| Total Views: 170 - Total Replies: 9 |
|
| POSTED BY: DireWolf on 04/08/2008 07:44:49 |
|
Help, I'm in a quandry and would like input from y'all
I have been seriously thinking of switching styles for several months now. I'm wondering the best way of doing this without burning bridges or hurting feelings.
However, it is a little more complicated than that...
Here's some background.
When I first started TKD about 18 years ago I came up through traditional ITF style. By traditional I mean our first patterns were saji-chudigi and chon-ji, and we could punch to the head in sparring etc. I quit as work, family, fatherhood and a job in another state required more of my time. During this 15-year hiatus I dabbled in other martial arts--praying mantis, aikido, tai-chi. These instructors often commented that they could tell I had a karate/TKD background.
15 years later, when my son was old enough he joined a local TKD studio--they were WTF with a heavy focus on Olympic rules and sports. Their first pattern was chon-ji they did not punch to the head or even attack at all with hands because points were rarely scored with hand techniques. A lot of my old training came in handy as my son was just getting started and I started missing my old TKD days. He made no secret of the fact that his daddy was a black belt. Once I knew he would stick with training, i rejoined and had to relearn all the gup patterns and the WTF black belt patterns that were totally new to me. The trouble is that I want more of a fighting style and much less of a sport style.
Here's the sticky part...
Our school shares a studio with several martial arts schools--one of them is a very traditional fighting style of TKD. I have had the opportunity to train with this master instructor a couple of times because once in a while, our master asks him to fill-in and teach our class if our master is busy. I would like to join this other TKD school, but I don't want to hurt feelings, burn bridges etc. especially since our current master is the one who is promoting my son to black belt.
Should i just be honest and join this other school, or look for another fighting oriented school, or blame global warming.... 
please share your thoughts
|
|
| POSTED BY: IcemanSK on 04/08/2008 08:44:59 |
|
The only difficulty that I see is that the school that you want to be a part of is in the same building as your current one. Making a potentially awkward experience between you & the "old" instructor. The "new" instructor may not take you due to the apparent conflict, also.
All things being equal, I think you need to go where you are comfortable training & where you get the most out of it.
I shared a space with a Karate program for several years. The Karate instructor & I were friends, but there was always a bit of tension between us over students coming or going. When I left for a different job, several of my students trained under him. I got a few back, but some stayed.
The best thing you can do is speak with both instructors (current one first) & explain your situation & your desires. If it's not possible to switch there, look elsewhere. You are all adults. It's not like you would be switchin' cuz their uniforms are cooler, or nuthin'.
|
| Back To Top |
|
I agree w/ Iceman. Speak to your current instructor. Be honest with your instructor. Let them know how you are feeling and why you want to change. If your current Instructor has no issues, do the same thing w/ the "new" instructor.
Good luck!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Old enough to know better; Dumb enough to keep going!
|
| Back To Top |
|
I agree with both of the other comments except in one area. This has been a battle between the WTF and ITF for years on end. That is why there are independent schools that have popped up everwhere. I recommend joining a school that teaches both hand and feet in fighting. In a street fight don't try a spinning back kick when you can punch and keep your feet on the ground and use a lower kick. I am with World Korean Martial Arts Union and teach both hands and feet for fighting as well as put a little karate in my taekwondo. Search for what you want and watch and then decide. If you son is that close to Black Belt, finish and then make the change. Most schools except transfers with some work on the katas. Good luck in your endenvor.
Grand Master Mike Curtis
9th Dan WKMAU, WTF, ITF, WBBB, WITKA
--------------------------------------------------------------
Grand Master Curtis
|
| Back To Top |
|
| POSTED BY: Old_Guy on 04/08/2008 20:18:25 |
|
Anyone who knows me on this board will probably expect this answer but here goes...where does your son want to train? If he wanted to stick with the WTF style of TKD then stay with that, father and son time is something to be treasured. If he wants to make the move then it is easy. If he wants to stick with the WTF style and you absolutely feel that you are going to be lesser for it then find a way to do both. It may put a strain on your time and your wallet but make it work. Additionally, if you do slip and punch someone in the face or kick to the leg during a WTF stlye match, you are allowed 2 warnings 
--------------------------------------------------------------
Was that hands up and chin down, or the other way around?
|
| Back To Top |
|
| POSTED BY: DireWolf on 04/09/2008 10:54:26 |
|
Thanks everyone, very good input :)
I'll involve my son in this decision more than I was planning... One thing I forgot to mention is that he wants to start attending gymnastics classes after he receives his black belt. Maybe a different style would spark his interest in the martial arts again....
|
| Back To Top |
|
Gymnastics is a great compliment to the Martial Arts and especially, TKD. Having seen some of the XMA competitions that Walt Disney World held, it almost seemed that the winners were Gymnasts that could throw a punch and kick!
In the for-what-it-is-worth category, my son and I discuss everything about our Martial Arts experience. Including different schools, different styles, MMA, heck........ even football! I got involved w/ TKD through him so no matter what I think, the journey is about him and not me. If I want to train in something else, that is my decision but I will not let it affect my time training w/ my son.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Old enough to know better; Dumb enough to keep going!
|
| Back To Top |
|
| POSTED BY: Old_Guy on 04/09/2008 14:27:18 |
|
Sarge you have got to come to Korea
--------------------------------------------------------------
Was that hands up and chin down, or the other way around?
|
| Back To Top |
|
Since you were a Black Belt before your son ever joined then I don't see a problem with you switching schools. If you and your son had started together from white belt and progressed together then it would be a different situation altogether. I would talk with the instructor and explain that the sport aspect of TKD doesn't really interest you that much, and that the more traditional style taught by the other Master is more what appeals to you. I would not force your son to switch if he does not want to, and I would talk with the current instructor if your son is staying just to make sure that he understands your situation. If he is unable to understand or treats your or your son differently then he may not be the kind of Instructor that you want guiding you and/or your son anyways...
--------------------------------------------------------------
NL TKD Academy "Home of the Champions"
|
| Back To Top |
|
you should just be honest and tell your instructor you like your previous style of tkd, there should be no reason for you to worry about him not liking your son because you like a different style. Just explain its not his teachings, it's just you'd rather not learn the way they fight in the Olympics, and rather learn to fight the way you know how, and see best.
~good luck on any of your decisions~
--------------------------------------------------------------
Fortitude
|
| Back To Top |
|
|
