IcemanSK

Has anyone seen the Troy Dorsey videos that Century sells? Are they any good?

Laurie: Way to hang in there! There will always be times when your desire to train ebbs & flows. Whether in your case its nerves (as has been a suggested possibity) or not, I don't know. If it is, I get it! Don't worry, it happens to everyone. I've never been one to rip on students for being burned out. For awhile I felt I need to "keep up with the Jones'" in the gym, too. The "Jones" I picked to emulate was a professional fighter (who didn't have a full time job) & was ALWAYS in the gym. Despite the fact that I have no aspirations to be a pro fighter, I wanted to train like him. (Cuz after all, he a great fighter. Right?) I would constantly pick his brain for tips, ideas & info. But after a few months, I learned I couldn't live off of his nearly psychotic energy for the sport, nor anyone else's for that matter. I spoke to him the other day, he's rehabing from knee surgery. I asked him if it was stuff to be away from the gym. He said, "No, I've had to stay awat cuz of injuries a few times. I never go back too soon." Even HE knows how to take care of himself. Whether injury or that "burned out" feeling, I always try to take some time away from the gym to do something else. Its the only way to recharge those batteries for the art (or anything else) you really love. Me? I thought I'd never wear a uniform or a belt again & just stick to boxing & kickboxing gyms....until I struck up a conversation with the guy who runs the class at the local community center. Now, I'm helping him & I love it. Good luck in your training & testing!

There's gotta be great brands of Korean style (Moo duk Kwon & masters style) uniforms out there. Toakido, et al, have great uniforms in the Japanese style. Doesn't anyone out there have a favorite?

You seem to be overprepared with all your gear packed in two bags. Do you feel anxious if you miss putting one or a few of the things you habitually put in those bags when you go to the dojo? Don't you think you could be overdoing this at times? Or, are you one of those guys who want to be organized and prepared for all eventuality? I have always been one of those folks that feels like he has to be prepared for anything. Do I overdo it at times? YES:) And I laugh at myself about it often, but I feel that if I don't bring that one thing (whatever it may be) it'll be the one thing I'll need. On the up-side, anyone that I train with knows that if the forget something, I probably have one.

Have the martial arts changed your life (for better or maybe worse) to the point where you "wouldn't be where you are without them?" Are they simply a part of the experiences you've had in your life? Your life would be great even without them.

If you went to your instructor & said you wanted to also train at a boxing gym or in BJJ on your days off from the dojang, would she/he be receptive? Or do they feel what one art is enough?

Did you go buy a new uniform? Throw a party? Ok, who slept with their belt?

There was a guy I trained with at a kickboxing gym who was short (5'6") & always trying to prove that he really 8 feet tall. (He had huge Harley, was a cop, & alway carried a very large off-duty weapon.) One day he was sparring in the ring, and although he was wearing head gear, he got knocked out. We had a doctor who trained with us who helped him out of the ring. The fighter (Bob) was now concious (sp?) but he had no idea what he name was or anything else. The Dr. had him sit next to our trainer with instructions to make him aware if anything changes. Within 4-5 minutes of the KO, Bob turns to our trainer & says, "I don't know my name. But I know I'm a cop, & I have a gun!" Kevin's response? (Laughing really hard) "Huh, Doc! Ya wanna come over here!" He was taken to the hospital with a concussion & came back to the gym a few weeks later. We never let him forget that day.

I've looked Eosin for sometime now & they certainly look as good as another others I've seen. But the price of them or Tokiado (sp?) or the other is so much more than the "average" place you could get it made. I ask completely out of ignorance, What's so special about THOSE belts as opposed to any other embroidered black belt?

I'm one of those folks that carries a huge bag full of every thing I think I MIGHT need for training. (And yes, its an excuse just to buy more stuff). A few uniforms (just in case one gets dramatically torn away during forms:) ) a few belts (just in case wearing more than one at a time becomes fasionable) & enough sparring gear to start my own pro shop. The sad part is, that's not the stuff I use in teaching. That stuff doesn't fit in the bag...so I carry it seperately. So here's my question. Are you like me? Or are you one of those folks who simply carries their neatly folded uniform under their arm (or just a minimal amout of gear in a relatively small bag)?

I don't recall what movie it was (& after seeing several, they seem interchangeable to me) but I believe it was Wilson's acting that put Marek over the edge. Marek was from Poland and a bit stoic. It was hard to tell what meant to be funny, what was a language barrier or when he was being serious. That's what made his comment even funnier to us.

My 1st Dan was really difficult. I was 17, the only one testing for black belt that day, in front of a master I knew nothing about (& knew nothing about me). All eyes on me. I'm not exactly Mr. Showbusiness. I don't like the spotlight. I performed all Tae Geuk forms & Pal Gye 7 & 8 one after another.I was concentrating on every technique, that I was shaking when I finished. I just remembered from looking at a picture that I had to throw a spinning hook kick & break a board. The green belt who held it didn't hold it properly, so it didn't break the 1st time. The 2nd kick I didn't hold back so when I broke the board, I dug my heel into his chest. The next break was a jump front snap kick about 6 feet in the air. (I'm not only shorter than that, I come from a long line of "earthbound folks.".....We don't do "jump" very well.) I broke the board & my big toe as well. Good thing this was at the end of the test. It was a 2 hour test that included written & orally explaining how to do some kicks without demonstrating them. (Try it sometime. Its harder than it sounds.)

