bushido_man96

That would be a great time!

So should someone with this much skill go to a tournament in his new style and be allowed to trounce the colored belts he is competing with? Who is that fair to? This is just one example of when skipping belts can be beneficial to all involved. Also, it has to do with an instructor's ability to recognize the skill level of the students he has. If you have a white belt doing black belt level technique, then that white belt probably isn't learning a whole lot from hovering needlessly in that rank, unless the material is so radically different that it affects his ability to learn it properly. And again, this is on a case by case basis, depending on the evaluation of the student. Not everyone will skip ranks. Some may be capable of skipping more than others. And some schools and instructors won't allow it at all, and that's fine. I think it can be a bit of a narrow-minded approach at times, but its a personal decision for each to make.

It does sound odd, but I can see what they are doing. The TKD styles I have been in have "recommended" black belt ranks, but we still called them 1st dan. This could just be a different way of doing this same thing. Although, I don't think it makes sense to call one a black belt but not a 1st dan.

I agree dedication is something you can't have too much of. But, if you find yourself always run down and unable to shake the soreness, you might need to take an extra day off to recover. But you might not feel that, either. As time goes on and life changes, you may find you don't have as much time available for training as you once did. So take advantage of it while you can.

This is a tough deal. I feel badly for you. Make sure to take it slow coming back. Take the time off the doctor says to, and don't try to come back early. Once you are cleared, maybe start with some walking to see how that works for you. If you do start MA up again, take things easy, and don't put full power on anything until you know you won't aggravate your injury again. Best of luck to you on your recovery!

I can give a view of both worlds; I hold a 2nd dan in ATA TKD, and a 3rd dan in my current style, which does the ITF forms. In the ATA, we did more of a level-legged chamber, more parallel to the floor, with the knee tucked back toward the belt, the heel tucked to the butt, and the chamber up like a table top; I can remember drills with a pad placed on the kicking foot while holding it in chamber, and kicking slowly out and back, making sure the bag didn't fall off. Now, I do a chamber with the heel pointing down, the leg up high and tight, but perpindicular to the ground. Then, when I kick, I pivot and use my hips to propel the side kick out. But its not like a snap kick; I use the pivot and the hips to drive the kick out. I have to say, I never did like doing the kick the ATA way. I have big legs, and its hard to get them up high and back toward the belt knot like that. I prefer the way I do it now, and don't feel as I've lost any kind of power in doing it.

I think the collar looks strange, too. I'd like to see it all the way down, too. The colors are different, but not too bad.

Keep at it, and your attitude should take you a very long ways!

So do I, Bob. I am actually hoping to get back to training regularly at the end of this month, when things slow down a bit. Then, maybe we can look at getting something done about another get together.

I consider myself more a Martial Artist than necessarily a TKDist. I do love TKD, but when I do other styles, I don't try to look for the TKD aspect that might be in it, or how it fits with my TKD concepts. Instead, I look at how I can make the various skills work together so I can be a better Martial Artist. Along the MMA comment, however, I don't think I would call myself that, either. I think that it is to the point where MMA really is its own style, and in that style they train the standup and grappling to the point where they don't do one or the other; they do both, and know how to range it all together.

Welcome!

Very good word analogies here. They made me smile. I also agree. I think over time, we just learn how to make things a bit tighter, and more compact, while still retaining the integrity of the technique. I think this is something that comes in time with so much training. It would be nice to learn how to do it all right up front in our MA careers, but you have to crawl before you can walk.

I'm a bit confused as to what you are asking here, Bob. Do you mean one that doesn't show the technique, but only speaks of it? Or of the lack of "real world application?" I'll answer to the real world application part. In this area, I don't think if you, or me, personally have applied it in the real world, isn't terribly important. What is important is that its been resarched in class and in scenarios to show that it is applicable or not.

This is what I had to do in my new TKD style. I thought it fair, and when it got to the point that I thought I was going to be overwhelmed with too much material, I asked to back off, or take more time between testings.

This will vary from school to school and instructor to instructor. When I started over in my new TKD school, I skipped several ranks in the beginning, at a couple of testings. But I already knew the techniques, so it was just a matter of me learning new forms and one-steps, and adjusting a few things with technique here and there. So, basically, it was more or less memorization of new materials for me than learning new techniques. The instructor saw fit to bump me up more as I went along. As I got to the higher ranks before black, I went rank for rank then. My feeling on the matter is that if someone really demonstrates that they pick up the material fast, and have sound technique beyond their current level, then I see no reason not to skip them. I don't think its fair if they outclass others in their rank to hold them there; it isn't fair to them, nor to the others in that rank, really. But, its something that needs to be looked at on a case by case basis.

