DWx

That is the set that the ITF uses but there a lot of non-ITF groups who will also study them. This the association? http://www.world-taekwondo.com Seems to be affiliated with the Kukkiwon so WTF? Anyway good luck with your TKD journey Glad you found a good school.

If anyone ever gets the chance, I 100% recommend visiting the Royal Armouries: https://www.royalarmouries.org I went to the Leeds collection a few years ago and the just have so much stuff going from like 2000 years ago right up to the present day. Apparently they also have a collection in Kentucky too.

Well, my dojo has an after-school program with a van to pick those students up from their schools, so I wouldn't say that, in and of itself, is a bad sign. If an instructor is teaching for a living, the youth programs are what keep the doors open and the lights on. What is important is that they teach what they say they teach. I'm more put off by the outlandish claims of teaching secret "tactical systems" and ninjutsu, and by the fact that I didn't see anything on the site about who taught the instructor. After school martial art clubs are not common in the UK, if they exist at all so its probably just my perception of that. I helped run one the autumn term of last year in a primary school. On school premises though so no bus. Was a voluntary programme as we were asked in by the school as part of an effort to get the kids interested in different types of physical activity than what they'd normally encounter. Looking at the website and Facebook page I don't really see anything that would indicate it is quality martial arts instruction. And I agree with tallgeese that the systems he does list don't seem very credible, (especially the Shadow Wolf Clan!). But... the kids look like they're having a blast in the pictures. They don't seem to be doing much in the way of martial arts training but they do look like they're having a lot of fun. So the question really is what does your nephew and your brother want from the club? If it's an activity where he can make friends, keep active and develop confidence, it looks like this school could provide that. But I don't think they'd get credible martial arts training from it.

Jahse is the korean term for stance, much as dachi is the japanese term for stance. From Googling it, seems to be only (Shinson) Hapkido schools which use this term. The normal Korean term used is "sogi". I've never heard the term before myself but the Shinson Hapkido website ps1 linked to explains Jahse as: http://www.shinsonhapkido.org/en/what-is-shinson-hapkido/trainingsformen.html No idea what that means though. Some sort of training for Ki?

Thanks Brian

Best of luck with your recovery

My parents wanted me to do something active so I tried lots of sports as a kid but didn't really like any of them. Also got bullied so they asked if I wanted to try the local Tae Kwon Do school. Fell in love with it and haven't stopped training since.

Good for him Sounds like he's progressing really well.

Welcome

good post. As others have pointed out, it depends on the student and how they learn. If anything, the more a technique is practiced the better the retention. If you wanted an academic source on it, I would search journals relating to sports science, psychology, education etc. Most of the articles I found on learning motor skills and approaches to teaching them were behind a paywall so probably not much help to you.

Congrats

Great answers so far guys, enjoyed reading your posts What prompted me to start this thread was me reflecting on what's happened in my own life over the past 5 years. Aside from 5 being a nice number to pick, I went through big changes 5 years ago and am just about to go through some more now. 5 years ago I was just finishing college (high school to most of you on here) and was getting ready to move 100 miles away to go to university. That meant leaving my current TKD school and finding something else to do with myself. Mentally that was pretty hard for me, not the moving away from home bit, but the fact that I now I wasn't going to be able to train everyday the dojang I practically grew up in. Would have probably been an easier transition had there been a good TKD club at the university or in the city but unfortunately the one they did have wasn't what I was looking for and I found it pretty demoralizing that I wouldn't be getting my regular fix. Physically I was in a good place but I'd never really done extra exercise outside of my TKD sessions or without some sort of instruction so suddenly I was going to have to come up with a of fitness plan and stick to it by myself. Right about the same time I'd also been scouted to start training with the national squad and was at the time the youngest person on senior team (had just turned 18). But since I was now a student and had nowhere to train and no-one to train with I had no idea how I was going to keep at that level. Not to mention the fact that the squad trained roughly 200 miles away from where I'd be. In the end I kinda sacrificed my uni friends and social life and had to commute every weekend to make practice and get the extra training in. 5 years on and I've graduated and am now on the job hunt. I moved back home so get to be back in the dojang Now working on being able to possibly do my next grading some time at the end of the year or if not next year. Once I get a permanent job and get a schedule sorted, I really want to start looking into teaching and having my own class. Although I do the odd bit and help out, I've never really been in a position where I can commit to having a regular class myself so really looking forward start exploring whether this would be possible Funnily enough the other change that's happened to me is that because of various things (mainly politics), the squad is on a bit of a hiatus at the moment. For 5 years the focus of my training has always been on the sports side of things and the vast majority of my time was either training, travelling or competing. Without that focus I'm having to reassess what I am really training for and now I have the time to start looking at other areas within the style. 10 years from now and I can't really say. I'd really hope to be in a position where I'm teaching or coaching. Perhaps even in my own school. If I don't grade within the next few years, hopefully I'd have done it before 10 years have rolled around.

Welcome

The human body can only move in so many ways; there are only so many ways to punch, kick and grab someone. With that in mind: What principles seem to be inherent to all (or at least most) forms of codified combat? So for example, the vast majority of styles emphasize economical movements and encourage relaxation between techniques. Many styles also rely on the hips and core to generate power and utilize mass so all their movements are based on this. Of course there are also going to be systems that go against the grain and don't adhere to any rules we come up with but are there any rules which was can apply across the board? Would be interesting to see if any trends come out of this. Is there an Eastern / Western split in terms of guiding principles? Are there splits between hard and soft styles? Circular and linear styles?

Taking a look at your Martial Arts journey, where were you physically, spiritually, mentally 5 years ago? How have things changed for you and your style over the years? Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now? How about 10 years? 20 years?

