IcemanSK

I'm training w/ some Okinawan stylists who do stripe their belts. I've training w/ Korean stylist who don't & those that have everything on their belts but a GPS unit! My 1st instructor wore an old masters belt (2" wide) w/ no stripes, just his name & the school where he got it. I think its definitely a Western thing to have the hash marks on it. In the East, everyone knows who to bow to.

It was a strange set of circumstances w/ the second school where I tested for 2nd Dan. The instructor claimed 6th Dan ITF, but the only rank we knew for sure was a 4th Dan he received from an instructor in town. So, he was a black belt. His wife told us (after their divorce) that she tested in front of some folks for her 4th Dan that she believed to be legit. But her certificate looks just like ours. I trust the form & knowledge of his teaching cuz it mirrors the guy in our town who promoted him to 4th Dan who is legit. To answer the training question, yes, I could have easily tested for 2nd in front of a GM then. (Its a good question. I take no offense). I could test for 3rd Dan w/ in 6 months recalling forms, & specific techniques (I've been doing full contact kickboxing & western boxing for a number of years now. I'm out of practice at "traditional TKD.")

My favorite superstition about why you don't wash your belt it that "All your knowledge & pain goes into your belt." I must admit, I love that one. So, I never have. I noticed in the 90's, it was fasionable to have a not just faded belt. But fraying & faded black belt. I know folks that beat them with rocks to get just the right look. I have belts that are as black as the day I got them & belts that are grey. I have no idea how one gets grey & the others stay black.

Or Bart's Simpson's "Touch of Death"!

Where are good sources for quality Korean black belt uniforms? Like the Hapkido master uniforms & heavy white with black stripe uniforms. (Like Chuck Norris often wears). I'm not interested in WTF uniforms. Thanks

I go back & forth on this subject. Does it mean anything it terms of my ability to defend myself or win a tournament because I have one? No. Does it say anything about my ability to teach my art? Maybe, but proably not. I think we all know great fighters who can't TEACH their way out of a paper bag. And other black belts who aren't the best fighters who are great teachers. However, in terms of the accomplishment, it has a great deal of value. But as its been said, its an internal thing, its not the belt itself. I worked harder in training than I have than anything else I've ever done. The work involved in those belts (not to mention friendships, events, etc) is very special to me. My education degrees are tucked away somewhere, but my rank certificates are promenently (sp?) displayed in my home.

Which do you prefer? And Why? I really like the feel of mexican style gloves (Reyes & Grant). I've heard good things about tht Thai gloves (Windy, Twins & Fairtex) & about Japanese (Winning). What have you tried & liked? Or not liked.

I trained & received my 1st Dan (WTF) in 1985. I had to switch schools. I trained & received what I believed to be a 2nd Dan (ITF) in 1989. I found out years later that my instructor had no ties with the ITF & had the certificate prinited up himself. (You can imagine my embarassment when a Grand Master showed me what a REAL ITF certificate looks like!) I've trained in kickboxing & boxing since (no belts & different politics) so its not been an issue. But, if I wanted to test again, would I need to re-test for my 2nd in your system of TKD? Or could I just train & test for my 3rd? There have to folks out there with similar stories. I'd love to hear them, too.

I just read on Toakido's website that rank stripes on black belts are not really a Japanese thing. Makes me wonder if its a normal Korean thing to do. Anyone know?

There is no biblical reason why Christians shouldn't pratice martial arts. But if its a matter of conscience for them, then maybe its not a good idea for them.

I used to trained under Master Yun Kil Kim (formerly of Louisville, KY). He previously owned a school in suburban Chicago. I heard he moved East after Louisville. I would like to reunite with him. Can anyone help me? He is not the Y.K. Kim of Florida. Thank you.