DWx

Good points Wado Heretic. Rule changes have dictated trends in technique usage as most are training under competition rules. Though saying that, ITF TKD rules allow for "controlled" ridgehands but not many people care to use them.

Welcome to the forums NofearTKDCAT. What's your background in martial arts? Though I'm ITF TKD too, I'm a little bit too far away to train hope you find someone to get together with.

What we now know as Tae Kwon Do was originally called Tang Soo Do, only Hwang Kee kept the original name for his style. The short version of it: After the Korean occupation 5 schools arose: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwan Song Moo Kwan Chung Do Kwan Moo Duk Kwan Chang Moo Kwan Jidokwan Each teaching their own brand of martial arts which they'd learnt in Japan or China. As most were teaching a form of Shotokan or Shudokan, they simply called their arts Tang Soo Do or Kong Soo Do as these are the Korean pronunciations of Karate-Do. In the 1960's, I forget the actual date, they were encouraged to work together and unify under a single name hence they all came together under the banner "Tae Kwon Do" in 1965. Moo Duk Kwan kept the Tang Soo Do name and continued to develop on its own. The Oh Do Kwan which was born out the Chung Do Kwan eventually left and has become what we now know as ITF Taekwon-Do. The rest of the groups formed the WTF. Slightly longer version: http://www.taekwondo-guide.com/Taekwondo-History.html So yes they are different styles now but once upon a time all went by the "Karate-Do" name.

I was thinking of something like these: http://www.blackbeltshop.com/adidas_low_cut_white_sneaker.htm Casual street wear, but still with enough flex for kicking............. These type are pretty common in TKD and I have a pair for casual use too. Flex pretty well and are comfortable for training in. The only thing is, for beginner students they're not great as you don't learn to grip the floor with your feet. IMHO better to begin in barefoot then choose shoes if you wish at a later date. Though from a realistic perspective, whabout boots like Krav Maga or similar arts use.

They are different arts now but pre-1950's the 5 original Kwans (which included the Moo Duk Kwan) were using varying names for their styles. "Tang Soo Do" was used by many to describe their style as it is the Korean pronunciation of "Karate-do" (China hand, 唐手道) along with the term "Kong Soo Do" (Karate-do written as "empty hand", 空手道). It wasn't until they were encouraged to pick a new Korean name as part of a government strategy to restore Korea's national identity, that the Kwans adopted "Tae Kwon Do". They came together to form the Korean Tae Soo Do Association (KTA) though the name was then changed to Korean Tae Kwon Do Association in 1965. Hwang Kee and the Moo Duk Kwan decided not to adopt the Tae Kwon Do name and to continue using the name Tang Soo Do and this name also stuck with many individual instructors; Jhoon Rhee for example used the name "Tang Soo Do" when he first started teaching in the US

I was just about to suggest a small square of velcro or maybe a press stud at the top.

Congratulations on the extra responsibilities mazzybear. Your instructor must already have faith in you to have offered you the role. It will be a great way to get your feet wet teaching others and will really help cement your knowledge in time for your Shodan grading. They always say that when you can explain something to someone else, you can say you understand it.

Sorry I'm late! Congratulations on the milestone Bob!

We wear full doboks (gi) to every class with the exception of our fitness and sparring class. Then adults wear dobok trousers and a t-shirt just because the class is a more informal workout and sparring session. It gets pretty hot and wouldn't be great in full dobok top. Adults can wear whatever top they like but kids are encouraged to wear a TKD club or other shirt or plain white if they can.

Honestly Bob, why does it bother you what someone else does? It shouldn't have any impact on your day-to-day training or teaching. I can see what they're trying to do. And can see a benefit from it. Collating and cataloguing all those certifications in one place makes it easy for a prospective student to check out people's lineage. (Though JR 137 's earlier point about data collection for marketing is also true). It's useful if you want to join or people are searching for you on there, but its also no big deal if your not on there either. As I said above, it doesn't change what you train or teach. Ps can someone point out where it says JKA or Okinawan only? As the registration form lets you put in anything.

I know what you mean - I think it is what people find interesting in their own mind and personal development. I realize it happens and what's interesting for me might not be interesting for others and vice versa but good editing should still filter out well written from poorly written articles.

Congratulations Titanium

Could always consider it scenario training its quite common for people to get into altercations after alcohol

The other important thing to remember is that the individuals who play up to this stereotype in professional MMA aren't just fighters. They're entertainers too and the showboating and bravado is sometimes necessary for them to create a personality they can market. Look at someone like Connor McGregor, they arrogance he portrays is part of his image and brand. We just notice it more because the spotlight is on them. As to the discussion on self defense, I'd put money on an MMA fighter fairing better than an average "traditional" martial artist. Those guys are mostly live drilling and sparring every training session whereas most TMA won't be.

The two I used to read (semi-)regularly were Martial Arts Illustrated and a UK magazine called Taekwondo and Korean Martial Arts Magazine but I think that ended up becoming part of Combat Magazine. Also for a short while I was regularly reading an online one Totally TKD however it switched to paid subscription and I didn't find the articles worth paying that much for when there is plenty of high quality content available free. Problem I see with most of these magazines nowadays is that the content can be a bit hit amd miss. You get the occasional thought provoking article but most of it is just fluff sent in by some random Joe.

Does anyone here subscribe or regularly read any martial arts based magazines? Blackbelt Mag is probably the most well known but what else do you guys recommend?

Ouch! Your dentist must love you. Not even for class sparring? Besides teeth, mouthguards prevent and reduce the risk of concussion so I always wear mine.

I cannot recommend the Opro custom guards enough. I got one of the Pro-Impact ones after years of using different dentist made ones and the fit of the Opro is even better and unobtrusive than the ones the dentist made for me. Had absolutely no issues with breathing either. http://mouthguards.opro.com/custom-home

Congrats neoravencroft How do you find training in 2 different styles at the same time to be?

Happy Birthday John, hope you have a nice day

That's a great post Bob. My instructor recently started offering them and to be honest I wasn't on-board with it really as it didn't sit right with me. The idea behind doing them is to use it as an introduction to Martial Arts and get kids through the door. We already have self defense and fitness taster courses for adults so it's good to have an avenue for kids to get involved too. Not sure if they've actually had any takers on the offer yet though. I do like your point about it social thing too with your extended MA family.

Minimums?!?! Godan, but nothing lower than Sandan!! One that's NOT a beginner of said MA!! Knowledge is everything, and a beginner lacks a lot of that knowledge; while a Sandan, and for surely a Godan, meets the minimums in spades!! Do we then not go back to the age old question of what is a rank really worth? A Blackbelt in one style may have a vastly different level of requirement than a Blackbelt in other styles. Sandan or Godan only means something when compared to other students within the same style. And in the same vein as "not all Blackbelts can teach", not all Godans can run a school. Besides which, I would honestly see a BJJ blue as having a similar amount of knowledge and mat time as a Shodan in a lot of other systems. I would class it as a beginner rank but in the same way 1st dan is a beginner. Nevermind that it is the 2nd rank in the system, Blackbelt was the original 2nd rank in Judo. I also think it's important to remember Cottrell is teaching a tightly controlled curriculum and still has to have his students graded at Gracie headquarters or by a Gracie certified blackbelt. Quality control measures are in place which cannot be said for a lot of schools nowadays.

It's just a name. Valve is the parent company (like Microsoft), and Steam is the product (like Xbox). Like liger said, probably just a theme on the names.

thanks for the well wishes guys

I think a lot of people don't know how to do proper push ups either. This video is a bit of an eyeopener for getting the most out of push ups: