IcemanSK

It's funny that you bring this up, as I was thinking about it the other day. In the MA org. that I've been with for the last 10 years, both gup rank and BB" (one for each Dan rank) compile a portfolio of their training, teaching (if aplicable), seminars, tournaments, etc. that we present to the testing board when we test. For higher Dan rank especially, they are quite packed with info & memories for the Board to view. When I came into the org., they didn't have a clue who I was or what had done in my 24 years of training up to that point. They asked me for similar info (proof, really) that I'd trained where I said (and with whom), during that time. I presented photos, letters from training partners, instructors & so forth of my MA journey up to that point. It was not easy tracking down some people & photos. The internet has made connecting with others much easier than ever. While I agree completely with the OP's favorite statement "the proof is on the floor," there is something positive to be said for a "paper trail" of one's training. As someone who has trained in different places and moved on, it's nice to be able to have these items to show that I've been where I say I have.

As a Taekwondo guy, I know we are often given a bad rap for giving rank and titles too young. But 16 is not old enough to be able to understand a whole slew of things that running a school & teaching an Art (especially one as complex as BJJ). I wouldn't train there or recccommend it.

Which bag are you referring to? Kind of reminded me of the Right Guard commercials in the 80s - "Anything less would be uncivilized." Sorry, I'm slow...but I don't understand the question...trust me...it's me, NOT you!! I think he's asking what brand of bag is it that have that you like so much?

I see you as a Senior who is willing to take the time to share knowledge and wisdom. The fact that you don't train in my Art I've see as an asset because you look out of the box of "how it's supposedto be" while still considering the integrity & value of all Arts. Few Seniors have the patience for answering the basic questions repeatedly on the internet. The longer I train & teach, I understand this more & more. I appreciate & value all of your input.

At the end of the day, I wear it for myself. If that weren't the case, I'd be a boxer or study Muay Thai where belts aren't a part of training. A friend, who was the number 2 man in his system (a 7th Dan at the time) used to say, "we have rank in order to get things done." When all is said and done, I think this is correct. It's true for MA it's true for the military, as well. If we went by who is the smartest, or strongest, or some other measure, there would constantly be a struggle for domiance and it would all fall apart.

Sometimes, one of the biggest barriers that we have to trusting another is the hurt we experienced in our past. Our past colors our perception of the present. Perhaps speaking with a therapist (either by herself or as a couple) may help her work through these issues. You're married, so they are your issues as well. The best way to help is to be her partner, rather than to say, "she has to deal with what I'm doing & not be jealous." (Not that you're doing that: but it's a natural feeling). Helping her by understanding that she is bothered by something you're doing is important. Including her, reassuring her, getting her a neutral person to speak with etc. are great ways to demonstrate to her that her concerns are important to you. At the end of the day, your ability to understand her concerns is more important than this project.

My thoughts as a married guy, and someone in the mental health field, FWIW. You need to be completely open & honest with your wife about these discussions. Inviting her to be a part of these online discussions or in person talks (helping out in some way) might be a good idea as well. She may have valuable insight into what you're working on. A lot of us men who teach self-defense feel that we understand every aspect involved in assaults, but there is a lot we miss because of lack of the female perspective. This new idea of your's sounds great. Just involve your wife as much as you can (ask for her input, tell her your plans etc.) and don't make it a mystery to herin any way. Her comfort level about it needs to be a concern above your project. The fact that you are concerned about your wife's feelings on this is a good sign. Let us know how the entire thing progresses. All my best.

Is there an odd &/or silly reason you missed class that you didn't try to explain?

Wow, folks will be hard pressed to beat those reasons.

What reason have you used why you didn't go to class? Maybe it's not the thing you told your instructor, but it was the reason. (eg. "Uniform wasn't washed. Couldn't find my belt.)

My wife trained with me for awhile when I first opened up my school. I found it hard to teach her. She trained for about 6 months before she started grad school. I encourage her to follow her passions, and she encourages me to follow mine.

I'm sorry you're going through this. You seem like the kind of person that much more enjoys being on the mat than having to deal with the drama in the office. I think Bushidoman has some great advice for you. When I read your OP I thought politics, sabotage, powerplay...something along those lines as well. There's simply no value in holding a test in which 87% fail. Not for the students, not for the judges, not for the instructors. In fact, it's determental to the students. Hopefully, you can regroup after the legal team looks at it. I pray for quick resolution & peace prevails.

I'd forgotten that we have folks from the Southern Hemisphere on this board. Thanks for your imput on this. I watch the fighters in the UFC as they travel for media appearances during their training camps and it reminds just how hard it is to train while doing something different from one's norm. Schedule, food, sleep are usually quit different in the warmer weather. I'm headed back to my hometown for a week in a few weeks. Seeing friends, family events, more food than I can ever eat, visiting old training partners (that I won't have time to train with), etc. I'm trying to plan my workouts during any down time that I have.

In the month of July, it seems everything slows down. Can't visit the doctor, as they are on vacation. Roads are clearer because of vacations. etc. Since it's an odd month when we all tend to take a break from the norm (less students in class, even), do you tend to train less in the summer? Do you train more because you have more time to do what you really want to?

