DWx

It is not like we really go tot WATCH any matches here in USA. Not a SINGLE match was broadcasted during the entire olympics. They only reported standings/winners. That's really weird because it was shown on BBC over here and I would have thought Olympic TKD was bigger in the USA than it is in the UK. You have the Lopezs and we have nobody really.

Good Luck! The demo part sounds pretty cool! We do something similar where we have to choreograph a self defense senario but it has to be a straight attackers vs victim.

I agree there are loads of advantages of being with an org so unknownstyle should definately look into what the org could offer. Although as far as getting a legitimate org is concerned, I wouldn't worry so much. Legitimate in that they teach good stuff and are looking after your interests then yes, but legitimate as in the legal governing body or a well known org then maybe no.

I think that it is possible to work into a "happier" medium here. Take TKD sparring, for example. If you plan to train so that you can be successful in the ring and on the street, then you may have to streamline your ring sparring to a point where you have the basic kicks and strikes down to the point that you can score with them, and use various movement strategies to incorporate them in such a way to be successful in sparring. Then, in the street, using these more basic techniques at lower attack levels can help to improve your chances there as well. Then, the only thing you lack is some ground fighting defense, which one would most likely have to supplement in other training. But, if you spend your time on the 360 and 540 kicks in sparring, then that may be what comes to you when its go time in self-defense. These may not serve as well. I don't know for sure, though. In the end, if you have a good 540 round kick, then you probably have a good back leg round kick to the leg, too. Yeah I agree you can do both. However I think even using this method its hard to be the #1 tournament sparrer and the best street fighter at the same time. You can do what you suggested but even then there will be elements missing from both which may hold you back and stop you from winning the gold or surviving an altercation. Even if you were using the same basic techniques for both sparring and SD there will be differences in the way you use them, like the contact level will be different or the risks you are willing to take to score that last point. Certain things that you do in the ring may hinder you on the street and vice versa. Like the guard I use for my sport sparring is different for what I would ideally use in the street. In competition and sport I know certain techniques are not allowed so I don't bother guarding or even think of blocking somewhere like below the belt. That's an incredibly bad mindset for self defense and something I have to constantly think about when practicing SD skills. Thats where I think that if you want to do both, its really important to mentally make the distinction between SD and sport.

This is how I feel as well, DWx, and is likely the cause of times of friction in the past, when I did Tae Kwon Do, and in the present, doing Soo Bahk Do. Combining the two experiences for this posting . . . There's no grabbing, so you can foolishly leave your hands hanging out there, and since there's no grabbing, you who recognize what you can do--but may not--give up on it. If you're chided for using open-hand blocks, even though they fit the situation and you know how to use them, or that you spar like a boxer and not what is in the art, or if you practice tournament-style kicks with regularity, you have spent so much time in this mode that it becomes the only way you can think and react. Unless you break the rules. Only if you practice what is contrary to the rules when outside the dojo/dojang, and if you try what works for you whenever possible inside the dojo/dojang and risk admonishment, will you be able to defend yourself in a real-life situation. You won't do as well in tournaments, because your mind is not set that way, and it is possible you will decline to enter them as foreign to reality. I agree with you on this. This is where I think that if you want to train yourself for both sport and combat then you have to really work to distiunguish between the two and even then one or both areas will suffer. Unless the sport rules are really lenient and allow for anything you're going to be limited in how you fight and this will affect your own "style" overall.

Is he aware of your concerns? I would suggest speaking to him first because he may not know that you, and possibly other students, feel like this. As a dan grade and one of his instructors you could make suggestions to areas you think you should be teaching and learning. If he's not prepared to listen and maybe change a few things, then consider leaving. edit: jaddensinn beat me to it

I agree with this sentiment. What would the org offer you that your instructor can't or doesn't?

Very nice. Its that philosophy that makes you continue to hone even your basic techniques, to get closer and closer to being able to attain a perhps unattainable goal. I didn't know that ITF had single wrap belts, either. All my TKD black belts have been double wrapped. Yeah all the belts are single wrap. Means that they are slightly thicker in most cases because they only have to go around once.