I've heard of "the killer instinct." I don't know that its something inherent in everyone, or just certain people. Nor do I know if it is something that can be dredged out of everyone or not. There are some people in this world that tend to be more predisposed to being capable of such things than others; we usually describe them as antisocial and unbalanced, among other words. On another note, training technique does not necessarily mean you are training yourself to have that "killer instinct." I do think the type of adrenile stress training can be very helpful in reacting instinctively to a situation. But that doesn't mean that if you've learned "killing techniques," that you will use them if need be. I don't think there are a lot of people who can.

Its so cool that we can see these kinds of activites take place due to our interactions here at KarateForums. It truly is a credit to what we have here.

These are tough decisions. But, just to be training and to have this dilemma, shows you are fortunate enough to have these options. I wasn't aware that Muay Thai had belt ranks, but if you feel you have more to do there, and you can still do the training well, then go for it. As for starting over; I've been there and done that. It really isn't a big deal. Starting over doesn't mean you lose everything you did previously. It doesn't really take your rank away, either. You just put on a different belt, and get to begin gathering new experiences from a different view point; a very useful thing for training. So either way, I think you've made a good choice no matter which you choose. Best of luck as you move along your MA journey. Let us know what you do decide.

TKD tends to get the McDojo rap more than most MAs out there. Not that TKD really hasn't done this to itself, but in the end, a lot of schools suffer for it. When it comes to deciding to learn any style, its important to go take a look at the schools, watch classes, ask questions, and then make an informed decision. As far as differences in the two styles goes....depending on the TKD organization in question, there is a likelyhood that the forms will not be synonymous with Karate style forms; TSD, from the styles I've read about, have forms that are essentially brought from Karate styles, with some few differences and some different names. TSD schools may do more form application work than a TKD school, but this will vary, as well. I think the main difference may come in the focus on sparring. WTF schools will likely have a higher focus on sparring Olympic style sparring, and ITF will have a different sparring method. I'm not sure of what kind of focus TSD schools will place on sparring. You also have to consider the attitude of the teacher of each school, as well, and how they prefer to approach sparring, and in what manners. In the end, it would be easiest to answer by going to observe some of the classes your friend goes to check out, and see what differences you notice. If you do that, come back and tell us about them, because I'd love to know, as well.

It would likely be a good idea. It only takes one little nick in the nether region to decide you don't like it.

I like your drills, MP. I love how they flow together, and you aren't really learning a whole new one-step each time you go up in rank. Our one-steps are hard block and strike oriented. Some work angles better than others. I have done some work with them where I've taken the one-step further from the block attack/counter format to a more streamline format for self-defense. The problem is, I don't get to do them in class. Its usually just with my DT partners. I may try to get a few uploaded, but I'm afraid my instructor might have kittens if he sees any of our stuff out on the web.

Not much, although I should. Sometimes around the house I'll just throw out some random TKDness from time to time, but nothing much. I should do it more often, though. With some focus.

I did ask him but his suggestion to me was stay at his school and commute. lol There are some places that seem great nearby, I guess what I'm having a hard time with is not progressing anymore in TKD in favor of another style. I like TKD, and 2nd Dan only feels like I'm half way. 4th Dan certifies you in the federation as a master and to run a school, but like I said the TKD schools don't seem the best in the area we now live. I kind of always thought of myself opening a MA school down the road somewhere and I feel like starting a new style now might be more of a setback to that goal than a help. If this is your wish, then look into one of the other WTF schools nearby, and do the best you can with it. Once you are of rank to open your own school, you'll be able to do things your own way, and get away from that McDojangish feeling you get. You never know until you try it out, though. Edit: I see I'm a bit late with my reply . Its great you've found something else you like. But, my suggestion above still stands, if you can make two styles work for you. But, if you feel confident with going another rout, then enjoy yourself!

That's a great pic! We have two patches; a Sun Yi's Academy patch, and a Traditional Taekwondo Association patch on each chest side. That particular uniform has stitching down the sleeves that say Sun Yi's Academy on one side, and Korean on the other. I also have a uniform that has an Instructor patch under the left breast patch. That seems about right to me. In the ATA, we had a school patch on one side, an ATA patch on the other, then on the sleeve you had judge patches for black belt, between 1 and 3 depending on the certification you held. I think they have more depending on what they do, now.

Welcome to KF!