I passed my 2nd dan about 12 or 13 years ago now, I was offered my 3rd dan when these lads was taking theirs, but I refused.
I will pass my 3rd dan on my own time and terms, and I will pass it with hard work and sweat just like the others!!!
I absolutely agree. I was actually offered my 4th Dan a few years back by a guy I knew in another part of the world (he'd literally get one of his juniors to sign the application for the certificate, I pay for the certificate from Korea and that's it). I was tempted for a few hours (I was at a low point in my feelings towards the national body after they fucked me around for over 2 years regarding getting my 3rd Dan certificate), but normality returned shortly afterwards and I'm now really glad I didn't do it.
I want to earn my 4th Dan. I don't know about your art, but in TKD 1st Dan is an important milestone because you can open a club and 4th Dan is a milestone because you can then grade people up to one grade before black belt (5th Dan is another milestone because you can then grade people up to 4th Dan).
In karate you can grade to the grade below yours so a 2nd dan can grade to a 3rd dan!
:-)
KT wrote:
However I'm sure for 4th dam on wards the board has to agree your grade!
3rd dan is the last grading you take, after that they are given to you for services to the art!!
Really, that's interesting. In Taekwondo you definitely have to grade up to 7th Dan. From your 5th Dan onwards you also have to submit a thesis, but it's still a physical grading.
In fact, I've actually got the syllabus up to 7th Dan on my PC and it includes poomsae, sparring (kyorugi in Korean), self-defence and destruction (breaking boards).
In karate you can grade to the grade below yours so a 2nd dan can grade to a 1st dan!
:-)
KT wrote:
However I'm sure for 4th dam on wards the board has to agree your grade!
3rd dan is the last grading you take, after that they are given to you for services to the art!!
Really, that's interesting. In Taekwondo you definitely have to grade up to 7th Dan. From your 5th Dan onwards you also have to submit a thesis, but it's still a physical grading.
In fact, I've actually got the syllabus up to 7th Dan on my PC and it includes poomsae, sparring (kyorugi in Korean), self-defence and destruction (breaking boards).
Please note the change from 3rd to 1st dan!! I hate it when I do that!!
I think you should take your 4th dan, but after that it's debateable for me!!
Please note the change from 3rd to 1st dan!! I hate it when I do that!!
LOL!
KT wrote:
I think you should take your 4th dan, but after that it's debateable for me!!
4th Dan is definitely my medium term goal (short term goal is to change my body shape so I'm not the Goodyear Blimp). However, I would like to get my 5th sometime. If for no other reason than I can then grade my own students to black belt. Of course, doing this would go against the UK governing body rules (they like to grade all black belts) so I'd have to be insured under someone else. Then I'd have to go to Korea to grade if I ever wanted to get my 6th Dan..... It all just spirals in complexity.......
4th Dan is definitely my medium term goal (short term goal is to change my body shape so I'm not the Goodyear Blimp). However, I would like to get my 5th sometime. If for no other reason than I can then grade my own students to black belt. Of course, doing this would go against the UK governing body rules (they like to grade all black belts) so I'd have to be insured under someone else. Then I'd have to go to Korea to grade if I ever wanted to get my 6th Dan..... It all just spirals in complexity.......
Sack that for a game of soldiers.
Start your own martial art, say.. Tai Kwon Di :) Give yourself a 10th Dan and decree that only 1 person alive may have a 10th Dan.
Of course, doing this would go against the UK governing body rules (they like to grade all black belts) so I'd have to be insured under someone else. Then I'd have to go to Korea to grade if I ever wanted to get my 6th Dan..... It all just spirals in complexity.......
Sounds like old karate boards and their hold on grading money!!!
I assume you do partner work in Tae? How did that go?
Hi KT, just thought I'd update you on this point, last night was my first night doing partner work since going back about 3 weeks ago.
Normally we do some drills back and forth, but instead we just sparred for about half an hour (resting for a minute or so between rounds).
Man, my whole body is aching this morning!!! After going back for the first time, I woke up and everything ached. Then it started to get better where the morning after I'd be a bit stiff but not too bad.
Well, today it's like stepping back in time 3 weeks, but worse!
Anyway, in terms of how it went - I was very tired so fought quite defensively (charging forward attacking was tough when my speed is way down and I was knackered), but managed to do OK. I caught a couple of the black belts with some techniques (it was only light sparring, but it still counts <g>).
Overall I felt I did OK for my first sparring session in years. We also did some paddle kicking (targets) which I haven't done since starting back (just air kicking, basics and poomsae) and that went well too. I even did a few back kicks without too much pain*
* On my first session back I did a back kick and stretched the kick out to loosen my legs and hips. Something I always used to do on the first couple of kicks. Anyway, I felt my left hamstring "twang" when I did it and then couldn't do a few kicks (side kick, reverse turning kick and back kick) without shooting pains. Anyway, by the time I went back the week after it felt much better, took it easy on my first back kick and it went again. The next week I was on a strict "no back kick diet" and this week did a couple of gentle ones again and it was fine :-) I'll build up the speed/power in them over a few weeks, but nice to know it's healing.
I glad it went well for you, I knew the pain was coming once I read you sparred for such a long time!
Sparring on mats is a killer as well
You need to try and do something today, it will makes it better for tomorrow for you!!
I know, that'd be ideal - but unfortunately I'm slapped busy with work and it's tough enough taking a night off for Taekwondo.
I'm still waiting to get Monday nights off from the farm, so I can go and get my arse kicked while they call me the 'comeback king' behind my back :)
It's worth it mate, believe me (I think you and I feel the same way about our arts).
I haven't been called comeback king, but after changing the way the paddles was held for a particular technique, I had then a 7th Kup (has taken 3 gradings since joining) try to correct me and put it back the old way (i.e. not the current recommended way). I just smiled nicely while someone else told him that I was a 3rd Dan and that I should be listened too :-)
