A rather simple question

[terryl965]

With all the threads about what is TKD and who was truely TKD and the General, I have a simple but complex question for all of us. Where do you see your brand of TKD in twenty years? I mean the founding father had there vision, so where is yours?

 

[KarateMomUSA]

With all the threads about what is TKD and who was truely TKD and the General, I have a simple but complex question for all of us. Where do you see your brand of TKD in twenty years? I mean the founding father had there vision, so where is yours?

I sadly see my brand of TKD breaking up more than it has already, unless those with a true martial vision with honorable intentions step up to the plate & are able to effectively articulate that vision so that they may be followed.
I know, it ain't never going to happen, hence why I started off by saying I sadly see........

 

[Manny]

mmmmmm Ji Do Kwan Veracruz (former dojang) in 25 years could desapear, this dojang is a local one, don't remeber if has branches, however sambonim is about 60 years now and in 25 years more he would pass away and I don't see any sucesor to him.

Hwarang Tae Kwon Do will survive, Hwarang is a frachise and the head is My sambonim (director) and two sons both work hard and are true tkd people who can follow the the steps of their father.

Now, how you see TKD in 25 years? I see the sport side will grow more but till one point and maybe will colapse, to many bad politics inside the WTF and maybe will be an esition.

I think sport TKD will evolve in something else and the only purist (few) will continue teaching the Martial Art but a very few people.

Manny

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

On an organizational level? Hard to say. In twenty years, taekwondo in general will be approximately 85 years old, Kukki taekwondo about 57 years old and taekwondo in the olympics about forty two.

Working backwards: If taekwondo retains its olympic status, then WTF sport TKD will likely continue as it is with minor rule changes and tweaks along the way.

Kukki taekwondo, likewise, I do not see making any radical changes. I suppose that it is possible for new poomsae to be developed, though I would not predict that they would.

Taekwondo as a whole? Again, hard to say. I think that in general, things will swing back towards a more traditional (meaning less commercial) tone, as I think that it has swung about as far in the commercial direction as it possibley can and the economy is unlikely to support a greater level of commercialism. I do not see a return to hardwood floors and makiwara boards, though I do see schools more focused on training (regardless of the school's emphasis on sport/art) and less on special clubs or programs designed for financial success.

I think that large commercial dojangs will reduce in number, though there will still be many around. Which is good, as they serve the needs of a good many people, and I think that smaller schools will see more success (perhaps wishful thinking on my part?).

Daniel

 

[Manny]

Taekwondo as a whole? Again, hard to say. I think that in general, things will swing back towards a more traditional (meaning less commercial) tone, as I think that it has swung about as far in the commercial direction as it possibley can and the economy is unlikely to support a greater level of commercialism. I do not see a return to hardwood floors and makiwara boards, though I do see schools more focused on training (regardless of the school's emphasis on sport/art) and less on special clubs or programs designed for financial success.
Daniel

Daniel as you do I think the number of dojangs will decrease too, as you wrote, the economics thing would affect the dojangs around (last year economics struck badly two dojos in my town and they got closed, and in others dojangs the students registration suffer some. I must say in this world of electronic gadgets (PSP, ExBox,Iphone,Wii,etc,etc,etc) the children step by step will stop to go out to the dojang and will keep in home playing with the gadgets, and because the car´s traffic mom will not take the children to dojang, so tkd students maybe will be grown up men/women who take TKD classes afther work and the the dojang will shrink and won't be so large in quantities, and maybe will be something like in the past.... One Miyagui san with maybe 10-12 students at all.

Manny

 

[msmitht]

Nightmare :
Thed year is 2030. Due to infighting and serious legal issues the usat, kkw and wtf have fallen. The ATA has taken control of tkd globally. Competition is more like tag with competitors wearing teal and maroon because the softer colors promote peace and understanding. Grappling and light face punching (plastic face guard) are now allowed. Only one point per technique/tap out. The ioc booted tkd in 2020 in favor of mma. In a nutshell, tkd has become more of a joke than it already is (in some schools). Mike chat is the # 1 movie action star in his shiny silver xma vest.
AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please don't let this happen.

