IcemanSK

Does anyone know anything about him? He teaches under Master Walter Borkowski. The name of the art is Kang Chuan Do. There's both Owkinawan & Chinese influence in it.

Thank you for that. I called the number. Its a medical office where I can leave messages for the school. When I told the receptionist that I'm looking for a school more than 140 miles away, she was speechless. I'll keep you guys posted.

Thanks! I'm looking for a street address or phone for them thru the head of the USITF west coast. I've seen the SB school's name listed on other sites, but can't hunt down a street address. Thanks again!

Thanks for your input. I've run into some folks that made that title a very "special" thing for themselves. Most have dead end jobs, but they're someone special when they enter the dojo & "lord" it over their students. My experience w/ them (rather you normal folks) prompted my question. Thanks again.

Not true as far as the ATA is concerned. As far as I know, WTF and ITF don't dictate which set of forms you should use (Pal gue, tae guk, etc). ATA does. The Songahm style of forms is copyrighted by the ATA, and to teach them, you must be certified by the ATA. This is done to keep standards high, and the same no matter where you go. Also, the ATA teacher certification process teaches you HOW to teach. It has class management skills, organization, class planning, etc etc. You don't pass the certifications? You don't get to teach independently. WTF and ITF, as soon as you have the rank, you can go open a school. Also, the ATA has standards in place to keep ATA schools from opening on top of one another. WTF/ITF if you open a school, there is nothing to keep another instructor from opening across the street. Which would you rather have? A governing organization that sets standards and enforces them for quality instruction, or one that lets any 2nd degree with some bucks open a school? Aodhan Both the WTF & ITF (they are strick about it) require certain forms.

An ITF Master even tried to help me on their forum, but there was no luck there, either.

Never happen, most orgs are just way to big. That's why we have a certification process so qualified personell will make the good decisions. I don't think the ATA, WTF, ITF, etc. have any business setting standards for instruction at all. These organizations function NOT to dictate to instructors what/how/when/where/why they should be teaching, but to bring together instructors and martial artists under an organization that can determine standardized rules for competitions, and provide services to help the instructors with their BUSINESS, not their teaching. This is the biggest reason (among many others) that I hate the ATA vs. ITF vs. WTF debate. It really has nothing to do with the way an instructor teaches, or the style they teach with, and more to do with business than anything else. Does the Professional Boxing Association (or federation or whatever they call themselves) tell gym owners, and boxing managers and trainers how to train their boxers? Not the last time I checked. Instead they exist to sanction and promote matches and determine rules for competition. It's just business and has nothing to do with the art of boxing, just like the WTF and ITF and ATA are about business and not about the art of TKD. Any certifications and standards they have should be focused entirely on maintaining safe competitions, and should have nothing to do with an instructor's ability to teach the art of TKD as they see fit. Wow, is that not a comparison you wanna make...MA instructors (of any type) & boxing trainers! To get a license as a boxing trainer in most states (& states are the only ones who do this) all one needs is (as Teddy Atlas puts it) "A towel on your shoulder." In other words, nothing but a pulse. Part of the push to get a nation boxing commission is to change the standard for boxing trainers, too. No organization ITF, ATA, WTF etc. wants to have such a low standard for their instructors. Its equivalent to buying a black belt from Century & saying "Come, let me teach you." I agree that it would be impossible for any federation to monitor the instructors very closely. But to say that they don't have a stake in how their art is being taught isn't accurate either. The only thing they can do is offer good instructor's classes & hope its important to instructors that they grow in their ability to teach. If its made mandatory, they'll bolt & start their own association.

Thanks Orion! But that school is in Northern Cali (more than 5 hours away from my neck of the woods. I really appreciate ya looking it up, tho.

I may have the opportunity to train in TSD soon. My situation just keeps getting stranger. I've looked for Chung Do Kwon schools, & ITF schools in my area. Now I'm trying to track down a guy who used to run a TSD school near me that been closed for a few years. There are plenty of McDojo's in my area, but few "traditional" schools. It's one of the reasons I like kickboxing & boxing so much. ...No belts. But I miss the "old school" MA stuff I used to do. All I want is for my rank to reflect my 23 years of experience.

