<<This has developed very good black belt students with a clear
difference between a 1st dan and a 2nd dan.>>
I am not so sure that there should be as clear a difference between
1st and 2nd Dans, and the reason why I say that is because of my
understanding of Koryo.
The 1975 Taekwondo poomsae textbook describes Koryo as follows: "Koryo
(Korea) is the name of an ancient dynasty (A.D. 918-1392) in Korea.
The English word 'Korea' is originated from the name of 'Koryo'
Dynasty. Koryo's legacy to the Korean people is very significant.
Koryo men invented metal type for the first time in the
world (1234), more than two centuries before Johannes Guttenberg
(1398?-1468), and also created the famous Koryo ceramics.
Moreover, they showed great fortitude by persistently defeating the
aggression of the Mongolians who were sweeping the known world
at the time. The application of the spirit of Koryo men into the
movement of Taekwondo is Poomse "Koryo". Consequently, every
motion of poomse Koryo is the presentation of the strong conviction
and will with which Koryo men held in check the Mongolians, and,
therefore it can be one's posture of cultivating himself in which he
may follow the wisdom and unyielding spirit of the man of
conviction."
The new Kukkiwon Textbook describes Koryo as follows (slightly
different from the older explanation):
"Koryo poomsae symbolizes 'seonbae' which means a learned man,
who is characterized by a strong martial spirit as well as a righteous
learned man's spirit. The spirit had been inherited through the ages
of Koguryo, Pahae and down to Koryo, which is the background
of organizing the Koryo poomsae. . . . The line of poomsae
represents the Chinese letter which means 'seonbae' or 'seonbi', a
learned man or a man of virtue in the Korean language."
Of all the ranks and students, I expect the least from 1st Dans. 1st
Dans often times (but not always) go through a phase where they
are inconsistent in their training, and instead strut around like they
have "arrived". Because of the inconsistent training, their skill
level often decreases, and it is often true that these practitioners
had a higher skill level as a senior red belt than as a 1st Dan.
The 1st Dan, like the 4th Dan, is a very dangerous and unstable time
for many practitioners, and the point where many will stop serious
training. Hopefully, for the 1st Dan, this phase will be a short one,
and his or her desire and conviction for Taekwondo training will
return.
The main difference between a 1st Dan and 2nd Dan is that the 2nd
Dan has passed through the 1st Dan phase, and understands that
there is more to learn and more to travel on the martial arts journey,
that it is time to kick it up a notch and train even harder than
before.
For me, when a student comes to this realization, and shows the
persistence and determination to go on with the journey, then this
student is ready for promotion to 2nd Dan, where his focus will be
to make his techniques solid and strong.
The diagram for the the Koryo poomsae is character # 31(Sa) in
Bruce Grant's dictionary, and he defines it as follows:
"scholar; gentleman; officer; soldier". Examples given are Shin Sa
(gentleman, man of honor), Byun Ho Sa (lawyer, attorney) and
Yong Sa (brave man, man of courage).
In many respects, a 1st Dan is similar to an "O1" in the military, the
ensign or 2nd lieutenant who just came out of the academy or
ROTC. No one expects much from these inexperienced officer
level members of the military, and so how much can we really expect
from a 1st Dan, especially from the 9th Dan perspective? Like
the O1, no one really stays at that rank for very long, and the 1st
Dan, after learning to be comfortable at the dan rank level, and
having demonstrated some discipline and understanding of the road
ahead, is ready for the 2nd Dan promotion.
This is why in Korea, you will find many students being promoted
relatively quickly to the 2nd Dan level, because in Korea, the "real"
training starts at 2nd Dan, not 1st Dan.
I believe this is why so many instructors experience disappointment
with their 1st Dans, because they fail to understand like the pioneers
did that 1st Dans often times need to take a break from training,
before resuming serious training at a later point. 1st Dan is a
natural "cruise" time for many practitioners, a recess or summer
vacation if you will, before training starts up again. The original
Koryo consistented of a straight line, up and down, and you went back
and forth up and down in the form, in much the same way 1st Dans act,
will their waning interest during their needed break time.
This is a much different view than what most think of when they
think of 1st Dans, but at the same time, I think we can all relate to
it to some degree. Be patient with your 1st Dans in the same way that
you would be patient with your brand new high school graduate
child, and they will eventually come around and go back to school,
or quit school altogether and do something else. Either way, it's
their decision to make, which is the lesson and choice that all 1st
Dans must make, on their own.
difference between a 1st dan and a 2nd dan.>>
I am not so sure that there should be as clear a difference between
1st and 2nd Dans, and the reason why I say that is because of my
understanding of Koryo.
