Promotion To Eedan

[Pale Rider]

Just thought I would post this as it is something that I am proud of finally accomplishing.

Last night Master Bill Barker and Mr. John Doss (Samdan) came down and administered two tests.

Eedan test for myself, and a Chodan test for Ms. Jamie Mangold.

After quite a few years in the making - I now can say that I have finally achieved the rank of Eedan.

Ms. Jamie Mangold has reached Chodan status.

I will be putting some of the funnier moments on a video clip that I will put on my website if anyone is interested in watching.

Some of them will definetly make you laugh..

Tang Soo!
Eedan
Bill Richards

[John Bennett]

Cool. Congratulations!

What rank is "eedan" in TSD?

[Pale Rider]

John,

Eedan ( or ÀÌ´Ü ) is Second Degree "Black Belt" - or in TSD it would be Midnight Blue in color


I believe that the Japanese stylists use more of Nidan...

Bill

[glad2bhere]

Congratulations!! It always feels good to pass a test, whatever the rank, right?

When you get a chance how about a brief rundown on the sorts of things they had you do. Not being a TSD/TKD person I would interested to know how your system goes about assessing various levels of skill.

Best Wishes (and congratulations again!),

Bruce

[Pale Rider]

Bruce,

This test was a tad bit different as my current instructor was not my original instructor that I had who promoted me to Chodan.

I have to basically on old tapes and give you an evaluation myself on what I see comparing my chodan test and my eedan test.

There are many years under the bridge between then and now

What I see that and I have to go by is the basic improvement of not only techniques, but in forms.

In my Sahbom Nim's email :
"Mr. Doss and I were familiar with some of your technical ability prior to our seeing you perform today, at your place. We knew you were capable and sound in basic principles. You did not let us down today.........Technically, you are very solid in many ways. I have no doubt about your basics or your ability...."

As I read the email that Master Barker had sent me and judging over the past 12 years that I have been a Dan, that I believe that even though the First Degree or Chodan (ÃÊ´Ü) is the first step, we must "journey" forward. When someone presents ideas that are solid and have not only good principles and theories but shows good technique that we should be open-minded (Íö ⢠Գ) .

I am sure the basics for any martial art styles maintain a general overview of the student such as: how as the student progressed during the course of his/her study? How does the student grasp the knowledge mentally? I do believe that overviews such as that are very important when determining someone for rank promotion.

With (ÀÌ´Ü) Eedan or higher.. I do believe that it is based on how well the student has improved and how well the "focus" of the student in question has becomed more "centered". I see from my Chodan test to my current Eedan test that I have gained more ability to focus and I am sure that as the years go by that I will be able to focus more.

I only hope that this helps in any way...

Tang Soo!
Bill Richards

[glad2bhere]

Dear Bill:

"....."Mr. Doss and I were familiar with some of your technical ability prior to our seeing you perform today, at your place. We knew you were capable and sound in basic principles. You did not let us down today.........Technically, you are very solid in many ways. I have no doubt about your basics or your ability...."

I'm sorry I was so vague. Let me give you a few points to hang some answers on.

a.) When you tested did you perform all of the hyung across the range of your TSD career or only specialize in particular hyung as specified to you or only with those hyung required for 2nd dan?

b.) Was you performance weighted in any particular direction, towards sparring..... towards SD.........towards particular concepts?

c.) What part of your testing screened for your ability to transmit concepts such as teaching lower ranks or explaining important concepts?

d.) Did you perform breaking? Was it a single break or a series of lighter breaks?

e.) Was your test simple content, or was it a "push-to-failure" kind of test?

These are just some quick questions that come to mind. If there are observations you want to toss in to flesh-out the character of the test, I'm more than intersted.

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[Pale Rider]

Sorry, I didn't know to which aspect you were referring to...

Let me address your questions...

a.) On the hyoungs... On my Chodan test that I took back years ago - I had to demonstrate from Kicho Sam Boo, all of the Pyong Ahns, and then Bassai Dai. When I tested for my Eedan; my current instructor I beleive since he was testing me for Eedan and testing a young lady for Chodan at the same time asked us to do forms at random. ( Example given here - Master Barker asked her to perform certain forms and he asked me to perform other forms.) We both had to perform Bassai Dai however, and I had to do Naihanchi Chodan. So I do beleive that only because of time restraints that he didn't ask us to perform all of the forms. (As I have provided him with video cds that had my forms on them previously)

b.) I was graded on all of the above. We had to demonstrate not only drills (which there are some that I needed to work on of course as he mentioned in the email that "...Some of it, looks un-kept for a period of time."

c.) I do believe this question however was actually covered over at various times throughout the testing. Funny thing was when both of us was testing - I was actually trying to help out the young lady who was testing for Chodan. I do believe that I was graded on several factors of the ability to demonstrate to the lower ranks the techniques etc.. but to what degree that I do not know.

d.) No for some reason there were no breaking. I have broken many before in other tests, and had asked him if that was possible. Maybe since he saw some of the older footages.... I don't know, but there were no breaking envolved.

e.) I do have to say this about the test. It was simple yes. "Push to failure"? Well there were some things that I beleive pushed my limits on what I was able to do, but that to me found my weak areas and showed me what I had to work on. We walked away with some injuries of course, but something that I can say ...." I remember when..."

I beleive that not only where we tested on ability, but protocols, terminology, etiquette, and the like. The only difficulty that we have is that my instructor lives over 100 miles away so actually training with him on a regular basis is something that isn't exactly reasonable.

The things that I saw was that he wanted to see if we could actually use other "styles" incorporated and improvise on a moments notice. For example during Self-Defense ( some will do it where the defender asks the attacker to perform a certain attack...) - we had to defend against something that we didn't know what was coming. In fact there was one incident where the young lady just grabbed my nose ( as she said "... I didn't know what else to grab.." - thank goodness she didn't think of anything lower..)

