Training psychology different among ethnic groups?

[Kill Jill]

From watching international tkd tournaments - as well as a variety of other sports, it's clear that some nationalities display certain traits of emotions.

I'm doing some research at present, and am wondering about the following thread:

If you are perhaps from an 'ethnic group' training in a tkd class in the States, how do you feel that your psychological approach to training differents from the other students in the class?

[sk0t]

I am from the ethnic group 'cauc-asian', and when I am in class, everyone is treated equal...first and foremost, because I teach every class, and everyone is treated equally. Some students (reguardless of race) are motivated more to achieve things they havent achieved, and other students are motivated to continue at their pace...and then there are some that are even motivated to slow down (to concentrate on what they are doing)...

Race (ethnic background) doesnt have any role in the Martial arts...

Now on to your question...

Being 'cauc-asain', my motivation seems to be comparable to the other ethnic groups that are at my school. We are all on a hunt for knowledge. Puerto Ricans, African Americans, Czechaslovakian, Russians, Japanese, Chinese, we all choose to do the Martial Arts for different reasons...so a psychological approach to training would be different among even people in the same race who do it for different reasons...

I think you could get a broader grasp of your concept if you asked this in an MMA area...

[Kill Jill]

Yeah, I can see that it's maybe not the best question...And, hmm, maybe there are too many forums to follow on this site - although today I finished trawling through every single thread in the name of research!

Perhaps, let me rephrase it to ask who believes in the fundamentals of ki and oriental philosophy when you train in TKD?

I think there are a lot of individuals/groups who don't accept the original tenets of TKDs philosophy, and are just all out for combat sport with the sole aim of attempting to deliver the nastiest kick for nasty's sake.

How do you feel? A sadist for nasty kicks? Or a purist for meditative thought? Do any of you have meditation as part of your class?

[coralreefer_1]

Concerning the original question, I haven't noticed too much difference concerning the "emotions" of different races of fighters, but I think there is an argument to be made concerning the "physical ability" of different races of fighters. For the sake of opening a huge can of worms concerning this subject, I will end my comment there.

Concerning meditation in class, my dojang did a meditation at the beginning and the end of class. But it was not a "true meditation" I dont believe you can achieve a true meditative state in 45 seconds. It's just something I guess we do to try to maintain some kind of "tradition".

I'd like to spend a class with just meditation, it would be a refreshing change....

(some comment coming here soon..)

Todd