Truestar

I wouldn't recommend the XXL Wavemaster if you can help it. I would go with a different bag or a hanging bag. It seems the plastic material they are made of weakens significantly over time, we had six and have broken all but one. The way they insert into the bag is by screwing it in so it tightens, or it can screw in a click. We flipped it over so we have to tighten it and it doesn't click, we've found it's easier to manage however after 50 or so kicks it can loosen up on you. If the insert is loose at all and you deliver a medium power kick the plastic insert can break, rendering the bag useless. However I can vouch for the plastic weakening as once the first two broke I always made sure it was tight before I started kicking. One day I delivered a jump turning back kick and broke it. The bag was tight, so the amount of stress would have been the same as if we "clicked" them in. We're on our last one and not buying them again. The bag with numbers pictured here is an excellent bag and fairly adjustable. It doesn't reach the max height of the XXL but it gets tall enough for me to kick neck level. I'm roughly 5'10" or so. It's a sturdy bag for most kicks. I'll get some pictures tomorrow of the bags just for a visual.

We have a breaking "stripe" that we use for each belt level. We've separated the breaks into a points system, we currently have two rebreakable boards. For instance, a front snap on the green board (the easier one) is 1 point, whereas a front snap on the blue board (harder) is 2 points. Using this system we do condition for breaks in class. Students hit a bag, and we have a kicking wall set up where we place a single mat and hit that. For our testing from blue belt and up, everyday is spent conditioning for the final day where wood and patio blocks are broken. Speaking of breaking, I've conditioned my arm to the point now where I blew through 3 - 1 inch blocks today with my elbow at a demonstration. It didn't sting at all afterward and there's no major swelling on my arm. I can thank the ease of the break to conditioning for it in class.

What a belt should mean today is different than what a belt did mean. Belts I feel were a design to standardize the proficiency of students for comparisons to themselves in previous stages. A person that reached green belt should have significant physical and mental changes in comparison to themselves at the white belt level. Belts are merely representative of the stages in changes of maturity in a person in the martial aspect. Now, in speaking of standardization, should all white belts and orange belts be held to the same standards? Should all the people of one belt be held to the same degree? Yes and no. No because I believe belts are representative of individual skill sets. However I do contradict myself to some degree because I do think belts should hold some standard. A black belt shouldn't be a joke, and it should represent as stated mastery of the basics. While it may be cloth, it's what we choose to make it. I am proud of my black belt. I have traveled 8 years in Tae Kwon Do and have come a long way in many aspects of myself. However I do compare myself to other black belts in my school and at tournaments. While it may be a personal accomplishment I do like to know I'm up to a certain standard. And I don't think this is wrong. I don't think the belt "contains" my knowledge, if I wash it (which I don't) it's not washing away my ability. Dropping it on the floor isn't going to put a cloud over my head. This doesn't mean however I toss it around. I was teaching class today and explaining the passion behind doing a form. I demonstrated the first few moves with precision, mobility, like as you would say a "black belt". One of our students pointed out, "Well you're a black belt so you're good". I thought about taking my belt off and doing the form to show that the belt holds no mystical power, it holds no ability. Instead of making anything too dramatic I merely explained that he is a yellow belt, he was doing the white belt form. The form he's practiced threw white, orange, and through his yellow belt. He should do nearly as well as any "black belt". So I guess what I'm getting at is the belt shouldn't be worshiped, but there should be nothing wrong in holding it to a certain standard or feeling of pride.

I thought Tru Calling was pretty cool, that only lasted like a season and a half though. The writers strike almost drove The Unit into the ground, luckily that's on its feet though.

Po-Eun is about as far as I've gotten. There's so much to learn, and the way it's supposed to be performed (at least by our schools standards) it's going to be awhile before I move on. I'm very excited.

That definitely sounds like fun, and a good drill to try.

I can definitely see where the article is coming from. Last weekend I was at the Colgate Martial Arts tournament. Although I may be somewhat biased because I did not place I found that our schools forms did not generally rank very high with the judges. The tournament is a mix of different martial arts, so a majority of styles went against each other. The forms that ranked higher often included movements that "waved" more with their hands. Karate style forms... They also included a yell and kiai nearly every move, which I think is a little unjust to grade in that way. I don't mean to sound like a poor sport, but enthusiasm is gradable material, but shouldn't be number one on the list. Hard and precise technique comes first, then comes the yelling. I think next tournament I'll be trying Po-Eun hyung, a more Karate style, yet TKD based form. If I can work on it enough I think it will be interesting to see where I place next tournament later this month. I'll definitely post some video somewhere of the Colgate tourney though, a couple very cool forms by the executive black belts.

I don't think it's right to criticize people for showing respect for their belt above average pieces of clothing. We take pride in plaques and memorials which are also merely objects. If you drop a plaque with your name on it and it shatters are you not somewhat distraught? That's because we took pride into that plaque. The belt is the same way. We earned it, so we show respect for it. I still don't agree with your instructor kicking you like he did, but I'm trying to offer up some explanations as to how we treat our belts. I wouldn't intentionally throw mine on the floor or dirty it, although I wouldn't scold myself for dropping it I certainly wouldn't be thoughtless about it.

