During my 6 week preparation for teaching, one of my mentors at Teach For America handed me the following two sheets of paper. I have kept them in a folder since I received them in 1992.

In the near future, our school will be offering Taekwondo classes to children and I decided to pass this on to our senior students in the hopes it will help them be the best teachers they can be.

The significance of these two pages is they teach us to approach children from the perspective of THEIR NEEDS rather than our own. These pages offer strategies for dealing with needy or dependent children, shy withdrawn children, as well as other useful tidbits.  Sometimes the suggestions are counter-intuitive or not what you would instinctively do.

When you think back to the best teacher you ever had, the teacher probably found fun ways to make you learn and made sure that the challenges you were given were within your grasp to accomplish. Nothing is more frustrating for a child than to be given an assignment without the requisite skills to accomplish it. When children are repeatedly presented with challenges they can complete, their confidence soars and their behavior and cooperation increases.

Click here for the .pdf of the 2 pages. They are posted below as pictures. If you click on a picture, you can see it in a larger size.  This was credited to Reynold Bean.  Search the internet, I believe he has written a number of books.

How to Raise Self-Esteem in the Classroom Page 1

How to Raise Self-Esteem in the Classroom - Page 2

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As evident in this cute video, sometimes people think the Keeyup is a special word or carries special meaning. In fact, it has very practical applications which I’ll explain below.

So, what is a Keeyup if it is not a special language? It is an important fighting technique.

Yelling strikes fear in the opponent.

Cats hiss, dogs bark, and lions roar. If attacked or threatened, a fighting stance with a committed yell might offer the something extra to make your attacker think twice.

Yelling forces your stomach to tighten.

Relax your stomach. Now hit yourself quickly just above the belly button! You can actually knock the wind out of yourself if you do this. Now tighten your stomach and try again. Did you notice the difference? A tight stomach will protect you from injury and prevent you from getting your wind knocked out.

Yelling makes the technique more powerful.

We learned early on that breathing during punching or kicking affects the power of the strike. If you don’t believe it, try holding your breath and punching. It doesn’t feel right, does it? Since we want to make the most powerful strike possible, we force a powerful exhale by yelling during the moment of impact. Or maybe you thought professional tennis players let out grunts on the court to amuse the spectators?

I’m sure there are more reasons why yelling is an effective fighting technique. If for no other reason, do it because a 9th degree black belt does it when he’s breaking 5 boards with the ball of his foot! Set your volume and give a listen to Grandmaster SJ Kim give us a demonstration….

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Taekwondo International Black belt Oath

• I shall always observe the school rules and lead by example.
• I shall always maintain my training to continue improving my mind and body.
• I shall always exemplify discipline and focus during practice.
• I shall always promote unity and honor amongst black belts.
• I shall always earn respect through my training and conduct.
• I shall always be faithful to my seniors.
• I shall always be faithful to my teacher.
• I shall always be faithful to the Union

Test picture

Videos:

3 board reverse knife hand video

3 boards reverse turning kick

4 boards back kick

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After class, Grandmaster Kim mentioned two questions he asked his students recently.  He asked for the students to write “just a couple of sentences” and extended the question to the Oneonta Taekwondo students.

1)  Why do you like practicing Taekwondo?

2)  What is the purpose?

He explained that he knows we practice Taekwondo because it makes us happy.  He said “I’m pretty sure it doesn’t make you miserable.”   All in all, I think he enjoyed having the “mountain people” visit and I hope our students gained the sense of cameraderie and brotherhood that exists between our schools.

I would greatly appreciate if our students could take a few minutes to write a quick email to Grandmaster Kim to answer his questions in a “few sentences,  nothing elaborate”.  He can be contacted at the following address.  If you CC me on the email, I’ll send you back my response to him.

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Eventually, through repetition, concentration, and experimentation, the movement will become smoother and more second nature. By the time you are demonstrating the pattern for your next test, the movement should be one you are comfortable executing with full exertion and confidence. Remember, every move in the pattern should be executed strongly enough to break a board. (Even the blocks?)

