tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40844480784217621952011-08-28T08:36:58.866-04:00Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.comBlogger1501100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-26381194779328086392011-07-11T10:49:00.006-04:002011-07-11T12:26:21.938-04:00

If you're studying a relative of Karate, then you understand the concept of a "one-step" defense. Attacker steps back into a front stance with their punch chambered, and awaits your permission to attack. You indicate that they are allowed to attack - usually in the form of a kihap, nod, grunt, what-have-you -- and they step forward into a front stance while executing a center punch. You

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-53088301175276176272011-04-26T09:21:00.003-04:002011-05-16T11:56:35.353-04:00

Ok, the Koreans use the word bong to describe the staff. Let's get all of the jokes out of the way now. I'll be honest, I've been teaching bong at clinics, and I've always wanted to tell the host that the name of my session was "bong hits." Now that we're all done tittering. Oops, that word probably didn't help. Are we all perpetually in fifth grade? For the longest time, I've focused

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-75448085091526442752011-04-21T09:55:00.004-04:002011-04-21T11:41:59.021-04:00

A few years ago, when I had the time and an available instructor, I practiced Tai Chi. One of our fundamental warmup exercises was a posture. Now before I even tell you the name of that posture, let's just let that thought marinate in our head: we warmed up by standing in a spot for a long time. :)The posture was called "embracing the tree" or "get in a horse stance and hold your hands up for a

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-38730121324515093602011-04-19T08:07:00.003-04:002011-04-19T09:04:43.693-04:00

Note: I think I've deleted this post about 6 7 times before posting it. Originally, I was going to complain about unmotivated testing candidates, but then - as usual -- I overthought the entire process.Testing for a new rank. To the prospective candidate this may make them very excited; a chance to get out on the floor and blow everyone away and show them that not only do you deserve that

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-53288608967169501582011-04-07T11:04:00.003-04:002011-04-07T13:35:18.822-04:00

nak bop sul are simply Falling Techniques. I just sounded so much smarter and fancier by using the Korean term. Put the term in your deck of terminology flash cards and sound smart like me! ;)Falling is one of my favorite niche topics to work on. Everyone can and should be able to do it with a little practice. Of all the martial skills that apply to life outside of the dojang, this is among

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-74931545527852313162011-03-23T10:15:00.004-04:002011-03-23T11:02:25.866-04:00

On the left column is a list of the martial arts blogs that I read on a semi-regular basis. Among them is Kaimen, which is written by Ted Mancuso at Plum Publications.Aside from being a great resource for Chinese martial arts books and videos, Mr. Mancuso has written several articles on Tan Tui that are featured on his website. He has now taken it a step further and placed short instructional

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-9970481563198867482011-03-21T10:33:00.002-04:002011-03-21T10:38:05.814-04:00

This is a bit of an old story, but just another reminder as to why you shouldn't underestimate your youth students.About six months ago, one of my 11 year students proudly told me in between drills that his parents bought him a cellphone. A little thrown off by the non-sequitur, and a little surprised still that kids have phones, I say to him "Man, you're 11. You don't need a phone. Who are

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-45736143655080458902011-03-08T08:34:00.003-05:002011-03-08T09:18:24.363-05:00

A few years ago, I was really, utterly, and intently into nunchaku. I was Bruce Lee and Michelangelo rolled into one. I absorbed almost every resource I could find on the subject. I have a duffle bag full of different styles of nunchaku: foam, alumnium, wooden, plastic, micarta, tapered, non-tapered, pencil-thin, ultra heavy and a custom pair of cocobolo nunchaku that would break just about

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-71888248858839351702011-03-07T09:30:00.002-05:002011-03-07T09:41:08.398-05:00

"There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking. This understanding extends to everything." -Hagakure (葉隱)

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-16836324704576747832011-03-03T09:37:00.004-05:002011-03-03T09:51:01.905-05:00

Depending on how conservative your workplace is, you may not want to watch this clip at work, especially with the sound on...The first time I watched this clip, I watched it with the sound off, which is something akin to watching The Wall with your eyes closed. Watching it muted, I was impressed by his strength and power generation. I was also impressed by his student/target taking so many

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-9088843420678730842011-03-02T08:22:00.000-05:002011-03-02T08:22:36.994-05:00

I recently read a post out on the tubes which talked about using Youtube to further your martial arts training. And I completely agree. Once Youtube hit the scene, I knew that martial artists would take this medium to heart. There are lots of GREAT things to watch online.Like this!Oops, wrong bookmark! I mean, typo, typo!Damn it I just can't type today...Ah, that's better, and certainly more

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-17998714326484076882011-03-01T09:50:00.003-05:002011-03-01T10:09:55.718-05:00

Remember that Bill Cosby show "Kids Say the Darndest Things?" If I recall, it was supposed to be about the cute things that kids say. Turns out, kids say some pretty nasty things. Sometimes intentional, and sometimes without realizing they've offended.Last night in class, I decided that my green belt youth were performing their ho sin sul with little to no enthusiasm. Already, my level of

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-3743743761764585582011-01-13T10:13:00.003-05:002011-03-08T09:20:00.959-05:00