Although I do believe the belt should be respected, that's a bit much in my opinion. I don't think anyone should ever wear another persons belt, I don't think someone should just throw their belt around either. But an accidental drop is just that, an accident. You weren't intentionally showing disrespect for your belt. Our schools opinion as far as the belt touching the ground is, we grapple, so everyday the belt is constantly making friends with the floor. A drop here or there wouldn't change anything. Then again, he sounds more traditional. If tradition is your belt doesn't touch the floor unless still on you, that's the tradition. However kicking you like that? I don't think so. I'd be upset, especially with a dislocated shoulder. But I would definitely make an approach to better understand the justification of such a rough movement.

Classic phpBB prank.

I disagree. While the number of blocks one can break does not reflect their overall martial ability it still reflects the derivation of power, the focus and concentration needed to execute a technique to its maximum potential. The disappointment comes from the fact this wasn't my first time trying four, and I knew I would be trying four for a couple weeks now. Meaning I had plenty of time to prepare myself and nail it no problem. My dissatisfaction comes from my lack of understanding of what I should have expected. I knew it would be tough, but I also knew it was something I wanted and was going to do. So as a martial artist, I should have done more to prevent the incompletion of my break.

Well we had another group of students go through their last day of testing today, and of course leftover blocks at the end went to us black belts. I attempted four with a descending elbow, I broke three a few months ago (I think I posted about it) without any problem. Today? Two and a half. So I'm sitting here knowing what went wrong. I didn't properly prepare, four blocks isn't a joke like one is. I should have been hitting something a little bit a week before to gather strength and bone density. I could have followed through more... Overall I'm a little disappointed with myself. And I am sitting here with a drive to finally bring myself to the next level. I reached black belt, I'm finding I'm ready for the next step. Time to really start being one. Anyone else find a new drive or desire to push themselves from a minor bump in the road?

So the overall conclusion is that cardio and calorie burning is really the only thing to slim down the mid section, and let's throw in the thighs for the heck of it. Alright, I need some running and jump rope workouts then. Any good routines?

Went to that massage therapist I mentioned for my arm, she started looking at it. It started coloring mildly as you continued, so said I better get and x-ray to be safe. Turns out, nothing is broken. I was told breaks would heal faster than anything torn, so that's kind of a bummer in a way. However, my therapist said that if she can get at it long enough one or two sessions with proper management on my part and it could be 100% before the tournament, so I'm still hopeful!

I am a First Dan in Tae Kwon Do.

Funny, I'd say I just had my worst tonight! Nothing major, I was catching a kid from the hanging bar after they were up there for maybe a minute, 5 year old medium sized girl...caught her...on my thumb. I heard it crack LOUD and felt the typical cracked knuckle pain. Next thing I know I'm on the ground with my instructor asking me if I'm alright. Later on a kids father said I probably dislocated it and it popped right back in, first time I've ever had anything like it happen. He said if it happens again I'll be more prepared for the dizziness. Iced it, it's wrapped now. It certainly hurts, I don't think I'll be doing much for the rest of this week. March 29th is our Colgate tournament here in NY, I hope it's definitely much improved by then. Any tips?

Reminds me of my black belt! My instructor has two thicknesses, REALLY thick and what people may consider a more "normal" sized black belt. So far I only know of one person that's kept the thick belt, and he's jacked and still pretty fresh out of the Corps. Breaking in that belt would take a lot of time, so I just went with the thinner one.

I saw a sine wave Po-Eun on Youtube and thought it looked sloppy, then again people perform it differently so it could have been the practitioner. I've never tried the sine wave either, I've only observed it. You?

I personally go off from who I'm sparring. For instance, we have a green belt that can spar hard, but a junior black who is still very timid and hasn't matured in the Martial Arts sense. Generally when I have the opportunity to spar hard, I take it.

Arms great, don't know what I did but after a few days I think it's been able to relax. Sleep can do wonders seeing as I never had extensive work on it. I will definitely be sure to stretch everyday now though!

bushido_man: We don't use the sine wave no. DWx: I see what you mean, the slightest mistake is easily seen, and sometimes not easily fixable, especially with the desired pace of the form.

I just started this form Tuesday...it's my favorite so far although I've heard other people say they thought it was "boring". Very fast paced and a hard form, I plan on working on it at home today and maybe in class tonight.

I don't think a baseball bat to the shins would be very appealing... I'll pass on that for any breaking thanks!

I got it looked at a little last night after dinner (friends mom is the therapist). Basically she tried to shove her hands underneath things I didn't know I had in my back, started working a few knots and did a medium pressure stroke on my triceps. We were only able to fit in a 15 or 20 minute session, but it definitely feels much better today. Not perfect, I'm not going numb but I can still feel some knots in my shoulder blade area. Compared to the past two days, I'm much better. I never knew adrenaline hardens in your muscles, so she definitely mentioned thoroughly stretching after forms and workouts to release toxis chemicals from my muscles. I guess I wasn't doing a good enough job stretching, I'll have to keep that in mind.

Thanks, sounds like I might be getting a massage tonight after class so it might turn out alright. At least today I can pick things up!