In my opinion, General Choi was quite brilliant in his selection of movements in the patterns. Each pattern helps the practitioner evolve further toward total mind and body control. In Chun Ji, we learn how to turn, step, and punch and block. We learn to focus and pay attention to our movements. In Joong Gun, we learn to move backwards and forwards and shift comfortably between L stance and walking stance and how to generate power by dropping down into a rear-foot stance.

I hope you enjoy learning your new patterns and that you continue to pursue mastery of them. Over time, Chon Ji will remain as difficult as your highest pattern since there is always something to learn and always something to improve.

In my opinion, General Choi was quite brilliant in his selection of movements in the patterns. Each pattern helps the practitioner evolve further toward total mind and body control. In Chun Ji, we learn how to turn, step, and punch and block. We learn to focus and pay attention to our movements. In Joong Gun, we learn to move backwards and forwards and shift comfortably between L stance and walking stance and how to generate power by dropping down into a rear-foot stance.

Your first job is to learn the rythm of the pattern, the steps and the basics of the movements. After, you know how to step through the pattern, you should make sure you know the exact stance for each movement. In a couple of weeks, you can begin to refine the movements through experimentation. Strip away what is wasteful or ineffective. After two months or so, you should focus on keeping your fingers tight, your eyes focused, the precision of the strikes and blocks and perfecting your stances. Please don’t hesitate to ask a senior student about the purpose of a difficult movement or for some help in it’s execution.
I hope you enjoy learning your new patterns and that you continue to pursue mastery of them. Over time, Chun Ji will remain as difficult as your highest pattern since there is always something to learn and always something to improve.

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I hope you take a few minutes to read the article.

http://www.freewebs.com/metheus/e_general.html

Of course, we can’t always trust 100% of what we find on the internet but I think this is pretty good.

Tags: generalchoi, history

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Eager to see my instructor in action, I assumed a bone crushing kick or punch were imminent. My instructor easily won the fight with a powerful technique. After that day, I held a new respect for this skill and am now more aware of its use and presence than ever before. I practice this technique daily and cannot count the number of fights I have won thanks to my ability to use it well. A kick, a punch, a submission hold – these are what we think of as martial arts techniques but none of these are the technique my master utilized this day when he was clearly under attack from a dangerous person.

The technique he used was the first tenet of taekwon-do: Courtesy.

As the man stood mumbling “Come on, you’re so tough, show me”, my master stood with his hands gently at his side with the palms up. His body was relaxed and calm. I heard him say the same 3 phrases over and over for about 4 minutes.

“Please go.”

“Please, there is nothing here for you.”

“I’m sorry. Please go now.”

My master’s voice was quiet, respectful, empathetic, and gentle. I stood dumbfounded wondering if this would work. After 2 minutes, the attacker was confused because this was not the response he expected. He wasn’t sure why a fight hadn’t erupted. He picked up his stick and gestured again. My master took a deep breath, looked the man in the eye and repeated the same sentences.

“We can’t help you”

“Please go now”

“There is nothing here for you”

Eventually, the man realized there would be no fighting. He realized he had made a mistake in coming to our school. My instructor’s calmness produced calmness in the attacker as I witnessed his shoulders relax and his breathing slow. Finally, the man turned and slowly walked out the door.

Afterward, I was left considering the various ways in which this situation could have played itself out. I had heard stories of bullies coming into our school and my master having them on the mat begging for mercy. I knew that my master had the physical capability to hurt this man or take him physically into submission.

Had he raised his voice or threatened the man, I believe the tension would have escalated and violence would have erupted. If violence had occurred, I’m sure the police and an ambulance would have been called. My master taught us all a tremendous lesson that day in self-control and courtesy. I believe it was the empathy, respect, and courtesy in my master’s voice and mannerisms which ultimately led to the peaceful exit of the attacker.

Each day, there is potential for a fight or altercation. It might be on the phone with customer service or in line for movie tickets. Shamefully, I admit it took me almost 3 years to realize how frequently my master uses the words “please, thank you, excuse me, I’m sorry”. The words are small and they cost nothing but they are some of the most powerful words I can use during a stressful moment. In class, it is very subtle, but the example of my master has carried over into the lives of his students. Courtesy, consideration, empathy, and genuine respect for all persons is a very powerful weapon in the daily fight to survive.

