Things that must change!

**breakinthemix** · Posted On: 6/02/2006 12:41pm

I think I read somewhere that in regards to the hakama, they supposedly wear it to "give the illusion of floating over the ground," or something similar. Pretty much the hide the footwork idea, I guess.

**NeilG** · Posted On: 6/02/2006 2:24pm

Originally Posted by breakinthemix

I think I read somewhere that in regards to the hakama, they supposedly wear it to "give the illusion of floating over the ground," or something similar. Pretty much the hide the footwork idea, I guess.

They hide the footwork, but that's only important when teaching beginners which is why most clubs keep beginners out of hakama for a few months - we need to see mistakes to make corrections. We don't usually look at each other's feet when fighting.

**CMS** · Posted On: 6/02/2006 3:37pm

You can't train in martial arts if you're concerned with not looking silly. One purpose of uniforms is to weed out those too dignified to train.

**Doctor X** · Posted On: 6/02/2006 4:14pm

Saker:

Excellent! Indeed on Picture 8 . . . he looks like he needs a cigarrette.

Kickcatcher:

Methinks if one is concentrating on his opponent's tootsie, he will soon be thwacked! I have heard this "hiding movement" crap to justify all sorts of silliness in gis and uniforms.

I see NeilG beat me to it!

Great picture I will "steal!"

Can their be a Stripe or Braid/Trim limit to black belts?

--J.D.

**Fantasy Warrior** · Posted On: 6/02/2006 4:26pm

Originally Posted by Doctor X

Can their be a Stripe or Braid/Trim limit to black belts?

--J.D.

Belts????? Now there's another silly concept. All non explicitly-LARPing clubs must impliment a grading system based on sparring akin to the BJJ system, but the wearing of coloured belts or other rank-specific clothing should be forbidden IMO. So if you get a kick out of telling people you are a BJJ blue belt you are just as silly as the TKD blackbelt who boasts - um... actually, not quite. But silly nonetheless.

**Doctor X** · Posted On: 6/02/2006 5:58pm

To take it seriously for a moment . . . just a moment . . . the son of my style's Imperious Grand Poohbah--the Glorious Grand Poohbah--commented on belts. When he trained, he had no belt. His father never had one. It was not until the late 50s when the Japanese government demanded dan ranking on all recognized ryuha that he and his seniors got together and adopted the system. Was it necessary? GGP admitted that as a kid he compared himself to others and realized students always would. It also helped teachers recognize what to expect in a visiting student.

But . . . stories abound of Okinawans who never bothered to test or buy a belt. I know two Americans who wondered why they were getting their asses kicked by "white belts"--only to find one was like a yondan and the other was the teacher's brother!

Of course, back then they trained on broken glass. . . .

Fine.

There is a limit. Okay . . . you are a "master?" You want a stripey? Fine. But sho and nidans adding stripes and that stupidity is just a way to feed ego and make money. "I'm not a SHOdan! I am a NIdan!!"

"You still suck, though."

Then go to the "15 dan" rating of t3h Ninja--now, according to a thread, Hatsumi really does not take those seriously!

So . . . you get a white belt IF you have a gi. Take your gi off? No belt. Maybe a green or brown . . . okay, BJJers . . . you can have purple . . . and a patch . . . okay, TWO patches . . . per limb--then a black.

That is it.

You want to honor a respected teacher with a stripe? Sure.

Oh, yeah, if you are a Chinese style which NEVER had the damn things? Get rid of the sashes! Show some respect.

Tightens his belt over his tighty whities. . . .

--J.D.

**Doctor X** · Posted On: 6/02/2006 10:54pm

Searching for a picture of "Black Belt Jones" for Another Thread, I stumbled upon THIS--picture rather large.

THAT is what is wrong with martial arts today!

THAT must be stopped!

In fact, the entire Page sucks, and I am sure it comes "as a complete surprise," nevertheless, it must be stopped and all participants forced to kill themselves, except for the women, who must work in the brothels, and a few of the kids, for which we have labor-camps.

So it is written!

--J.D.

**Fantasy Warrior** · Posted On: 6/02/2006 11:18pm

I favour taxation as a deterence. See law 7 of the original post.

He's a TKDer and looks about 12(?). That's 4 years under the 16y.o. threshold so the tax would be 4 x $400 (TKD special rate) = $1600 payable by his parents. An eight year old TKD blackbelt would have to cough up $3200!Cheap when you consider the crime.

**Dr. Sleepless** · Posted On: 6/03/2006 12:43am

Get the TKD federations to start adopting "Kimchi intake testing" as part of the black-belt testing and you can weed out 90% of the bastard 9 year old black belts. (i.e. if you can eat a jar of kimchi without puking or gagging you get your BB).

**Doctor X** · Posted On: 6/03/2006 1:02am

Still send them to the Labor Camps for a six month period equivalent to their "dan rank"along with the tax.

Teaches them that all accolaids must be earned.

--J.D.