Once spring rolls around, and my backyard comes back to life, I have a project. Well, two projects, because I also want to make a fire pit. The second will be equally as cool if you are into these sorts of things. :)A Bo Makiwara. I'm thinking a 6 foot 4x4 for the main base, supported on the bottom with planks reinforced in the middle by 4x4 blocks. Same for the upper-body (shoulder-width)

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-82675302448697956132010-11-16T11:40:00.003-05:002010-11-16T11:46:37.493-05:00

One of my favorite things to do with kids is give them a seemingly challenging physical task, watch their jaws drop open with amazement, listen to them protest loudly that they couldn't POSSIBLY replicate what I just did, and then watch them do it.Case in point: last night, while seated in seiza, asked kids to attempt to thrown kicks. Whizzed a few kicks by the heads of front row students, and

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-80075508146101708152010-11-15T15:54:00.002-05:002010-11-15T15:59:00.701-05:00

Today I came across a quote that made me stop and think:"Training in Karate for 30 years is very different than training in Karate for 1 year 30 times."Think it over in your head a little. How many of us need to heed this advice in the dojang and outside?Back to the mat...

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-2966132397000360312010-06-22T10:44:00.004-04:002010-06-22T11:19:07.787-04:00

A few weeks ago, as it started getting warmer, I noticed that the grocery store had pool noodles in their display. I was reminded of a clinic I attended where a Master had used them during sparring drills. I bought out the store's stock and took them to class the next week.Gave each instructor a pool noodle and instructed them to "have fun." great for blocking drills. swing the noodle at the

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-12020391371519579912010-02-10T09:54:00.003-05:002010-02-10T10:18:25.507-05:00

You may have noticed that when searching Google for a local business (because, who keeps that giant book of phone numbers handy anymore) that a local map pops up with nearby businesses that might fit the bill.What you may not be aware of is that Google now gives local business owners the tools to customize these results. Google Local Business allows you to enter all kinds of info: Name Website

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-59612282254630244292009-12-15T15:49:00.002-05:002009-12-15T15:56:44.274-05:00

Over the last year, I've started teaching far more youth classes than in the past. As I've gotten a little more comfortable with the format and expectations of younger students, my attitude has relaxed significantly and I find myself far more at ease with the class.Before this endeavor, I was teaching classes at the University level, almost exclusively to kids in their 20s. A far different

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-12610054291403496772009-10-12T12:20:00.005-04:002009-10-12T12:50:44.899-04:00

So Rim Jang Kwon (Shaolin Long Fist) is an oft-referred to form in the history of Tang Soo Do. It's name is listed in many manuals as an advanced Dan form, and it is alluded to in Hwang Kee's Soo Bahk Do text. So Rim Jang Kwon is a very generic name, and there are hundreds of forms out there that could be considered "long fist" forms. The question has always been... which one is it?Recently,

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-35914938632565034132009-09-09T11:01:00.004-04:002009-09-09T11:21:55.764-04:00

I recently read, with some dismay, that there was talk of taking away pocket knives from Scouts in the UK. I will avoid getting on my soapbox except to say I earned my "Totin' Chip" when I was a Boy Scout and never felt compelled to stab anyone just because a knife was available.What is interesting, however, is that in the not-so-distant past, Scouts could get a merit badge as a Master-At-Arms.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-91288772747712848602009-09-01T14:43:00.003-04:002009-09-01T16:07:02.131-04:00

Facebook has been a great tool for use within my school at the Y, even though I've spent a significant amount of time creating a website. Facebook, along with other social media have managed to clear a lot of hurdles for users who were intimidated by the Internet in the past, and given them a fairly simple and fun way to interact with friends and family. These are the users who would probably

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-35906934503452411902009-03-06T21:05:00.004-05:002009-03-06T22:13:45.507-05:00

When I was a kid, long before I had the opportunity to study the martial arts, I loved Black Belt magazine. The pictures seemed like such a wealth of information, and look at all the cool stuff that was for sale back in the day. With the help of this magazine, I was quite convinced that I could become a ninja. Ehh, I was 12, what do you expect?Entirely by accident, I discovered this week that

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-71283906072577681642009-02-13T12:40:00.001-05:002009-02-13T12:40:30.895-05:00

DSC_0123Originally uploaded by tommrkrIt's been one of my goal's for the year to improve my flexibility, and this pic gives me hope. From what I understand, he didn't achieve the full split until his late 30s. I've still got some time to get there! Tang Soo, Master J!