Like any technique, this is a skill which must be taught, practiced with discipline, and mastered before it is truly useful. In the dojang, we use the words “Sir” and “Ma’am”. Very often, Americans are surprised to be addressed this way. However, I have been doing so for years and find that it breeds nothing but positive results. I encourage you to look for opportunities to use courtesy in your daily life and see the results it brings about. Once the skill is practiced and mastered, it may serve you well in a threatening situation as it did that day with my master.

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Class activities and exercises are the most important part of taekwon-do training because this is the way it has been handed down for generations. However, there are some other important ways that a student can practice taekwon-do which may not be obvious. White belt and yellow belt practitioners progress rapidly during the first few months as their bodies develop the strength to balance on one leg and stretching starts to shape the body for more powerful strikes and blocks. Eventually, students learn they must take control of their own practice in order to fully progress.

One of the most rewarding effects of being a student at Grandmaster Kim’s school is being surrounded by numerous high ranking black belts. How does a 3rd degree black belt practice? I used to attend classes at lunchtime and recall one day seeing a 3rd degree black belt practice by herself as I was putting my shoes on to leave. She stepped onto the mat, bowed to the flags, and began doing jumping jacks. She did her stretches, some sit-ups and pushups. She then stood at attention and began the first pattern – Chun-Ji. Upon completion, she stood a minute and thought. She turned around and assumed the position of the 13th or 14th movement. She repeated the same two movements a few times, each time with gradual speed and power. Finally, she lined up and started the entire pattern from the beginning and finished it through. This behavior is repeated in do-jangs across the world every day.

Taekwon-do is a very personal thing. Only by focusing on the movement of our own bodies can we improve. Only by trying to make each movement more balanced, focused, stronger, more accurate, more powerful and more purposeful can we be considered “mastering” them.

Below are some ways of practicing I feel are beneficial to students who want to practice on their own. As students progress above the yellow belt level, it becomes more appropriate and more necessary for them to take more initiative in learning to master the techniques. Not all techniques are taught during classes. Some movements in the pattern cannot be mastered if they are only practiced during class, during patterns. They must be isolated, deconstructed, and experimented with. Then, the movement can be fully understood and practiced in full speed with improved skill. These are some ways I have learned from my teachers and from my senior blackbelts.

1. Practice in slow motion. One move or an entire pattern can be done in slow motion to explore a fuller understanding of the movement.
2. Practice in “fast forward”. Perform an entire pattern in double-time to realize what is lost by moving too quickly.
3. Practice with your eyes closed. This allows us to pay more attention to our balance by turning off the visual cues.
4. Practice with your eyes closed, sitting still. Olympic athletes train using controlled daydreams. Stuck in a doctor’s office? Close your eyes and do chun-ji.
5. Practice in place. When space is at a minimum, you can jump and switch feet instead of moving forward. Try performing your pattern within a 4×4 space.
6. Practice on a trampoline.
7. Isolate your purpose – do you want to improve your speed, power, accuracy, strength, balance, or automate your reactions? As practitioners, we want to improve all of these things. The best way to do that might be to perform an exercise specifically for power or specifically for speed. Isolate your purpose, improve it and move on.

I hope to expand on these topics in future writings. I hope these ideas are useful to you in life and in your taekwon-do practice.

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The truth is that a Taekwon-do practitioner uses “it” all day, every day.  “It” can be hammering a nail or dealing with customer service.  When someone challenges you or begins some type of a confrontation, you should use “it” as soon as possible so that you can avoid a physical altercation.  Carrying groceries, shoveling snow, or moving furniture can cause us to “use it” by reflecting on our training.  How am I breathing?  What is my current posture right now?  How should I move my body to minimize effort and maximize my power, strength, speed or accuracy?

People who have never practiced Taekwon-do think of “it” as some form of weapon that we carry around like a loaded gun or a hidden knife.  Personally, I think of Taekwon-do as a disciplined practice which helps us develop mind and body control.

In a stressful situation, we can call upon our ability to control our mind and body by taking controlled breaths, focusing our eyes and attention on the situation, and relaxing our bodies.  In this way, we “use it” for harmonious purposes.  In this way, we “use it” to demonstrate excellence and produce the best possible outcome.

The next time someone tells you how you are supposed to “use it”, you can smile because you know that “using it” means more than kicking and punching.

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