hobbitbob

Isn't this the same situation that the people in teh USKA were in, when it was discovered that Robert Trias hadn't actually studied with those he said he had studied under? Where does that leave someone? Especially if, as was the case with Trias, he was a proficient MA and so were most of his students?

When I began, I used to trip over my own feet. Now, I do so gracefully.

This has beeen extensively covered in teh other froums, but...my 2 cents worth: it's not the style, its the practitioner.

Also, here in the US, violence is more common, and more serioius than in Europe. People will simply shoot you or stab you or beat you for no reason. Rarely are assaults in the US the pub encounters of Europe. Usually they are random and brutal.

there is an ISKF 4th dan in the area, by the name of Ed Davis, who is absoltely rectangular! My height, stocky, and he is the fastest person I haev ever seen! The first time I did sambon kummite with him I was thankful for his control (brushed the tip of my nose, made my eyes water ), not at all what one would have expected from someone built like that!

I agree. I was horribly "anti-tkd" until, at the invitation of a friend from Basic Training, whom I ran into here at UMBC about three years ago (whom I hadn't seen in years!) I agreed to observe a practice session here at the Uni club. I went in prepared to diplomatically say "very nice" and then return to Shotokan land. I stayed because of teh the instructor, who is a veteran of the ARVN, led recon teams, etc... and it is very obvious from observing his technique that his TKD is about defence. One typical "Mr. Pham-ism," stated about a beginner (then) young lady who was displaying incredicble effort: "She kill people, easy." Well, sh'es gotten even better with two years of training! She'll test for 3d gup this december, and, with work, will hopfully be 1st dan in a couple of years! Unfortuanately, this emphasis on effective technique is quite unpopular with the numerous 17-18 y.o. "I'm a black belt" crowd that shows up at the beginning of each term. Most of them leave after trying a class. I don't think that they haev ever had techniques corrected in their lives! These are the sorts who get into punch-ups in clubs on weekends, and wonder why they wake up in intensive care! However, in addition to the emphasis on combative ability, emphasis is also placed upon th concept that TKD is a method of SELF DEFENCE (caps intended), not self offence. Much emphasis is placed on forms and basics. Not to "look good", but to be able to repeat technique when neccesary. The "modern" approach to "retain what is useful" is falacious in the extreme. I doubt that soemone with only ten, fifteen, even twenty years of practice has anyclue about the extent of what is "useful." I think that using atraditional curriculum, where effective defensive ability is one or two years away from the beginner, is a grand idea; by the time the student has developed any ability, he or she will have had time to haev developed some discretion about using the art. As the saynig goes: A monkey can be taught to fight, but human intelligence is needed to ascertain when to fight. (descending from soapbox )

So are you saying that you would "strike first and ask questions later?" I do not advocate that philosophy. I DO advocate the "protect yourself if you cannot avoid the fight, then leave quickly" philosophy.

As a proud advocate of the "avoid conflict at all costs" crowd, let me add that I haev served in combat in teh US military, have worked as a paramedic in three very rough cities, and have been accosted three times in the last three years whilst living here in Baltimore. I don't meditate standing on my head breathing in aromatherapy candles. I HAVE, unfortunately, encountered people of the " I am trained to fight and will do so at all costs" mentality...every time as patients! Belligerence breeds belligerence. Yes, without a doubt, martial arts were deisgned as self-defence measures. We are training with techniques that were designed to maim and kill, and to "water them down" is foolhardy. This is one reason a oppose the teaching of martial arts to children under age 10, at the minimum. What one should take into mind is that the martial arts are methods of self-defence, not methods of aggression. Yes, some people do go looking for fights. These people are no martial artists, they are thugs with karate training. Like it or not, there is a moral component to training in the martial art. I don't care who you are, you can not block, dodge, or avoid a bullet. Regardless of your skill, a group of assailants will beat you in a fight. A severed jugular vein, or carotid artery, or femoral artey, or punctured pericardium will kill you. The best way to avoid these injuries is to avoid a fight.

I was fortunate enough to attend a seminar with Ohtsuka II Sensei in London in the earl 1990s, and was floored with his grace, focus, and power. In my next life I will move like that!

