Lastly, before I go into my TKD slomber for the next twenty years,

we were always taught to have our hands up, not necessarily like the boxers, however, at least up near faces/upper body so as to block kicks and punches to the face. Moreover, the hands have to be in fists because one can sprain fingers when blocking a powerful kicks with open hand.

Nice posts and confirms a lot from the article as it goes to show evryones experiences have been different and not everyone back then covered everything that was involved in TKD training leading to misconceptions that certain things arn't part of TKD, when in fact they are & always were. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Stuart

wilcy:

Quote:

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I grew up in Hawaii in the early 1970s, taking TKD from a Korean "traditional" instructor who also taught TKD in the Korean ROK army before he immigrated to the U.S. He was also a ROK, Vietnam vet....

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Wilcy, welcome to the forum.

I love hearing about the old school ways.Seems like real original TKD how it should be.
More more haha.
Sometimes my instructor surprises us with a real old school style lesson and the ones who have trained ages always say it still doesnt compare, as us younger lot sit destroyed and aching at the end.lol.Then I sit and listen to storys of how easy we have it.

I find it incredible that people would level the criticism at General Choi that he did not know all the pattern move applicstions. Not because he did, but I submit that no one did. Various motions are subject to any number of applications. Now, if you modify them a little they are subject to many more. Even some of todays "Real Application" Gurus such as Dilman and Vince Morris will take the same move and show different "Real Applications."

To the credit of some, they readily admit (Rick Clark being one) that there is no way of knowing the "Real" or "Original' application. He simply explains that what he suggests works and makes sense. What general Choi also states makes sense. Just as no one person or country can claim invention of the wheel or discovery of fire, no such claim can be made for Martial Art techniques. Further, as Gneral Choi stated at several instructor courses, if someone indicates that the application for a technique is different then what you thinkm it is ask them to demonstrate the application. If it makes sense, it is a good application irrespective of what the book says.

as an added item, what I percieve to be the bottom line as related in a seminar with Vince Morris is overlooked. Applications will not make crummy technique good. They will make good technique better. Learning a basic application will teach you to move powerfuly and efficiently, as well as in a well balanced manner. Then how you apply the motion is limited only by your imagination and practical considerations. Remember, General Choi classified first Degree Black Belt as "Novice". It is therefore logical that the applications learned are novice applications with variations available.

>>Ok. You posted this pic. So let's play around with it a bit. What does this pic say to YOU. What does it convey? <<<

The photo alone would not convey much. Coupled with the opinions of those I know and respect about the abilities of Park Jung Tae, it is an example of what a phenominal Martial artist can do. I have seen GM Sereff on several occasions do a "table Top " break where 6 boards are standing on their edge on top of another board. A prson simply keeps their fingertips on them to keep the boards from falling over. GM Sereff does an inward Knifehand strike and splits the baords with the effect that pieces of lumber seem to be flying everywhere.

And yes MasL they are "American Boards".

Master Weiss:
Did you not have the opportunity to train with (G)Master Park, Jung Tae?