Chuilli, Kyo Sah Nim

well i oddly i agree with little pieces of everyone. i do not agree with giving a ten year old a black belt simply because the thought is ridiculous. but as you get into the teenage years i do thoroughly understand that some teens mature very very quickly and some are as intelligent and as capable as some adults i know, but i use the word SOME lightly. so yes around 15 ish 16ish some are capable of becoming a full fledge black belt but others are not and thats where jr. black belts come in. being a junior black belt for me means, by no means are you an instructor, you have seniority over all colored belts, you do not have any seniority over senior belts and those older than you, and that we expect you to retest for senior black belt when eligible/required. i mean this argument can be seen by many sides because some kids just aren't kids haha they just seem to skip that stage and are very advanced and independant overall in life. but there are others that just baffle me. and like many others have said, i as well show everyone, respect. because indeed it is reciprocal. and unfortunately aforementioned the 'mcdojo' phenomenon has also brought a new meaning to 'ranks' but that is truly another thread. haha

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

yes like most of you guys out there we have attendance sheets as well filled in by the instructor and the instructor only. this way we can keep track of who quits and who is eligible because attendance is a crucial piece of your testing eligibility.

yea, they're alittle rediculous, chest protectors drive me nuts. we have to wear one to our next kempo tournament...every age bracket too, black or under black so we are all wearing childrens, small, thin ones to make a statement, cuz if you are a black belt and you get sidekicked hard enough square in the chest to kill you, my theory is, you deserved it. haha

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

well i dont want to be the stickler but it is disrespectful to wash belts, and not traditional and stuff

You're entitled to your own opinion so fair enough.

Personally I'd feel it was more disrespectful turning up with my belt stinking of last weeks sweat and covered in God knows what from the gym floor. Having said that though, I don't wash my belt every time I train. I just make sure its clean by lightly sponging it down. It only ever really gets washed if it happens to get covered in blood or something (usually mine ).

As for washing them being not traditional I think that it is important to remember that hygiene has only been really valued in the last century or so. Even in the 18th century most people believed that infections weren't a result of dirt but other things such as the miasma. I'd prefer to turn up to training with a clean dobok and belt even though the old masters of centuries ago didn't.

well i have had this same belt for many years and it doesnt stink at all, maybe you should consider a thicker do bahk??? but i am a TMA person so, as that i chose to carry on those traditions when applicable, so my do bahk is always cleaned and pressed and presentable to the hilt, but as for belts i try to stay away from washing them becuase the school frowns upon it, and long ago a dirty beat up belt was a way of telling rank.

good luck

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

well, that is all very true but, the majority of your traditional materials are taken from other art forms which is fine, many styles do that...

Which materials are taken from other styles? Which styles are they taken from? I think that this can be said about many Japanese and Korean styles, if you feel that the root of the Martial Arts in Asia is due to the influence of Boddiharma, coming from India to China and teaching the monks (I am not saying that I do believe that...I am just throwing it out there). The same could be said of Tang Soo Do.

yes the same can be said of every art, because as above, we all come from the originals who started the different forms of 'karates' at the amazing shaolin temple.

...its considered 'modernized' because you dont have the theory and philosophy behind some of the materials you(tkd) borrowed. and that is actually the only reason other styles and martial artists rank on tkd. that and because its 'sport' application.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

What theory and philosophy are you discussing here? The tenets of the Hwarang Do are prevalent in many of the TKD schools that I have been a part of.

well, im not talking about text book theory, im talking about what people call the 'secrets' of certain styles, and im not saying tkd is less of tkd because of it, its just dissappointing you're missing out. im talking about hidden theories, the true bunkai theory in the forms, and everything that some of the black belts that started creating tkd didnt get to take with them.

Would you be willing to share some of the traditions and philosophies that Tang Soo Do carry? I am sure that there are some differences, but that is to be expected when comparing any number of art forms.

oh yes there is bound to be differences everywhere, and i would be willing to share with any tang soo do practitioner who is willing to learn. just like me and my disappointing bukai situation i was talking about on the other thread, you have to ask the right questions. which is why, if you are just there to learn what is given to you, thats all you will learn, but the people that dig and prod for information like you and i, are the people that truly get the point of what we are doing, and why we are waiting so long to gain rank, because now is the most confusing time of a black belts life.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

well, that is all very true but, the majority of your traditional materials are taken from other art forms which is fine, many styles do that but, unfortunately for tkd people, its considered 'modernized' because you dont have the theory and philosophy behind some of the materials you(tkd) borrowed. and that is actually the only reason other styles and martial artists rank on tkd. that and because its 'sport' application.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

TSD is also borrowed from other martial arts. The history of 1000s of years old tradition is also marketing promoted by Korean nationals after the Japanese occupation. There is no evidence that Hwang Kee was a taekyyon master. He learned a little kung fu while in manchuria (Hence Moo Duk Kwan teaching Sorim Jang Kwon and Tae Kuk Kwan forms). Hwang Kee originally taught forms from Karate Books he found at a manchurian railroad. According to some scholars, he added these forms because his original Hwa Soo Do was not successful. Many more were familliar with Tang Soo Do (the korean pronounciation of Karate). Later, the Moo Duk Kwan released Hwa Sun, Yuk Ro, and Chil Sun forms as a "modern" interpretation of a Korean war manual. However if you look at the training of Tang Soo Do schools, they almost match 100% with Japanese styles like shotokan.

well yes that is to be expected, and we as tang so do-ists are derividive of the tang method of kung fu, and soo bahk do which was hwang kee's original style he founded, but later changed to tang soo do becuse soo bahk do wasnt as popular. and yes the chil sung forms are fairly modern. we are very similar to japanese styles because in all honesty we all came from the same place...it all started at the shaolin temple, every art. there are similarities that would freak you out they are so similar in arts that you would think to be complete opposites. so all in all we have all stolen from each other, but once we did, we made it our own, thats why tang soo do is known as a 'hard' style. but tkd on the other hand is sport karate.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

yea that would be great, i love bunkai, it makes me think!

