
YoungMan
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Everything posted by YoungMan
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Tae Kyon's kicking influence
YoungMan replied to bushido_man96's topic in TKD, TSD, Hapkido, and Korean Martial Arts
Unfortunately, as time goes on, we lose many techniques as people forget them or neglect to teach them. I have used and taught several of the techniques from Tae Kyon, most noticably the circular and jumping kicks, that students thought were just the greatest things. However, I tell them I didn't make these up they just aren't being taught the way they are suppose to. And I fear for their future as more people mistake tournament technique as actual Tae Kwon Do. -
My opinion of MMA hasn't changed: I think it's ugly fighting by people who take the techniques of different styles but neglect the art and philosophy. And you're right. It does seem to be very one dimensional. Theoretically, it should encompass the three main styles of fighting-hand technique. kicking, and grappling. In reality, it is an excuse for (mainly) boxers to throw a few kicks and then wrestle on the ground. It really, to me, is boring to watch. Every once in a while you do get a fighter who throws more advanced kicks, or a Cung Le who does a scissor takedown. But 99% of the time, it's just boxing and thren grappling. I don't usually watch it. And watching the way they're conducted, with blood all over the place, it's no wonder most states ban the matches.
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Tae Kyon's kicking influence
YoungMan replied to bushido_man96's topic in TKD, TSD, Hapkido, and Korean Martial Arts
I fully understand, although I am curious how you came about these techniques. Some Tae Kyon kicking strongly resembles the kicking we already do (jumpinh, jump spinning, circular). Many of the people I know do not know or cannot do these techniques. So when I use them, they feel almost helpless because they don't know how to respond. -
There is a difference between showing a few basic techniques to someone as kind of an introduction, and actually organizing a curriculum and teaching a class. To do this, you need to be recognized by your Instructor and his organization as qualified to teach.
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Testing Sparring
YoungMan replied to bushido_man96's topic in TKD, TSD, Hapkido, and Korean Martial Arts
Our sparring matches at testings are controlled sparring, with offensive and defensive footwork. We use WTF sparring rules, with some adjustments depending on the situation. Lower gup students are expected to go slower and show control. Higher students fight black belts and are expected to be able to contact them without causing accidents. If a student cannot contact, he doesn't pass. Additionally, higher belts are expected to showcase higher techniques while still showing good form. -
Me and the guys I used to practice with wore our injuries like badges of honor. Each bruise, cut, broken bone, and unaligned joint had a history and a story that we shared with each other (and non students) if asked.
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Not too far from where I live, there is a Korean gentleman who owns and runs a martial arts supply shop. It is the definition of a family store. He knows, either by name or face, many of the Instructors in the area. He also hand stitches black belts for these Instructors. If you go in there and order a black belt, and he doesn't recognize you, he will most likely ask who you are, what you practice, and who your Instructor is. If you tell him you practice by yourself and want a black belt for your self, as opposed to your Instructor giving you one or you making one for a student, he will most likely refuse to do it. He has bills to pay like everyone else, but he also has a good reputation in the local MA community for his integrity.
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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 In this country, we understand martial arts only inasmuch as we know someone's rank. In other words, one of the first things we ask when we meet someone who studies MA, or claims to study, is "what rank do you hold?" There is nothing wrong with this, because it gives us a frame of reference to something we are still not entirely familiar with. We do not ask this question of boxers or wrestlers because we know they do not use rank. It is based on different culture than Oriental martial arts. Someone could train themselves for a long time. But unless they hold a rank given to them by someone in legitimate recognition of meeting certain criteria, it doesn't mean much. Personally, I'd be VERY suspicious of someone who trained themselves without participating in organized class. Musicians do it all the time. But martial arts is a very physically and mentally demanding activity, and I find it extremely hard to believe that an untrained novice could reach the equivalent of black belt without formal instruction. And thinking that buying a black belt legitimizes his training, to me, is absurd. It not only doesn't legitmize it, it demeans everyone who did put the time and effort in class and went through the sweat and aggravation with classmates.
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Tae Kyon's kicking influence
YoungMan replied to bushido_man96's topic in TKD, TSD, Hapkido, and Korean Martial Arts
If you think about it, Tae Kwon Do today looks more like Tae Kyon than it did 40-50 years ago, as Koreans consciously discarded the Japanese-influenced techniques and re-emphasized classical Korean kicking. Even if some TKD Founder had Tae Kyon instruction, the majority did not. After Japanese rule ended, and Koreans rediscovered their heritage (and this took some time-an entire generation of Koreans grew up Japanese), they rediscovered and incorporated the techniques of Tae Kyon. Tae Kyon may be considered an anachronism in Korea, but it's techniques and spirit live on in Tae Kwon Do. -
Levels within a black belt degree/dan???
YoungMan replied to KarateEd's topic in General Martial Arts Discussion
I've never heard of this. As far as I know, when you make each Dan level that's it. There are no separate levels within each Dan. You either are or you are not. Even getting ready for testing, you are still that Dan rank. -
If you could pick one technique...
