First of all, I will give a polite welcome to "Munkyjitsudo" to the Martial Talk Forums. It is usually recommended that new members here go to the Meet and Greet section and make an introductory post to tell others a little about yourself and your Martial Art Background. Adding a little more to your profile helps too, so that others don't have to repeatedly ask you the same questions to get to know you better. I hope you enjoy posting, that you get helpful information from others here, and that you take any constructive criticism with a good attitude - because it is about to come -
I usually don't waste my time responding to threads like this, but this time I feel compelled.
I started taking tae kwon do at chabot college in hayward,ca (giving the name just so if anyone knows anything about the school),...
Giving the name just so if
anyone knows anything about the school??
According to its website, it is called "Chabot College of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District." It is a community college that offers classes in many subjects. What more do you want to know about it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chabot_College
http://www.chabotcollege.edu/
I think it's WTF they didnt really know waht to tell me when I asked if they where WTF or ITF, they said they do some WTF forms.
It is neither WTF nor ITF. It is a community college. At community colleges, just about anyone can offer a course on virtually any subject. Many teach self defense, and various forms of the Martial Art. Their credentials and background are often questionable, but the real question is are they certified with a major Taekwondo organization? Do they teach at a permanent school somewhere nearby?
When you say "they didn't really know what to tell me when I asked if they were WTF or ITF," how did they phrase it? Did they say, "we don't know," or "we don't know what the WTF and ITF are," or did they just not give you a satisfactory answer. You quoted them as saying that they teach WTF forms, so this implies they are not affiliated with the ITF. Perhaps they teach the same Taegeuk forms that people associate with the WTF because these are the forms that the WTF have approved for competition, but maybe these instructors are not currently participating in WTF recognized tournaments.
Your question to them might not get a clear answer because the question is based on the old misunderstanding that the WTF and the ITF are both parallel organizations that one can join. The ITF is an International organization founded by Gen. Choi Hong Hi, and students become "members" of the ITF. You can not become a "member" of the WTF. It is a governing body for sports, and only "Member Nations" belong to the WTF. The national governing bodies provide a link to Olympic Taekwondo competition.
The more accurate question is where do their Black Belt and teaching credentials come from (IE: Kukkiwon, ITF, ATA, USAT, etc), and if they have a school, are they independent, or are they affiliated with a larger organization.
...But what confused me is that there were black belts who got there black belts in a two year school period, alot of them got to there blue belts in two semesters, I went to spar with one of there black belts who looked really big and strong and I completely dominated him his kicks were so slow I was able to slap every single one of them away with my barehands and this was my first day, I was expecting him to start spinning like a tornado and then kick me in the face when I least expected it with a 540 kick, you know, like the guys you see in the tournaments.
I won't even address this as others already have.
I was just wondering is this normal for TKD schools to give weak students higher ranked belts? or is this odd?
The "normal" for TKD schools varies depending on what criteria is set to differentiate between genuine schools and look-alike frauds; between experienced instructors, and beginners. If you really want to know what its like to spar a Taekwondo instructor who will put you through the paces, come visit my school. You can sign the liability waiver, we can put on the sparring gear (for your protection), and you can try to slap away my kicks with your bare hands!
Or, perhaps Iceman will extend you an invitation since he is in California.
I'm not in the class anymore due to the fact I got a job so I can finally take capoeira lessons again,
You want to take capoeira lessons again? What confuses me then is, if this is your true desire, why didn't you sign up for the capoeira offered at Chabot College by instructor David Mahabali?
Your profile says your primary art is "Danzan Ryu Jujitsu." Since you stated in another thread here on MT that you like jujitsu so much, why not pursue that?
My whole goal is teach jujitsu some day, thats like my all time goal.
Did you try a class with the Chabot jujitsu instructor, Carol Harris, or the Judo instructor, Steven Siroy? Chabot's class schedule has several instructors.
https://bw4.clpccd.cc.ca.us/clpccd/2006/03/c/sched_phed.htm
Perhaps you would prefer to train with Martial Talk Member Tuhan Joseph T. Oliva Arriola,
Grandmaster Kamatuuran School of Kalijin as you stated in another thread.
I was just thinking how awesome it'd be to learn under you. I live in hayward, ca. Been a local to the bay area all my life and just scored a really good paying job so I can start taking the classes I want,...
I hope you find what you are looking for. I hope your stay with us here on MT, and that your future posts are more toward your positive involvement in the Martial Art that interests you most rather than negative comments about Arts that you have little experience in, or naming instructors about whom you have not done sufficient research. I won't give negative reps on your post here, even though your post appears to be more of a bash of Taekwondo than a serious inquiry.
Your post starts off fine, but line by line it degenerates into an attack on these particular instructors, and brings into question the quality of Taekwondo elsewhere. It is fair that you need to ask questions to find answers, but making the accusation that this Black Belt is a "weaker student" because he did not perform like an olympic champion, or fight hard with a beginner, or questioning that TKD schools give high ranks to weak students is a bit inflammatory and not supported by any real evidence.
I don't know what answer you would have expected - - a bunch of people here telling you "yes, Taekwondo schools promote weak students to Black Belt as a norm." If you really want to know what average Taekwondo schools do, start by visiting one. Then visit a few more and get an idea first hand of what the average is in your area. Then come on line and discuss the comparisons of what you witnessed with what others do across the country and around the world.
With Respects,
CM D.J. Eisenhart
