niel0092

Yeah, I'd agree with mastertae. Most strikes in TKD should be aimed at pressure points, or joints. But this isn't really done in competetion sparring, well, maybe the solar plexus. It is right under that target on the chest gear. So the breakdown as I see it is: 55-60% kicks, 45-40% hand techs which would include strikes, throws and joint locks. Sweeps fit in there somewhere, part hands and part feet I guess.

I've keep the boards from my breaks so far with the idea that when I test for black belt I'll use them in a post-test bonfire. I've also toyed with the idea of making a belt display rack out of them using the board from each level to hold that belt. What do you think?

Gups are for TKD colored belts and they count down. Black belt Dans count up. Having said that, I just tested and received my 2nd Gup Red belt last weekend. Lots of fun!

LOL, that's awesome!

You know, I'd break the hold and run like a cheap pair of stockings. I've no illusions about what to do when the other guy has a knife. Oh, Rage against the Machine rocks, Metallica too, but Hendrix will always be my favorite.

Do you know the full name of the tapes? Thanks,

Well, I do TKD so I'll put in my two cents. TKD does focus on kicks but we also do sweeps, throws, hand tech's, knee's, elbows and all the other fun stuff. People only see the kicks 'cause that's what gets used in Olympic WTF sparring (continuous full contact point accumulation much like Olympic boxing). ITF as I understand it is point sparring (set, score a point, reset) but they allow hands to the face. Now to compare with the only Karate I've seen (Shotokan) I'd say they are more rooted/stable/strong where as we are more flowing/agile/quick. It's a one hit one kill approach vs a move and hit many times philosophy. This is a broad generalization. Shotokan people can be really fast and TKD people can hit really hard, all depends on the individual. Both are good styles, both have the potential to knock someone on their keester in short order. [ This Message was edited by: niel0092 on 2001-11-08 20:35 ]

Well, its been a few weeks since I started sparring again (see my last posts) and the old juices are flowin' again. I'd forgotten how much fun sparring can be.

Thanks. That was above and beyond.

We all have things we wish we could do better. The only advice we can give you is to do your best, try hard each and every time, and that eventually things will improve. Now if I could just learn to follow my own advice... Have a good day DarkMonkey.

Karateka was correct, Kickbutt. So we start at 9th gup white belt at my school and count down to a "0" blackbelt canidate that is sort of between colored belt gups and black belt Dans. Other schools may start at 10th gup and call a BB canidate 1st gup from what I understand. Just a way to track your progress.

I'm a 3rd gup brown belt in Tae Kwon Do. I've been studying for about 2 years.

Thanks Rush. You're right, I need to put my nose to the grind stone again.

Stress management! Plus, I love the way MA's make you feel after a hard work out. Friends, love of learning, physical fitness...the list goes on and on.

Hi all. I just started sparring again after a long time away from it. I'd just finished college and didn't have insurance for a while so I think that it was a wise decision to stop sparring for a bit. Anyway now that I'm fully employed and insured I've found that my sense of timing just isn't what it used to be and I don't flow quite as well. Has anyone else had a similar experience? What should I do to regain my former profeciency? I'm thinking plenty of sport training classes, heavy on the movement drills and pad work and as many bouts in practice as I can safely handle. Thoughts?

I was looking at a listing for a kung fu school that taught praying mantis style. Could someone give me a general description of this style? Maybe compare it to another?

Rush, if you find one (a korean word that is) put it in the terminology thread too please.

Hi, welcome from the yahoo page. I started there too. Being out of shape in the beginning isn't a big deal. You'll get there. I've seen plenty of people that were a bit on the portly side come into class. They huff and puff just like we all do in the beginning and after a month or more they lose weight, just like the rest of us. You see one of the big reasons to start TKD is to get in shape and beleive me you will! A guy I know lost 70lbs in three months. He was out of shape but now is in great condition. I'm not saying eveyone will have this dramatic a weight lose, but there is a precedent for it. Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

Here goes: 1)Karate 2)Sabum 3)Korea Taekwondo Federation 4)9th 5)Eye level of defender 6)Makgi (Maggi) 7)Chuch Norris 1955 9)power breaking 10)Argentina? No really, tell me.

Sorry, that was petty. I apologise. The way we fight probably is influenced to some degree by our society and geographical location. It's hockey country up here so you tend to see more punching and shirt grabbing than kicking. But like I said before, it's too icy to kick for about half the year. Knee em in the jimmies!

g, way to generalize there. It really depends on the person and what they feel comfortable with. I'd prefere to use elbows and knees-it's too icy up here to kick without slipping between Nov and April.

Trinidad

I just read through the last days posts in here. What can I say? Thank you to our friends to the north. Honor to our friends over seas. Justice delt to those responsible. Comfort to us at home. Peace for us all.

I'm the only one. My parents didn't really want me to do MAs but once I got to college there wasn't really anything they could do about it. Now they support me but I don't think they really "get it".

Their behavior was appalling and disrespectfull. I really don't know what to say but to ignore blowhards like that and don't let it color your image of blackbelts no matter what style they chose.