MasterH

I don't know how many he knows, I know about 24 instructors, about 8 personally pretty well. Out of those 24, I'd peg 3 as all about the money, and about 3-4 more as decent instructors, but nothing awe inspiring. The rest range from pretty good to downright incredible. I'd guess that those proportions are probably pretty close to just about every large MA organization out there. 10-12% in it for the money, about 15-20% just kind of competent, and the rest ranging on up. Aodhan Yea.........what he said. Look I've got 20 years under my belt, I know alot of current and former ATA instructors, and very few are "bad". I learn something new most every time I hang out with them, sometimes business - sometimes a new trick when dealing with ADD - sometimes just training. Good people!

So am I..........but that's part of our culture. It make our training just that much harder. We've got to learn to let go.

Point accepted..........but at my rank, I have trained with many and I doubt he knows more than a few.

Don't get me wrong, I know, most of us larger people are not. But with the group I train with it's that short Mexican guy that always get's me....he's just so fast he makes the larger of us look so much slower. White Warlock, I'm printing your last post. Very nice list.

My instructor GM Pierce calls me what ever the heck he wants......

Rex Kwon Do Rulz!

Well , welcome to America!

I was always taught to take the biggest guy out, plus in this case he is prob slower and is hard to get around. I'm 240 lbs size is not an issue for me.

In the HTF, 5th Degree is Master (after a year long prep) - 6th Degree is Sr. Master - 7th Degree is Chief Master and 8th & 9th Degree's are Grand Master. I guess it all depends on the Style, I had a hard time accepting me becoming master. I was in the ATA for years, when I started 7th Degree was the ATA master and then there was only one at that (Master H. U. Lee). When he became Grand Master or the group, he dropped the Master rank to 6th Degree and we actually had people leaving the org because of it. When I joined the HTF and 5 years later tested and recieved my 5th Degree, GM Pierce told me I was a going to go thru the process to become a master, I didn't know what to think............most of my friends thru TKD still call me Adam or Mr. H. All my students call me MasterH.

Well, from what I know and who I know for every one "bad" ATA instructor you know, I know 20 "good" instructors. I'm not trying to be a pain either, but you have found the bad apples my friend and I hope you have better luck in the future when dealing with the ATA.

I say when sparring 2 opponents keep one in between you and the second, just go lateral every time he tries to get around the first. As for multiple opponents, keep moving...........pick the biggest one and try and keep him in between you and another. Good luck and have fun.

Some say that's were the training actualy begins. Phylisophy of the "color" belts say it's the end of the first day, and the beginning of the second.

Not a prob, bro!

Never happen, thank god!

I'm a pre-Olympic WTF guy. I like the tradition stuff. The transition to ITF wasn't hard because of that. I'm not a sport TKD guy. The WTF folks I've started talking w/ are "old school". The ITf guys here don't teach anymore. I'm trying to encourage them to change that. (Or at least teach me to test me.) Ideally, I wouldn't have to choose. But I think it will come to that. You can also look into an ITF spur (USTF) something that's not so "official".

Hey, I was............

According to "TKD times" the (now former) leader in S. Korea is in prison facing racketeering charges and ties to organised crime. Coupled with the on-going olympic scandle (nothing to due with TKD, but a S. Korean official) and I think WTF TKD has an up hill battle to stay in the olympics. As for the ITF - there are 3 Orgs who officially use the ITF name and logo, so you never know who you're dealing with - N. Korea, Canada, or Europe. At least with groups like the USTF and the group I'm a member of HTF, we don't claim to be a part of the ITF, but fallow the TKD teachings of the late General.

That's a hard one. I tend to lean toward the ITF myself but the WTF is the most recognized. I would ask if you like the "sport" style sparring or the philosophy behind the ITF style forms most. And if that does not help why not advance in both styles?

Good luck, I like the idea, but to many obsticals are in the way. #1 there are to many factions of the ITF #2 the WTF has many legal issues #3 the ATA is a closed org, not a bad thing, it just is. If these major orgs can't do for themselves how can they deal with each other?

Good points. Don't forget the Songham (ATA) forms. In my opinion they are the best - and I can't teach them. We (Hwa-Rang Taekwondo Federation) teach ITF (Chong-Ji on on) for color belts and a a combo of Two ITF forms and one WTF form per Dan rank. ITF/WTF/ATA in harmony....that'll be the day.......no really it's on the scedule. Just wait it will happen sooner than you think.

Now that is an issue. ATA does say it's "America's leader in Martial Arts" now are they the best? If you ask an ATA guy most will say yes, but if you ask a ITF guy the same question what would he say, or a WTF guy? I bet you get the same answer more than not. As for hands to the head, you nailed that one! I wish I had been trained earlier to go to the head. Would have saved me a broken nose and a brusied ego.

Can't argue that, it's your opinion. I will say that the ITF does focus more on forms and the WTF focus is on sparring. Have you seem Moon-Moo or Chu-Chae (sp) great ITF forms. And when you get to the Black Belt level for WTF the forms do start going down hill.

Okay, that's good to know. It wasn't that way when I was in it (quite a few years ago), good to know they've standardized. Thanks!! Aodhan No, they have not standardized. I teach both ITF and WTF material, I have no Kuk cert and my ITF cert ran out years ago.

2 week is not adequate time, so think longterm. I own a stretching machine, use it 15 minutes a day, then work on slow kicks.

I said it on another forum, and I'll say it here. Well done, my friend. Well done!