Before I say anything I would like to thank you ALL for your input and comments. You have helped put my mind at rest that I wasn't over reacting in my views on the subject and that I wasn't being unreasonable in some of the ideas I had (as they have been echoed here by members of the board).
for those of you who want to know, this is Teesside University, and I am working for the BSTF (British Student taekwondo federation). I have given up SO much for my art and training that to be treaded like this is the biggest kick in the teeth I can imagine. For ages I've defended TKD against others (both on the boards and in real life fight situations) but now I can see EXACTLY were their views stem from.
As you may have guessed (no kidding, right?!?) tonight didn't go as I hoped it would and the club has decided to keep the new instructors. What ever, they haven't even met the old ones so how it could be a fair vote I have no idea.
For those of you in the UK can I ask where you train as I need to find a new club (for holiday periods as well, I'm not always up north!!!).
The MEMBERS have voted to keep the new instructors so the committee could not over rule that even if they kicked out the chairperson. As for the chair person getting any repocutions, I can garantee it will happen....
As an example to those of you that do TKD and know what is required at a grading, to grade with the new instructors to yellow belt stauts all you need to do is:
a 45 degree turning kick, a push kick, and pattern 1 (wtf style).
THE END. When I gradeed for mine, I had to do:
Front kick, truning kick (NOT a cop-out 45 degree one!!!), side kick, high rising kick, axe kick, mid section punch and reverse, long stance, walking stance, ready stance, inward block, outward block, high rising block, low block, three step sparring, one step sparring, self defence against a grab to the wrist(both sides), double hand grab to the upper body, and a double wrist grab. As well as the first pattern and at the end got throw stamina of 20 push ups, 20 stomach crunches, 20 star jumps, and 20 squat thrusts.
that doesn't seema lot at all now, but compared to the BELT FACTORY the club now is, it's a hell of a lot of difference.
right now my mind is raging between walking out on the club forever or staying there and trying my hardest to overturn the vote and get our old guys down to show people the difference. Just for those that wanted to know, here's a list of reasons why we enjoyed training with our old instructor. You'll notice a little emphasis placed on the sport side, this is beacase the evil wueen of a chairperson sent an email to people saying that he hated tournaments and wanted nothing to do with them. Make up your own mind.
Ā In the two years that Mike was at the club, it grew from one of the smallest to the largest martial arts clubs at the university and became the second largest club in the university.
Ā During his two years at the club Mike established and maintained a high level of training which was clearly reflected in his students when compared to students from other schools.
Ā A single training lesson could consist of several aspects of taekwondo, ranging from basic to dynamic kicks, hand techniques, break-falls, sweeps, throws, pad work, self defence, locks, and patterns.
Ā It was only extremely rarely that Mike would be unable to make a training session. This allowed him to get to know the members of the club as individuals, and as a result know what their strengths and weaknesses were.
Ā Before asking the class to practice a particular technique Mike would demonstrate the technique himself, breaking it down into stages, and explain the practical application for each technique. He would then ask to make sure everyone understood what they were meant to be doing.
Ā While students were practicing techniques Mike would go around the room correcting techniques.
Ā MikeĀs style of teaching is geared towards giving people a grounding in realistic self defence. As well as giving students confidence this has also been proved effective in conflicts on the street in more than one instance in the passed 2 years.
Ā As well as attending training sessions himself he would also bring qualified instructors with him to help teach students.
Ā For those that wished to take part in tournaments Mike would either train students himself or provide an instructor that would teach the students that wished to fight, while Mike would continue to instruct those that didnĀt want to take part in fight training in traditional taekwondo.
Ā Fight training consisted of a mix of stamina training and sparring, so that students would be able to last a three minute match without too much problem.
Ā At the first tournament the club went to the university successfully won a silver and a bronze medal. Mike also sent an instructor with us (the same one that had been taking people for the tournament training) to Birmingham to coach us at ringside.
Ā The following year the club won two gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals. Mike and a fellow instructor drove to Birmingham to coach fighters at ringside.
Ā Mike does NOT have a problem teaching tournament style fighting or with his students entering tournaments. Mike himself has entered many tournaments and has even won the North of England Taekwondo Championship twice and won a bronze medal in the British Taekwondo Championships for his team.
Ā In the two years Mike was with the club there were very few minor injuries under his instruction.
Ā Mike could provide the club with an additional 4th Dan (at no cost to the club) to coach the fight training on Tuesdays. Or if people like the current fight training he is happy for them to keep training people on Tuesdays.
Ā Training would continue on the same days and times as current training.
Ā Club members would still have the opportunity to attend a range of competitions, including: the BUSA leagues, open competitions (such as the Cambridge Open), and all BSTF tournaments and events, including the Student Nationals. Medal winners at the student nationals will stand a chance of being put forward to win a place in British Student National Team and take part in the Student Internationals in 2003, which should be held in California.
Ā As Mike very rarely misses training sessions and knows all the instructors that may replace him, should such an instance occur, lessons will still progress each time. Rather than making students repeat the same kicks lesson after lesson.
Ā There will still be the same amount of gradings a year as currently planned.
Ā MikeĀs certificates are endorsed by Kukkiwon, the head quarters of Taekwondo in Korea.
Ā The quality of training will be at such a level that anyone grading at the club could walk into another club knowing full well that they have earned the right to wear their belt and are up to a standard that no one could question that
THANKS again for your time, and I would like to echo once more that I only posted this here because I respect all your opinions, now what what view they maybe.
yours, honour and respect.
- White Dragon
AKA Liam Cullen
University of Teesside TKD club fight team captain 2002/2003
University of Teesside TKD club Secretary 2001/2002
University of Teesside TKD club liason officer 2002/2001
BSTF comittee member 2002/2003
Ps. GouRonin - who's Jason Farnsworth???