Tae Kwon Do, Stop knocking It!!!

[cid]

yeah but MA are more interesting and sometimes less expensive (which may explain the large number of kids in the clubs)

[Nothingness]

I think someone really needs to train in baseball. Those bats are pretty mighty when facing an agony

[IPON]

i never said he was wrong... i just don't see how he can't see that training in tae kwon do makes you a better fighter or at least is better for you than not training in tae kwon do (i mean not training in MA at all) ... all im saying is TKD is a martial art it trains you in self defence thats my point thats the only point, i never said any one was wrong the words you are wrong were never tyoed by me

Friend I am not trying to argue with you and let's not get lost in semantics.

For the last time

You stated after watching a TKD guy sparr or complete forms the ability to fight could not be debated "well you could but you would have to be stupid or stubborn to disagree". Which easily translates into "if you don't believe what I wrote you are wrong"

To answer your question about TKD, many people have a problem with TKD because the style is oversaturated (hence the phrase "McDojo") and the quality of instruction is generally poor. People have earned black belts in less that 2 years and are running dojang’s with no concept of the reality of fighting, self defense and sadly enough the power of their own style.

The problem is everything looks good especially to the novice and unfortunately people capitalize one just that fact. I have seen many high kicking techniques which have little power but they completed the technique. I never formally studied TKD but the TKD from my uncle is far different than what I see today while there are good tough schools many are a joke and cater to the parents or the weekend warrior who does not have the stomach for true hard training. Now most if not all TKD dojang’s will give you an aerobic workout great conditioning, but unrealistic practice.

[Yaberdaber]

Friend I am not trying to argue with you and let's not get lost in semantics.

For the last time

You stated after watching a TKD guy sparr or complete forms the ability to fight could not be debated "well you could but you would have to be stupid or stubborn to disagree". Which easily translates into "if you don't believe what I wrote you are wrong"

To answer your question about TKD, many people have a problem with TKD because the style is oversaturated (hence the phrase "McDojo") and the quality of instruction is generally poor. People have earned black belts in less that 2 years and are running dojang’s with no concept of the reality of fighting, self defense and sadly enough the power of their own style.

The problem is everything looks good especially to the novice and unfortunately people capitalize one just that fact. I have seen many high kicking techniques which have little power but they completed the technique. I never formally studied TKD but the TKD from my uncle is far different than what I see today while there are good tough schools many are a joke and cater to the parents or the weekend warrior who does not have the stomach for true hard training. Now most if not all TKD dojang’s will give you an aerobic workout great conditioning, but unrealistic practice.

Wow, truth well said... I wish more people are willing to go back to those good ole' days.

[cid]

To answer your question about TKD, many people have a problem with TKD because the style is oversaturated (hence the phrase "McDojo") and the quality of instruction is generally poor. People have earned black belts in less that 2 years and are running dojang’s with no concept of the reality of fighting, self defense and sadly enough the power of their own style.

that may be the case in what youv'e seen but thats usually the case when someones gets their black belt and then they decide they want to make some quick cash and open a dojang. however like u said there are some proper clubs, the club im part of is run by the T.A.G.B to become an instructor you need to pass an instructors course, i presume you have to be a black belt to be an instructor and if thats the case then thats 3 and a half years of training at least. i know my instructor has been training for 6 years. but i understand what your saying about the poor quality of some tae kwon do clubs...even in the T.A.G.B, at my grading i saw people making sloppy moves putting no effort into what they where doing.

You stated after watching a TKD guy sparr or complete forms the ability to fight could not be debated "well you could but you would have to be stupid or stubborn to disagree". Which easily translates into "if you don't believe what I wrote you are wrong"

yeah i was out of order there it came out wrong to the way i intended...


all im trying to say is don't judge tae kwon do on your own experiences alone... there are some good clubs out there, its not fair to accuse tae kwon do of being uneffective because some people don't want to put everything they got into it and produce quality rather than make money...

(im aware i'v been making a load of typo's)

[Ikken Hisatsu]

"3 and a half years of training at least. i know my instructor has been training for 6 years"

err I would not want to learn from someone who has only been doing MA for less than 4 years. both my teachers have been teaching/training for over 15 years, and they still have a lot to learn about teaching by their own admission.

[cid]

err I would not want to learn from someone who has only been doing MA for less than 4 years. both my teachers have been teaching/training for over 15 years, and they still have a lot to learn about teaching by their own admission.

i would like to be able to train under an instructor with such experience but i take whatever i can get

[IPON]

CID No problems we are on the same page.

Unfortunatley, I think the it is the majority of Dojangs that teach TKD are poor (I couldn't give a percentage 55% 70% etc). You should take pride if you are going to a good TKD school but as you state you cannot base your opinion just on your Dojang you have to look at the different federation and all the of the schools. While I do not agree, as most, that the style TKD is trash, but I understand why so many have that opinion.