I would have to assume this - but I do believe that we were graded on whether or not 1) We knew the technique(s) in question 2) able to explain exactly what we were doing in a way that not only makes sense but beleive in the technique. As he mentioned - "confidence is a major factor as well.."

I hope that I wasn't so vague this time, and I apologize for giving a vague answer the first time...I just didn't know what direction you wanted.

Bill Richards

[glad2bhere]

Dear Bill:

You were right on the money. So many times lower ranks who are looking to test get up-tight not knowing what to expect. I think you did a great job laying this all out. Thanks again, and once again, congratulations.

------ now quit reading my gibberish and get out there and put some polish on those hazy areas!!!!! ;)

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[Pale Rider]

Thanks again,

I just wanted to make sure that I did thank you for inquiring. Alot of people will just say "Congrats" and not even ask anything. To me I find that by asking is the only way that someone will know anything. So I am honored that you took the time out to ask.

You are right about working on some of the "hazy" areas... and I have just the trick for that...

I have some beams in my garage that I am going to use to assist me in helping me gain more flexibility. By using some rope and use the beams as a "pulley" - I hope to gain some of the flexibility that I used to have in my 20's, but seemingly have lost since I have hit the 30's ... (work twice as hard for only half of the reward....)

Thanks again Bruce....

(saying we have.... Tang Soo!)

or Pil Sung... "Certain Victory"

Bill Richards

[Moo duk kwan 2004]

Bill, congratulations on your promotion.

I will be taking my Eedan grading later this year and I am currently training hard to achieve this, especially as I will be graded by Grand Master Lee, Kang Uk (Dan #70).

The grading will span any Hyung upto Eedan, from Kee Cho Hyung Il Bu to Sip Soo and Naihanji Ee dan. Also I will have to do some Il Soo Sik (1 Step Sparing) and Ho Sin Sool (Self defence). This will be followed by Free Fighting and finally a Soo Do strike to 2 House Bricks.

I will be a hard but extremely enjoyable grading.

Tang Soo!!

[kodanjaclay]

As per forum rules, you need to sign each post with your real first and last name.

[Pale Rider]

This is what I found to be the easiest way of making sure that your name is placed... On the "signature" you can place your name there.. and whenever you post just make sure that you have the check mark on the "Show signature" that way it will always place your name there (just in case there are times when you don't sign it)

Just food for thought..

Thanks

[Mr Depew]

Congradulations Bill, sounds like you have some fun, surprised there was no breaks though, My edan test I had to complete 1 multible target break, 1 power break and 1 speed break.

Did you have to take a written exam and or write an essay?

[Pale Rider]

Thanks...

I had to take a written and oral exam. Plus that my instructor Master Barker and I have spoke on forums pretty much long before the testing, so he was aware of my "mental" capacity. The only thing that he required was seeing my physical.

As far as board breaking Kyuk Pah - I broke several in front of him before and after the testing ( and had shown him videos of concrete breaking)

Here is one that I did for the picnic that he held
(flash presentation)

Board break with head (http://tsdu.sanctum-x.net/TSDUpics/board%20break.swf)

I like your avatar - it seems very familiar

[Mr Depew]

I would call that using your head, very good break.

How long did you say it was since you had tested, I am thinking about testng next spring, has been ~six years for me. Since I started my own studio I have not paid much attention to the time.

[KD Tiger]

Congrats to you both!!!!



David Martino

[Pale Rider]

Thanks, I noticed that alot of people do more "prep" for break and that to me loses the concentration and focus. Looking at the target and hitting it knowing where it is sets up more of a clean break.

My girlfriend was worried that I would knock myself out as she said she saw that happen before at tournaments where Black Belts would prep themselves way too much and then at the time of impact hit it wrong. I don't worry - just hit and break.

I was promoted to Eedan back in December of 2003. Are you going for Eedan this spring or Samdan?

[Mr Depew]

Yes, I agree with the prep work on breaking, to much can cyke you right out of the break, kinda like MArtial Arts in general, if you gotta think about it, it's not going to work, must be autoamtic.

My last test was for Edan which is the rank I hold currently, I tested under Master David Schmitt in Dubque, Iowa, there was 12 of us, man it was a tough test, I will never forget it, I think it should be tough so when you pass there is no dought in your mind that you earned it.

[remagine]

congrats! :D

[BD2021]

im sorry, could you clarify for me which rank edan is, i know chodan is 1st, im thinking edan is 2nd dan but that doesnt seem right to me

[Pale Rider]

You are right and sorry for the delay in responding.

Chodan - 1st Dan (Korean) - Or Shodan (Japanese)
Eedan - 2nd Dan - Or Nidan (Japanese)

[BD2021]

thanks, i thought it sounded right, but im thinking the spelling might be different in my dojang Yi instead of Ee not sure, but just wanted to clarify that for myself

[Tang-Soo-Architect]

Ee and Yi are the same thing as you have correctly surmised. I think the trend now is towards Yi - the spelling in our handbooks have recently changed to show this. So you have Pyung Ahn Yi Dan and Chil Sung Yi Ro instead of Ee Dan And Ee Ro.

[BD2021]

ic, thx for the info

[Aefibird]

Congratulations on passing your Eedan Bill! :) A job well done.
I recently passed my Karate Nidan and it's a great feeling.

[rouse]

Way to go Bill;
I still have a good memory of my E-Dan testing ( in Korea 72) and the forms you demonstrated were the same then along with the, at the time new,palwge and Koryo forms.

Your Test and results will stick with you from now on, and you really will have some stories to tell the grand kids, I Know.

Take your skills and teach thous who want to learn.

Johnnie Rouse