14 September 2008

Red causes bias

After reading this article sent to me by Retha, and then reading the abstract of the actual scientific article from Psychological Science, I am advising you all to invest in red sparring gear. The paper shows that referees are prone to be biased in favour of competitors with red gear, especially where the competitors are of relative equal ability. (There seems to be a 13% bias towards red.)

I doubt the rules will change any time soon - so I advise you to use this information pro-actively. Maybe I can get the Research & Education Directorate to run a study of our own and see if we can determine the effect of red vs blue ribbons, and red sparring gear in particular, in the overall results. It is not sure what other colours may be "winning colours".

But again, my advice in the meantime is to get yourself red sparring gear.

12 September 2008

Possible Rhodes action

Recently Robyn from Rhodes made contact with us regarding a possible Potch-Rhodes Taekwon-Do action. How do we feel about this? Please comment...

03 September 2008

Hapkido & Taek-Kyeon

Hi everyone,

So as you probably know, I'm safe in Korea and starting to settle in.

On Monday evening I went for my first Hapkido training session since my return to Korea. The instructor was really happy to see me and hugged me.

I also started with the first of my new techniques in my black belt syllabus. The new techniques are interesting, and although I grasped the principles immediately, it still find it difficult to translates the theory into physical action.

This morning I went to my first Taek-Kyeon training class. What a strange and wonderful experience. It felt more like Tai-Chi mixed with dancing. Many of the set-techniques (patterns) are done to folk songs. So we were singing and dancing most of the time. Apart from the instructor, I am the only man, amongst a bunch of elderly ladies. There's only training twice a week: Wednesday mornings and Sunday evenings.

01 September 2008

Grading & Seminars

A colour belt grading took place on the 23 August in Pretoria at Sbn Karel Wethmar's dojang. One member (Werner) from the Soo Shim Kwan dojang attended and passed the grading. Congrats Werner !!!!!

A Seminar was held in Vanderbijlpark on the 30-31 August by Master Kim.

On another note the dojang will be closed this week due to activities taking place in the entire sport centre. The next class will be on the 8th September.