IcemanSK

In my current location, we have air conditioning. In my valley of So. Cal. it can get up to 114 in the summer. A few blocks away, there is a boxing gym that intentionally built their new facility without A/C! They LOVE the unbareable heat their brick room produces! To each his own.

I started MA when I was 14. All through high school, I was the "karate geek" that no one really knew what to do with. In college, I trained with a bunch of like-minded folks. I probably trained more than I studied. In grad school, it was hard to balance school & training. When I took a break from grad school, I took a second shift job. Even then I traveled 25 miles (one way) to train. When I finished seminary & began to work in churches, it became harder to find time. I had to make time. Ministry is an emotionally exhausting job. Like a lot of other jobs, one can loose themselves doing it & have little time for other important things. Years ago, I read Stephen Covey's book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." One important thing I took from that book was the idea that, "if you're gonna pack a box full of rocks & sand, it's important to put your big rocks in first." Meaning: If you don't make room for the things in your life that are important to you first, the less important things won't allow you to make any room. I still train & teach after 26 years. I still have the passion for that I did at 17, but I also know that if I have to miss a day, it won't kill me.

Nice choice! I'd say Koryo for me. I want to learn the pre-1974 version, too.

I've trained with a few in the past. Marek "the Punisher" Piotrowski, 7 times world kickboxing champion; Kris Kruez, 3 time woman's pro boxing champ; Jason Robinson, former WBA Continental Americas Light-Heavyweight boxing champ. Leon Spinks once trained some fighters (working off community service hours for a DUI) at a gym where I trained.

Eosinpanther are as good as any belt from Japan & made here in the USA. They too are expensive. But still less expensive than Tokaido the last time I looked.

Well, from what I understand the instructor's course itself is $150 or so. Since I'd take my wife, I'd estimate $5-6000 for the whole trip. That's my guess. I'm hoping my guess is on the high side. 6000 not too bad. i hope you have a great time. let us know how it goes. how long do you want to go for? It will be a while, but I'll letcha know

Well, from what I understand the instructor's course itself is $150 or so. Since I'd take my wife, I'd estimate $5-6000 for the whole trip. That's my guess. I'm hoping my guess is on the high side.

I usually have a big list usually things like uniforms or teaching tools. I don't have a current list. My wife is shocked.I'm saving for a trip to Korea for the instructor's course at the Kukkiwon, tho.

The "must have" item for changes all the time. Often it's a uniform or an item to help me teach better. Oddly, this is one time when I don't have anything on that list. Although, I am saving up for a trip to Korea to take the Kukkiwon instructor's course.

I can relate. I had just gotten my 1st Dan. I was 17 & thought my instructor absolutely hung the moon. About 6 months later, he announces that he's selling the school & moving out of state. The guy he sold the school was....not as good a technician nor as good an instructor. He was not from our school. In fact, I'd never seen him until 2 weeks before the change-over. I was really hurt but figured I needed to sit down with my new instructor & get to know him. The first thing he said to me was "Master Kim taught you the wrong way: I'm going to teach you the right way." I got up from my chair & said, "I don't think so, sir" I bowed & never went back. I began to train at the school where my friends trained. After 20+ years of hindsight, I'd offer this advice (take it for what it's worth). If you can learn from the other folks around (or the new main instructor) do so. There are people there who are going through the same thing. Going through together is a good thing. If you cannot learn/train under the new main instructor, find another place. Sticking around in a place where you don't feel you can learn & grow will only sour you on the experience of training. I did that with another school (different circumstance) & never really felt connected there. Nearly lost my love for the Art. my 2 cents. I wish you all the best.

Lose about 15 lbs., get my leg healed up & start running again, learn the 3 remaining forms I need in prep for my 4th Dan (even tho that 2-3 years away), try to get my current school stronger & start another school. No much, really.

If they made forms compulsory like they did with figure skating, it would be great for the Olympics & TKD. IMO. Then TKD fighters would actually have to work on forms. They might actually become well-rounded MA-ists indeed of participants in a "sport."

My 1st instructor was Master Yun Kil Kim. Master Kim was young man (early 30's) who was an excellent teacher & motivator. As a 14 year old kid who was anything but athletic, I wasn't exactly the "ideal student." But he pushed, pulled & encouraged me until I became one. The day that he put that BB around my waist, I'm not sure who was more proud: my folks or him. I was his 1st US BB. Sadly, he sold the school & moved away. I understand that he is no longer teaching. But I cannot overestimate the positive impact he has had on me.