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-50346415843041389302009-02-06T17:47:00.003-05:002009-02-06T17:52:32.594-05:00

Some of you who are interested in Ki Gong may find Master Dan Segarra's blog to be of interest.Master Segarra has been online, sharing his knowledge with the Korean martial arts community for many years. Recently, he has gotten on the Youtube bandwagon and is also blogging.What I'd really like to point out is his introductions to ki gong and meditation that he is sharing online. Very

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-17086542530645372022009-02-03T12:26:00.003-05:002009-02-03T13:00:50.214-05:00

What is the difference? A cookbook teaches you recipes, but doesn't necessarily give you the background, how to match the food with a proper wine or other dishes, or explain certain terms.A cooking book, however should be about the art of cooking. How boiling versus braising changes the flavor of the meat, how certain flavors compliment and enhance each other, and more. Once you know how to

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-46916441480333283762009-02-03T12:08:00.002-05:002009-02-03T12:26:01.605-05:00

One of the results of teaching your own classes is that if you are doing your job to attract new students, it means that you are constantly teaching introductory material. This means spending a LOT of time on the basics.A unique challenge I've been working on is balancing the needs of my junior and senior rank students. I think the top end of the class may often feel neglected by a class, and

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-66957717873646980222009-01-13T12:25:00.003-05:002009-01-13T16:55:47.937-05:00

I haven't posted much lately because I've been, well, reading and thinking. As I work on updating the website for my studio, I started putting together some of my thoughts on the school logo. I've always felt strongly about my logo, and about the message my logo presents. There are some immediate influences and obvious symbols, but my students can also tell you about other subtle

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-89313439518144818062009-01-05T11:55:00.002-05:002009-01-05T12:01:44.957-05:00

Charles Goodin at the Karate Thoughts Blog had a very nice recent entry to celebrate the new year.Karate is not one style or system. Karate is all of us. Whether we practice Goju-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu, Kenpo, or Shotokan, we are all carrying on the art of Karate. From the youngest child to the oldest Sensei, each and every one of us is a thread in the great fabric of the art.Karate does not exist in

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-46572898843766117512008-12-30T11:08:00.002-05:002008-12-30T11:14:59.704-05:00

Was looking through the latest Century catalog and found this. My thoughts on XMA notwithstanding, a unique selling point stuck out in the description to me:"The traditional jacket even includes an integrated pocket perfect to hold MP3 players!"Now, I should point out that I hide any number of things in my dobohk from time to time: pen and paper, knife, mouthpiece and even occasionally my iPod.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-77743832176358918392008-12-29T16:14:00.004-05:002008-12-29T16:46:49.736-05:00

The transition from one year to another is a completely arbitrary point in time, yet here we are at the end of December and preparing to enter the New Year. At this time, all of us make resolutions to improve and do better. Sometimes, when we are truly brave, we look back on our past resolutions and goals and sigh.The new year in a way for me is a New Year, as I was born in very early January.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-66549612715065544482008-12-23T22:07:00.003-05:002008-12-23T22:20:50.190-05:00

Holy Moly.I just finished wrapping up a few hours of watching Time Warp on the Discovery Channel. All I can say is I wish I had access to a high speed camera so I could watch something as mundane as a low block in super slow motion. :)Nifty. What a cool (and almost completely unnecessary) way to break down a technique! :)and just for giggles:ow.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-57877055445012689312008-12-23T11:58:00.002-05:002008-12-23T12:17:25.970-05:00

Like a few other schools, BTSD has a special tradition for students who are leaving. Everyone who comes to class that evening has the opportunity to spar that person for one last time as a way to bid them farewell.Did I mention this is how we handle people who leave on good terms? Now, before someone gets the wrong idea, I should point out that this is not meant to be a hazing or any sort of

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-43988374730781498552008-12-16T16:30:00.004-05:002008-12-30T11:04:55.543-05:00

Sword ProfileOriginally uploaded by weddings{by}robertHave you given much thought to your kihap lately? I've heard some bad ones in my days. Some seem to have the wrong goal (in my less than humble opinion) while others just don't seem to be sure why they are doing it at all.Iain Abernethy's site has an interesting article written by Jamie Clubb on the subject of Kiai. One of the more

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-30195594512982481802008-12-15T09:19:00.004-05:002009-09-09T13:13:19.180-04:00

This weekend, we had our monthly Black belt class on Saturday morning. We took the opportunity to review and discuss fundamentals of staff or bong. To be honest, I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take with the class, since my perspective on bong has been changing a lot lately. I've given a great deal of thought about working our dexterity drills and techniques together in a more

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-89048723360288231512008-12-10T15:55:00.003-05:002008-12-10T16:05:27.377-05:00

Whenever I find a great movie on YouTube showing the WTSDA, I love to share it with people. Here's a great share from a recent Region 20 competition:Kids, being cute:I love to see how my friends in South America are practicing. I'm not going to have many chances to make it in person, so I really enjoy YouTube for this reason:And a nifty group hyung demonstration of Jion:

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-60882590680066026982008-12-02T10:11:00.003-05:002008-12-02T16:20:52.362-05:00

When it comes to kick techniques, they don't get much more basic than front kick. Aside from being the first kick we teach, it's probably the least complicated kick from a mechanical standpoint. Most new students can imitate a front kick pretty quickly, compared to a diagonal kick or something more exotic. Yet, such a simple kick can present itself in many different ways. Just off the top of

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-2723937453399541862008-11-30T21:10:00.002-05:002008-11-30T21:39:17.387-05:00

I've been watching a lot of Scott Sonnon's flexibility clips on youtube. Good stuff:

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-84083248100214753482008-11-17T14:43:00.003-05:002008-12-30T11:07:07.667-05:00