Congrats jaypo

Sums it up for me. He doesn't seem to want to hit or hurt her in anyway at the start. The size difference should have made it easy for him to overpower here. But aside from that, it seems to me the guy doesn't understand range or when to kick. From the initial bit where they introduce the fighters, it seems like he is technically proficient to throw sidekicks, hook-kicks etc. but in the fight he doesn't do so effectively at all. The female fighter is bouncing right on the end of his range so it should have been simple enough to just slam a lead leg roundhouse in there and follow up. If you look , and (+ other instances), he can't do a roundhouse without stepping in with the back leg first which is a massive tell to the opponent and she just moves away or into him each time. His rear leg roundhouses also lack speed and power ( ) and his grappling and takedowns are just poor. Apart from that he doesn't really do much. Towards the second half of video when she lands some good punches, he seems to rather than do anything meaningful. Once he got a hold on her, that should have been it for a guy his size.Having said that though, the female fighter hit him in the face a number of times but none of them had an effect other than to make him angry. Bounced around a lot and hit him in the face but had he been a bit more of a competent fighter, I don't think she would have gotten away so easily. Not to put him down or anything but he seems like an inexperienced fighter all round. What's the premise to these videos? I wonder what rules (if any) there were fighting under? They have loads more of these VS fights on their website but from the handful I watched, the fighters they are using are mediocre and don't represent their respective styles that well: http://www.fight-club.biz/real_fights.php

I'd agree with that. Also I think in a way it'd be a poor investment of your time. You'd end up having to constantly correct all the subtle differences back and forth and your progress in either style would be hindered because you'd confuse yourself. Probably ok if you wanted to create a hybrid style for yourself but even then, how many alternative ways do you need to kick and punch? IMHO better to invest that time into something that offers a different focus, like a grappling art, to cover the gaps in your current training. I agree with some of this, but it is like this: I'm taking two styles at the same time. The first couple of weeks, I had some issues with the differences in the basics. It quickly got to the point where now I can switch back and forth between styles seamlessly. It just takes a lot of focus. One thing to remember is "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Don't bring the chamber to the inside like in one style when your instructor wants you to bring it up to the outside. I did that once and got yelled at. Never did it again, though. I can see what you're saying. I tried to train in a 2nd type of TKD whilst at university; was very closely linked to my core style but different enough. I found it a nightmare. Certain techniques and movements I'd had ingrained in me were now "wrong" and it took a lot of conscious effort not to shift my weight in a certain way or to move how I'd previously moved. Then when I went to my original dojang I now had a ton of bad habits. My main point was is it really worth the effort? To quote Bruce Lee: "I fear not the man who has practiced a 1000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick a 1000 times". Would that time you spend undoing and then learning a new variant on the roundhouse with only minor differences be all that beneficial when you already have a good and functioning roundhouse which you could be improving? I guess it depends on why you are cross-training but for most people it's usually to fill a gap in their training or to become more rounded. Picking up a style so close to what you're already training doesn't give you IMHO a good return on your time.

I'd agree with that. Also I think in a way it'd be a poor investment of your time. You'd end up having to constantly correct all the subtle differences back and forth and your progress in either style would be hindered because you'd confuse yourself. Probably ok if you wanted to create a hybrid style for yourself but even then, how many alternative ways do you need to kick and punch? IMHO better to invest that time into something that offers a different focus, like a grappling art, to cover the gaps in your current training.

Welcome

I always find these questions about martial arts and behaviour difficult because I started training as a child and I grew up in TKD. TKD and martial arts were/are a massive part of my life growing up and TBH I'm not really sure what kind of a person I'd have become, what kind of attitude I would have had, without it. But in answer to your questions: 1. I train TKD (I know you asked about Karate ) to keep fit mainly, but I also love the depth to it and the fact it's something where you're always pushing yourself to do things you couldn't before. And I also love sport and competition side of it. I guess unlike most people, self defense is just an added bonus to me. 2. I think mainly, training has made me learn my limits, both mentally and physically, then to push them and not give up on things. Also a ton of confidence in myself because I know what I can and can't do and I've already put myself in positions far more challenging than I'd face on a normal day-to-day basis. So I think I'm more likely to put myself in uncomfortable situations or positions to achieve things. And in a sense I think the confidence thing also manifests itself in me being calmer than maybe I would have; I don't sweat the small stuff and get stressed out about things.

Welcome jrharbar

Welcome HumanLearnings

It's not the main reason for why I/Hombu no longer charge for any testing cycle fees, but it still is an additional cost that students shouldn't have to bear. Whatever the student pays for tuition, have the percentage of the testing cycle be included into that tuition somehow and someway. How? Have your/an CPA break it down in such a way that you'll be able to wrap your head around it. Testing is an overhead, and this can't be denied. Nonetheless, just treat the testing cycle just like it is; overhead, and overhead is part of any business. If a student pays $100 per month, and the testing cycle happens every 3 months; that student has paid $300 by the time the testing cycle comes about. Of that $300: a small percentage pays for the rent, utilities, amenities, testing materials, misc., and in all of that, profit is still found. Good points and if you can factor in gradings into your tuition fees then your students have a very good deal. I don't mind paying our fees though. It covers a lot and I do think I get value for money The other argument I think is that if you've paid monies towards a testing fee, it can make you try even harder otherwise it's money wasted.

I did it. Let us know the results I think your results might end up being a bit superficial though. Stuff like pricing is so subjective. Belt test prices especially. I'd pay much more for a full day's testing, belt included in fee, panel of examiners, breaking material included etc. than I would for a 30 min test and piece of electrical tape.