The 1975 Taekwondo poomsae textbook describes Koryo as follows: "Koryo
(Korea) is the name of an ancient dynasty (A.D. 918-1392) in Korea.
The English word 'Korea' is originated from the name of 'Koryo'
Dynasty. Koryo's legacy to the Korean people is very significant.
Koryo men invented metal type for the first time in the
world (1234), more than two centuries before Johannes Guttenberg
(1398?-1468), and also created the famous Koryo ceramics.
Moreover, they showed great fortitude by persistently defeating the
aggression of the Mongolians who were sweeping the known world
at the time. The application of the spirit of Koryo men into the
movement of Taekwondo is Poomse "Koryo". Consequently, every
motion of poomse Koryo is the presentation of the strong conviction
and will with which Koryo men held in check the Mongolians, and,
therefore it can be one's posture of cultivating himself in which he
may follow the wisdom and unyielding spirit of the man of
conviction."
The new Kukkiwon Textbook describes Koryo as follows (slightly
different from the older explanation):
"Koryo poomsae symbolizes 'seonbae' which means a learned man,
who is characterized by a strong martial spirit as well as a righteous
learned man's spirit. The spirit had been inherited through the ages
of Koguryo, Pahae and down to Koryo, which is the background
of organizing the Koryo poomsae. . . . The line of poomsae
represents the Chinese letter which means 'seonbae' or 'seonbi', a
learned man or a man of virtue in the Korean language."
Of all the ranks and students, I expect the least from 1st Dans. 1st
Dans often times (but not always) go through a phase where they
are inconsistent in their training, and instead strut around like they
have "arrived". Because of the inconsistent training, their skill
level often decreases, and it is often true that these practitioners
had a higher skill level as a senior red belt than as a 1st Dan.
The 1st Dan, like the 4th Dan, is a very dangerous and unstable time
for many practitioners, and the point where many will stop serious
training. Hopefully, for the 1st Dan, this phase will be a short one,
and his or her desire and conviction for Taekwondo training will
return.
The main difference between a 1st Dan and 2nd Dan is that the 2nd
Dan has passed through the 1st Dan phase, and understands that
there is more to learn and more to travel on the martial arts journey,
that it is time to kick it up a notch and train even harder than
before.
For me, when a student comes to this realization, and shows the
persistence and determination to go on with the journey, then this
student is ready for promotion to 2nd Dan, where his focus will be
to make his techniques solid and strong.
The diagram for the the Koryo poomsae is character # 31(Sa) in
Bruce Grant's dictionary, and he defines it as follows:
"scholar; gentleman; officer; soldier". Examples given are Shin Sa
(gentleman, man of honor), Byun Ho Sa (lawyer, attorney) and
Yong Sa (brave man, man of courage).
In many respects, a 1st Dan is similar to an "O1" in the military, the
ensign or 2nd lieutenant who just came out of the academy or
ROTC. No one expects much from these inexperienced officer
level members of the military, and so how much can we really expect
from a 1st Dan, especially from the 9th Dan perspective? Like
the O1, no one really stays at that rank for very long, and the 1st
Dan, after learning to be comfortable at the dan rank level, and
having demonstrated some discipline and understanding of the road
ahead, is ready for the 2nd Dan promotion.
This is why in Korea, you will find many students being promoted
relatively quickly to the 2nd Dan level, because in Korea, the "real"
training starts at 2nd Dan, not 1st Dan.
I believe this is why so many instructors experience disappointment
with their 1st Dans, because they fail to understand like the pioneers
did that 1st Dans often times need to take a break from training,
before resuming serious training at a later point. 1st Dan is a
natural "cruise" time for many practitioners, a recess or summer
vacation if you will, before training starts up again. The original
Koryo consistented of a straight line, up and down, and you went back
and forth up and down in the form, in much the same way 1st Dans act,
will their waning interest during their needed break time.
This is a much different view than what most think of when they
think of 1st Dans, but at the same time, I think we can all relate to
it to some degree. Be patient with your 1st Dans in the same way that
you would be patient with your brand new high school graduate
child, and they will eventually come around and go back to school,
or quit school altogether and do something else. Either way, it's
their decision to make, which is the lesson and choice that all 1st
Dans must make, on their own.
