KarateEd

I was checking out a school recently and while talking with the instructor he said that they had levels within each black belt rank. For example, one student was a 1st dan black belt, level 3 (he had an "L3" on his belt). I had never heard of this before. Has anyone else heard of this? What is the justification for levels within a single BB rank? It seems to me like just another way to make more money. What are ya'll's thoughts? Ed

Excellent point, YoungMan. I was curious as to why the guy felt he needed to purchase a black belt in the first place. If he trained so much and had outstanding skills, isn't that good enough? Why go buy a black belt unless he was trying, in his mind, to legitimize his training, or so he could tell people that he "was a black belt." Boxers don't utilize a system of color or black belts but that doesn't make them any less effective at their fighting art. Finally, many systems/schools require a black belt candidate to be able to instruct others (and actually do it). If this fellow only trained by himself, he missed out on one of the hallmarks of many systems' black belt requirements. My $0.02 worth, Ed

Good luck! Ed

Lifting weights are great........if you have the time. Using a heavy sword or bar would provide an opportunity to strengthen the muscles while you are training, therefore, one doesn't have to set aside a separate time for weight training or fool with finding/joining a gym. Ed

Congratulations! Ed

Wait, you mean hot chicks don't like Enter the Dragon!?!?

Using my full name I got: God/Goddess type: God Of Mayhem Worshipers: The National Rifle Association They show devotion by: Blowing up followers of other faiths Ed

Ah, dippedappe....not a man to mince words!

So I guess MA schools in NY and Canada just forgo teaching nunchucks at all, seeing as how you can't legally purchase them in order to practice? Ed

I found this on Google video. It is an interesting interview with Bruce Lee from 1971. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1413383646144124621&q=Bruce+Lee The video is about 25 minutes long. Ed

That was pretty cool. One of those ladies was the spittin' image of Charlize Theron! Ed

At least your MA dreams make more sense than mine, which you can read about here http://www.karateforums.com/weird-ma-dreams-vt31675.html. Ed

Nothing out of the ordinary, and usually a few hours before bedtime. Go figure! Ed

Man, I'm glad it wasn't anything too serious! Ed

I have had some weird MA dreams lately. 1) A few nights ago I dreamed that I was putting on the top of my dobolk/gi but it was lined with wool or some similar thick and warm material. I remember thinking "wow, this heavyweight uniform is really going to make me sweat!" 2) Another night I dreamed that I was walking down a hall and happened upon a room where a teacher and student were practicing swordmanship and I jumped right in (with a wooden sword that I apparently had with me) and started practicing with the student. The teacher seemed to immediately accept me as a student. 3) Then, last night, I dreamed that I was doing some suburi training but about 3/4 of my bokken's tsuka was sawed off and I couldn't even get a decent one-hand grip Interpretations welcome! Ed

Reading over the program it looks as though one would really be receiving an "Exercise & Sport Science" degree with an "empahsis" in TKD. The degree itself would be as useful as any other exercise and sports science degree in terms of obtaining employment after graduation (I don't know what the demand is for people with this type of degree). I don't think that students would be doing TKD for 8 hours a day. Only in a few, specific cases, while in college, did I devote that much time, daily, to one subject. All this being said, I think it would be just as useful to get a business or physical education degree and pursue TKD on the side. Ed

That video really cracks me up. I knew the human body had a powerful explosive potential, but not THAT powerful! Ed

Welcome to KF! Ed

Suburi training is usually conducted with a wooden sword with a wide, flat-looking blade that is heavier than a bokken or an actual katana and is used to strengthen the muscles used in the course of wielding a sword. You might want to look into using a suburi-to to strengthen those particular muscles. Ed

I have also learned that the back stance required more weight on the back leg than the front, but also that the front foot points forward (Youn Wha Ryu TKD). This other school that I was trying out also taught the forward pointing foot, but taught a 50/50 weight distribution (ATA TKD). It is interesting the little differences that can arise in even the same type of MA. Ed

Kajukenbopr, Thanks for the links. I will check them out as soon as I get a chance. Ed

Kajukenbopr, I have not heard of either of those fellows, though what you mentioned sounds interesting. Can you direct me to any website(s) that will explain their techniques in some detail? TIA, Ed

Koryo as taught in Youn Wha Ryu TKD does not have a walking stance in it (I guess that would make it the earlier version). The walking stance always looks a bit odd to me. Ed

I've got a question that is sort of "on topic", what is the proper front foot position in left hasso kamae and left waki kamae? TIA, Ed

That's workin' out pretty good for ya'll isn't it? Ed