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That's what my instructor keeps saying. She tries to assure me that I'm doing fine and to keep trying. It's just learning something new that I'm not used to. Yeah, my instructor is learning alot from my fighting style herself and we are both improving on our weaknesses because we fight so differently. She likes to spar me because it forces her to use her hands, which she wants to improve.

I was wondering what CTF stands for? I am not familiar with this one. Choong-sil Taekwondo Federation

If you were in the CTF, I'm sure you know my instructor...Dawn Martin. I think everyone in the CTF knows who she is. She is awesome and the best MA instructor I've ever had. Even though I've only been in the CTF since May, I had the chance to go to Master Hardin's for Women's Black Belt Camp in June. It was so great and I learned SO much. Master Hardin is GREAT and he thinks that I'm doing well with TKD (he watched me compete at the last tournament and then sat down beside me as I was watching the power breaking competition to give me tips). I'm actually starting to train to go back to Master Hardin's for Fall Camp in October.

I'm actually good at leg sweeps, we just can't use them where I train. I am having a blast learning TKD, I just need to get more comfortable with kicking, plus, TKD is the only MA to train in around here now, unless I want to drive 50 miles, and I don't. My instructor is great, and is working with me. I think I just need to practice more and get more comfortable doing something that I've never really focused on that much. Like I said, I think my problem is mental...I've never really done all of these kicks, so it's like getting frustrated over learning a new technique. I just need to work harder.

What type of computer program is it that you are using? It sounds cool.

Just curious as to which pattern/kata that everyone who competes likes to compete with. Mine are Bassai Dai for Shotokan and/or Open Tournaments and Choon-Jang for TKD tournaments.

It's not so much that I'm uncomfortable with the approach my instructor is giving me with the kicks, but more of the fact that in Shotokan, I focused so much on my hand techniques, that my kicks were neglected and I'm a little discouraged with kicking as a whole. Even in sparring, my instructor is always yelling "Kick" at me, but I don't like to be caught with my feet off the ground. I'm thinking "why kick as long as my hands are working?" I can quickly move in close range to use my hands and crowd my opponent and they are unable to chamber tight enough to throw their kicks. I think my problem is mostly mental with these kicks.

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I've always worn a Tokaido Tournament Cut uniform, but recently, my new instructor talked me into getting the Pro Force Diamond Heavy Weight uniform, and I actually like it better....and the price is better too.

When I taught Shotokan we had several kids who didn't pass their rank test, usually purple, brown, and black belt levels. Myself and the other instructors always sat down with those students and explained to them why they didn't pass, told them what they needed to do in order to pass the next time, and encouraged them to work harder. We never had anyone quit because they didn't pass, it just made them want the rank more, so they showed us what we already knew they could do at the next testing. Our philosophy was pretty much, if they didn't pass, they needed to know why they didn't pass, whether it was form, power, attitude, not knowing all of the material as well as they should (like not remembering the lower rank material that they had already tested with in the past), or a combination of the above. Sometimes, it is good for some of the students to fail. I don't believe in "giving" a rank just because someone tested for it. They have to earn it.

When I did Shotokan and we bowed in in Japanese this is what we said: Shomen Ni Rey: Which meant face the flags, stand at attention, and bow Sensei Ni Rey: Which meant face the instructor, stand at attention and bow Now that I am in TKD, my instructor does half Korean and half English instruction and I am almost always the high rank. There, we say: Face the flag, Cha Ryut Kyong Yet Face the instructor, Kyong Yet I'd say ask your instructor if you are unsure because different schools and different styles all bow in differently

When I started TKD in May, I talked with the instructor about starting over at white belt. I totally did not have a problem with that. Then, we started talking about rank progression, tournaments, etc. and I expressed to her that if I were to compete, I would not compete against white belts because of my previous experience. Even though I was new in TKD in May, my skill level for competition was above white belt level, but at the same time (and I know this is kindof me being a butt, but) if I had to wear a white belt in class, I was going to wear one at the tournament as well. She did a few private classes with me to see where my skill level was at. All of my techniques, in her words, were outstanding, except for my kicks. In Shotokan we did a basic front kick, round kick, and side kick, and with the exception of the front kick, all of the kicks were chambered differently. I've never been a great kicker anyway, but she said that was what I needed to focus on. She told me after a few private classes that she felt like I would get bored if I were to start completely over at white belt because it wouldn't be fair for her to teach me more than she teaches any other white belt. When I started, there was a 12 year old and 20 year old who were already yellow belts. The 12 year old used to be one of my students when I taught Shotokan. They both started training in February when the school opened, I started in May. At this point, I am "technically" at Blue Belt level and they are only green belts. My instructor is moving me along with the patterns faster because I can learn them faster and the only techniques I'm struggling with is the kicks. During the first two weeks of my training, she actually taught me a 2nd Degree Black Belt Pattern (Choon-Jang) so that I could go to a tournament. In two weeks, I learned this pattern and competed with it in the 18-34 1st and 2nd Degree Division. I placed 4th after working on it only two weeks. About a month ago, I went to another tournament and placed 2nd against other black belts when I've only been doing TKD since May. I actually sat down with my instructor a couple of weeks ago and discussed my progression with her. She said that my problem is mental. I am struggling with re-training my body to do different things, and she tried to assure me that my kicks were 100% better now, than when I started, and told me to keep coming into the dojang when I have time and practice (I'm a gym rat). So, no, when I started, I wasn't opposed to going to white belt, and when my instructor and I talked about this again a couple of weeks ago, she said my technique in my patterns is at Black Belt Level, even the Founder of the CTF (8th Dan, and my instructor's instructor) has seen me compete and has trained me himself at a black belt women's camp during the summer agrees that I should hold my rank, and he was so excited to see me get 2nd place at the last tournament. He even came to me after the last tournament to give me advice, which I thought was awesome. She says my kicks are improving and that they are good, it is just MY perspective that they are bad. I think it's because for 12 years in Shotokan, I was always "the best" at our dojo, and I don't know how to handle someone else doing something better than me during class.

Thx for the tips bushido_man96

Having trained in both, I can agree with you to a certain extent. To the untrained eye, they are synonymous. To a MA who has trained in both, they are not.

I started taking TKD in May and I am a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Shotokan. In Shotokan, we didn't do all of these kicks and I'm having trouble. My instructor keeps trying to assure me that I'm doing fine, but I don't feel like I'm doing fine, especially when I'm standing there with a black belt and green belts are doing better kicks than me. She just keeps saying "well, you've never done this before and you have to keep practicing". I know this and I understand this, but I get so frustrated. Anyway, my questions....hook kicks, i just don't get this kick. I have been trying to do this kick since May, and I don't think I've done a decent one yet. Any tips on how to throw this kick? Round kick: because I come from Shotokan, I throw this kick ALOT different than my instructor wants me to. How can I train my leg to chamber to the side for this kick instead of at an angle infront of me when I've been doing it that way for 12 years? Any suggestions would be helpful. My instructor has had me holding on to a wavemaster and just chambering. I can do it ok like that, but as soon as I try to do it and keep my balance, I fall right back into my old way of doing it.