July newsletter

The July issue of the SA-ITF's Newsletter is available for download as a zipped file from the SA-ITF website. It contains a short write-up regarding our recent seminar with Master Kim Jong Su.

Thoughts on Triangles

The following is from Retha's keyboard and also features on eSAITF as message #348:

Seminars with master Kim are always an experience. Since this seminar comes as a new deal between him, our kwan and a sister/brother kwan (is a kwan male or female?), he has started revising the very basics of Taekwon-Do with us.

He spent some time, showing us the angles in our triangles :-) I knew this before, but I never knew it like this. In any technique a triangle can be formed in multiple ways. The interesting thing is that in some guards and hand techniques the three points are represented by your body. In a stance, for good balance the third point is outside of your body; your body forming the base of the triangle. If you want to topple your opponent, you would attack him from the direction of the empty point. And interestingly enough, at some point he also demonstrated that in some cases (specifically sparring) the third point becomes your opponent. I think he showed the base points in your body, but when I think about it in sparring there is an empty point. You and your opponent would form the base of the triangle, while the third point represents the direction you could move in: moving towards the empty point gives you the most chance of successful flight, moving from the best chance of successful attack. It seems that there are triangles everywhere.

These two pictures are from the ITF Encyclopaedia depicting the triangle in the parallel stance and L-stance punches.

1st Session with Master Kim

We had a good session yesterday with Master Kim at the Vanderbijlpark Dojang. This was the first of five sessions with him planned for this year, and co-hosted by us (Soo Shim Kwan) and the Shim Duk Kwan.

I’ve learned a couple of new things. I also realised that I don’t always practise what I preach. Although I know the theory, I sometimes fail to implement it in practise. That is the nice thing about training under someone. As an instructor I seldom have someone checking my techniques – so it was great to have Master Kim showing me on my mistakes. The importance of spotters in training was emphasized I think – so when you train outside of class hours, try to train with a friend that can spot your technique, or train in front of a large mirror.

I liked how he simplified the stances by focussing on how they overlap, i.e. the knee position for the back-leg in the L-stance is the same as in the sitting-stance; the knee position for the front-leg in the L-stance is the same as in the walking-stance, etc.

Master Kim also affirmed the importance of breaking down techniques to their simplest building blocks, in order to learn proper technique and not attain bad habits – which take a long time to unlearn.

The next session with Master Kim will be hosted at our dojang in Potchefstroom.

Taekwon!

Bsb Sanko

Carbo-loading

With the SA-Champs about only two weeks away (1-3 August) some of you may be considering carbo-loading in preparation of the event.

There’s a section on carbo-loading in my article on Carbohydrates (PDF-document).

The whole series of articles on Taekwon-Do and Nutrition can be downloaded at our university website.

Taekwon!

Bsb Sanko

eZines, Newsletters and Links

Hi,

I’m just reminding you of two (relatively) recent electronic publications by the SA-ITF, which you can download (right-click and save-as) from the links below.

The Sidekick (July 2008)

This is an eZine (electronic magazine) produced by the SA-ITF’s Research & Education Directorate of which I’m the director. The Sidekick contains many interesting Taekwon-Do essays and articles; including our (Soo Shim Kwan) contribution regarding breakfall techniques.

The SA-ITF Newsletter (May 2008)

Taekwon-Do news from around South Africa is collected and disseminated via the Newsletter. Find out what’s happening at other Taekwon-Do kwan and dojang in South Africa.

Also remember to occasionally visit the official SA-ITF website and make sure to register for our email forum: eSAITF.

Taekwon!

Bsb Sanko

Seminar with Master Kim

Soo Shim Kwan and Shim Duk Kwan are co-hosting a series of five seminars by Master Kim (7^th Dan). The seminars will alternate every month between the Vanderbijlpark Dojang and Potchefstroom Dojang.

The first seminar occurs on Sunday, 27 July 2008 and will be hosted by Shim Duk Kwan’s Vanderbijlpark Dojang at Historia Primary School. It will start at 14:00 and costs R50 per person.

Let’s all try and go. This will also be excellent for patterns preparation for the South Africa National Taekwon-Do Championships the following weekend.

Taekwon!

Bsb Sanko

"Secret Training"

Occasionally, once the normal training is finished students start their secret training. For instance, Khatija practises flying (with a little help from Retha)…

Franco trains his deadly monkey choke…

Gerhard practices for the handstand marathon…

Retha terrifies any would-be assailant with picture perfect side kicks…

And who knows what this dude is doing?!

Who's Afraid of Winter?

Class attendance usually drops during the Winter Break, but these Taekwon-Doin showed their indomitable spirit by coming to class regardless the weather or the varsity break. Thanks guys and gals - you make me proud! Coincidentally all the belt colours are represented: white, yellow, green, blue, red and black!

Taekwon!
Bsb Sanko

Welcome...

Hi all Soo Shim Kwan members and friends. Welcome to our new blog. I’ll post some photos soon, and hopefully we can also use this blog as a notice board for events and the like.

Taekwon!
Bsb Sanko