I haven't had a lot of opportunities to "do" Tang Soo Do as of late. In fact, the last 2 years have been a rather painful transition from lining up in class and occasionally teaching, to being in front of the class and doing most of the teaching. In a 2 hour class, I may do roughly 5 minutes of demonstration. For me class has become less doing, and more teaching. As things progress, I even

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-49430881104924034852008-10-20T09:15:00.002-04:002008-10-20T10:28:10.648-04:00

I wanted to share with my 2 loyal readers some of my recent thoughts on how to best introduce the concept of forms to a new student. If you can think back to your first few weeks of class, you may remember some of the initial awkward, difficult movement that came with joining a dojang. In addition to the new stances, footwork, hand and foot techniques, remembering to breathe, when to bow, and a

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-21527533371243220212008-09-30T12:01:00.003-04:002008-09-30T12:15:31.150-04:00

"Instructors unfamiliar with a 'class plan' will be quick to find or develop one after the first day."This is from a Master instructor in our Region, speaking to the perils and joys of teaching a youth class.For years, I've done very well with a "loose" class plan for my adult classes. I know what needs to be done and how to get to the goal for the most part. I often assess my plan at the

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-54379014249074084442008-09-28T17:31:00.006-04:002008-09-28T17:46:11.200-04:00

I had two big smiles this week, due to surprises on my doorstep. Friday night, I found a package from one of my black belts. I really wasn't sure what to expect...We've been quoting the preview for this movie for months in class. This BB in particular teamed up with a few other students to make our own, BTSD-style, spoof on the viral videos which have found a permanent place in BTSD lore.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-39252079441038566912008-09-26T11:47:00.004-04:002008-09-26T12:23:46.100-04:00

Another busy week is behind me. We had a blast this week with orientation and meeting tons of new students. First week at BTSD went well with several students trying a class for the first time yesterday. I'm very proud of all of my black belts who worked with the new students to share their unique perspective on TSD.I haven't gotten to train much this week with everything else going on, but

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-39824976672700630052008-09-19T11:45:00.010-04:002008-09-22T09:45:54.399-04:00

Next week is Welcome Week at Ohio State, which means that campus is about to be infiltrated by thousands of lost freshmen, looking for something to do with their lives beyond beer pong and studying. Hopefully, that's where we come in. We are doing several events over the next week, handing out hundreds of fliers and having an "open house" demo class on Thursday to encourage new students to

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-13071504475309550092008-09-19T11:45:00.008-04:002008-09-19T16:15:47.517-04:00

I've decided to add a new feature to my site. I've found some excellent stuff on YouTube over last 2 years, and I'd like to share some of the more interesting things I've come across this week. That's right, I'm sifting through all the poop on youtube to bring you the pearls. You're welcome. :)Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming lectures on Taiji (3 part series)Very interesting insights into soft, hard, soft/

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-86183962159358480712008-09-02T16:09:00.002-04:002008-09-02T17:02:14.283-04:00

Fall quarter at Ohio State is our biggest recruitment period. A few thousand new undergrads descend on campus and are essentially forced to attend orientation programming that we participate in as a club.The last few years, I've started to notice that the students don't get all of my obscure references and that there is a bit of a disconnect as I become more of an "adult" in their eyes rather

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-3338574879723594762008-08-26T16:54:00.003-04:002008-08-26T17:13:14.587-04:00

Have you heard of Twitter? Essentially a micro-blogging tool, twitter lets you inform the world of any banal, trifling and occasionally important thoughts bouncing through your head at any given time. The catch is that you must condense this brain fart into no more than 160 characters. The end result looks somewhat like someone's Facebook updates. That is, if you have a friend on Facebook

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-46898914228555625922008-08-25T10:19:00.002-04:002008-08-25T10:24:20.058-04:00

Cuban TKD Competitor Faces Life Ban After Kicking Ref in Face!Wow.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-42306622683541106412008-08-18T08:58:00.003-04:002008-08-19T10:23:49.695-04:00

I've been reading "The Winner's Manual" by OSU Football coach Jim Tressel. Thus far, it is a pretty interesting read with some great insights as to how he manages over 100 young men in a successful program. Reading the book, I saw that we're both fans of John Wooden. Coach Tressel shares this quote from Wooden:"Fellows, you're going to receive some criticism. Some of it will be deserved and

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-65526417936769503552008-08-11T20:49:00.003-04:002008-08-11T21:01:04.226-04:00

ta i ji @ Yahoo! VideoThis video is absolutely stunning. 2008 martial artists, performing in sync. Notice the perfect lines, moving together, splitting and regrouping. I'll remember this next time I try to get my class to line up quickly. I heard on the news this morning that another team from the opening ceremonies literally practiced 8 hours a day for 4 months. I can only imagine a similar

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-78498522240670937802008-08-06T11:50:00.002-04:002008-08-06T15:23:07.691-04:00

Since Sunday, I've run across this phrase twice, once in Chinese and once in English. Hua quan xiu tui roughly means "flowery fists and brocade (silken) legs." Isn't that sweet? In fact, it may even sound downright poetic.However, saying such a thing to a "serious martial artist" would be tantamount to a gauntlet being thrown at their feet. Why not just insult their mother's virtue and kick