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

Daniel as you do I think the number of dojangs will decrease too, as you wrote, the economics thing would affect the dojangs around (last year economics struck badly two dojos in my town and they got closed, and in others dojangs the students registration suffer some. I must say in this world of electronic gadgets (PSP, ExBox,Iphone,Wii,etc,etc,etc) the children step by step will stop to go out to the dojang and will keep in home playing with the gadgets, and because the car´s traffic mom will not take the children to dojang, so tkd students maybe will be grown up men/women who take TKD classes afther work and the the dojang will shrink and won't be so large in quantities, and maybe will be something like in the past.... One Miyagui san with maybe 10-12 students at all.

Manny

Hard to say. I think that the total quanitity of dojangs may actually increase, but they will be smaller operations run as either not for profit or as part time ventures, likely set up by instructors displaced when the schools where they've been teaching close. Backyard dojangs or 'dojangs' in rented space in a building (rather than renting the whole building) will become more appealing due to lower operating costs.

Keep in mind that my predictions are based on what I have seen in my area, which is a reduction in the number of schools over the past five years and the larger commercial schools losing enrollment and either increasing prices or adding fees to make up for it, which in turn causes further loss of enrollment.

Daniel

 

[puunui]

With all the threads about what is TKD and who was truely TKD and the General, I have a simple but complex question for all of us. Where do you see your brand of TKD in twenty years? I mean the founding father had there vision, so where is yours?

If you had asked me or for that matter anyone else twenty years ago, I don't think anyone would have predicted where we are now. My vision is to try and keep the pioneers' vision going, for as long as possible. The people in charge at the moment,either at Kukkiwon, WTF, USAT, or even KTA, do not share my vision.

 

[Daniel Sullivan]

If you had asked me or for that matter anyone else twenty years ago, I don't think anyone would have predicted where we are now. My vision is to try and keep the pioneers' vision going, for as long as possible. The people in charge at the moment,either at Kukkiwon, WTF, USAT, or even KTA, do not share my vision.

Wow! That's a pretty strong statement! If true, then that is less than positive.

If you don't mind my asking, in what way are they deviating?

Daniel

 

[miguksaram]

If you had asked me or for that matter anyone else twenty years ago, I don't think anyone would have predicted where we are now. My vision is to try and keep the pioneers' vision going, for as long as possible. The people in charge at the moment,either at Kukkiwon, WTF, USAT, or even KTA, do not share my vision.

The pioneers vision was partially based on circumstances surrounding them (ie Korean War, new independence from Japan, being a 3rd world country). With that said, do you think their vision may be different today if they have started all of this say 10 years ago when Korea was becoming a booming Economy, the lifestyle was much better than it was 50 or 60 years ago?

If so what type of direction would you imagine their vision would take them?

 

[chrispillertkd]

I sadly see my brand of TKD breaking up more than it has already, unless those with a true martial vision with honorable intentions step up to the plate & are able to effectively articulate that vision so that they may be followed.

This is only half the battle (and, frankly, IMNSHO, there already are people with true a martial arts vision and and honorable intentions in leadership positions). The other part of the problem is that, even if their message is articulated perfectly, you must recognize the fact that some people simply will not follow certain other people no matter what. It's easy to critisize leaders, they're the one's who are puting themselves out there after all, but it's not as if anyone doesn't have the same human nature that they do.

Pax,

Chris

 

[granfire]

With all the threads about what is TKD and who was truely TKD and the General, I have a simple but complex question for all of us. Where do you see your brand of TKD in twenty years? I mean the founding father had there vision, so where is yours?

LOL, that is a loaded question.

The brand I came up with will likely be a Dollar menu of Taebo-ics....fancy name for old stuff, lots of 'borrowed ideas, non persuit with passion.

But that is thankfully only a fraction of the market.

Where I'll be in terms of MA, who knows.

 

[StudentCarl]

I look at it from a bottom-up point-of-view:

The key to it all is perceived value. Masters who deliver that will be successful. Organizations who support rather than hinder that will be successful. From the viewpoint of Joe Consumer who wants his kids in martial arts, organizations don't matter much unless they add value for what they cost.

