Boy the rank/status question is a toughy for TKD. There are so many different versions, schools, and standards. A 1st degree in one school could smoke a 5th degree in another. So this doesn't do much for credability, but it is interesting to know who has done or does TKD here on MT!
I started at a TKD/kickboxing/grappling "fight" school when I was 7. My teacher had recieved his 5th degree in ITF style from Han San Yu in Michigan (one of 8 Yu brothers who brought TKD to this state), and then won the world championship in kickboxing. Tired of the politics at the time, he broke off from the ITF.
He would only promote to 3rd degree, so 3rd was the highest ranked outside of Kerry Roop (the school owner) who was 5th. Yet, for awhile, we had students who ran amok on the open tournament circuit, winning national championships with only 1st and 2nd degrees. We even had a romanian guy with us for awhile (orignally a WTF guy) who ended up joining the Olimpic TKD team, and he was only a 2nd or 3rd degree.
Yet, I still run into TKD schools to this day with 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th degrees running around who have no competitive experience, and who have far less experience then some of the 2nd and 3rd degrees that I know. It's funny how it works that way.
Anyways, I studied TKD for about 12 or 13 years (age 7-19). I only have a 1st degree black belt from my school, because I didn't want a "junior black belt," and you couldn't have a real black belt at my school until you were at least 18 years of age. So, after my 18th B-day, I got my belt.
I now am not active in TKD, because I now persue other more combative and weapons based arts (will have been active in that for 15 yrs coming next year).
But...I can still "talk shop" a little with you crazy TKD-ers!
:uhyeah: :asian: