice a day (one of those is right before class), so I never have a problem with "funk" on my belt. As far as black belts go, I don't know what I would do with it, as far as washing goes. Never had one. It'll probably be the same as above. But if someone purposely freyed their belt, I feel it's disrespect. It's one thing if you trained a long time and it happened to get that way. That means you earned that greying. But to purposely do something like that is not right.

I agree. I was a "dojang jumper" when I moved to NY. It's not easy. I didn't "think" I liked my first TKD school, but I went to one similar to your experience (plus the standard there was WAAAAYYYY low .... belt factory). So I realized I should have stayed where I was at (It's a ***** to get a black belt here!). I wish I could have stayed in TSD, BUT this TKD school is just as good I am happy here.

The quickest I ever seen someone get to BB is 2 and a half years. That is with previous experience. The londest I've seen was 7 years. That's just what I have seen, anyways. I've been training 4 years (3 in TKD), and I will be testing for BB in the fall (IF I am ready), so that makes it 5 years total training for me.

My instructor does a kihap (kiai) that sounds like a really loud "HAI." Or maybe it's ..... It sounds like the word "Kite" without the "K." My kihap sounds like "hey." But when I get into a the "moment,"it's whatever comes out of my body LOL.

When my instructor goes into these lectures that last the whole class, I'm thinking "Not again" Not to sound disrespectful, but a 45 minute lecture isn't what I'm paying for. It is easy to get your point across in a lot less time than that.

Mine is to work toward my black belt. It's still 10 months or so away, but I'm not in the best of shape. I wouldn't get past power camp (first part of the test is physical) right now LOL. So I need to start running, ect.

I got nervous a lot, but the last two gradings weren't that bad. Now when I test for BB in a year, I know I will be a wreck! LOL

I was in the same situation. I learned Pyung ahn (same as Heians, almost) cho dan fairly quickly. Pyung ahn e dan took me forever to learn. Then I learned sam dan fairly quick (I thought). Now it takes me one hour to learn a form. But it takes me awhile to tweek the techniques.

Thanks all. Now I can chill out. I'll be a red belt for a year. Only one test for high red in six months Not that I don't like tests, they're just a bit nerve-racking LOL.

I just tested for red, and it reminded me of when I tested for my brown. We were doing our forms, and there's a part of that form I was doing that you do a side kick and then an elbow strike. Well, I did the side kick, and one of the instructors was standing a bit close. I almost kicked him in the nose. I stopped just short (Thank God). When I ended my form, I looked over at the master instructor and he was laughing! I guess he got a kick out of it LOL. The other instructor didn't think it was so funny LOL.

Doing a kihap (kiai) that sounds like a dead cat or a mouse that got stepped on ..... then again if you want a good laugh out of the others you would I like this thread. Come on all. I know you got stuff you did in the dojang that you weren't supposed to (or thought about hehehehehehe). Lets have some fun

I forgot to say how my school grades now. We get three stripes on each belt before testing for the next color belt. We have 8 color belts .... white, orange, yellow, green, purple, blue, brown, red. Red belts have two ranks. Red and senior red they call it. We still get three stripes, but senior red have an extra thick black stripe on the right side of the belt. The three smaller ones (on the left) come off and then you get three more. Then you can test for prob. black. There is no charge for stripe testing. They do charge for belt test, though. $5 to cover the belt. That's it.

I did it! I got my red belt ... again hehehehehe. My buddy did show up to support me, so I will do the same for her in January Thanks for all the luck. It worked

My school's old belt system was like that. White, high white, yellow, high yellow, ect. There was testing every three months, but you had the same belt for six months. Now just the red belts have two ranks.

I did. I'm testing. I went to class today. My friend told me to "PAY NOW, darn it! Then you have to test." At least she gave me a straight answer this time LOL. I paid for the test. I want to thank you all for your help

Thanks slomo . I'm leaning toward not testing. I was supoosed to go to class tonight, but I blew it off. My school has a min requirement for classes, and I'm just under it, but they are letting me test anyway. But I know if I don't show up this week, things would change (they won't let me test).

OMG!!! I just read this again. I did talk to her again before the tourny (she got ripped by the way ... she did really well, in my opinion, but didn't place). She gave me "wait for me" thing again, but she told me to test. My boyfriend told me not to wait, also. Everyone is telling me not to wait. But I feel I should. I am still stuck HELP!!!!

I started for self defense, but it has become a way of life for me. If I had to quit (God forbid) right now, I donno what I would do .... it wouldn't be pretty. It's not just a hobby, but yet, it's not about the fighting or getting beat on (eventhough the conditioning isn't bad either). It's hard to explain in words, I guess. I know I couldn't do without it. That is basically the bottom line.

Thanks all. I will talk to her tomorrow. She is in a tourny that I couldn't be in, but I'm going to support her, so I'll let you know what we decided on

Since going back to my old TKD dojang, I am re-testing for my red belt. I did make fast friends with someone in the beginning of the summer. We have been best friends in MA ever since. We give each other support, work on stuff before/after class, we help each other out when we get in the "slump," ect. We kept telling each other that we will test for red together. To be moral support for each other. One reason she wanted me to test with her is because she never had her red and I did .... among other reasons. I got the "ok" to test next saturday. She was out for two weeks due to an injury and she moved. So, she can't test. I saw her tonight, and she asked me if I was testing. I said yes. She said that she couldn't. I felt really bad for her. Anyways, I was thinking of putting off my test till January (when she tests). She gave me the "wanna wait for me" guilt thing, but she said that she didn't mind if I tested now, and that I should. But I feel like I am betraying her (if I go through with this test and not wait) What should I do?