DWx

It does depend on the individual school as to how they decide when somebody is ready for promotion and whether something counts. In my school we have a minimum number of dojang hours you have to do between each promotion but meeting that criteria doesn't equal promotion. For us, national training also did not count as it is not a lesson as such but training. Whilst you do learn some stuff and the caliber of those you are training with is higher, training at that sort of venue is more about tournament training that martial arts in general. So you're spending time learning tactics not techniques. From personal experience, I know you're keen for your son to advance quickly and get good, but don't try to force too much too soon otherwise he'll burn out. You mentioned you wanted to get him on the touring circuit? There is no need to rush that at all as he's only 12 and you'd be better off getting him really good before jumping into it as it is very expensive and time consuming. I presume it's the sparring he'd be competing in? Don't worry too much about who he's sparring in class as you'd probably get more out of him by working more on pad drills and footwork drills. Then when he's sparring in class, if the students are of lesser ability, tell him he should be doing things like working his bad side only or that he must land a certain combo over the bout or he can only use footwork and evasion as a defense.

With respect Harkon72, brickshooter's right, we use the axe kick in TKD all the time and are taught to control the kick right from the beginning so it's fairly safe. Reducing the speed lessens the power but we're also (at least in my dojang) taught to control the drop and be able to stop it if needs be. Comes with building up leg strength and being able to read where your opponent will be before you start to drive your leg down. Although I do use the calf too, my preferred safer version of an axe kick is with the flat of the foot and I just control the drop resulting in more of a slap than full blown kick. Safe enough and I've never injured anyone with it. I've experienced and seen far more injuries resulting from punches or simple rondhouses/sidekicks than axe kicks.

It's odd that no-one has picked you up on that before but at least you know now In my style things often get changed and corrected as different masters decide that we're going to do something a particular way from now on. I just try to make a mental note of what I need to change before I start my form and then consciously force myself to do it the correct way when I come to that bit. It may not be completely seamless to start with but eventually you'll ingrain it and it'll become natural.

Ditto sensei8's advice. Martial arts will kickstart you off if you've been totally sedentary and will give you a base level of fitness but you can supplement your training with other activities too. Even simple things like taking the stairs everytime instead of the lift or walking/biking to work if you can will all add up. And of course practice your forms outside of training and any techniques you learn in class. Then if you want you can go as far as adding in running/swimming/lifting/bag work etc.

Welcome kensei

Is there anything wrong with that if it foots the bill for your proper students? Make enough money from it and it can help keep costs down so that your adult students don't have to pay over the top and you can provide the very best equipment and facilities for them. If you were so inclined you could also put the extra monies into some sort of dojo fund to help assist with subsidizing travel and other expenditures for when students want to attend tournaments or seminars and courses. Or it could even be set aside for purchasing equipment for students who might not be able to completely cover the costs themselves. To OP, we have a kids program at our school. I guess it is more martial-gymnastics and they don't do anything like heavy striking which would cause them problems later down the line. Aside from what I've already mentioned, there are benefits in that the kid (and parents) have already become part of the school and get hooked on martial arts from an early age. Then they can feed into the main classes later when they're a bit older. You give them a good foundation for later on with respect to things like motor skills and flexibility and also in terms of discipline and developing the right attitude for training at your school. Kids programs aren't for everyone but it works for some schools. If I were you, I'd go and see how other schools in your style or area run their's.

Welcome steviewaddy82

Welcome

Good to hear he's getting some wins in and that he came back and beat that kid.

This is true. I know my own instructor goes a little crazy when we have new people or visiting students attend class. Sounds like a tough session though! Bit harsh for a beginner but you got through it

Congrats

Echoing what everyone else has said, it's not so much about the style as it is about the right instructor. Pick someone you want to teach your child and something that'll be fun for them to do. TBH at that age they probably won't learn much in the way of proper martial arts but more along the lines of basic motor skills and a good foundation for proper classes later on. Many schools nowadays offer "little ninja" type programs for kids this age so go and observe a few and find an environment you think would be right for your son and sign him up Also FYI, as ninjanurse said, not all TKD schools are competition based; many focus on the traditional side instead. And even with those that do do competitions, there is no obligation to enter them if you don't want him to (although I think competition offers loads of benefits!).