I'm guessing he sobered up & realized it was a dumb idea.

I used to train with Marek Piotrowski (World Light Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion). He was getting ready for a fight with Don Wilson in Nov 1989. My trainer loved to tell the story of Wilson coming into Chicago a few or so before the fight. He had a new movie out & gave free passes to Marek & several guys from our gym. Marek was never one to trash-talk an oponent before (or after a fight) or really say anything bad about people. But after the saw the movie, Marek was really quiet. Kevin asked him what he thought of the movie. He looked at him & said, "Now I have a reason to kick his *." Marek won that fight a few days later.

Shanon Lee was the "MC" for the show. It was WWF-like in that they had a script, yes. It was a choreograghed show for kids w/ martial artists like Mike Chat, Akim Austin, Herb Perez, & Bridgett Riley. They would always have a theme (courtesy, integrity etc) & it was cute. They were fighters, not actors. But it was neat to see the talent these folks had.

That line, "Well, if I ever..." is classic. But, its similar to Mark Twain's quote, "A classic book is one that no one has ever read." I think for most martial artists (and I'm thanking God for this!) they've not had to use what they've learned on the street. Most folks who use that line are just using bravo to describe a practical situation that they secretly pray will never come. I have a personal opinion, developed over 20+ years of training, that when one spends a great deal of time learning martial arts techniques (& get bumps & bruises etc. in the training hall) that the lat thing folks wanna do is fight on the street. If one goes looking for a fight (in other words, their not listening to how the techniques are being taught to them) they're gonna find one.

I bought a Century XXL bag (simillar to a BOB but w/ a long bag instead of BOB). It works great for the patio & I can't knock it over. But it will slide all over the concrete. Its the only drawback I see. I'd imagine the Cornerman set up is better if one has the room & $$.

white, yellow, green, blue, brown, red, black

It wasn't Shakespere, but who did ya like on the show? Who wasn't so good?

It would really deepend on the person. I think I've been around long enough to be skeptical of most folks in martial arts . At least not take rank or race as the ultimate authority. Given my past experiences, however. I'd like a Korean instructor. Cuz the one I had was a great guy! He moved away, & we lost touch.

Some of my favorites Billy Jack Octagon A Force of One Kickboxer Revenge of the Ninja (Ya can't go wrong with Sho Kosugi!)

I was a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do when the movie came out. I went to see it after class the day it came out. Even tho my instructor was Korean, I saw a lot things in the relationship between Daniel & Mr. Miyagi that I saw in me & my relationship w/ my instructor. We had a lot of new students (kids & adults) as a result of the movie. People seemed to want positive attitudes about when & how to fight (or not to fight) in their kids. The "wax on, wax off" stuff aside, it was very postive.

Eric: My best friend (who tested with me) & have discussed this over the years. As black belts of that school, we didn't pay for tuition because we taught classes. We were charged $100 for our test. Many of our students began training at a legit ITF school quite far away after our school disbanded. The instuctor there was well aware of the situation & was able to help them obtain ITF rank. Suing wasn't really something we considered seriously. And after 16 years, I doubt its possible anymore. His wife was really the driving force behind them having a school. When they divorced, his career was pretty much over. (He was not exactly Mr. Personality & she could teach a dead dog to roll over). I don't know if the ITF guy the others went to helped them pursue a suit or not. He was a high ranking guy in the ITF, aware of the situation, & an attorney. If anybody would have been serious, he'd have helped them. My buddy who tested with me is now training in a Chung Moo Kwon TKD school in another part of the country with his kids. They accepted him as a black belt without reservation after they heard his story. When it comes to it, he & I will retest for our 2nd Dans, somewhere.

Ouch. That story made me really mad, on your behalf. If you stepped into my school, I would consider you a 2nd dan black belt, but that is my opinion. I guess it really comes down to a matter of affiliation. Since you know the affiliation was bogus, then that means you are not a 2nd dan in ITF TKD, but are a 2nd dan in TKD (with no affiliation). The situation was no fault of your own. If you are wanting to go to 3rd degree in ITF TKD, just find a teacher that will allow you to test for 3rd dan, but let him know that your last teacher was shady and you were ignorant of his fake affiliation status. Also, you could join an association other than ITF that would cross rank you in their association as a 2nd dan. The problem with that is finding an association that you don't feel is a diploma mill. Go to google.com and type in "martial arts association" and you will see what I mean. By the way, you can go to https://www.martialartssupermarket.com and buy ITF certificates for about $3.00 I am surprised that I don't see your story more often. lk Wow, I had no clue it was easy to buy an actual certificate! I think I'm gonna be sick. I just saw your link. I could buy a "legit" WTF certificate. I didn't see an ITF, tho. UGH!

I posted a thread on the "politics" section about my situation of a bogus rank. I began training in Chung Do Kwon (before "Olympic style TKD") & really like that (what I refer to as "old school" style). Does anyone know of any Chung Do Kwon or Ji Do Kwon schools in suburban LA? (Particularly the "Valley") Thanks