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-78384446602845959122008-08-04T15:25:00.004-04:002008-08-06T10:43:31.063-04:00

Thanks to Mr. Holtman and Ms. Suzanne Grigsby for being so kind to shoot our Tan Tui class on Sunday. Once again, Sifu Mike Grigsby of the OSU Shuai Chiao club was kind enough to share his knowledge with us.We worked on the first seven roads, and went at a pretty good speed. As it was meant to be a general introduction for our newer students, I'm not so concerned that they learned the roads,

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-70878392232931695512008-07-30T09:11:00.004-04:002008-07-30T09:29:31.352-04:00

During hyung practice last night, I am discussing Pyung Ahn E Dan with a green belt. In this discussion, I mention that I've always thought that each of the 5 pyung ahn have their own sort of personality or flavor to them, and that I've always found it to be a bit of an amateur psych test to see which form is someone's favorite.So I ask my black belts: "What's your favorite Pyung Ahn?"#1: E Dan.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-27190589143390001682008-07-29T14:31:00.004-04:002008-12-09T03:55:15.431-05:00

Every summer, it seems my focus in training returns to the famous Tan Tui set. I've been practicing the sets now for about 3 years, but with nowhere near the intensity of my Tang Soo Do training. I often add them to my class drills without explicitly calling it Tan Tui, because I enjoy how they flow right into normal TSD techniques.Historical reasons aside, I've been contemplating why I enjoy

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-34483138970236592122008-07-24T13:09:00.002-04:002008-07-24T13:53:34.560-04:00

Shui Hu Chuan (水滸傳) is considered one of the major classics in Chinese Literature. It is known in English under several titles: The Water Margins, Outlaws of the Marsh, and All Men Are Brothers. The image to the right was created by Miguel Covarrubias for the Pearl S. Buck translation.My instructor spoke of this book often as a "must-read" for martial artists. The same for his instructor, and

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-28426936708124664022008-07-22T16:44:00.004-04:002008-07-22T16:52:25.099-04:00

Lately, I've found it very hard to shop for wood at the local big box stores. The quality of pine will vary wildly, and I don't have time to sort through 10-12 foot planks looking for the ones that will yield the most boards.I strongly recommend using the good folks at BreakingBoards.Com Their web site isn't pretty, but they're selling boxes of wood, for Pete's sake! I have used their wood for

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-35884471666377494292008-07-21T13:48:00.007-04:002008-12-09T03:55:15.703-05:00

The other day, we spent some time in class talking about the spear hand strike and other fingertip strikes. Fingertip strikes are amongst the legendary techniques, and among the few strikes that impress even the most skeptical of anti-breaking martial artists. We've often heard the tales of ancient masters plunging their hands into buckets filled with sand or beans to strengthen their hands and

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-62638170973119411852008-07-21T08:45:00.001-04:002008-07-21T08:46:24.946-04:00

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-7116805033553972372008-07-18T08:19:00.004-04:002008-07-21T14:25:08.201-04:00

I recently returned from the WTSDA World Championships, held in Orlando, Florida. We had a massive turnout from many countries around the world. It was amazing to see so many people uniting for a FRIENDLY martial arts tournament. Listening to 1500-2000 people lined up together and performing punch exercises is a very breathtaking and amazing experience.I was lucky to be one of the staff

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-26055660448767183682008-07-01T15:21:00.002-04:002008-07-01T15:59:33.681-04:00

I love books. That solitary fact is the only reason I have not gone insane at my current vocation. Working at the University gives me access to literally tens of millions of books. If Ohio State doesn't have it, I can get it from one of several OhioLink institutions across the state. (Chances are, your local university or even public library is plugged into a similar system. Harass your

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-4543223537153658152008-06-25T09:18:00.005-04:002008-12-09T03:55:15.879-05:00

A few years ago, my instructor was asked to do participate in a regional tournament's demonstration. This evening show has been one of the yearly highlights in our Region as we get to see the skills of our area's Master Instructors and a few of our other senior instructors. My instructor agreed to participate, and when people asked, he told them he would be demonstrating "Bassai."A few people's

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-48869639119522034432008-06-24T09:39:00.004-04:002008-06-24T10:25:41.707-04:00

A few weeks ago, I posted my demonstration of Esipsabo on Youtube. It has been viewed a fair number of times, and I did receive a good piece of feedback. Someone asked me why I had omitted the Sanchin stance.The truth is pretty simple: I don't know anything about the Sanchin stance. I have a rough idea of where the feet should be, but aside from that pigeon-toed look, I'm completely ignorant

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-39250689778238890782008-06-23T12:25:00.003-04:002008-06-23T14:10:26.138-04:00

Karate Thoughts Blog. This blog is written by Mr. Charles Gooden, head of the Hawaii Karate Museum, which sounds like the coolest job in the world.I really enjoy his brief postings on karate, in which his main idea sticks with me a bit after I've left the page. That's a pretty rare moment on the internet these days.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-38863683712270660862008-06-17T08:44:00.005-04:002008-12-09T03:55:16.219-05:00

