My feelings exactly---well said, Kacey, and well said, TKDmel. I have a really good sense about how things are going to go for you when you test and I'm especially glad that your good rapport with your old sahbumnim is still alive and well.
Need some feedback
- Thread starter TKDmel
- Start date
My feelings exactly---well said, Kacey, and well said, TKDmel. I have a really good sense about how things are going to go for you when you test and I'm especially glad that your good rapport with your old sahbumnim is still alive and well.
matt.m
Senior Master
Mel,
One thing I would like to say to you is that I absolutely wish you the best in your decision making endeavor. Have you considered looking at other tae kwon do organizations? I live in Missouri so I may look foolish asking this, but what about Ernie Reyes West Coast TKD org.
I had a medical issues that sidelined me right when I was getting a good thing going. Life happened while I was in the Marines and never got to formally test for dan in Judo, my instructor got shipped from NC to CA.
In the beginning of the decade I began TKD and started over in hapkido and had to take a medical leave.
However, in March of this yr. I made a consious decision to just begin again and see it through. To make a long, long, long, story short I have earned 5th gup in hapkido and tae kwon do, I will soon test for 4th gup in TKD. About a month ago I was awarded my honorary or meritorious promotion to 1st dan in Judo by a very well certified judo coach.
I know the validation in your mind and the points of consideration you are going over in your mind. Good luck to you.
One thing I would like to say to you is that I absolutely wish you the best in your decision making endeavor. Have you considered looking at other tae kwon do organizations? I live in Missouri so I may look foolish asking this, but what about Ernie Reyes West Coast TKD org.
I had a medical issues that sidelined me right when I was getting a good thing going. Life happened while I was in the Marines and never got to formally test for dan in Judo, my instructor got shipped from NC to CA.
In the beginning of the decade I began TKD and started over in hapkido and had to take a medical leave.
However, in March of this yr. I made a consious decision to just begin again and see it through. To make a long, long, long, story short I have earned 5th gup in hapkido and tae kwon do, I will soon test for 4th gup in TKD. About a month ago I was awarded my honorary or meritorious promotion to 1st dan in Judo by a very well certified judo coach.
I know the validation in your mind and the points of consideration you are going over in your mind. Good luck to you.
Mel:
I sympathize with your situation. I've been a 2nd Dan since 1988 & because of numerous lies, unforseen circumstances & frustrations, I've been that rank ever since. After finding someone who I trust & who trusts me, I'm planning to test for 3rd Dan in March. I struggle somedays with the woulda, coulda, shoulda's of it all. But it is what it is. Heck, a guy who's red belt test promotion board I sat on is now a 6th Dan! (Yeah, I know) The real issue seems to me to be the folks that say you're not ready for your 2nd Dan, yet. That doesn't seem right. Maybe you're gonna need to go elsewhere for your test. As for whether it's for 2nd or 3rd...I don't know. But it doesn't sound like you'll be able to get a fair shake (even for 2nd) based on what you've said here. Maybe you need to look elsewhere.
Just my .02
andyjeffries
Senior Master
I just wanted to post a quick "good luck" to you TKDM. I feel the same way about my original instructor as it seems you do and would even now take his advice without question.
It seems we may both be in Korea in Summer 2008 so I hope to catch up with him there (we haven't seen each other in about 8 years and he's gone back to his home of Malaysia now so he's a long way away to visit).
Anyway, I'm sure your original master will give you a fair test (the others may have his ear but the old school guys normally have less interest in politics and more in "is the guy ready...then let him test").
It seems we may both be in Korea in Summer 2008 so I hope to catch up with him there (we haven't seen each other in about 8 years and he's gone back to his home of Malaysia now so he's a long way away to visit).
Anyway, I'm sure your original master will give you a fair test (the others may have his ear but the old school guys normally have less interest in politics and more in "is the guy ready...then let him test").
OP
OP
TKDmel
Blue Belt
Again, I thank you all for your interest, concerns and suggestions. I love the organization I am with, and as in any organization or life in general, there are always a few misguided people that for whatever reasons may feel their status, authority, or livelihood is in jeopardy from someone or something, and do whatever they can to bolster their egos and positions in the eyes of their peers at the expense of others.
