tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74445292920755398912011-11-27T19:17:56.745-05:00My ongoing adventure in learning Tang Soo Do. Please leave comments and come back often.Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.comBlogger241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-23272315292687380142009-12-25T05:44:00.003-05:002009-12-25T05:48:52.384-05:00

Ok, I got this link in my email http://mmaforfans.com/kung-fu-vs-tai-kwon-do/ First I want to say, that I'm only an 8th gup, so I could not do better, however, in the first sparring match here between a kung foo practitioner and a Tang Soo Do practitioner, I am certain that if he (the kung foo guy) were to come to World Tang soo Do Association District 7, he would meet much stiffer competition.

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-75422458000715016422009-11-27T04:05:00.002-05:002009-11-27T04:20:04.392-05:00

Well, we, I should say I made it through a rough spot. I had come to a flat spot in my learning, a small one, but felt despair at not being able to accomplish anything in my Tang Soo Do classes. I knew that I didn't want to give up, yet I felt like I was ready to.Fortunately I pressed on, our master, Master Joseph Scota encouraged me, or maybe it was a threat! He said, "If you really want to

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-7659196555299992312009-10-16T22:30:00.002-04:002009-10-16T22:50:00.311-04:00

Master Scota has told me that there are plateaus we reach in training. I have reached one, and even descended a little.Two weeks ago I pulled a ham-string. Not seriously, but enough that it was reminiscent of the time I accidentally made contact with 220v AC current. It was not exactly painful, but it didn't feel good, the muscle hurt more, but the electric jolt was similar.Since that time I

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-33282849626840043872009-08-11T15:28:00.003-04:002009-08-11T15:44:54.247-04:00

With each new class I learn something new. Last night we went through the forms or Hyungs (my family and I only know the first two, Sae Kye Hyung Il Bu, and Sae Kye Hyung E bu). Since we have promoted to Yellow Belt or 9th Gup we are in a class with other Yellow belts, orange belts, Orange with a stripe, Green, and green with a stripe belts. The class moves quickly, and it seems hard to

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-71691700805668945072009-08-05T23:15:00.002-04:002009-08-06T00:05:46.813-04:00

Well, tonight, we learned how to do front rolls and back rolls. And even worked on stop-falls. Very fun, but wow it's hard.I have spent the last 30+ years (I'm 41) trying NOT to fall on the ground and here I am having to do it on purpose! ACK!!Ah well, I'll learn I'll do it. It's sort of fun. But Wow it's hard to overcome years of self conditioning to NOT fall down. So, we will have to find out

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-33915215852370200312009-07-08T00:06:00.002-04:002009-07-08T01:07:40.009-04:00

Tonight at class we tested for the Yellow Belt or, 9th gup. There were several of us going through the forms and process, but I believe only 7 of us were actually testing.We started with the basic walking kicks, I still have so much trouble with my side and round-house kicks, but I decided that if I at least took my time and showed that I know HOW they are to be executed, even if my body isn't

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-69018550517083505652009-06-25T16:23:00.002-04:002009-06-25T16:37:18.383-04:00

We have been studying the First form. Here is a video I found that's pretty good. http://bit.ly/wmLkA I don't understand why some people do the form with punches down the center instead of kicks.At any rate. Classes have been progressing. Moving has been progressing, life has been progressing!I actually look forward to class because when I'm inside the four walls of the dojang I don't have to

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-45184284100247597382009-05-29T01:36:00.002-04:002009-05-29T03:33:01.603-04:00

Tonight in class we spent almost the whole class working on the first form, Kee Cho Hyung Il Boo.Master Scota explains the visualizations with excellence. envision an enemy attacking you and block then attack, see another coming from behind, turn and block low then attack to the middle. Wait! there is a third opponent up the middle, hide your knuckles turn to your fighting stance and then Ahp

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-4447426274725893432009-05-26T01:02:00.002-04:002009-05-26T01:12:10.219-04:00

I have been lax in updating my blogs this past week or two! My apologies. We found a house to rent and as a result have been busy getting stuff packed! that's a workout in and of itself!Last Thursday, Master Scota was out of the area so Ms. Scully and Mr. Henderson taught the class. It was fun, they about killed us, but it was fun!they started teaching us the first form the "World Form number 1"

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-35278182697763036112009-05-20T01:43:00.003-04:002009-05-20T01:58:10.857-04:00

Saturday we went to the area tournament, and while we were there we watched the blackbelts form Scota Karte and other schools compete. We watched two of our instructors compete, in the ring for over 40! It was spectacular. There were not a large number of competitors in that class, however what they lacked in numbers they made up in impressive skills.the weapon demonstrations were particularly

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-60462455635702950332009-05-17T15:00:00.001-04:002009-05-17T15:01:54.402-04:00

Will post about the part we were there for later tonight. It was really fun!

