Freestyle Nunchaku

[Chameleon]

It is possible to study and be proficient in more than one art.

Thats what I think too. And have met a few 6th and 5th Dans in TKD that agree that cross training is the way to go, although there is much debate at to which point it should be offered. For now my association believes that you should only cross-train once proficient in one form (ie 1st Dans and above), I just tried it out to see and liked it.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

I guess my main issue was with the idea that someone who practices TKD is automatically crap with weapons. It is possible to study and be proficient in more than one art.

 

I'll assume this is directed at me, so I'll respond.

 

In my own experience in the approzimately 25 years I have been a weapons judge at tournaments, I have not seen a TKD competitor yet, regardless of rank, that knew much (if anything) about the proper usage of kobudo weapons. This is not to say that all TKD people are crap at weapons, but rather what I have seen. Since I don't travel world wide to do tournaments, I can only speak from my own personal experiences. When I've asked these competitors after the event is over, where they learned, invariably they say that they are self-taught, or learned from their instructor...who was self-taught.

 

And yes, it is entirely possible to be proficient in more than one art form. Karate (empty hand) and Kobudo (weapons) are two different, but closely intertwined, art forms.

 

steveb----you have an Okinawan Kenpo sensei just teaching weapons to your class...not the Kenpo also? That's odd I would think, but entirely possible. Generally, weapons are not taught until you get into the higher kyu grades, or dan ranks of the system. Not taught as a seperate art to other systems. Not to say you can't do that, but with different stances, blocks, etc, it would be quite a chore to try to get proper technique out of learning the weapons because the empty hand part of the training makes for a smooth transition from one aspect to the other.

[steveb]

steveb----you have an Okinawan Kenpo sensei just teaching weapons to your class...not the Kenpo also?

 

That is correct. Our school offers Okinawan kobudo taught by a 5th Dan, TKD taught by a 2nd Dan, Hapkido taught by a 5th Dan, and Judo (not sure what rank the instructor holds). Students may choose to study one or all of the arts offered. I personally study TKD, weapons, and recently started attending the hapkido class. I would take the Judo also but there's only so much time available per week.

In my own experience in the approzimately 25 years I have been a weapons judge at tournaments, I have not seen a TKD competitor yet, regardless of rank, that knew much (if anything) about the proper usage of kobudo weapons.

 

I respect your experience and have no doubt as to what you have seen. I would only hope that you allow for the possibility and would give a fair shot to all competitors regardless of what their original art is.

[Sauzin]

steveb----you have an Okinawan Kenpo sensei just teaching weapons to your class...not the Kenpo also? That's odd I would think, but entirely possible. Generally, weapons are not taught until you get into the higher kyu grades, or dan ranks of the system. Not taught as a seperate art to other systems. Not to say you can't do that, but with different stances, blocks, etc, it would be quite a chore to try to get proper technique out of learning the weapons because the empty hand part of the training makes for a smooth transition from one aspect to the other.

Well that depends...with Okinwan Kenpo from Odo Seikichi's liniage, weapons are taught from the first day you walk in the door. And there are several instructors, mine included, that teach weapons completely separately. But what you said regarding stances, blocks, etc is exactly what I was trying to convey. It's very difficult. Not impossible, but very difficult. Actually I have yet to see someone overcome their TKD stances and movement who moved to kobudo. And these things are not compatible with kobudo. In fact they can get you hurt.

[Shorin Ryuu]

I've trained in Kobayashi Shorin Ryu and Matsumura Shorin Ryu. Both systems train in weapons from early on, as in white or yellow belt.

[Spin]

TKD + "chucks"? ARGH!!!

 

YOU!!! PUT THE WEAPON ON THE GROUND AND SLOWLY STEP AWAY FROM IT WITH YOUR HANDS RAISED!!!!

 

 

1. TKD does not do weapons as a part of its art form as I understand it. I have been a weapons judge (usually center judge) for around 25 years now and for God knows how many tournaments, and I have yet to see one TKD competitor that could do anything remotely resembling competence with a weapon....ANY weapon! I'm talking black belts here, not beginners. All of the TKD weapons competitors I've seen are self-taught, or taught by their instructor that they themselves, were self-taught and passing along junk techniques to their students. It is one of my largest pet peeves.

 

2. ANYBODY that doesn't (IMHO) know how to PROPERLY pronounce or spell a weapon, has no business touching them until they at least know what the weapon is called.

 

OK...I'm done venting my frustrations now. Sorry. Can you tell you hit a nerve there?

 

 

dude! relax!!

 

*/me distrobutes the valium*