If One Man Can do It...

[DWx]

The ITA did it. Choi did it. Lee did it. In fact, everyone we revere has done it. I have three grandsons. The youngest is five and he's already taking Taekwondo. What's to stop us from starting our own school, our own style? We'd probably be in our early fifties when we were ready.

I know nothing about the ITA. Choi did do it, but with the the power of a military dictatorship behind him, and the assistance of many talented people who trained full time. And even low dan ranks in karate at the time were probably worth a lot more than they are in most schools now. Despite that, much was lost in the process - proper hip mechanics, speed and precision in stances and footwork, many of Shotokan's excellent block/attack drills with partners, conditioning exercises, an inestimable wealth of kata, insight and refinement....

Ouch. I know you have prior ITF experience Tony but surely its not all that bad? I like it anyway...

[bushido_man96]

Even at 2nd dan you're still just beginning to understand the true essence of your art and there are still techniques and basics that one still must work one. I know a quite a few black belts (in karate) and they seem to have a specialized interest in one area be it kata, kumite, one of the kobudo weapons, but don't have a well rounded knowledge in all areas needed to run their dojo. Lee made his own style after years of development, sighting specific wide spread problems in martial arts and its practitioners. He not only focused on the physical aspects of training, but also the mental and lifestyle aspects as well.

This is one of those points that I have come not to believe in when it comes to MA experience through training. I think that most 2nd dans have a pretty good understanding of what their style is about. It comes to a point where dan ranks become a crutch that higher ranks use to keep them around, because they "don't understand" yet.

[bushido_man96]

I think Choi was a second dan in Shotokan Karate. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Yes, that is correct.

And here's another thing I wonder: are forms copyrighten? I know some are, but what about the basic Taekwondo forms. If one opens a Taekwondo school is there anything prohibiting them from teaching Chong-Ji, Do-San, etc?

The ITF forms, Chon-ji, Dan-Gun, etc, are not copyrighted. You could teach them, as far as I know. The ATA has copyrighted their own forms, so you could not teach them independent of an ATA school.

[sensei8]

Even at 2nd dan you're still just beginning to understand the true essence of your art and there are still techniques and basics that one still must work one. I know a quite a few black belts (in karate) and they seem to have a specialized interest in one area be it kata, kumite, one of the kobudo weapons, but don't have a well rounded knowledge in all areas needed to run their dojo. Lee made his own style after years of development, sighting specific wide spread problems in martial arts and its practitioners. He not only focused on the physical aspects of training, but also the mental and lifestyle aspects as well.

This is one of those points that I have come not to believe in when it comes to MA experience through training. I think that most 2nd dans have a pretty good understanding of what their style is about. It comes to a point where dan ranks become a crutch that higher ranks use to keep them around, because they "don't understand" yet.

Yeah! Some high Dan's surely make the rest of us high Dan's look bad, and in that, we're sometimes lumped in with those type of high Dan's.

Sometimes I'm ashamed!

[bushido_man96]

I wouldn't be ashamed of your rank at all. I don't ever hear you blustering about how you are so much better than any 2nd dan, or any 3rd dan, or so on, so I wouldn't lump you into there.

[sensei8]

I wouldn't be ashamed of your rank at all. I don't ever hear you blustering about how you are so much better than any 2nd dan, or any 3rd dan, or so on, so I wouldn't lump you into there.

I appreciate that Brian. I just feel ashamed at times, and maybe it's that I'm furious at those type of high Dan's because of their inappropriate actions. It's the old saying...One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.

Again, thanks Brian!

[bushido_man96]

Welcome!

[Chitsu]

I wouldn't be ashamed of your rank at all. I don't ever hear you blustering about how you are so much better than any 2nd dan, or any 3rd dan, or so on, so I wouldn't lump you into there.

I appreciate that Brian. I just feel ashamed at times, and maybe it's that I'm furious at those type of high Dan's because of their inappropriate actions. It's the old saying...One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.

Again, thanks Brian!

But that said, you are quite keen for people to know that you are a senior grade. [edit] within your group - just saying )

Chitsu

[sensei8]

I wouldn't be ashamed of your rank at all. I don't ever hear you blustering about how you are so much better than any 2nd dan, or any 3rd dan, or so on, so I wouldn't lump you into there.

I appreciate that Brian. I just feel ashamed at times, and maybe it's that I'm furious at those type of high Dan's because of their inappropriate actions. It's the old saying...One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.

Again, thanks Brian!

But that said, you are quite keen for people to know that you are a senior grade. [edit] within your group - just saying )

Chitsu

In this topic, we were recently talking about how some high Dan's act towards their lower ranks by trying to keep lower ranks under their thumb, so to speak.

I don't mention myself at any time, in any way to show-off [i'm nobody special] or to show my superiority [i'm superior to nobody, especially in "my group"] or for any other negative reason. That's just not me; past, present, and/or in the future!