15 yrs. ago, I was the senior most student at my master's dojang. I was well liked and looked up to by my fellow students. My master was proud of my accomplishments in the school and by my abilities to represent my state at 4 consecutive national championships. I suppose in many peoples eyes I was on the "fast track" to eventually opening my own school.
In retrospect I believe the masters who are against my advancement feel threatened by my return. 2 weeks ago, I competed at a inter school tourney my old master held between his 6 affiliate schools. All 3 masters in question were there and witnessed our old master jump up from his chair, cross the arena floor, and give me a "prodigal son returns" bear hug. We sat together for some time and caught up on the last 15 yrs. I feel sure that when I test he will be hard as always, but just as fair.
I will continue on, train hard, and do what I always do.....endure!
15 yrs. ago, I was the senior most student at my master's dojang. I was well liked and looked up to by my fellow students. My master was proud of my accomplishments in the school and by my abilities to represent my state at 4 consecutive national championships. I suppose in many peoples eyes I was on the "fast track" to eventually opening my own school.
In retrospect I believe the masters who are against my advancement feel threatened by my return. 2 weeks ago, I competed at a inter school tourney my old master held between his 6 affiliate schools. All 3 masters in question were there and witnessed our old master jump up from his chair, cross the arena floor, and give me a "prodigal son returns" bear hug. We sat together for some time and caught up on the last 15 yrs. I feel sure that when I test he will be hard as always, but just as fair.
I will continue on, train hard, and do what I always do.....endure!
TKDM, from what you posted earlier, this was the sense I got about motives and whatnot... the green-eyed monster has no conscience, alas.
Endurance takes you a lot further than just about anything else...this too shall pass, eh?
Bret Hinds
Green Belt
EXILE, Be sure to dance with the person who you came with. Ask your self are you a teacher or a paper hanger do not skip the tests.If the group that is testing you award rank to each other what good is there rank?I know several B.B. that are ranked low but they are the better teachers than the so called G.M's. After all the B.B. is a personal state of mind not just a pice of paper. All the best in the arts
Brad Dunne
Brown Belt
TKDmel, my first post was based entirely on what was presented for us to review. Since your recent post where you and your instructor got together, some of my thoughts have changed, only some!.........I'm glad that your instructor was that happy to see you and that you were able to sit and talk with him, but in my opinion, those that were/are somewhat against you, may now have even more purpose in keeping you from advancing. My thoughts to you are: Talk again with your instructor and tell him your position and if you honestly feel the need, the position presented of those that seem to have less than favorable attitudes toward you. Consider this a self defense situation of sorts. I do hope that your instructor is of the "old school" and lives by the tenents associated within TKD, for it seems clear that those others involved don't. I, as I'm sure everyone else here, wishes you the best of luck with your continued journey in TKD. :asian:
Hi Bret---I agree, you dance with the one what brung ya. In this case, though, the one who brung TKDM was the original master who he's planning to go back to test with. That was the teacher who he achieved his Dan rank with, if I'm not mistaken. So my (and others') recommendation to TKDM, that he go to his original instructor for his next test, doesn't conflict at all with what you're saying here---
Again, no quarrel here! And I don't think TKD is hung up on rank either, but it's also true that in terms of his ability to do good for his own students (and others' students as well, since a higher belt gives him more ability to be a positive force in evaluation of students testing for Dan rank) he might do well to test at the most advanced level that his instructor thinks he merits. If that's 3rd, fine. If it's 2nd, as he says, that's fine too.
And to you too!
OP
OP
TKDmel
Blue Belt
I have been thinking long and hard about my situation and the only thing that came to mind since my last post is that in addition to taking a bus trip, say once a month, to train directly with him and then taking my BB test at his school as well. He has 4-5 other masters at his BB tests that don't even know me. The ones putting me in this situation do not attend his testings. In that way, I can be sure to get a fair test. So for now I will keep doing what I do, and look forward to my test in May.:wink2:
I think overall that this is the best solution. Good luck with your training, and we will, of course, want to hear all about it in May!
