DWx

Thanks for the help just gotta practice now

I suppose it depends how you do it. I've seen examples where people have over-exaggerated it way to much, they just bob up and down constantly. However, I have seen other people perform using sine wave and it look completely natural. thats a nice one that does use sine wave this one exaggerates it a little more but its still ok I guess.

Will try this tonight. Thanks for actually telling me the stages where my legs need to be. So far everyone at ttraining has told me where I start and where I finish but not the inbetween bits. I have also been told to lean towards the twisting kick when in the air if I can't get my hips to rotate fully to do the twisting part. Does you know if this works or at what angle does everyone keep their torso?

That's a nice strong pattern.

I might record mine, then (with a quick bit of editing to make it look like I've jumped really high ) I might post it on youtube. Yeah it is a nice pattern.... to watch. Absolute killer on the legs thoug if you've done a full fitness session before....

The Lion King is a total disney classic (all the spin-offs totally wrecked it though ) If not, The Beauty and the Best or Toy Story 2. Disney songs are the best...

Sometimes our school does (but not me because I'm camera shy). This isn't anyone I know but its one of the best examples I can find on youtube (it keeps coming up with documentarys on the history and ideals behind Korean Juche): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJCUEDPbHaA&feature=PlayList&p=E2B05FE834CD0993&index=5

Hmm, gotta think about this.. I think I take two "steps", right leg then left then take off and kick, left leg twisting and the right side kick. You start off in a right L-stance (left leg forward) in Juche.

Our school did taster sessions at a local college. Brought a group of teens to the school who in turn brought their mates along. Also if you are going to set up a website, make sure it is easily accessible. See if a local sports centre or sports group will link it from their own website.

I've been trying to work on my flexibility and height but I think its my angle in the air or something. My hips just don't wanna let me do both kicks at once properly.

GTF is the Global Taekwondo Federation

I'm have a lot of trouble with one move in the ITF pattern Juche, the two-directional kick, (move 37? twimyo sangbang chagi)!!! I can't seem to get both legs to kick simultaneously. Either I manage the side kick half and the twisting kick goes wrong or I do both but the timing is wrong. I'm not the most agile person in the world but I've been training to improve my height when jumping, and can get a good distance off the ground... However the kicking part is really a problem for me and compared to other student's attempts I look rather pathetic. Can anyone help because its embaressing when my legs are waving about in the air and the whole class is watching me mess it up (again)!

Private message the poster of the video on youtube. He will probably tell you where he got it frm.

There will always be at least one person who agrees with you, no matter how weird and twisted your opinions are.

Thinking is essential but you must be thinking the correct things. I've always interpreted the whole "empty your mind" saying as emptying your mind of everything but the situation in hand. You're right to think about your opponent and use your knowledge to beat them. If a fighter cannot adapt then they are poor fighter in my opinion. You can train your body until you are 100% efficient in all of your techniques but I believe that to be able to use these techniques to your full advantage, you must switch your mind on. Going onto the "in a real fight" situation, I always been taught that awareness of your surroundings and opponents is the key to survival. What good is it if you manage to subdue your opponent but then have to look around for an escape. If you had noticed the exit points, no. of people, useful features in your surroundings first then you should have no problem defending yourself if you have the right techniques.

If I'm sparring children who are a lot smaller than me (about elbow level ), I usually just try to practice my techniques as though I was sparring someone my own height and kick above their heads when attacking but block and defend normally. Sparring younger children can also help your own training as they tend to be erratic and rush in with every move they can think of. If you can dodge and counter (making very light contact) you improve as well as demonstrating to the child that they need to be more wary. Don't worry about hitting the girl though. Kids are very resilliant, its all the old geezers you gotta watch out for! I'm sure she's fine and if her parents didn't have a problem then its nothing to worry about. Everytime my lil' sister gets hit she goes into school and shows off all her battle scars...

I'd say presentation is everything. Look confident and the judges will be confident in you. Plus if everyone else sees you calm and collect, they think you're a pro and sometimes get intimidated. When you walk on, stride on like you have the right to be there (but don't give the impression that you're arrogant). Don't shout but speak loudly and clearly enough so that they hear you. Make sure your gi is clean, no creases, belt tied correctly. If you feel the urge to straighten it after your kata, wait until the judges tell you to relax and then turn away and straighten it. After the showing the correct image of yourself, its all down to your own technique. Good luck!!!

what type of tournament is it? is it kumite & kata? point-stop or continuos? and what divisions are you planning to enter?

Often people expect martial artists, particularly blackbelts, to have superhuman powers and insane fighting skills. Most of the time they are ignorant of what MAs really are. Not too sure but I think the law here in the UK allows you to hit back (within reason and causing minimal damage) if you feel very threatened for your's or a child's safety... Not too sure though. Don't worry about the kids coming into class and shouting, they're often total idiots who have nothing better to do. I remember once during an evening class, some kid decide to try and skateboard through the open door of the dojo and straight between the lines who were facing off getting ready to spar. The idiot got his skateboard stuck on the carpet in the lobby and landed on the floor in the middle of the dojo...

I'd say it depends what you want it for. Power training get the bag because you don't want to kick BOB over or injure him. The advantage of BOB though is that you can see the target areas and your leg can move around the head area (say if you were doing a roundhouse followed by hook kick on the same leg). With a bag, it tends to get in the way! The advantage of a bag is that (if its safe to do so) you can get it swinging so that your target isn't stationary. Plus bags tend to be cheaper in my experience.

Maybe their schools just grown in popularity and they have had a lot of interest... I would have to see the blackbelts myself to make a critical response

Well that is a problem then. I'd say its fine to have lots of blackbelts but if they don't meet the standard then the dojo is just a belt factory.

I'd say it depends on the proficiency of the students. If they're ready then why make them wait just because you already have too many. Plus blackbelt is only the begining and why stop someone on their journey when they have only made a few steps?

fake hook kick to one side of the head, but don't extend the leg properly, then let it go past the face and change the direction into a roundhouse kick on the other side of the head.

Do you have to pay a yearly "subscription" type fee to the WTF? I've looked on their website but it only mentions about national assosciation orgs fees and referee registration... The olympics is supposed to be for amateurs rather than proffessionals and is supposed to be open to anyone good enough regardless of background. Perhaps the IOC went for WTF for the money reasons as the individual members don't have to pay? I'm really not sure on that though, its just a guess.