bushido_man96

01/25/2015 Solo Workout: 30 minutes Chon Ji x3 Palgwe 1 x3 Taeguek 1 x3 Songham 1 x3 ATA white belt one-steps (3) x2 TTA white belt one-steps (7) x2 Choong Jang (4th dan form) x3

Sounds to me like he's worried about you quitting more than anything else (possibly he recognizes that you've been frustrated with your progress lately). Seems to me he sees positive changes in you from the training and is legitimately worried that you'll quit and go back to doing "nothing" with your free time, as too many adults do, and not continuing to better yourself through martial arts or another means. Sounds like he cares about you and your well being and personal growth. This was my impression, as well. I think he was hinting that if you left, he wanted you to at least be doing some Martial Arts.

jaypo lays out some of the big reasons here. As an instructor over the years, I've seen many students leave once they hit black belt. Many set it as a goal, and once they've hit it, they think that's it. Its unfortunate, but it happens. I've had some very talented students quit shortly after black belt. Some of it could be the fault of the curriculum, as well. I am personally a fan of having black belt focused classes that provide training that is different than the standard classes. The basics are still important, but at some point, the law of diminishing returns sets in, and it can be beneficial to alter the training course somewhat. Another conclusion is that it is perhaps time in these Martial Artists' journeys to step back, or turn down a different path. If they continue some sort of training, this is a good thing, even if it isn't with your club. Try to keep in contact with them, and have open training times with them when you can. Perhaps eventually your passion will re-kindle a spark in them to return.

Looks pretty sharp! Congrats on your promotion! I truly think once you get to the ranks of 4th and 5th dan, its more about how you train and teach yourself, and what you discover in your training, and how you expand upon it, that makes a 5th dan different than a 4th dan. The style becomes your instructor, in a way, I guess.

Best of luck to you! I still get nervous for testings, after 21 years! Try to take some deep breaths, and when all is said in done, if you trust that you have been training well, then everything should take care of itself.

I agree. It sounds like you've got a lot going on there, and it would be difficult for us to diagnose from behind a keyboard. Get to a doctor, and see if you can get some physical therapy arranged. Welcome to KF, and I really hope to see you around! Keep reading and posting; its motivational...

I have to have every uniform I've ever purchased altered. I have big legs and wide hips, so I usually to get a pretty big uniform size, and then have the legs and arms all hemmed up.

Weight can still be an issue on the ground, but skill plays into is as well. It could be more to do with lack of skill, but not necessarily. When all other things are equal, size will always play some sort of factor. But keep training, and always try to partner with different body styles and skill levels so that you can push yourself.

Your cup might be more than half-full, if you set it down when you do kata....

It could be that he may not want to broach the topic at all. While asking him in private is an option, it could be that he still won't tell you anything, and he may not want to be pestered about it, either. As others have mentioned, if you enjoy his classes, and feel he is doing a good job teaching you, then it may not be worth worrying about. It also might be something he reserves to tell you for when you become higher ranked yourself. When you get to a spot where he says he can't grade you any more, then you'll have your answer.

I think it would be good to be flexible enough to allow both options to work. Maybe a set-up where one testing is at your place, and the next time you need his help, you go to his place. That would make for a nice mix, I think, and you can meet others through the testings he hosts.

Ok, ready for 1st gup material, and at this stage in the game, I'm going to have to do some clean-up to get things kind of consistent in regard to rank and what not. So please, bear with me here. We are fresh out of colored belt Kukki patterns, so I'll pick them up once we get to black belt rank proper. For now, two colored belt forms. ATA red belt form, Choong Jung 2: 46 moves. New blocks are double inner forearm block, knife hand high X-block. New strikes are long upset ridge hand strike, palm heel strike, and reverse upset punch. Kicking includes a reverse hook kick, a #3 jump round kick, and a repeat round kick/side kick combination. This form as a lot of open and techniques and combinations in it, with palm heel strikes and ridge hand strikes, and the open and knife hand square blocks. The kicking techniques are particularly challenging. The round/side kick really challenges balance, and the reverse hook kick requires power yet control necessary to keep from over rotating before returning the kick to the ground. This form is a great challenge to the ATA student approaching the black belt test. TTA middle brown belt form, Hwa Rang hyung: 29 movements by the book, 30-31 techniques in total. New hand techniques include the palm heel strike (we perform this movement in slow motion), reverse upset punch, downward knife hand strike in circular motion, and twin elbow strikes to the rear. We have a high/low scissors type block, and a technique where the student reaches out and grabs his punching and before pulling in and delivering a side kick with the front leg. We also get 2 round kicks in combination in this form. There is a section of 3 reverse punches done in back stance, but we do these punching forward with hip rotation, not to the 45. This form starts out very compact in the beginning, and I get lots of power in the opening sequence. I like the fact that there are more kicks in this form, too. There are lots of little footwork nuances that are not as apparent in this form until you begin to do it. I think this form and Choong Moo really require attention to the footwork to be successful in performing them.