As of yesterday my instructor is now World bronze medallist in 5th dan patterns. The official website doesn't seem to be putting up the results though so if anyone has an interest at all, results for the England squad can be found here: http://itf-england.blogspot.com/ I guess most other teams would post results on their own sites too..

How about taking a look here: http://www.seku.ndo.co.uk/pgClubDirectory.htm#G They list a club in Gosport. Gosport Borough Council also have a list of all the MA clubs that they know of and list a different Shotokan club.

We have a thing in ITF TKD of only wrapping the belt around the waist once (rather than the double wrap a lot of other styles use) to signify this philosophy. We also say "one technique, one defeat" rather than "one blow, one kill" so ending an altercation doesn't necessarily have to be fatal. For me it means you have to constantly strive to improve your techniques so that each and every single block, strike or kick gets closer to being able to bring about that one technique defeat. Every technique needs to be honed so that it has maximum power and is delivered with accuracy and you shouldn't ever be satisfied that you've got the most out of that one technique because it can always be improved. That's why I see the maxim as something to work towards but something that is not always attainable in an altercation.

Wait a second...is there any other kind????? Nestlé Smarties cookies are the only way to go!

Good points, DWx. I do think that individuals make the difference. I also think you are right in that TKD punchers will usually punch differently than Boxers do, just due to the amount of training and the methodology that goes into each style. As for the types of fighters in a style, Olympic TKD is known for seeing the aggressive fighters, the counter fighters, front leg kickers and back leg kickers. See that raises another point. Do you think the (sport) rules that you train under promote a certain style of fighting overall? Like under Olympic TKD its harder to fight closer in because of the constraints on hand techniques so most fighters tend to adhere to a personal style orientated around the legs. Because you do spend so much time practicing and working a particular strategy for the sport side of it, when in an uncontrolled fight situation you'd be tempted to fight a similar way.

I think a lot of it does come down to individuals. You'll get people who prefer to be counter-strikers or people who prefer, like you say, their punches over their legs. But I think the system(s) you train under will influence your game in any case due to the way you are taught to do things. As a TKDer I punch slightly differently to how a boxer would; your style will teach you to do things differently to other styles. IMO its how you piece the techniques together that make you as an individual have style. TKDTutor has a good article on some on the more common TKD sparring styles (it is useful to other MAs too) and how to fight them.

Any session where after I'm so mentally and physically tired I just want to go home and sleep.

Cool. I bet Aikido would compliment TKD and Hapkido quite well. You'll have to learn some Japanese now bushido .

We used to have Deadly Nightshade growing in the garden...

Have you tried looking for weekend classes? Sometimes places train during the morning on Saturdays & Sundays. Could just be that he thinks joining a class is better for you than one-to-one tuition. Or that he doesn't offer regular private lessons. Might be worth going along just to see in any case because he may just be a bad salesman.

My main style has very little religious content but even if it did I don't think I would necessarily follow it. There are some philosophical aspects I agree on and they have changed my perspective on things but I don't do anything special like meditation.

Welcome!

I would rather a partner hit me with the same force he would if I were a man. I know that they don't mean to, but when somebody deliberately goes lighter on you or hesistates, it does feel like your not on the same level and like they don't respect you or your ability. I don't think I've ever had it be a problem though. Occaisionally if a guy starts coming to the sparring class and they don't know me, then they might be a bit hesistant but usually after the first roundhouse they start sparring me as an equal. I think a lot of it comes down to the traditional values of society, like when your a kid and boys get told its wrong to hit girls. You just have to kinda rework that mental programming. Its does neither of the people any good. Because you've got that psychological barrier the guy may be more hesistant to hit a female in self defense (it could happen) and the female doesn't experience full intensity combat so they are less prepared for self defense. As a female in MA, I don't come to class to play tag sparring, I come to learn MA. Believe me, you're doing me a favour if you hit me properly.

Congrats!

Good Luck Fran! Do you know what you have to do for the test?

Welcome!

Its a nice form. You don't really get to see it a lot though because its only the more senior people who do it. Here's GM Choi Jung Hwa doing it but I've seen videos of better.