No, we do not have required Ho Sin Sul for any gup ranks, but we do practice with them often. as the instructors we have been doing ho sin sul for years so sometimes to break away from the norm of forms and one steps needed to qualify for the next rank, we'll break the monotany with some ho sin sul.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

yes we have ho sin sul requirements for black belts, we teach the basics but they are not required. but as far as black belts go, first is hand to hand, second is knife, and third is sword and lastly fourth is seated. we might be adding gun too as the times change.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

actually, i have been doing kempo for a while and heard and learned about bunkai, and asked my instructors if we had the same thing, and we do, but we do not teach it, i dont know why. i was very disappointed, so im developing it myself with the help of the masters who know it, and adding it into the classes that i teach.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

well ours is pretty similar to everyone elses, the embroidery is in gold and it has your name in english on one side along with your stripes in gold, then the other side has our studio name 'MacDermott's Tang Soo Do' and thats it.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

i have been in tang soo do for many years, and i love it and feel that i would have no problem handling myself. we are a 'hard' style which can sort of be translated into something like this:

our blocks and anything else we do are so lethal, hard, fast, and strong things like blocks become as devastationg as strikes. not to mention we are a kicking style, we love to do that alot too!

any more questions just ask, i love blabbing about tsd, but again its great! good luck

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

to be perfectly honest, push ups do close to nothing, and same with alot of other physical challenges cuz they dont do the right anyway. but as far as repremanding kids sitting in the coner and facing the wall is the best cuz it embarasses them and that makes them learn cuz it sticks in their mind. but if it was me, i would let them fail, they'll learn their lesson. good luck.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

because iam a black belt iam forced to wear a 'heavy weight masters jacket' from century, its the traditional tsd top with the black trim but when i first got it, it could stand up by itself. so as the weights go up they get, thicker, heavier, and starchier. but i personally like anything from tiger claw, i have been in the arts for almost a decade and they are the best pants i have ever worn in my life. but as for tops a nice medium weight will be nice after a few wears and washes. good luck.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

well i dont want to be the stickler but it is disrespectful to wash belts, and not traditional and stuff, but by all means go ahead it will definately soften it. but i had a stiff one, and the way to fix it is wear and tear, just wearing it constantly and also get a size bigger, that way it hangs down to the top of your knees and flows and moves, and also just messing around with it, rolling it, and i heard ironing it helps, i have never done it so i cant account for any bad things that could happen but good luck.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

anywhere between 3 1/2 and 6 years is the norm for most studios. it definately depends on the studio and person though.

haha well its not so much a joke but a parent of a new kid came in one day to get a uniform... and she goes..."uhm where can i get one of those costumes???"(pointing to my do bahk)

i did all i could not to kill her hahah

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

well, that is all very true but, the majority of your traditional materials are taken from other art forms which is fine, many styles do that but, unfortunately for tkd people, its considered 'modernized' because you dont have the theory and philosophy behind some of the materials you(tkd) borrowed. and that is actually the only reason other styles and martial artists rank on tkd. that and because its 'sport' application.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

sorry let me specify more, its usually 2-3 weeks until our students get the results and the belts/certificates at the same time. but thats just our school, but thats usually how they do it, only because it takes that long to get certificates done, notify all the instructors and order the right size belts in a bulk amount. good luck, im sure you did fine.

in tang soo,

k.chuilli

2-3 weeks

its pretty basic but we just take rubber throwing stars, put the kids against a wall and whoever gets hit is out, and whoever is last wins. simple. painless. kids love it though, dont know why.

in tang soo,

K.Chuilli

My classes are also very strict and very traditional. but i mean we are are a 'hard' style of karate so that explains itself, in alot of the fights we get in we dont even have to strike, our blocks are suppose to be as devastating as a strike. and clearly we kick over any ones head, not saying thats a good thing, but its good for fakes and what not, but i love it, i wish everyone could get into tang soo do. anything you wanna know just message me!

in tang soo,

K.Chuilli

well i know this is rather late, but i do know it is rumored that they were at one time one form, all the way through. and now alot of tang soo do schools use these forms with the sais, idk know why this one but most likely because its many many blocks. they are suppose to be performed at one solid height, and on the ready stance there is only suppose to be one hand visible. now i could get more historical info, but idk if its too late so let me know. good luck!

 

in tang soo,

 

K.Chuilli

well just as a general comment, tang soo do is more of a traditional martial art having its roots thoroughly in korea, while tae kwon do is a modern art founded in the 1950s, i wanna say 1955, and its a sport spinoff of tsd, except like i said, its sport karate, not an art, and they also took form some other places, so no we are not as 'shotokan-ey' (excuse me for making my own words) as tae kwon do, they are much more modernized, they are just associated with us[tsd] because they take from alot of our traditional stuff.

 

in tang soo,

 

K.Chuilli

well iam known for my kicks plain just because they've always been one of the better things in my arsenal. but i just kinda always loved kicks and naturally did them well. but things i did to enhance where kicking with ankle weights on, it kills but your kicks will FLY and be very strong. another thing is, work your way up to a split little by little each day.

 

and as for a kicking combo, i dont use a combo but its a fake that works every time. so every instructor teaches students how to load a hook kick as a side kick so, skip the load, and go like you're throwing a round kick, let it miss, and hook it back. sounds so elementary but try it, imagine it, even if they duck, it will still hit. good luck!

 

in tang soo,

 

K.Chuilli