I know, one doesn't say that very often, but I find this to be one of my most common injuries after a sword workout. The brachioradialis is the muscle responsible for flexing the arm at the elbow. If you've ever done a lot of sword work, you may recognize this as the muscle which is especially tight the next day on your right arm. especially in that fleshy point just to the side of the elbow.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-39126707227186719752008-06-11T14:57:00.004-04:002008-12-09T03:55:16.685-05:00

If you begin the study of self-defense, everyone reaches a point when they realize how awful the world can be and how violence can arbitrarily enter their lives. At this point, a little knowledge becomes a dangerous thing, and we find ourselves living in a state of hyperparanoia. Awareness is heightened, but too distracted to really process an actual threat. Police scenario drills find that

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-72998551588999143712008-06-09T09:15:00.006-04:002008-06-09T11:56:24.544-04:00

The simple fact is, there are people out there who are nothing more than a bipedal cheeseburger. They're a self propelled snack pack looking for someone to eat them. There is no helping the truly consumable among us. -- Ken Cook, a term coined at SDF.Pretend you are a mugger. You want your score, but you also don't want to be caught or shot. So you wait for the right person to come along.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-18029336069695388652008-06-08T19:26:00.002-04:002008-06-08T19:50:47.722-04:00

My teacher Grandmaster H. C. Hwang for example could put out a candle flame by pointing from over a foot away, I've also been amazed by his awareness, I've seen him spot one person in a crowd of hundreds that did not belong. I've seen him on countless occasions catch details that no one else did.I'll never forget when Master Bonsigniore had tucked folded knife into his uniform which was no bigger

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-50651781247845080422008-06-02T13:09:00.004-04:002008-06-02T13:24:53.424-04:00

In my previous post, I discussed my love/hate relationship with YouTube and its proof of the decline of western civilization. I received some encouragement to go ahead and post a few videos, so I thought I'd make a noble attempt to put 1-2 videos up a month and use them to further my talking points.Here's a video of me practicing E Sip Sa Bo, aka Nijushiho.If you recall my previous posts on this

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-8423512074415659952008-05-29T10:06:00.002-04:002008-05-29T10:55:49.844-04:00

I love YouTube.I hate YouTube.The gold prospectors of the 19th century, sifting through silt, mud and rocks in search for the littlest bits of gold and nugget would be very comfortable with YouTube. Just as blogs are replete with navel-gazing tripe, so too is YouTube. Only with sound and shoddy cell phone camera video.In all seriousness, Youtube is great for martial artists. There is some

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-26244987794032830512008-05-28T15:21:00.007-04:002008-05-28T16:02:44.323-04:00

Andre Bertel, a student of the late Asai sensei, wrote a ">blistering article on the state of Shotokan in New Zealand.I am not a student of Shotokan, and profess to know little of the politics of his organization. His article, however, gave me much to think about as I nodded my head in agreement with his views.When the fundamental 'engines' of Shotokan karate are not included, or seriously

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-15446929270743164752008-05-27T13:16:00.004-04:002008-05-27T13:44:21.102-04:00

Over the weekend, I managed to take a break from yardwork to briefly attend the Columbus Asian Festival. I had 2 simple goals for the afternoon:1. Watch a few martial arts demos and get at least 1 good photo.2. Drink a delicious Thai Iced Tea.I managed to meet both goals, make a few networking contacts, and remind myself that I should learn to play sepak takraw.I had the opportunity to watch 2

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-24447723282521550862008-05-20T11:57:00.002-04:002008-05-20T12:12:51.107-04:00

A selection from the The Way of Aikido: Life Lessons from an American Samurai that reflects some of my recent training thoughts, especially in terms of staff and nunchaku work:“What are we doing in the dojo? We might have first come to aikido for self-defense or fitness or balance. But after a few months these considerations fade away. We are doing it, with all that it entails – strenuous

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-74304395386373876592008-05-16T09:38:00.006-04:002009-09-09T13:18:26.183-04:00

The other day, I joked that I was considering joining the circus. Unless my phone interview goes poorly, that's probably not in the cards, but doing so would probably vastly improve my martial arts skills.You read that correctly.My training as of late has largely revolved around the staff. Over the years, I've developed a method of training the staff and I've been studying and practicing the

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-2372169984515222682008-05-13T16:37:00.003-04:002008-05-13T16:52:18.823-04:00

In a previous post, I was asked how often I go back and reflect on what I've written in the past. To be honest, I don't re-examine my writing very much upon completion. When I do, sometimes the process can be very humbling.Think about how much you've grown as a person since High School. For me, it's been a little over 13 years, and when I stop to consider how my thoughts, opinions and emotions

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-66685037314806413372008-05-08T09:26:00.007-04:002008-05-08T11:06:34.535-04:00

...At least, that's how most people frame the debate. Have you ever noticed that from one school to another to another, techniques are performed differently? Sometimes the difference is obvious, and other times it may be a subtle aspect of position, angle, transitional movement or anything else. If you look hard enough, you'll even see this difference within a single school. The old guard may

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-41024981326191686442008-05-05T11:06:00.006-04:002008-12-09T03:55:17.629-05:00