I agree with you, and that was GM Lee's reason for designing the forms the way that he did for the ATA. His idea was that if TKD was to be known for its kicking techniques, then why don't the forms focus more and challenge more with kicking techniques? Later on in this thread, I'll lay out how each rank of the ATA adds more challenging techniques that are basic requirements in order to test. But I agree, this is what the ATA forms do well. Keep in mind, though, that most of the kicking techniques done in the ATA forms are not required to be high section. The recommended targeting for them is middle or high section. The jumping crescent kicks in brown belt form, though, are supposed to be high section, but front/crescent kicks are usually easier for people to get high section than other kicks. I agree, very subtle, and that was how I thought it was supposed to be done, but got confused when I saw how the second kick like his was done in the form. I used to be able to do that more easily, but gravity is working against me more lately.... This helps clarify that for me, thank you. I see your conundrum here, but it is possible. The key is to use that right leg front kick chamber motion to really burst off the ground, and then if you pull you knee up tight like a front kick chamber, its just a matter of flicking that kick out and back fast. While you are still on the rise, the second kick follows, hopefully higher than the first one, because you flicked it out there earlier at the beginning of the jump. I hope that helps out. Really make that first kick fast to make it work. With the shape I'm in now, I might have to do them both like the second one just so I don't make myself look bad...

Ok, working on getting caught up, here is footage of Kenneth's first step into Wrestling competition. He's only 5 years old, so I think he's got some time to really start getting it. This is the Plainville Novice Tournament, 1/10/2015. Match 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5WApBEf4ew&list=PLon1GNgZPzV58U3fAa13-P_7SS9x3uCj5&index=1 Watch and enjoy two kids playing on the mat! Kenneth starts on the right, in the maroon and yellow singlet. He likes to go high to the head, so we are working on that. He gets taken down, but gets up, and hits a takedown of his own, even though its a bit slow. He has trouble still with where he is on the mat, and his balance, especially when working against another force, is still developing. He does understand that he is supposed to get the other on their back, its just figuring out how to keep them there. There is a point in the second period where they get into what looks like a hugging match. Kenneth starts third period on top, but gets reversed. The main thing will be getting his balance and body placement figured out. Kenneth wins this match. Match 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt5raNB7J1s&list=UUYp41FDmb5wXCSMe_HkoEJw This kid had a bit more experience, and a bit more understanding on how Wrestling works, so Kenneth had his hands full with this one. This kid is really aggressive and works fast, which kind of overwhelmed Kenneth. But, I hope it helps him understand how one is supposed to wrestle. He did a good job of fighting to stay off his back, and kept working to get up. He starts 2nd period on top, but balance gets him in trouble, and he gets reversed and taken down. Funny moment at the end of the 2nd period where they thought they were done, and took their leg bands off. Third period is more of trying not to get rolled over, which he does a good job of, but isn't really able to score much. He doesn't get pinned, but loses this match. Match 3: I think we missed getting this one, but Kenneth lost this match, although he gave it a good fight. He ended up 1-2 in his first tournament, and got 3rd place. He was pretty happy!

Thanks for the tips, tallgeese. I'll try to keep those in mind. I will definitely try to keep my hips more active, too.

Nice. I like the set-up. Guard passing is something I've had issues with, and seeing how you set up helps. I have an unrelated question, in regards to your side control. We have several wrestlers in our DT club, and when they get to side control, they throw their hips and legs towards the head, which makes it really tough to circle around to try to get back to guard. Any recommendations on that? What's your opinion on that side control position versus the one you always show with the knees into the hips and shoulder?

