Very good points. My purpose of this thread is just to get people to think. Some of the lighter post, as good as they are, just arn't as stimulating.
So have any of you evr checked out other HKD schools and seen how they compare to your dojang. And what about your techniques? How different are they in execution and effectiveness? I am trying to stay general in my questions so that any rplies will be as varied as possible. Interprate the questions as you wish and please respond. It is wounderful to hear so many different thoughts and opinions.
And to answer my own questions.
My school is recognized by the Korean Gov., but I also do not believe that is very relivant. Anyones recognition isnt going to make you a better fighter. As far as the second part. I just got out of the military. But while I was in I had the opportunity to study at 2 other Dojangs. There were quite a bit of differences. My first school was very Americanized. My teacher who was a 4th degree would not workout unless there was musuc playing. As well, we were a TKD based school, they competed regularly in tournaments. The techniques I learned were effective, but we also had to learn Katas for testing.
My second Dojang was run by a 7th degree who I never saw. The classes were taught by a third degree. The over all attitude was that of benevolance. You could feel the arrogance when you walked into the school. They also would compete in tournys. Their techniques and executions were simular, But they denied it. They felt that their way was much better.
Finally a little over a year agoe I walked into my current dojang. I was so disenchanted that I was yet again about ready to change my system to anything else. The school has a good intro special and incredible hours. I began to study there and soon fell in love. The owner and teacher is a 9th degree Grandmaster and has been since 1983. He studied under Choi, and kept current until the day of Chois death, and he also studied under Ji Han Jae. He has rankings in other systems as well and incorperates all of this into his teaching. Overall things are much better here than the other two schools. We do not compete, self-defense only. The techniques are a lot more painfull then the other schools, and made so by only slight changes in execution. I have been blessed to be given the best of both worlds. We are taught a combination of Choi's system and Jae's. I couldnt ask for more. And in a month or so I am going to test for my second degree. Finally I feel that all my hard work and dedication are paying off. Not in ranking, but in knowledge. For every new rank I earn more knowledge is passed on to me.