Having an instrcutor course is responsible. IMHO there are 2 types of instructors:

1. Preferred - student earns BB and becomes an instructor at thier Dojang, then generally after at least 3rd preferably 4th dan, OK then open their own school

2. Poor - earn BB, believe they should teach and start a school. So from start to finish

[nightowl]

I've been reading all this criticism of Taekwondo and I have decided that
at the risk of getting flamed, I will tell you my story -- not to change your minds, but to perhaps give you something to think about.

Twelve years ago I was assaulted in the bathroom of a crowded restaurant located in a suburban shopping mall. This was prior to any MA training. While I was sitting on the john, a male assailant kicked down the door and dragged me out to the center of the bathroom with the intention of rape. He was bigger, much stronger, and I managed to escape rape because 1) I screamed at the top of my lungs 2) never stopped struggling and fighting and 3) he thought that diners in the restaurant could hear (there were 200 diners, one being my husband, and no one heard a thing) Yes, this assault went to ground even if I had been able to kick I could not because my pants were around my knees.

I had always wanted to do martial arts but it took another 7 years for me to get up the nerve to start training. I picked, yep a McDojo, because the instructor was accepting and encouraging. I never forget that I may one day have to defend myself again. But I am unusual because most women never have to think that way.

Do I think that TKD alone can save me in a situation like I had before? No way. Lets be realistic a 5'6" 120 lb woman will always be at a disadvantage with a 200lb crazy fueled guy. However, I now have a tool bag of things I can use to defend myself -- and yes I learned a lot of it from an instructor who teaches Krav Mgaw (sp?) (what I like about that system is that they teach you to use whatever is at hand and whatever means you must to survive). I have a "prepared" mentality and I am always alert and aware when in public. But truly the best self-defense tool you have is your head, avoid risky situations, and try to avoid fighting -- same as lifeguards who are taught that the last thing that you do is to get into the water with a drowning person.

I actually like the ATA but I am not blind to it's flaws. It has taken a martial art and "americanized" it and made it into a successful business. That means that there are going to be people who are in it for the wrong reasons or who are unqualified and don't even know it......Among my biggest beefs with the ATA is the out of shape, over weight people who are teaching, competing and "practicing" martial arts. However, that being said, I see a value in bringing the traditional martial arts values to "undisicplined americans" and allowing them to reap the benefits of better coordination, flexibility and mental attitude. If they don't want to put in the effort to be excellent, that's their own problem and choice. I can personally think of one kid who was so spastic that for the first three months of tranining he spent more time on the floor than on his feet, who after two years still has terrible technique but his attitude is great and he is at least able to stay on his feet without falling over more than once during an entire class. And think of soccer - there are all ranges of players of soccer from the 'rec' level to the professional. Just because someone is not ever going to be at the professional level does that mean that they cannot play soccer?


----Shields at 100%, ready for incoming hostile action

[Tom Yum]

Hey night owl, good points. Some people want to do martial arts for fun, fitness and a hobby and realize its limits.

[Nothingness]

Please pardon me for hicjacking the topic a bit .

There is a Japanese story:

There is a wild horse tied down to a tree next to a road. The first samurai saw it and he was very skillful. So, he decided to pass the road anyhow. The horse suddenly kicked. Being such an allert and a skillful samurai, he perfectly blocked and dodged the kick and was unharmed. Another samurai came later and also saw the horse. He took a precaution and made a circle a bit far from the horse. Nothing happened and he continued. Later, a third samurai also came and saw the horse. He thought that it was to risky to pass the road so he turned around and took another road that was further.

Who was the best samurai? The second one was because he took a precaution without sacrificing himself too much. The first one took an unecessary risk. The third one was being too risk-aversed and sacrificing too much of his life for it.

I am sorry for what happened to you. I think that your best resource now is being alert all the time due to your training. It is still the best to avoid situations and places where attacks could come. A skillful woman has a much better chance facing an attack from a big male assailant than an unskillful woman. However, there is always a chance that the assailant is also skillful, too.

Please pardon the grosque picture. Anybody is in a very disadvantaged position having to fight on the ground with the pants down. However, imagine that if the attacker had been skillful. Let's say that he practices BJJ. Hence, it is still the best to be precautious without being fearful. Best wishes.

Regards,


L.

[MAS]

There's a TKD teacher about 20 mins away from me and he's a six or 7th degree black belt. If he's that high, wouldn't that mean he's a serious teacher? It would seem that anyone who gets that high is serious about it.

[Damian Mavis]

Serious about making money! Most high ranks in TKD are old, fat, and low skill. Maybe they were good in their 20's but almost ALL of them let themselves go as they get older. After a while it becomes all about money for alot of those guys. I know a few that I respect very much that can still kick ass into their 40's, 50's and 60's! But they are a minority, most high ranking guys are just running a business. After a certain number of degrees, you no longer have to test, the rank is just awarded to you after a certain amount of time and brown nosing so letting yourself go and rising in rank is not a problem.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[Nothingness]

So, are you a low rank or a high rank Taekwondoin? Joking, sorry.

[Thai Bri]

He has a black belt and a brown nose....... haw haw haw!