This weekend, our studio participated in the Region 5 Championship. It is a 3 day, action packed event featuring a black belt test, tournament and clinic. Sometimes, I even find time to eat AND sleep.2 of my students tested for Cho Dan, and I am very proud of their efforts. Both students excelled in their demonstration of what a BTSD Cho Dan should look like. They were physically well

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-24139443452493424962008-04-30T11:47:00.004-04:002008-05-05T13:54:33.144-04:00

My name is Tom, and I am a prolific note-taker. I keep a little notebook with me wherever I go, solely for writing notes to myself. Sometimes they are reminders to do something later (I used to try to keep a specific book just for that, to keep this one "pure" but I tend to lose/forget it.) but it is largely an idea repository.Ideas don't always conveniently materialize in class. Often, it is

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-65271899554590379232008-04-30T09:24:00.002-04:002008-12-09T03:55:17.782-05:00

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”who said it?

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-37428896950003107282008-04-29T12:39:00.003-04:002008-05-05T13:55:11.736-04:00

This month, I'm set to visit some friends in Chicago and teach a nunchaku seminar. Nunchaku have a special place in my heart. I've been playing with and using them since I was about 10 years old. It was a bonding between my dad and myself. As a teenager, my dad took karate classes and his instructor would show a few tricks with the nunchaku. The 1970s were the peak of nunchaku mania in the

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-78190755498501796872008-04-25T12:02:00.002-04:002008-04-25T12:04:38.520-04:00

Just a lot going on. Moving one studio to a new location, getting married and looking for a new job all at the same time.I've had a severe case of writer's block over the last month, and am still having a hard time putting the concepts in my mind into words. I have 3 or 4 topics that I want to write about, and just haven't done much with yet.Stay tuned. (Or just check your RSS feed.)

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-65290160608517402722008-04-07T16:45:00.003-04:002008-04-07T16:51:29.971-04:00

To paraphrase Master H from this weekend:If you (as a blackbelt) aren't learning something new every time you step on the floor, you only have yourself to blame.Master H has a way of being very firm and direct, yet fair. That's one of the many reasons I enjoy training with him when I can. It's something I've been trying to tell my yudanja, and making it far more complicated than it had to be.It

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-24215610495283378392008-03-27T13:43:00.005-04:002008-03-27T14:10:22.947-04:00

A lot of martial arts schools are using web pages to stay in contact with their students or student parents. College clubs or adult classes are great for this, since you can easily foster 2 way communication if you want (I don't suggest emailing back and forth with minor students.)The only problem with this model is that is relies on the students to actively seek out your webpage, visit it

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-43299690585535817242008-03-25T10:31:00.002-04:002008-03-25T10:53:45.302-04:00

4 nights a week, I dress up in pajamas, walk around barefoot in a rec center, and punch at the air and scream with a group of similarly clad individuals who not only do this activity with me, but see me as their leader. We seriously state the 7 tenets of training and 5 codes of Tang Soo Do in a serious opening and closing ceremony. We then spend two hours butchering the Korean language and

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-78786977816210698412008-03-19T13:50:00.006-04:002008-03-19T14:43:51.218-04:00

Over the last 6 years, I've collected a lot of information on the pocket stick. This stick is known by a lot of names: chizikunbo, yawara stick, koppo stick, kubotan, dan bong, and many more. For the most part, these sticks are approximately 6-8 inches and easily fit into the palm of the hand. Many groups emphasize the striking of nerve clusters or using the stick to enhance joint locks.

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-42273977828687288902008-03-11T13:17:00.003-04:002008-12-09T03:55:18.386-05:00

I own the entire series of Best Karate. Written by Nakayama Masatoshi, who to me embodies the essence JKA Shototan ryupa, these books outline each of the canon forms in painstaking detail. The bunkai, however, always left something to be desired. I've always found applications to be more like visual analogies for teaching rather than anything substantive. For that reason, I always wrote them

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-63274284582040633392008-03-07T15:04:00.001-05:002008-03-07T15:05:34.812-05:00

Thanks to Heather for this link!Don't send a lame St. Patrick's Day eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-32018038785447353052008-03-07T10:22:00.003-05:002008-03-07T10:46:24.479-05:00

This morning, I dropped a gauntlet on my black belt students. This is a challenge that I've been toying with for about a year now, and I recently pulled off the backburner thanks to a post by John.Basically, I wanted to take a form that is not mainstream in Tang Soo Do, have my students study other versions of the form and make their own interpretation of the hyung. So what starts out as a

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-80712108471959640482008-03-03T15:01:00.003-05:002008-03-03T15:14:36.567-05:00

Currently, there are 4 WTSDA affiliated schools in Ohio: BTSD, CTSDA, Lifetime and Lexus-Nexus TSD. Of those, the former 3 are all within Columbus. All of us are roughly within an hour of each other, which makes it easy and enjoyable to get together and train as a group.The instructor over at Lifetime has worked out a deal with his host that will allow us to meet once a month for a combined

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-73739740083680969222008-02-25T10:18:00.002-05:002008-02-25T10:20:23.058-05:00

Just wanted to quickly share a blog I ran across this morning.Yachigusa Ryu.Some excellent, well-thought out articles that are thought-provoking and very thorough as well!

