Nintendo Wee

When I was a kid there were no cell phones, no personal computers and no video games. If you wanted to have fun killing something you actually had to kill it. Video games have become so realistic that a kid can slay an opposing army with the toggle of a joystick or the wave of a wand. I think that makes it harder for kids these days when they have to do something in real life when there is sweat involved. Martial arts training can be fun but it really shouldn’t ever be just a game. There is something to be said for a “Traditional Approach”.

Ok, the Wii joke is a bit of a stretch but I couldn't help myself. I have been reading through Colin Wee's Traditional Taekwondo Technique Workshop Blog. We have some things in common even though he is on the other side of the planet. Primarily an approach to TKD that finds it's roots in both Japan and Korea. I have had a hard time over the years defining my style to people. Technically it is Chung Do Kwan, Tae kwon do. It has been called Tang soo do, Karate, Korean Karate ang TKD. Our schools approach looks as more like a shotokan school than a modern Olympic style school. It is comforting to know there are other guys out there working on the Japanese/ Korean conundrum that Tae Kwon do can present. The following is from his blog....

Welcome to Colin's Traditional Taekwondo Technique Workshop Blog. This blog was started in April 2007 as a traditional taekwondo resource available to all hard style martial artists. My aim was to document just one or two techniques as they are practiced within my weekly traditional taekwondo classes held in Perth, Western Australia. Many of the posts are written after or soon after each class, and were great opportunities to highlight issues that I may not have covered that thoroughly in class.

Traditional taekwondo to me is the version of Taekwondo that was created in the 1940s to the early 1960s characterised by a strong influence from the hard style Japanese karate combined with the idea to improve the system for teaching to military personnel. In my lineage, these traditional taekwondo techniques were brought over to the United States by a South Korean called Jhoon Rhee, who settled in the South West part of the United States in the mid 50’s

Traditional Taekwondo established a strong presence there and was known by several names - Korean Karate, American Karate, and American Taekwondo. I would ultimately be priveleged to learn this American Karate from GM Keith Yates' Southwest Taekwondo Association. Now known as the American Karate and Taekwondo Organization, the training I received from the SMU Martial Arts Club was tough, effective, and was promoted by very knowledgeable and skillful black belt instructors.


As I said, I'm going through his blog now. Hmmmm... I can try that.... Oh yes...We could do that....Hmmmmm... that is SWEEEEET. I think you'll find it helpful too.