My Grandmaster was a huge fan of both breaking wood & "Heavy Breaks" (concrete & bricks), so it's part of our curiculum. My thought is that a lot of preparation (training specific things for One break) goes into breaking, rather than breaking ability being based on what one can do (or even break) due to their overall abilty as an MAist. Meaning, "I've trained so much with my right palm that I can break "X" number of bricks. But since I can't break that number with my left palm, it doesn't look as cool in a demo...so I only break with my right." Breaking is the best test when it's part of one's holistic training. Also, the test, "can you break a board with that technique?" Is a quick measure of the effectiveness of a technique. It weeds out the "this looks good on film, but not on the street" techniques a bit quicker.

Title MMA carries several. These are great. Lots of coverage & padding. http://www.titlemma.com/gloves/mma-gloves/title-gel-mma-ultimate-training-gloves

That's the unfortunate thing about the ATA only having the one grandmaster at a time: their 9th Dan form is so rarely seen, even by ATA people. As I've said before, the relatively new WTF Elite Poomsae compeition format where Poomsae chosen is based on competitor's age, rather than rank, makes it possible for the higher rank Poomsae to be seen (and performed at a high level) by world class athletes. When you come across the ATA 9th Dan form, I'd love to see it!

My late Grandmaster (Edward B. Sell) began training at Osan Air Force Base in 1961 when it was called Tae Soo Do Chung Do Kwan. This was before the Kukkiwon unification of the Kwans, and the same year as the establishment of the Korea TKD Association. So, his training was the training of 1950's Chung Do Kwan. Since his mentors were GMs UHM Woon Kyu (Head of CDK since 1959) & PARK Hae Man (GM UHM's student & co-designer of the Pal Gwe, Tae Geuk & Yudanja Poomsae) GM Sell kept up with the current forms. However, he liked doing Bassai Dae (we just call it Basai) & Em Pi (we call it Yum Bi) that he kept it as BB forms in our curriculum. A few years ago I grabbed about a dozen versions of Bassai Dae from Youtube from as many different styles as I could find (Shotokan, TSD, Kyokushin, etc) to see how each style did the form. It was a fascinating study. I was surprised to see the Kyokushin guys throw a head-high side kick where so many other styles throw a lower side kick.

I'm glad you chimed in. I've seen very few TSD forms (although we do Bassai Dae, also) to offer those up. Thanks for those. * Said for comic effect* Most TKDoan don't think of TSD often because, even your highest ranking folks aren't even black belts.

I can't imagine that any Judo, BJJ or any other grappling Art would tell students to not wash one's belt. I think the "don't wash it" idea is purely a stand up Art concept.

I've had several Eosin Panther belts over the years based on a reccomendation I receive here on KF about 10 years ago. I LOVE their belts& their customer service is excellent. I'm curious about Kataaro's quality. Does anyone have a belt from each company? How do they compare?

Whether you wash your belt or you don't wash your belt isn't the issue of this thread. For those of you who were told to not wash your belt, I'm curious about what was the story (or reason given) that you were told as to WHY we shouldn't wash your belt. Here are the things I was told: Story #1 from my first Taekwondo master (a Korean man). No story...just don't do it. So, I didn't. Story #2 from my second master (an American woman). She said, "the legend goes 'all your pain, wisdom & knowledge go into your belt. If you wash it, all of those things will go away."" She laughed as we all smiled. She then said, "so that's why don't wash them. Kind of funny, right?" What story were you told as to why we "shouldn't" wash our belts? We you given a reason at all?

Interesting. I always thought the WTF and the Kukkiwon were one and the same, but upon Googling around for a min I see that you are correct. While I now get the point, I still feel like this further deteriorates the meaning of earning a high level black belt. I know some universities have granted honorary doctorates in the past (i even knew one who received an honorary doctorate) but, this person went to the university to give a talk in a specific subject and blew them away as a self taught expert on the subject. So much so that their own professors started collaborating with him to bolster their own courses. A year of this activity granted him an honorary doctorate from that college. I feel like this is the same thing without the activity of having to prove yourself. Honorary doctorates from universities is exactly the paralell here. Nearly every college & university gives that honor to every commencement speaker around the US. It doesn't mean they can call themselves "Doctor" in any real way. Putin is a genuine Judo practioner, but no one would ask his advice on Taekwondo given his honorary rank. If they did, they'd deserve the bad advice they'd receive.

I'm not upset about the WTF giving honorary rank. The WTF doesn't give actual rank anyway. It's the sole privelege of Kukkiwon that gives real rank. The WTF can give out honorary rank if they choose. The fact that they chose to give honorary rank to Putin is the questionable point, however. Rolling out the red carpet for dignitaries is what governments do. It's easy to bristle at this because it actually means something to US (MAists) but it means little to the general population. At the end of the day, it's an honorary rank from the branch of TKD that doesn't give real rank. It means merely that Putin made a trip to South Korea. That's all.

I used to train with some Karate folks lead by the number 2 man in that system. His students would yell "OSS!" often (for nearly everything). I asked him about it & he said, "they think it's cool. I think it's dopey." He never told me anything past that. Thanks for posting this link.