DWx

You don't need anything more than physical demonstration really. And as for more advanced concepts I find I understand them better by being shown not told. Demonstrating applications, physically showing why such and such a movement doesn't work, actually doing stuff rather than talking about it is much better and to be honest you'd be surprised how much can be conveyed through actions rather than words. Also so much more can be conveyed through one word in the Asian languages than the Germanic languages. For example Golcho (Korean) doen't exactly translate as "hooking" in English but its the closest word we have for the concept. Plenty of people at this recent seminar I was on were actually hooking their hand for golcho makgi because they thought that because of the English name that you were supposed to do it like that. Master Hwang (without translation) demonstrated what golcho actually means and that to physically "hook" is described by the word "goro". Golcho actually is more like to place or hang, an action like hanging your jacket on a coat hook, whilst goro is a curved hooking motion. We then got shown why doing a goro motion wouldn't work and why it is necessary for a golcho motion. Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc. languages are built upon words with layered meanings, take for example the word "teacher" in Mandarin. It consists of the idea of "listening", "knowledge" etc. to build up this concept of "teaching". In English we don't have that, just the noun. Its because of this lots of concepts get lost upon translation or we simply don't have the vocabulary to accomodate the concepts involved. If you said round kick to the people I train with only a handful will know what you're talking about. We call it the "turning kick". If however you use the Korean standard name then we will all know what each other means. Also through using the Korean term will help you fully understand the movement. Front punch is "ap joomuk jirugi". The beginning part of "jirugi" denotes a twisting motion at the end of the movement so when you get kicks like side piercing kick called "yop cha jirugi" you know that the motion should finish with a slight twist to the entire leg. Different terminolgy will arise from the Romanization of the Korean characters. You get situations like the word "kwon" in Taekwondo should be properly be pronounced with an initial sound somewhere between the "k" and "g" sound. Thats why TKD can be spelt Taegwondo and "maggi" can be interchanged with "makgi". Similarly the "t" and "d" are interchangable so Dan Gun can become Tan Gun etc.

I agree with this. XMA is martial arts + gymnastics and acrobatics. Very few (if any) traditional forms contain these elements so its hard to compete against it if the judges are more inclined to the flashiness. If anything make your current katas more artistic by working on timing and such like. IMO a good form should be asthetic and not just practical as thats where the art side of MAs get shown. You will find it difficult to compete against XMA but then again it depends on the judges.

No problem. I discovered today that TKDTutor has loads of articles to do with philosophy. If you go to http://www.tkdtutor.com/index.htm and look under the "Concepts" heading there are a fair few bits and pieces.

What irritates me the most is not guarding and blocking and just taking the kick so you can come straight back with a counter. Martially that is not very effective at all. If you look at TKD prior to the Olympics and its Olympic bid people were using the blocks and weren't falling over every time they did a roundhouse.

I couldn't believe this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4253849.stm How on earth? I know everyone says in self defense go for the groin but really...!!!

This is something ive never understood. Lets say for example you are an english speaking student and you go to a japanese school to learn karate, with no knowledge of the japanese language other than the technique names you know from your english speaking country. The instructor is attempting to explain the finer points of a technique, take age uke(rising block) for example. So the instructor says in japanese: One of the most important principles of age uke is to drive not only with the arm, but also with the hips. So out of the instructors explanation of the technique, the only thing you will understand is the "age uke", which doesnt really help. So logically, it makes more sense to me that if you want to learn a system in a different country(just like doing anything else in another country) learn the language of the country. Because chances are that knowing a few technique names will be of little or no use, unless you can understand everything else that is being said in between. Like I said in one of my earlier posts, its not a problem. A good instructor will demonstrate anyway. I've just spent all weekend on this seminar where the Master couldn't say anything apart from words like "like this", "not this" etc. Yet he could command the class tell us he wanted us to turn, pair up, go through the forms by count. We all understood what he meant and if we needed clarification then you just stand up, say the name of the technique and get him to demonstrate applications or ready positions, whatever you needed.

Consider that if every english speaking instructor used only english then you wouldnt have a problem at all. Also keep in mind that in most schools that use terminology from the native language of the system, they often have 2 names for the same thing, i.e. the name of the technique in the systems native language, and then the name of the technique in the instructors/students native language. So in my opinion, cut out the language that you dont normally speak and streamline the system to avoid confusion. But you still need an International standard language so that instructors from outside your native tongue can teach you. If you are in say a Japanese system then there are plenty of Japanese masters/teachers who would be definiately worth having a lesson off, you can't expect them to teach you in English if they aren't fluent. If you go to Europe or Aisa or wherever to train then if everyone knows a standard name for each technique life is going to be so much easier. You won't have to spend time messing around with translating the words "front punch" and can just get on with it. It makes sense (IMO anyway) for everyone, whatever country your from and whatever language you speak, to know one name per technique so that you can communicate. And if you have to pick that one language to communicate in then why not pick the language it where it comes from because chances are there are going to be more practitioners/teachers/masters speaking it natively.