At our Uni TKD club we recently had two children of a staff emmber brought to class. Both the 6y.o and teh 7y.o are "black belts." They are very much representative of children their age. their attention span, self discipline, co-rdination, etc are lacking. they haev yellow belt technique at best. When the Mom was told by the chief instructor that he wasn't going to allow them to train (if nothing else, they'd get squished by the college students as the stepped!) Mom threw a fit. She spent x amount of money on those kids, and by god they are black belts, etc... This goes along with what I haev always felt, that for most people, any martial art training is best begun no earlier than ten. I can speak from experience. In my 2d grade class at Karachi American School, most of us boys did Judo. How many of us internalized much of what we learned? None. One of the fellow assistant instructors at teh TKD club runs a parks and rec program on Mondays, Wednesdays adn Fridays, and has many of teh "little ones." The classes are always completely out of control. Ron loves kids, so he doesn't maind, but acknowledges that no real learning occurs. My two cents.

One shows one's TKD skills in the street each time one AVOIDS conflict.

Just do your best. it is almost impossible to fail a white belt test! it can be done, but it takes effort.

My first Dojo charged $65.00/month. it still does (no change from 1981-now ). A school I know of in Seattle charges $100.00/Month. Some of the "take One's Dough Korean Kuhruddy" schools here in Maryland charge over $200.00/month. Sigh

If fighting is your goal, I reccomend "gun-fu" and a good attorney. If you are interested in becoming a martial artist, any style will do.

I would add http://www.wadoworld.com . there is a Welsh Wadoka with Kata videos on his page, do a web search for "wado kata," and you'll find it. Cecil Paterson's site,a s mentioned above is good. David Deaton, from Nashville has a series of videotapes out that haev the major Kata on them, alshtough he is not doing "orthodox" Wado technique. Dragon Tsunami has a series out with Ajari Sensei that also have the advantage of showing footage of Otsuka Sensi shot in the later 1960s. These are better.

Osu, AES! I'm all of 5 feet five and a whole half inches tall, somewhat hefty about the middle (My 'ki' has sunk ), and resmble the comment made in teh JKA thread about the "bullet headed midgets!" I have trained with, and taught students of many bodt types, and have to say that the karateka eventually adapts his karate to his body. Not the other way around. I hev known tall, skinny Goju-ka, and short, stubby Taekwondo-ja. All were excellent martial artists due to their drive to learn.

In my first Dojo, belt colours were white (9-4th kyu), brown (3-1 kyu) and Black. I wore a white belt from February of 1981 until June of 1984. I guess I just have a long attention span.

I've always trained at places that were top heavy, i.e. : many yudansha, a few middling ranks, adn a few beginners.

Front or back leg? Yes!

Hmmm...this is starting to resemble the Shotokan and Cyberdojo forums, not good....

My background in EMS has proven helpful, so I would defiantely chime in with the kinesiology crowd. I also wonder is people planning on teaching professionally shouldn't take a teaching degree?

At both places where I train, new students are asked to observe one or more classes, in order to get some idea of what they will be attempting. Then, for about the first month, they are separated out with other beginners and work on rudimentary technique. After about a month they join the regular class.

they haev been discussed in the Bad Budo section in e-budo.

I have only seen one SKA gorup, and the looked "floppy" for lack of a better adjective. It might have just been that group.

I've had several peers who wore "Anshin" gi, but I'm not sure if teh company still exists. I think they are in New Hampshire, somewhere. On the Adidas: I like the older Adidas heavyweight "karate Gi," exept for teh skunk cabbage logo on teh right breast and right leg. They were affordable, being in teh $100.00 range. The new Adidas gis are lightweight, with the same stupid corduroy fabric as the TKD suits, adn cost twice as much. Lets hear it for the olympicization of Karate! I haev heard a rumour that these are to be the only gis allowed at WKF competitons! I am currently using two Tokaidos and a Meijin. I will probably replace the Tokkaidos with meijins as time goes by. The MEijis is sooo wonderful, I can't begin to say enough! Had a Shureido for a while, but it didn't make the trip back to the states from Germany. It was in teh same box as my TV and Stereo, adn was pilfered along with every thing else in the box. Thank you DoD approved moving companies!