VIDEO GAMES (favs):
Metal Gear Solid
Legend of Zelda
Prince of Persia
Kingdom Hearts

RHYTHM GAMES:
In The Groove 2 (MIA - groovestats)
Pump It Up
Dance Dance Revolution
Beatmania IIDX
Pop n Music
Guitar Hero
Rock Band

*March 15, 1998 - 1st dan black belt

*PA State Champ 1999 (2nd place forms)

*PA State Champ 2000 (2nd place forms, 1st place breaking)

*March 11, 2008 - 2nd dan black belt

Everything BUT country, songs that sound like they're crying/whinning, songs where you can't understand the singer (like screaming shit), and a lot of todays mainstream music.

[ View All My Groups ]

I started TaeKwonDo when I was 6 years old. My school is part of the World TaeKwonDo Federation and Moo Duk Kwon. I train under Grandmaster Pung Young Lee (9th) and Grandmaster Ray Minger (7th).

I tested for my black belt when I was 10, recieved it when I was 11, quit when I was 14, rejoined at a different school when I was 17/18, tested for my 2nd dan when I was 20, and finally at 21 I recieved 2nd dan and went back to my first school.

Confusing much? That's how it was for me too. It was during the time that I did not belong to a martial art school that I started to realized how much I had really learned about myself and the art aside from the physical aspects.

True traditional martial arts is not easy...if it was, then everyone would be able to do it. Being part of a school is one thing, but applying the philosophies to yourself is another. Anyone can join a school just as easy as leaving it. Attaining the martial art lifestlye is not for everyone, and having a black belt around your waist does not mean you are invincible.

The one thing I hate about martial arts today is how they've all been modernized/Americanized. There is no more "martial"....everything is about "art". Tournaments are no longer fair cause the judges favor their own students and everything that has a fast spinning weapon or flips in it automatically wins first place. If you're that desperate to win a medal or a trophy then you're better off going out and buying one because in the end that's all you're really doing anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I've been to my fair share of tournaments, but what I stated above is the reason why I rarely go at all anymore. It's nice to hear "you're the best in the state/world/whatever" but what does that really mean to you?

Sparring is by far not the best thing since sliced bread. Its fun, its nice practice...but the only time you'll use it is, yes, in a tournament. When fighting on the street (which I'll get to in a sec), sparring isnt going to do anything execpt get you killed faster. That's why self defense it there.

As martial artists we must remember that one art is not superior to another. In the end it's all about what you know and how you use it. Some peole will say that some spinny and jumpy kicks will never work in a real fight....well, not entirely true. I'll leave you to think about that.

It made me sick to see a youtube video of some guy saying something along the lines of "....you learn martial arts to fight! A black belt doesnt mean anything on the streets. In order to know what you're capable of you have to go out there and fight people..." I didnt watch this entire video but this person was auditioning to be the fight quest host. (Human weapon is better *cough cough*) Apparently this person doesn't exactly understand what the black belt REALLY means...let alone calling himself a "martial artist". We dont train in traiditonal arts to become bullies ourselves.

*under construction - check back later*

Lightsaber fight:

Minger and Lee's TaeKwonDo
Established 1966
Pendel, PA
*June 1993 - March 2001
*July 2005 - Nov. 2005
*March 2008 - present

[ View All My Images ]