Competitive taekwondo is a fun and rewarding game. I'm not sure it's as fun for the outsider to watch as it is for players and insiders involved with the competition. The traditional martial art side will always appeal to some, as will the self-defense component. I would like to see sport poomsae grow, and I'd like to see inter-organizational poomsae competitions become a common ground for camraderie...though it would take some work in the setup to avoid partisan bickering.

I hope that in twenty years electronic scoring and its equipment will be widely accepted and past controversy.
I hope that organizations will offer more instructional programs to the grassroots level so they are seen as adding value. Technology may play a role in this.
It's also possible that organizations won't meet these challenges and will just dissolve into the history books. I hope not.

 

[puunui]

If you don't mind my asking, in what way are they deviating?

The answer is long and complicated, but the basic answer is that they are not acting in a manner which encourages unity. Read the Modern History book translation, the main focus for decades was unification, of name, certification and curriculum, in that order.

 

[terryl965]

puunui in what way can someone get into what you and the founding fathers vision for TKD. I mean is there a group or organization that is trying to be the front runner to brings this along. I know GM Park has his Grand Master Society and that was suppose to bring alot of these traits out to the front when I talk to GM Kurban and him about it maybe some 5-7 years ago. I am very interested if there is such an org, maybe that might be the USTC but to be truthful I really do not know much about them except they seem to be trying to do some of the things you talk about.

 

[puunui]

It's not about joining groups. It's about understanding what the pioneers' vision was and then acting in ways that help to see the vision achieved, or at the very least, not acting in ways that cause the vision to get lost. You do that, and then you will be doing your part to seeing the pioneers' vision through.

 

[terryl965]

It's not about joining groups. It's about understanding what the pioneers' vision was and then acting in ways that help to see the vision achieved, or at the very least, not acting in ways that cause the vision to get lost. You do that, and then you will be doing your part to seeing the pioneers' vision through.

Ok puunui can you explain ne more time what it is to have that vision of the pioneers? I am really trying to understand what the true vision was. I would also like to read some of the books you may feel would help me understand better, you can pm me the names if you like. Who knows I may even have some of them but never really understood what it was I was trying to understand. I also have alot of TKD magizines with alot of interviews with alot of different TKD people. I really want to see what I might be missing in my TKD journey or may have missed by being so one way all these years.:asian:

 

[puunui]

The main vision of the pioneers is to create a unified Taekwondo. Read the Modern History translation carefully and with an open mind to see their struggle to achieve that. Unification means everyone is included. It means welcoming everyone no matter what their background. It means accepting the fact that others may not be as on board with the concept of unification as others, and helping those become part of the unification vision. It means for example, to stop creating or encouraging dichotomies (WTF vs. ITF, sport vs. non-sport, etc.). It is understanding and living the concept that there is only one Taekwondo, and we are all a part of it, even though we may focus on different aspects.

This is in contrast to General Choi's vision of Taekwon-Do, which basically is that it is something that he created, including but not limited to the name, and that he should be given credit for his vast and incomparable contributions, and that everyone should acknowledge his efforts, especially the Kukki Taekwondo world. Karatemom understands General Choi's vision, and she toils endlessly to see that vision through.

 

[bluewaveschool]

I wish there was true unity in TKD, then it would be much easier for people like me, with independent schools, to help our students and ourselves along. It's a catch 22, the orgs would like you to join up and unify, but the ones that will accept you as you are, they aren't the ones that are highly regarded as KKW/ITF/ATA are. I'm not including granfire's mothership in that group, from what I've been told it was like rats from a sinking ship when the name changed.

 

[dancingalone]

I wish there was true unity in TKD, then it would be much easier for people like me, with independent schools, to help our students and ourselves along. It's a catch 22, the orgs would like you to join up and unify, but the ones that will accept you as you are, they aren't the ones that are highly regarded as KKW/ITF/ATA are. I'm not including granfire's mothership in that group, from what I've been told it was like rats from a sinking ship when the name changed.

Honestly, I think you've bought into the branding. There are legions of excellent martial artists both in and outside of TKD who manage without some mothership organization. All you really need is frequent access to a good teacher. The rest is just trappings.