1974 1303s VW Beetle (red). Except its had some slight modifications... Now has a complete Porsche undercarriage: full suspension off a 911, full set of 924 disc brakes, complete set of Porsche alloys. Full set of seats "borrowed" from my dad's Alfa GTV6. Had full harness seat belts in. Hydraulic, fly-off handbrake... Various bits and pieces to modify brakes to account for the weight in the back because the 911 and 944 work for the weight in the front.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Hey Congrats!

Wow, so you don't practice anything but tying your belt? After all, even a good block could break an arm, and that would cause permanent damage. However, maybe I am over-reacting, just what techniques don't you practice? no there are many techniques if practiced correctly cannot harm somone just injury and just in a conflict i am not going to kill anyone lol Even if it was the only way to stop your opponent? I think none of us wants to kill another person but you can't afford to pull your techniques to avoid seriously injuring someone because you will end up losing wither that be your valuables or your own life. Similarly if I was presented with an opportunity to attack someone with a technique that could be potentially fatal I wouldn't hesistate, its my life or there's and unfortunately your attacker is unlikely to have those kind of morals.

Yikes. How do you lug that around?

The Olympics have brought Taekwondo into the spotlight promoting the art to Martial Artists and non-Martial Artists alike. Martial Arts events rarely get that much media coverage (aside from MMA, boxing, fencing etc.) and by bringing TKD in as a medal category, TKD has been brought to millions more people. It is quite possible to say that it is one of the most popular Martial Arts as the media coverage has encouraged huge numbers of people to start training and so has brought forward new talent and energy to help TKD grow. The Olympics has also taken the mystery away from the Martial Arts as it used to be that you ask a person to define the term and they give a description of some sort of all super-powered Shaolin monk living in a cave in the mountains. MAs like Karate, Taekwondo, Juijitsu are more accessible for the everyday person and more acceptable to be taken up as a pasttime. However, has making Taekwondo an Olympic event detracted from its original purpose as a Martial Art? TKD is often the subject of many jokes and people say its useless or it doesn't work and you'd be better off with a more contact geared spot like Muay Thai etc. Since it has become an Olympic sport there are more and more TKD practitioners who just train the sport side, opting to not bother to fully train components like the forms or step sparring or even sparring that mimics a real fight. The block has become neglected because it serves little purpose in a match because no points are awarded and sparring matches are all about the points. Punches are redundant in Olympic TKD matches too because you can't punch the face and why punch to the torso when the leg can get there and keep your body out of the way? Looking at sparring matches in the Olympics, opponents often lose their balance when trying to reach that little bit extra yet if you lost your balance in a self-defense situation that would probably be the end. The lack of punches, blocks and needing to get that little bit extra spin on your 360 means that virtually no-one in the Olympics guards because what's the point? Quite often too you see practitoners cheering and celebrating after landing one kick yet that one kick may not be enough to disable an attacker. Its no wonder why people see the Olympics and regard TKD as more of a sport than Martial Art yet TKD is meant to primarily be a self-defense system.

Any blackbelt who does an Instructor training course and passes the exam can be called Instructor. Any 4th dan and above who is an Instructor and then does a (usually) 3 day International Instructors' Course seminar gets the title International Instructor meaning that they can teach anywhere they like as opposed just in their country under their master. 7th degrees are automatically masters and 9th degrees earn the title Grandmaster.

After the seminar I attended this weekend I am even more convinced that the terminology should be learnt. The master did not speak much English at all and had an interpreter who explained the various bits and pieces to us. However, Master Hwang was able to completely command the class by himself in Korean, telling us to turn around, go back one move, perform X move, etc. We saved a lot of time not having to have it translated and especially when not everyone uses the same name for a particular technique. For example, the roundhouse can also be called the turning kick but the standard Korean name for it is "dollyo chagi". When people were asking questions too, all you had to do was say the name of the technique and which bit you were unsure of and Master Hwang explain it all without having to waste time with the interpreter. There were some people who tried to ask him in English and quite often it took a while for his assistant to explain what technique we meant. There was also some confusion at one point because Master Hwang could not understand why a lot of people were doing hooking block with a sort of "hooking" motion on the end. Turned out that the Koreans have 2 different words for "hooking" and when translated into English the full meaning isn't conveyed. There were also quite a few concepts that English doesn't have a word for and the interpreter was trying really hard to say it in English, however when Master Hwang gave up and said the Korean words to us we understood better. Master Hwang was also explaining how all of the Korean names tell you how to do the techniques. For example, a punching technique is always called a "jirigi". We were told how the first part of this word conveys to you that there has to be a rotation or twist at the end. You can now apply that to such a technique as side piercing kick as that is called yop cha jirigi which means there should be a slight rotation of the foot on impact.

