Original Teachings

Tonight I figured out what I noticed in the unrefined style. I had to hold my laughter when it came to me.

While working with the head instructor on kata, he kept emphasizing large movements, and overuse of the hips for power generation. Then, when he spoke of breaking boards, it came to me. He's still a white belt in his movements.

I'm sure he's still doing everything in the exaggerated manner that is taught to white belts and younger students in order to help them begin to learn techniques.

Bringing arm too far back, putting techniques over extended, extra twisting, all for "power" generation, at the loss of speed, flexibility, and effectiveness.

The exaggeration of technique, is what he truly believes breaks boards. If generating power was what made it easy to break boards then heavy hitters would be the best board breakers.

Though, the fact that they have so many mats, and the extra emphasis on hips, makes me wonder if my hips and knee will let me continue, I do like the fact that I am seeming to get some minor cardiovascular workout from going.

To keep going, means to keep holding my tongue for his plateaued knowledge, but his class is his class, and this isn't the old days.

He used Chung Do Kwan as the reason for the emphasis, but I've looked up other Chung Do Kwan schools, and these exaggerated movements do not exist.