MasterH

Dude you rock! I just Emailed you the same question and answer! What part of Seattle are you at? My mom has a small club (ATA) in North Seattle. I'm way north. Snohomish - Everett - Lynnwood Hah, wonderful timing. I'm in the U district, about 2 blocks from UW campus. Would be cool to see your mom's club - I've never witnessed ATA TKD. Hrm, I wonder how long of a bus ride it is... hehe. Well, Northgate. Not to far from you at all in the Wedgewood elementry school gym. Go to https://www.huntley1.com click on the black belt academy, and all the info is there. I may be there once or twice a month, it's just to far south for me.

Dude you rock! I just Emailed you the same question and answer! What part of Seattle are you at? My mom has a small club (ATA) in North Seattle. I'm way north. Snohomish - Everett - Lynnwood

Merkury, What school do you attend and who's your instructor? I study at Grand Master Jack Pierce's in Lynnwood.

Any movie store. Great movie.

Ya know the sick part of that statement? I have a pair of thoes babies! My wife was rolling on the floor..........and so was I. "gimee your best shot.....sweep.......wack!......not bad, again."

I loved that movie. The first time I watched it was just weird, I watched it a 2nd time and I've been hooked ever sense. I bought the DVD and put it next to "Office Space" on my shelf of favs. "Break the wrist, step away. Break the wrist, step away."

-Napoleon Dynamite?

Yes, thank you. I'm just getting caught up with my Email. I'll PM you with any more questions. On another note, I like the dancing taco!

Some of us learn the hard way. I have had two friends in prison, one for life. Not a world I would want for anyone. I would also say just because birds of a feather flock together, does not mean they would be racist birds. In prison they may be, in my world (and hopfully yours) they are not. My happy world.........

You've given me something to think about. Honestly. -Adam

Yup, there is an adult way of handling this sort of thing. And it does not include a KO. We, as a new breed of Martial Artists need to step it up, and become "professional" martial artists.

you're flirting

You can add extra classes, a weapons class, XMA, a (multi year)leadership class. But it's about goal setting, added value to an overall program. And making more money, adding to the bottom line of a school, is part of the deal as well. Some TKD schools can, and do make Chodans in less than three years, an 8 week testing cycle with only 9 gups, you do the math. I personaly have a 12 week cycle. TKD is not the hardest MA to learn and that's where the 3 and 5 year goal setting programs come from. Those goal settings are definitely rooted in financial gain versus some other non-financial reason (added value is what you said). By hanging that black belt carrot in front of potential customers you give added incentive to lock in for a longer period of time. Couple this with the statistical drop out rate of martial arts and you have what I consider to be an unethical business practice. It's very much like car dealers that offer loans to people with bad credit for new cars. They know, statistically, that the person probably won't finish out the contract (loan) but they get their money either way. Same here. Just because it is legal doesn't make it ethical. What would be "ethical" in your opinion? I do see your point, that is not lost on me, sir. Yet I need you to expand on it. I'm from an 8 week cycle, back in the 1980's. This is all I know, and moving to a 12 week cycle, was a huge deal. I respect your opinion and I hear your resoning, but I just don't see how a full time school can exist, with a well paid staff, in a small community, without these buisness tools. And that's what they are, only tools. With all due respect, Mr. Enviroman Master Huntley

You can add extra classes, a weapons class, XMA, a (multi year)leadership class. But it's about goal setting, added value to an overall program. And making more money, adding to the bottom line of a school, is part of the deal as well. Some TKD schools can, and do make Chodans in less than three years, an 8 week testing cycle with only 9 gups, you do the math. I personaly have a 12 week cycle. TKD is not the hardest MA to learn and that's where the 3 and 5 year goal setting programs come from.

Yes, I've just had this conversation with someone else on another forum. It's under the label "ATA Xtreme" and it's the same. Before XMA, ATA had another weapons program she still teaches that, and I'm not a fan of either. We'll see what I do, I may watch some vids, see what I like and go from there.

I can agree with you on that however, most top ITF fighters use 3 to 5 kicks, side, round, axe, hook. All these kicks are functional and are very effective. I have seen so amazing flashy kicks, weather they landed is a different story. I train as an ITF fighter so my opinion that way. ITF and ATA both use hand techniques (to the head) in Competition with semi contact. WTF has no head punches but body punches are allowed- full contact to the body and head with kicks though. ATA does not go hands to the head, a long time ago maybe, not now.

As I'm sure you know, ITF TKD uses no weapons, nor is the system designed to use weapons, so what weapon would compliment is isn't a factor. My suggestion would be to seek out a system such as Okinawan or Japanese, that uses weapons as a part of their system and start at white belt until you get to the level that they start teaching weapons. Being a 5th Dan in one system does not automatically qualify you to start right in learning weapons IMHO. That, or you can do what many TKD people I have seen do, and teach yourself bad technique and habits, and pass those down to your students. This was not intended to flame you, just stating my opinions to your question. Learn from a legitimate instructor that knows the weapons, don't just pick something up and start playing with them. You will do youself no justice by doing that, and you will not learn anything of value. Thank you. And you're correct the ITF style does not use weapons. My mom is a ATA instructor and teaches that weapons curriculum. I'm not a fan. I can get the basics from her, but the forms and such, I could not pass on being that I'm not ATA anymore.

You'd need to talk with the local licensing board, where you would pick up and pay for a buisness license. Out side of that, a lawyer.

You know, I can't dissagree with that. But who said a fight is fair? You need to train for such variables. Basic knife defence would probably take care of the attacker, most Joes out there don't know a plastic knife from their elbow.

Sure, how about a bit of history, is this a bambo with armor sport or an actual bladed weapon (both). From what I've googled it does not seem to be main stream. I appreciate any info you can share.

Hey bud! Gumdo? Please go on. I really don't know much about it. Never mind, I just googled it. I like it. Good idea.

Ouch!

They rock!

White Warlock, so that's what you look like! Yea, I'd shave......everything.