01/21/2015 White Belt Material Chon Ji hyung Palgwe Il Jang Taeguek Il Jang Songham 1 ATA white belt one-steps (3) TTA white belt one-steps (7) Went through each twice. Been practicing Taeguek 1 over the past few days, too.

I'm kind of on the fence in regards to fitness standards and MA ranking. It has pros and cons, the cons mainly being that you will only tend to a younger, more athletic crowd. For the record, though, I hate running, and don't really do it. I think a big part of the MAs is the personal journey, and not everyone has time to put in the extra road work to run every day. Why short them on their journey?

Our gym's slogan is "You Have No Excuse," mainly because its a 24 hour access gym. I could get onto our TKD floor at any time, because I have a key to the room. But the slogan mainly applies to the gym, as not every student has access to the gym 24 hours, or a key to the room.

That's cool.

Here is my current school/gym: https://www.haysgym.com My HQ school's website: http://www.sunyis.com/

That's good. Now you can break it down and focus on the issue. Always check with your instructor, because we have lots of good people here that can offer advise, but he sees what you are doing, and can give real-time feedback, which will help you out so much more.Keep up the good work!

Here is footage from Kendall's second tournament of the 14-15 season, the Roger Richter Memorial at Great Bend, KS, 1/3/2015. Match 1, part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdLFcqcXWi8&index=43&list=PLon1GNgZPzV7auEhp4xObbl6WkFdGZrEQ This is kind of grainy, and broke up into to parts. Sorry about that. Kendall opens with a takedown attempt, and although it isn't very clean, he fights through it and finally gets a takedown. He gets in a bit of trouble where the kid starts to circle, but he clamps onto a leg, keeps it, and turns into a headlock takedown straight to back points..... .....and here is part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45qbgwdePB0&index=44&list=PLon1GNgZPzV7auEhp4xObbl6WkFdGZrEQ He does a decent job of smothering the kids stand-up attempt, and really gets in a good north/south position from where he is able to pin. If he remembers to scoop the head and really get on his toes, he can clean that pin up a little. I don't recall the score of the match, but he's been doing a really good job of scoring points along with working to pins so far this year. This was his first time competing against this kid. Match 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vVUDN2K1_o&list=PLon1GNgZPzV7auEhp4xObbl6WkFdGZrEQ&index=45 Kendall is on the right, wrestling against a fellow club member, a kid we've wrestled a lot over the past few years. His takedown attempt isn't very clean, and its mainly because he is taking his shots from too far away, and is getting no penetration on his drive step. He tries to circle and keep the leg, but ends up giving up two when its all said and done. But he wrestles himself out of it, and gets a reversal for two. He tries to run his twist here, but isn't able to get it set right. There was a spot where he could have bailed on it and got around to the back to work some control, and we've worked on those options since. He finally gets the twist to work, but the period ends. Kendall starts 2nd period on top, and starts out with a good break down, but then works to the front, which allows the other kid to start standing up and get an escape. They reset neutral, and he works to a takedown, and a pin. Match 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2yuUO0pQRs&list=PLon1GNgZPzV7auEhp4xObbl6WkFdGZrEQ&index=46 This is a new opponent, and from the looks of it, I don't think this kid is still pretty new to wrestling. He didn't seem very aggressive, and Kendall handled him to a pin pretty easily. Kendall went 3-0, and got first place. Practices have been going pretty well so far, and we have a new coach this year that is just a fantastic teacher. He makes me want to come out and learn to wrestle. Kendall's group has been working on front headlock to slide around and take the back, and to a near side cradle last week. They've also worked on a Turk, which he has trouble with, but I can see the merits of running. He's also learned a far side cradle, and last night they worked on some defensive options from the sit-out position, like standing up and what he called the Gizoni (hope that's right). They also worked an inside cradle from the opponent standing to a tripod position.

1/14/2015 Palgwe 1: 30 minutes learning this form. More reps throughout the week, too. 1/19/2015 Wrestling Practice: 6:00 - 7:00 pm. I actually got out on the floor and helped my youngest in practice. We broke the stand-up down into steps and worked reps on it, and added in taking a shot afterwards. We also worked on half-Nelson defense, and then the kids did situational wrestling from the half-Nelson position.

Most of the ones in KS are in the Wichita and KC area. Nothing on the west side of the state, which is where I am. Cool resource, though, thanks for sharing it.