YoungMan

Why would an ATA Instructor care about a chuan fa seminar?

I disagree. A MMA fighter will learn enough surface technique to get by in a ring, in the same way that a sport TKD fighter learns enough technique to win a match. Think about it: How many techniques do they really do? I agree with Tengu: there simply ae not enough hours in the day to study more than one martial art in depth, unless that's all you plan to do. For the rest of us, work, family, and personal time cut into whatever other training we might wish to do. By personal time, I mean time to ourselves spent not doing martial arts. You need that too. If you are truly dedicated to a martial art, that in itself will take up much of your time. That's one reason why I'm very suspicious of so-called masters of 10 different styles. It would not be humanly possible to put the time and dedication to master 10 arts unless you plan to live 300 years. Only in the the movies. Not to say other styles don't have things to offer advanced students. I do think if you are a novice of one art, you have enough to worry about.

One of my wife's running friends is going to DVR it for me. I'm looking forward to seeing how Jason Chamber's MMA background stacks up against a Korean free fighter. Jason might be fighting for personal pride, but the Korean guy is most likely fighting for Korean pride and thus has more to prove.

If they are going to Korea, they most likely will get the Kukkiwon version of Tae Kwon Do history. Although in fairness, the Kukkiwon has been more honest in recent years about the history of Tae Kwon Do, referencing the Japanese occupation of Korea and acknowleging the influence of karate and kung fu on post-war Korean arts. But it will most likely focus on modern Tae Kwon Do, which bears little to no resemblance to Japanese karate, and could legitimately be called a reemergence of the traditional Korean style of fighting.

Three rules I like to live by regarding street fights: 1. Do not feel you have anything to prove. Having a chip on your shoulder is a fast route to injury or worse. 2. If you survive a streetfight, you won. 3. Eventually you will meet someone who is better than you.

If I had a potential student tell me that he studied karate as well, I would most cerainly tell him to pick one. It's not as if I have anything against karate-I don't. But I also believe in loyalty and concentrating your energy in one direction. Not to mention karate has its own culture, beliefs, way of doing technique etc. that can directly contradict styles like Tae Kwon Do. I'm also not saying that TKD is better. I believe it's better to focus on one art and understand that before you branch out. And learning one art for 1-2 years does not qualify you to do that by the way. Another problem we Americans have: a buffet martial art mentality. Learn several arts at once to be "well rounded".

As I don't consider wrestling a martial art in the same sense as Tae Kwon Do, I wouldn't really have a problem with it.

Everybody has their personal favorites that they'd love to see them do. It's really been informative seeing these different styles in action, and noting the differences and similarities. Much better than that XMA show Discovery Channel showed awhile back. This is the real thing. When they go to Korea, I would like to see if they do a segment on TKD's early days and the fact that it was used by the police and military before it became known for fre fighting.

In traditional Tae Kwon Do, we believe all power comes from the Dan Jeon, located about 2" below the navel. The stances aid in stability and balance and driving the power forward, but power comes from the Dan Jeon. This is regardless of the technique being used.

Most likely it will be Jason Chambers fighting, since his size is closer to the Koreans' size. Not only will he not be allowed to use hand techniques to the head (which I'm sure he's used to doing), he'll have to get ready for high roundhouse kicks, as well as standing/jumping back side kicks and spinning heel kicks and axe kicks-all done at about 100 mph. Not to mention wearing armor and headgear. That should be great viewing right there! The training segments and history should be interesting as well. Hopefully it will open peoples' eyes as to how effective Tae Kwon Do really is.

If a student of mine, especially a color belt or junior black belt, wanted to cross train, I would expect them to ask me. I don't own them but it goes back to the Instructor-student relationship. if you don't practice a traditional art, or you consider your Instructor as nothing more than a service provider, you might not understand. I would most likely not want a color belt to cross train. I would take a black belt's request case by case. If I say no, and they do anyway, it implies a lack of respect and I very well might tell them to train elsewhere. I could just as easily bring in guest Instructors who could show them various helpful techniques outside the art. That's what our Instructor did. He brought in karate, judo, and other Instructors (who he trusted) who showed his students techniques from their arts. Cross training was unnecessary.

Can't wait for the Tae Kwon Do episode. I hope those two think it's going to be like American point fighting. Boy are they going to be in for a surprise! Not to mention seeing how seriously elite Koreans take Tae Kwon Do training. Let's see them try breaking granite or marble slabs.

Many years ago, my Instructor was training in judo at the time he started Tae Kwon Do and wanted to do both. His Instructor had two words of advice: Pick one. If a student of mine wanted to do the same thing, I would have the same advice. Pick one. After you reach Master level you can do whatever you want.

Know what you should have for equipment? Sandbag, kwon go (striking board), mirrors (optional). It's also nice to have a couple of target pads and an airshield. That's it. Anything else is overkill.

Just curious: Does Bill Klase claim 10th Dan in the style he founded?