Welcome wonderbhoy1888

It's probably due to a number of reasons. More often than not it's to minimize injuries in training. With some of the techniques you described it's easy to injure the attacker and or the defender so during normal free-sparring you're probably not allowed to do them. But usually people will run sessions where they either get extra safety equipment to wear or reduce down the intensity and speed so these techniques can be practiced safely. It might not be the instructor's choice to limit sparring in this way, can be the conditions of an insurance policy they have. Or the other reason is if you're fighting to tournament or competition rules. A lot of tournaments won't allow these techniques (for safety reasons again) and if you intend to compete in them you have to learn to play by the rules first. And of course, depending on your grade, you may not be allowed to use these techniques in free sparring as they require more skill and control by both of the sparrers.

First of all, sorry to hear that. I wouldn't wish that on anybody. There's others on the forum that'll probably be better equipped to tell you what to do but I would say report it. Better to have it investigated than to have it in the back of your mind that he could be doing it to other children. Is he or the dojo part of a larger organisation? Most of them nowadays have welfare officers or child protection officers who are in charge of investigating this stuff and preventing it from happening. If they are a professional organisation they should take an allegation seriously and look into it. From your past posts it sounds like a terrible school and terrible environment to train in.

What kind of Karate are you after too as that'll help narrow your search down a bit. Do a Google search but I'd also go onto association websites as they usually have somewhere listing schools and contact info.

^ I thought you said in your OP that yondan was honesty? Out of curiosity, what do the meanings mean? Are you supposed to exemplify those things when you're at the rank or are they something else? We have the colour belts all mean something in TKD but they're supposed to be an analogy to how your skills should be developing e.g. yellow belt = foundation

Welcome Tempest

Welcome back

Welcome Ryukyu_lover

Interesting question and some great posts. As has been said already, suicide for the samurai was something different because of the culture and code the adhered to. I can't really imagine it happening all that often nowadays. WRT sucide in general (where the person doesn't commit it due to a terminal or severely debilitating illness) I wouldn't want to comment on whether it is cowardice or not. I think it's easy to condemn those that might turn to suicide but to think about it and go through with it, the person must be in such a dark place that death does seem to be the only relief from the pain or only way to atone for what they've done. I think it's easy to talk about the pain and suffering they cause to those they leave behind but I can't imagine what kind of suffering a person must be experiencing to give all that up and end their life. Also with seppuku, it wasn't just for atonement or as a way to restore honour after disgrace. It was also sometimes committed when the samurai didn't want to fall into enemy hands. In that respect it isn't all that far away from Western soldiers or spies committing suicide rather suffering at the hands of the enemy and compromising their allies. Somewhat related, in my style of TKD, the forms we practice are named after someone or something from Korean culture that embodies . I always found it fascinating that Gyebaek (who was a general in the Silla dynasty) killed his wife and child so that they wouldn't fall into the hands of his enemies and so that he wouldn't be distracted by them during his final battle.

I'd consider myself friends with my seniors in the dojang and consider the people I train with to be my extended family. I don't think there's anything wrong with being friends with people outside the dojo after all, they're probably people you get along with otherwise you you wouldn't train with them. However if your style/dojo demands that the hierarchy be respected and that inside the dojo there are protocols and rituals relating to rank which are to be observed, then inside the dojo you should observe them. But as my parents told me, never mix friends with business; even though I'm friends with my instructor, I don't ask for special favours or treatment when it comes down to training.

Sounds painful! Get well soon. Have you seen a doc yet? Maybe they could recommend some physio and prescribe painkillers too?

Thanks for getting his analysis up. Informative read and certainly explains more. TBH I read the paper as suggesting that the ability to make a fist was an added advantage to shape that developed and not a primary cause for it's development which seems to be in agreement with your friend. At any rate, it is interesting to think that formation of a fist is almost universal across martial arts styles.

Welcome Konjuki