30 secs is a lot shorter than I'm used to but I can give you a coupla points since continuous is what I'm better at: - Most likely you will get penalized for stepping out the ring so if you are on the attack drive forward. The way I'm used to is 3 warnings then a minus point but it might be different so keep forcing them to back up. They either have to step out or are forced to move off centre in which case roundhouse them. Roundhouses are also effective to get them back in a straight line. If they deviate either side just roundhouse to force them back onto that central line. - Same sort of minus point rule goes for loss of balance. There are severals to get this to happen. Push side kicks work (as long as they don't look like your trying to push ), push back kicks etc. They either push them out of the ring or they lose their balance. Another way is to catch the leg without actually "catching" it. Say for instance they do a high roundhouse. Now I'm a lot taller than most I compete against so you let them hit you but catch the kick one your shoulder. Usually points only score if they are clean and executed properly (this means no loss of balance and the leg is retrieved). Also you can follow it through with punches. If they don't go down. - Might not be totally fair play but what works is playing mind games with your opponent. If you hear someone on another ring fall or someone cheers or shouts something you can flicker your eyes to where they are and your opponent might look also letting you attack while they are distracted. However this does not work on people who are very focused so its up to you to decide whether its safe. Another eye thing to do is flicker your eyes to look at their torso (presuming you are looking at their head to start with) and then attack to the head. Most people will take it as though you are about to attack their mid section and so will be prepared to guard there. - Probably wont be able to do this in 30 secs but pick one technique that your opponent uses and react the same way 3 or 4 times they do it. Like if they roundhouse with their right leg, step around and counter with a punch. Then once they've "wised up" to this counter, change it so that it looks as though you are doing the same thing but secretly you are doing a reverse hook kick or something. - If you get penalized for excessive contact you can play it up when they hit you. So if they punch you to the head just let you head go back as if it was a hard punch. Some people might not agree with this one though and you have to be really good with the timing. Also if they do catch you a little bit too hard, take a moment to regain your breath. - If you want to buy a couple of seconds rest, signal time out to the ref and re-ajust your equipment, belt etc. Spend as long as you can doing it(within reason) to let you get your breath back. I would advise against doing this a maximum of more than twice (never twice in the same round/match). Of course you wont be able to pull any of these off if you can't do the techniques well already. Good luck.

This is only true to a point. The only thing that will be mentioned in Korean (or Japanese, in Zanshin's case) are the techniques, and whatever other nuances are spoken in the native tongue of the style. Therefore, if you want any clarification, or anything else explained to you "in depth," you are going to be screwed unless you have a translator, or they speak your language. That is why I don't buy into the whole "language of the style" stuff. On one's I've been to before they translated what they needed to do. Most explaination was done through actions like showing us the "right" way and then wrong ways or getting volunteers up who were corrected in front of the group. The best one I've been to was GM Choi Jung Hwa who actually went round the lines of some 200 people and adjusted where appropriate (he does spent fluent English though).

I though you might, seeing as your the resident book man. Still, if Existence_is_suffering wanted to know more or whatever.

Most cheap lighters are made of flimsy plastic and would smash easily if you hit someone properly. You risk setting your own hand alight and getting cut by the plastic.

To emphasise my earlier point (several pages back), I will be attending a seminar this weekend where its open to all countries to attend. The seminar will be conducted entirely in Korean because not everyone speaks English but everyone should know the Korean. The attending masters will be Korean too and its just out of courtesy that we learn from them in their own language.

Knife/sword crime is definately a serious problem in the UK. There's always stuff on the news. I'm leaning towards in favour of the ban but I think there needs to be some sort of reasonable provision for martial artists/collectors. Perhaps they could bring in something similar to the shotgun licenses (don't know if normal gun licenses work the same). Once the police have done background checks and checked you have appropriate storage facilities (a safe), the license allows you to purchase a shotgun from any dealer and to carry the gun with you when necessary for sport or hunting reasons etc. But then again one of the points made in the article: It will be a tough one to decide but if the government want to introduce a ban in then licensing will probably be the way to go to allow martial artists and collectors to buy the swords. On the other hand do samurai swords actually account for that much of knife/sword crime? When they held that armistice last year I remember most of the knives looking like some weird and (not so) wonderful contraption from a film or just standard kitchen knives. There weren't too many actually swords either.

You might want to look at: http://www.itf-information.com/information18.htm http://www.itf-information.com/information19.htm Both are extracts from Gen. Choi's Encyclopedia and only give his view on the philosophical aspects however I think you might find them useful for an overview.

I noticed that the tops were V-neck style. You might double check to make sure that V-neck is ok to wear. From what I know, TKD is the only style that wears a V-neck.Actually the last 3 items are karate style gis that come in green. 3 types of green too

Congrats!