Martial Arts Life Story

[Spitz]

I am new to the board and wanted to introduce myself and perhaps spark a conversation.

 

When I was 5 months old I was adopted by my uncle who happened to be a 5th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwon-Do. He is whom I've gained all my knowledge on the martial art from. Though my knowledge is still minimal I mean not to disrespect him because of this aspect of my own ignorance for not listening to him.

 

This is his background.

 

When he was 17 he left home and joined the US Army. After basic he was sent to Thailand, because he was underage they could not send him into the frontlines so he was stationed in Thailand right on the outskirts of any fighting. While in Thailand he studied TaeKwon-Do from a very traditional Korean instructor. White Blue Brown and Black was the belt system, it took him about 6 months to acheive each belt, averaging 2 years till black, about what it should take with the newer belt system as well. He was however a brown belt when he left Korea for Washington State. He had still one more test yet to take. He started training with Master Sun Do Chung in Tacoma, WA. At 3rd Degree Black he begain teaching his own school affiliated through Mr. Chung. Eventually breaking off and starting his own school.

 

When he got back from the military, he married my mother at the age of 17 while he was 21. After he started teaching she eventually moved from watching from the sidelines to practicing the art herself. She finally acheived 3rd degree black belt. My parents frequented Jerry Gould's tournaments in the PNW. My mother was ranked #1 out of Wa, Ore, Idaho, California, British Columbia, Canada. For 3 years, and in the top 10 for 10 years. Strictly Point Fighting. Yes. But none the less she was good. My father was the one that fought full contact, I am not sure regarding his stats.

 

My father was a very traditional instructor.

 

Make's sure you keep your toes up, knees bent, thumb tucked, wrist level with forearm, shoulders square during forward stance.

 

Tell's you to keep your knee up, always above the waist during counts, but like my father taught me, never above the waist on the street because it takes too long to execute and leaves you too vulnerable.

 

Tell's you to always keep your opponet 3 ft away or a good arms length away, and if they do get inside you, he will have taught you proper graphling and elbow strikes.

 

Tell's you that TKD is notorious for 1 hit strikes, and that that is the improper fighting technique and to always follow through with combination strikes of at least 3-4 strikes.

 

Not only does he teach you TKD, but he teaches you what the weak aspects of the style were as well.

 

 

 

Now by the time I was adopted he had already been injured in car accidents and had many surgeries and stopped teaching or competing, he would still goto tournaments and judge however. I loved to goto tournaments and watch. Throughout my life he taught me little things here and there, he would teach me structuredly for a couple days until he would give me the "you don't want to learn you want to mess around so I am not going to teach you anymore" speach until 4 -6 months go by and I promise him I'll do what he asks and not question him in class, which consisted off our living room.

 

I am now 19 and joined a Muay Thai school. The instructor tells me that he used to train in Karate, however he visited a Muay Thai gym and him being #1 in his division got his butt absolutely kicked and he was thinking to himself the whole time whats going on here. And ever since then his passion has been muay thai and now he teaches it. He says that he strongly believes that two martial artist of equal abilities, when fighting the muay thai fighter will always win. No matter what.

 

Now I asked my father and he says, "Well I don't believe that, because I learned TKD in Thailand, where do you think Muay Thai came from, and both styles highly respected the other. And matches against the two were always dependant on the skill inwhich the other fighting posessed."

 

I have seen lately that Muay Thai is now the choice martial art. When if I remember correctly TaeKwon-Do, before it's bad rap, was the choice Self Defense art before it's popularity ruined it.

 

It's almost like a dog breed, dalmations popularity springs through the roof, then ever back yard breeder starts making money off of the breed, in breeds, takes short cuts, and makes the breed dumb in the head and goofy now when they were sharp decision making dogs and that's why the firemen loved them. Instructors being like the back yard breeders.

 

I see into the future muay thai having the same thing happen to it that Taekwon-Do did.

 

I am studying both arts right now, for I believe if I stregnthen my kicks, shins, and such, while still using TKD.

 

This is where I am at currently, I look forward to much participation on the site.

[gheinisch]

Hello Spitz. Welcome to the boards. I moved this from the intro section to the general section so more posters would be able to respond to your story. I good one by the way. We look forward to your posts. Welcome once again!