The forms certainly are. But in terms of techniques how different (or similar) are they? Cue Laurie Seriously, Being a TKD guy, I've always wondered. TSD always seemed like a tougher, more hard core art. Maybe its a "grass is greener" thing, but since its less accessible than TKD, it always had a feel of something very different to me. How different or similar is it?

Well put. Its sad, but true.

When I lived in Chicago (man I miss home) Comisky Park had just changed the name to U.S Celluar Field. Joan Cusack was doing local ads for the US Celluar phone service. Steve Dahl (the radio guy famous for "disco demolition" at Comisky years eariler) said in honor or Ms. Cusack we should just call the field "The Joan." I like it. It just rolls off the tongue better.

More helpful advice. Thanks! I really appreciate it.

Measure your current belt. Then, add 4-6 inches due to added thickness. Give the measurement to Eosin Panther. When it comes to thicker belts in general, you might want to have a tad bit longer "hang" than with thinner ones - they'll just look better that way. I never go by the size numbers. Size 6 of one manufacturer may be a size 8 of others. I just give the exact measurement. They do custom work anyway, so they can make the belt in exact length you want. That's the kind of help I was looking for. Thanks!

I've been around a while & have seen the ATA, WTF, ITF & a host of others at their best & worst. I really don't think its a question of whether we NEED these organizations. We have them & their here to stay. The question is about the instructors. Can they teach? Do they like teaching TKD (of any type their a part of)? Do they care more about the students than getting huge testing fees, looking good to their instructor &/or being "X" rank themselves? If so, stick w/ that instructor. Otherwise, go find someone who loves the art & wants to share it w/ you. My 2 cents.

Ok, y'all convinced me. I'm going to get a EosinPanther belt. Now, the question is size. I read on another thread that, because they're a bit thicker, I might need to get a bigger size. I wear a 4 uniform. But my favorite belt is a 5 & comes down to about mid thigh. Should I stick with a 5? Or get a 6? I don't want it too low, nor too short. And they're too expensive for a re-do Thanks

I've found that American 4th Dans tend to enjoy the master title more than Koreans do. My 1st instructor was Korean & a 6th Dan & didn't mind being called, "Mr." A former student of mine couldn't wait to call himself master. Even before he could, his students did.

I suppose its a bit like when Americans see a Korean or Japanese baseball player. "How good can HE be?" Until they actually see them play. I think you're right, too about the trade off. Korean instructors tend to be less involved in their students lives. (Yes, I'm generalizing) Americans tend to want more of a connection w/ students. Todd, I'm glad you're having a good experience in Korea. I'lll bet you'll make a great instructor when you come back to the states. Full of a new perspective.

I came on this board last week & all I seem to have is questions. I think its because my 1st instructor was very stoic & I was a kid that thought I either couldn't or should ask such dumb questions. It seems that in MA in general, & Korean ones in particular, when "we" refer to someone as a "master," "instructor" (meaning on their own) or Grandmaster is quite subjective. Is there a set standard for those titles for the ITF or WTF etc? Or is it subjective?

That they showed how to do it in that one documentary. "The Matrix." I'm kindding children. Don't try that on e at home!

I'm always looking for a unique style uniform. Heck, even black pants w/ a white top works for me. Most of the "diamond style" uniforms are just too much uniform for my rank, but I really like em anyway!

Don Wilson was a multi-time world champion kickboxer. In the 80's he started making movies (mostly straight to video. And mostly not that great IMO). He was beaten on Nov 4, 1989 by Marek Piotrowski in a fight that was so exciting a man in the crowd had a heart attack while watching it!!! Whatever can be said about Wilson's movies, the man is a legend! And a really nice guy.

Thanks, Tiger! I've always wondered & never asked my instructor back in the day. Those have always been my favorite uniforms.!

I believe it has to do with eating Korean food (or at least garlic) before promotion testing.

When I was in high school in the 80's, I went to a tournament where there were 10 TKD schools & one I've not heard of before or since. But its given my friends & I many laughs over the years. It was a kung fu style (& they made a point to say it was a "modified style") called Muk F*k Kung Fu (w/ a U in there somewhere). They were flashy w/ weapons & swept the weapons competition hands down. It might be a great art, but I couldn't imagine going home to mom & say, "This is the art for me."