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-29502667441675351412009-05-15T03:42:00.003-04:002009-05-15T03:59:24.694-04:00

First of all I want to thank whoever sent me the suggestion on stretching against a wall. That really works! I'm trying to stretch some everyday, and now I'm also going to attempt to practice my kicks every day.The size of our class has decreased because a large number of folks that had been in class before we started have now moved on to their yellow belts, and a different class night. So we

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-33684874454318009062009-05-12T21:57:00.002-04:002009-05-12T23:51:36.709-04:00

Mr Rovner, led the stretches tonight. This young guy is really talented. He's also a high-school junior. He goes through the stretches so fast... I think it's because he is so limber that he doesn't need to stretch... those of us who are old... well that's another story. but it was OK.Then Master Scota had us start doing some very interesting combination punch/kicks. For example a front jab

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-88911886530451939082009-05-06T00:36:00.002-04:002009-05-06T00:58:35.301-04:00

Last week we purchased our dobaks, Uniforms. My wife and I worked to get the pants shortened as needed. I take the prize as having to have my pants shortened 8 inches! I have short legs, what can I say?Tonight as we were leaving for class my 8 year old, almost 9, said, "Now we will fit in." I thought about that statement, does the uniform really make us fit in any more than not having it? The

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-17941244601880170952009-05-01T03:49:00.002-04:002009-05-01T05:09:28.194-04:00

Well today I officially became a 10th Gup, i.e. a White-belt.I honestly feel that even as I progress through the gups I'll always be a white-belt. Don't take that to mean that I don't feel like I'll really be able to proceed in Tang Soo Do. Presently whenever I start to learn something I see, more and more clearly with each lesson, that I only know a very little bit.I think that no matter how far

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-3839018745817702862009-04-29T03:13:00.002-04:002009-04-29T03:42:43.688-04:00

Tonight we went and had our 9th class. Normal stretches, punches kicks, etc. Boy do I need to work on my round-house kick!Apparently the first time I did the roundhouse kick I pulled something in my groin... as a result my body now says, "mmm uh huh not doing THAT again!" and I just can't get a decent roundhouse kick... I'll keep working on it.. Does anyone have a suggestions for a good way to

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-4633433214741107102009-04-24T03:14:00.005-04:002009-04-24T08:25:50.985-04:00

My two oldest boys and I went to class tonight, we did those wonderful painful, yet somehow satisfying stretches. I am learning more how it's possible to both love and hate something at the same time. Now obviously this isn't me, but there are both boys and girls in our class that can do a full split... I can get my legs further than a 90 degree spilt... maybe 96 degrees! ;)Anyhow I don't know

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-82393327775526005312009-04-22T01:46:00.004-04:002009-04-22T08:57:10.120-04:00

Believe it or not I found myself looking forward to class tonight. I can barely believe it. but even in the stretches and laughable attempts to kick higher than my kneecap, (OK, I can make it just above the belt on an average person if I really try and concentrate and it's a front kick! forget it with a side kick or a roundhouse!... I'm working on it though!When we got to the dojang tonight I was

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-89150285877397599582009-04-20T02:23:00.003-04:002009-04-21T19:33:38.702-04:00

Due to a family emergency and having to go out of state for a few days we didnt' get to go to class last week. I really missed it. I did notice that since I started taking classes, I have lost at least 10 pounds. I don't know exactly because the last scales I was on prior to taking class, didn't go past...  (gulp) 300  I weighed myself this past weekend and I am at 296 and falling.... I

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-66400358589349597052009-04-10T00:36:00.003-04:002009-04-10T02:56:49.721-04:00

It seems that the more I attend class the more I realize that I'm still not getting the basics right. Doing a simple front stance forward step. You go from a ready stance ( Jhoon Bee Ja Seh) to a front stance (Chun Kul Ja Seh), one leg out in front your knee bent so you can't see your toes, the back leg locked out, foot turned at about a 45 degree angle, then you come to a duck stance, by moving

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-77268043800341089722009-04-08T00:32:00.004-04:002009-04-08T02:26:23.751-04:00

Tonight we went to class, and Instructor Sculley took us through our stretches. I have decided that Since Instructor Henderson is a little older than me, I prefer his stretches to Instructor Sculley, as she is younger than I am and MUCH more flexible than I, her stretches hurt much worse! I suppose that means they are better for me, but... I have decided that I can do it no matter what.After our

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-57756823613584185762009-04-05T00:23:00.003-04:002009-04-05T00:27:36.444-04:00

This evening before I came to work I went on a walk with my wife. It's a little over a mile around our neighborhood, with flat stretches and up and down hills. The direction we walk there is a long flat and then a fairly steep hill. the kids call it tiger hill, because if you fall down it on your bike, you look like a tiger got you! Anyhow, walking up tiger hill is normally not too hard for me,

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-34619755053628110612009-04-02T23:13:00.000-04:002009-04-03T04:55:27.438-04:00

Tonight the 2 older boys and I went to class. My wife stayed home with my youngest because he is still recovering from the stomach virus. Hopefully by Tuesday they will be able to attend.Each class we have different ways of learning the same things with a slight variety. I think it has to do with the fact that various instructors help teach the classes. Tonight, Mr Henderson took the whole class

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7444529292075539891.post-21594384652325959422009-04-01T23:55:00.000-04:002009-04-02T02:06:39.078-04:00

Several months ago, almost a year really, my oldest son, He will be 17 in September, told me he would really enjoy taking some form of martial art. I have no problem with that, in fact I thought It might be a good idea for me to join him. I can't let him learn how to kick my backside without at least knowing how to defend myself! (Disclaimer: My boys all love me, and even though we have typical

Binkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06745962121870097349noreply@blogger.com2