I have a friend who runs a Christian MA program in his church. He is both the instructor & church's pastor. His school has the belt ceremony in the church sanctuary apart from regular Sunday worship. The new BB is given a stamp with a name in Japanese that fits their personality & character. They have a book of all the BB's from that school. Each BB has their own page. The other BB's write an encouraging note of the new BB's page. All of the students & past BB's in the school are invited to the belt ceremony. Any one is allowed & encouraged to stand & say how this new BB has encouraged them &/or a word of encouragement to that person. The instructor kneels in front of the student & ties on the new belt. It is quite a nice ceremony.

A friend's school has each BB grab an end of the belt before the final knot is tied & everyone pulls really hard as a sign that it won't come off. Consider it a "welcome to the club." Our GM does that for 4th Dan & above.

Wow, that's unique.

Does your school have a ceremony when giving out Bb's? Dignitaries come? Special way to present new belt &/or uniform? Or is it, tie on the belt, shake the instructor's hand & get back to training? I'll share some I've seen but I want to hear from you first.

In my organization, we toss the old belt when getting a BB. As you said, very symbolic & cool!

In my years in MA, I've seen folks who deserve the titles they've earned & those that do not. And yes, I've seen plenty of folks who have not earned the titles, & yet want others to call them master or GM. These folks have little to do with whether or not I call them by the title. I've met medical doctors that are jerks & bozos, too. Just because I call them doctor doesn't mean I respect them more or less. On every MA board I go on, this thread is brought up. "Should we or shouldn't we use the title?" If it's uncomfortable for you, don't use it. Sir, ma'am, or hey you works just as well. My question is: Are you having this issue with someone you are currently training under? If so, perhaps you're training under the wrong person for your comfort level. If you're upset that the guy down the street calls himself "master" why do you care? You're not learning under him. I agree with most of you that say "titles don't make the instructor, teaching ability does." So why get upset if someone uses it?

I wasn't sure at first if you were the instructor of this person or a fellow student testing at the same time. You're asking for an instructor's point of view. As an instructor I'd tell you that it's really none of your concern. Your instructor makes those decisions. You need to focus on working for your test. That should keep you busy enough.

With as many colored belts as schools have, I'm begining to think THEY should be embroidered so that Johnny & Jimmy take home their own belt each night! I have one family with 7 kids that all train with us. I put their names on their belts with a sharpie so they knew who's was who's.

Really? That's great to know. That helped me out so much, cuz even though it's a while off, and even though i promised myself i was still skeptical and weary of paying that much. I saw the 'soft' and 'hard' thing, and was going to get the soft. Now im definately going to get the soft, i like my belts to hang, or 'flop' which is what my students say about my old raggedy Black Belt. I'm glad you like yours, congrats on your accomplishments. and thanks again, when the time comes, im definately buying it. I'd hate to be the devil on your shoulder but, once you buy one, you'll not go back to anyone else's.

I have 2 of them. One has my name in Korean on one end & my style on the other in Korean. The other belt has my name & rank stripes in English on one end & style in Korean on the other. Both are excellent quality. They also have a sturdiness to them that I have not seen in most belts. I'll have these for a long time. They have 2 "types" of belts: Hard & soft. The "hard" types are a bit more stiff. The "soft" lay more naturally when tied. Mr Yi, the owner, told me that some karate styles like the hard type because the ends "stick out" when tied. The soft are often what Korean stylists choose. These belts are worth every penny.

I encourage & welcome parents to watch every class for a few reasons. 1) I want them to know what their kids are doing & be involved. 2) I want them to know what I'M doing. From that idiot instructor who was arrested for kicking an 11 year old 200 times to "teacher touched me" all kinds of things can happen or be said if parents aren't watching what their kids are doing! We teach "stranger danger" to kids. Part of that is telling parents, "get involved in what your kids are doing." I have no secrets when I teach.

I wonder where I can find that magazine? I have a DVD someone gave me by GM Yates and his org. It was on one step sparring techniques. It was ok. The magazine comes free to school owners thru Century Martial Arts Supply. Maybe you could call them to see if you could get it.