YoungMan replied to DWx's topic in General Martial Arts Discussion
Back side kick, followed closely by high roundhouse kick. -
What organization issued Helio Gracie his black belt? If he never claimed to have a black belt, and built his reputation purely on skill, that's one thing. If he claims black belt, but was never issued one through any organization, or gave one to himself, that's quite another. I'm not denying Gracie his skills, merely saying you can't claim black belt if you never received one. Regardless of how great an inventor you are, you can't claim to be a high school or college graduate if you never received a diploma.
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Something my Instructor always told us was "trust your technique". In traditional martial arts, we train to make power, defend ourselves, incapacitate people who want to hurt us, and become better people. By that definition, sparring and forms will only go so far as to indicate how good we are. Sparring is designed to not hurt people, and forms obviously is solo practice. he did not want us going out and testing our technique on other people. His attitude was: train hard, use good concentration, and believe in your technique. Your technique will work, as long as you apply it 100%. You do not have to test it out to realize how strong it is.
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Ever been asked "Show me what you've got?"
YoungMan replied to smckeown's topic in General Martial Arts Discussion
I've been challenged a few times by people who didn't know I practiced martial arts. My first reaction is to walk away. If they persist, my response is "If I show you what I've got, you're going to be in a lot of pain, and I like my job and my freedom." -
The only reason an Instructor should recommend and award a black belt is because he feels they are ready and have put the time and commitment in. Never because he wants someone to share teaching duties with him. Getting black belt is for your benefit, not his. It shows you have a solid grasp of basics, and should never be used to advance the Instructor's agenda (having an assistant). Being an assistant, if you are capable, is a nice side benefit of earning Dan rank, but should never be used to justify Dan rank. Some of our Instructors, I suspect, follow this path-recommending students to black belt in order to have more assistants, and it shows in the immaturity of their technique and lack of solid uinderstanding of basics. The black belt is for your credibility, not his.
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MMA, which takes the techniques of various martial arts, but excludes the philosophy, culture, and tradition, would be the ideal setting, martial arts-wise, for doping. No different than any other sport. I think traditional martial arts, which minimizes the importance of competition and winning, would not breed such thinking.
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I'm not surprised. Martial artists are human like everyone else, and make mistakes. Honestly? I'd be surprised if it were a traditional stylist, since they seem to be more apt to follow the honorable code of the warrior. As it were, a mixed martial artist using performance enhancing drugs doesn't surprise me. Unfortunately.
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Training with girls, breasts in the way.
YoungMan replied to dippedappe's topic in General Martial Arts Discussion
I would think that any woman with an ounce of common sense would realize that taking a martial art entails the risk of getting hit in the breasts, just like guys risk taking a hit to the groin. Any woman who doesn't is foolish. It doesn't mean breast contact is intentional, but a contact activity is going to run the risk of getting you hit there. It's just a fact of martial art life. -
Training with girls, breasts in the way.
YoungMan replied to dippedappe's topic in General Martial Arts Discussion
I have hit women in the chest before. No, it wasn't intentional. It's just part of training. You deal with it and move on. -
I think private lessons are desired by people under the misguided impression that they are special, that they deserve singular training directly under the Instructor. In doing so they miss the big picture-that you need group training to feed off each other. My Instructor has turned down big money for private lessons for exactly that reason.
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How do you know when you got a good instructor
YoungMan replied to xena's topic in Instructors and School Owners
Unfortunately, when some people ask me about a certain Instructor, they want to hear how good he is. I'll be honest. If I think an Instructor is good, I'll say so. If I think an Instructor stinks, I'll say so as well. Don't get mad at me because you asked my opinion and I gave it to you. I've had people get downright snippy (especially online) because they wanted to hear so-and-so was great and I thought he was crap. Unfortunately, not too many TKD Instructors I can recommend. -
How do you know when you got a good instructor
YoungMan replied to xena's topic in Instructors and School Owners
I think Montana raised some very valid points. Every Instructor thinks they do a good job, and every student thinks their instructor is the one. Because to think otherwise would invalidate all the time and effort you put into training. There are some things I would look for: 1. Certification. Under what organization is the Instructor certified? Did he create his own organization and certify himself through that? I know ones who have. To start, a legitimate Instructor should be certified through a respected organization (Kukkiwon, ITF, Jhoon Rhee etc.). Also, the Instrctor should not have any problems with his Instructor. If he does, that's not a good sign. 2. Being in a magazine means nothing. It just means you forked over a coupla grand to get your face in there. 3. How precise in the technique? Even a novice can tell when technique is decent, much like non-musicians can tell good music. Do the students have power? If they kick each other and nobody moves, that's not good. 4. Safety. If the Instructor does not seem to be concerned with safety, and students are using each other as punching bags, go elsewhere. You are not paying to get beaten up. 5. What do other Instructors who do not belong to his organization and are not certified through him have to say about him? That's a two way sword though. Junk Instructors usually hang out with other junk instructors. -
Tang Soo Do question
YoungMan replied to MMAFan's topic in TKD, TSD, Hapkido, and Korean Martial Arts
Any martial art taught well would be effective.