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-76819498710233831222008-02-22T09:13:00.006-05:002008-02-22T10:07:32.356-05:00

Today, on the rough streets of Columbus, I had the opportunity to employ my martial arts training. I called upon my thousands of hours sweating and training in the dojang, and I am proud to report that my body reacted exactly as it had been trained. My enemy was vanquished, and I lived to tell the tale with a minimum amount of injury.I called upon my training in the ancient art of nakbop sul.I

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-18707970271263117822008-02-19T14:19:00.003-05:002008-02-19T14:29:59.196-05:00

Our student recreation center has started purchasing some of the newer, rubberized medicine balls. I've added them to my pre-class workout, and I have really enjoyed the variety of exercises I can do with them. They are great for abdominal workouts and you can add them to lunges to give an extra challenge. Throwing the medicine ball with a partner works great as well. At the very least,

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-16062109494105632832008-02-15T12:14:00.002-05:002008-02-15T12:28:12.949-05:00

This past weekend, we successfully hosted our yearly clinic for studios in our Region. While it's not a particularly expensive or stressful event, there is quite a bit of paperwork to keep track of, dates to keep in mind, deadlines, etc. When one person is doing all the work, it's incumbent upon them to organize the material however they see best (I personally prefer using labels in gmail.)When

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-62351855845461374682008-02-06T13:47:00.000-05:002008-02-06T14:06:06.537-05:00

For the last few years, the black belt tests in our Region have added an additional segment. After drilling basic techniques, candidates are pushed to the back of the room and asked to march up to the front creating their own combinations of techniques: kicking punching rolling, jump kicks, whatever they can come up with. The first group of candidates starts the long march down the floor,

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-27790842334595174092008-01-30T10:48:00.001-05:002008-01-30T10:59:03.393-05:00

In my last post, you'll recall I mentioned how dorm demos have a certain amount of peril to them, as the marketing is placed in the hands of the host. Last night, we had a rather unorganized host, and no one was really coming to the demo. After some frustration, I just started holding class right there in the hallway. Interestingly enough, if you get 10 people kihap-ing enough, it starts to

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-21577437159463352652008-01-29T15:31:00.000-05:002008-01-29T15:37:59.558-05:00

Quick drive by post:A few students are clamoring for a more physically intense class. They want to be dripping with sweat and trembling in their legs. I certainly value the hard workout, and there's nothing like a 1000 kick class to really make you not want to get out of bed the next morning.Here's my question: is that truly the role of class? Obviously, Tang Soo Do is not an academic class

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-68419325977222201792008-01-29T15:13:00.001-05:002008-01-29T15:38:24.063-05:00

demo Originally uploaded by tommrkr The last 2 weeks, we've taken our class out of the dojang and to the local university dormitories. Our original goal seemed on track: go out to our target audiences.Here's the thing, we hold classes at the university rec center. But is that necessarily the crowd we want? A lot of people who are going to the rec center are going with a specific

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-65651363612808792222008-01-21T20:59:00.000-05:002008-12-09T03:55:18.623-05:00

I've been reading about collegiate coaches lately. Two coaches in particular stand out to me as true leaders who would have made excellent martial artists: Ohio State Football coach Woody Hayes, and UCLA Basketball coach John Wooden. Both are men who cared a great deal for their players and did used the lessons taught in their sport to teach them about real life. Currently, I'm reading Wooden's

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-40732025064361665142008-01-08T17:21:00.000-05:002008-01-09T10:22:50.204-05:00

I got one of these for my birthday:It's a rope dart. Somewhere along the lines of Chinese civilization, someone thought it would be a real hoot to tie a sharp, heavy metal object to a 15 foot section of rope and watch the fun ensue!For a few years, I've been fascinated with the idea of learning to manipulate this weapon. Flow, angles and distancing all play very interesting roles with this

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-49874386181438329482008-01-04T11:21:00.000-05:002008-01-04T11:51:34.627-05:00

First off, this xkcd comic captures my approach to youtube. Whilst searching for bojutsu clips, I started following suggested links until I came across a few eku videos, from where I eventually was led to a few videos from Patrick McCarthy, whom you may know as a translator of the Bubishi. As it happened, I was thinking about kick drills and fell into this great drill by accident.I dropped this

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-53760461824973721602007-12-28T11:22:00.000-05:002007-12-31T10:32:38.283-05:00

Here's a quick drive-by post to wrap up 2007...One of my favorite things about my studio is that everyone is in it together. Individual progress is sacrificed in order to help junior rank or to assist those in need. In the end, these strong bonds improve everyone's mental understanding of the techniques and concepts we practice.But sometimes, we just try too darned hard. When we see someone

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4084448078421762195.post-277703377449097872007-12-27T09:57:00.000-05:002007-12-27T11:43:45.192-05:00

As I look to move my Wednesday class to a different facility, I've come to realize how extremely lucky I've been to have a large, clean space for my OSU class. Even though the new facility offers only about 1/3rd the space we had (to be fair, our old floor was about 50 yards long) it is still far superior to what I've been able to find off campus. Currently, I'm looking at a YMCA facility that

Tang Soo Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796358757211630849noreply@blogger.com0