Back to Basics

[Eliz]

I officiate tournaments internationally as well as "guest" teach. More and more I am finding a complete break down of basic stances, punches, kicks and blocks. It seems the higher the belt rank, the worse the stances, kicks and punches are. Stances are my biggest complaint.

Does anyone else notice this too?

[jakmak52]

All the time, and that's just in the USA :eek: Which tournaments have you officiated in the United States?

[AllanJGAnderson]

Oh yeah, that is a huge problem at my dojang. As a middle belt, I on several occasions have showed a whitebelt a front stance, or what have you. And in doing so you grow alot more consciensious of your own stances and other, and some of our higher belt's stances are uglier than a mule. Too many people forget the fundamentals once they get to the interesting stuff.

[Bugeisha]

I thought the fundamentals WERE the interesting stuff...

[tbmonti]

I agree that basics have been overlooked by most schools in the past few years, but don't you think that that is a product of the Olympic style sparring craze. I have seen black belts who have a quick roundhouse or a great jumping back kick, but a terrible horse riding stance or can't punch their way out of a paper bag. I also believe that it is an instructional issue. If you are training your students to be good at that kind of sparring then they will be, but if you are training them continually to have great basic then they will. The problem is that instructors who produce tournament champions can use that to market their school and make more money. So it becomes a choice, do I teach the art and starve or the sport and drive a BMW. It is really about who the instructor is and what he is willing to do to keep the art intact. Another thing that I saw just about a year ago was a gentleman testing for 1st Dan. This man was a great Olympic style fighter, but his poomse was terrible from bad stances to bad kicks to not knowing the correct movements in Koryo poomse. Even his One step sparring was bad but he was passed by his instructor because of his ability as a tournament fighter. I disagree with that on several levels the first being that I know good tournament fighters that wouldn't stand a chance on the street or even if you just changed the rules a bit like say alowing punching to the head or takedowns. On the other hand if things like this keep happening then we are promoting people who may some day teach bad technique and thus waterdown our art. Its sad isn't it!

Respectfully,
Anthony B. Monti

[jakmak52]

I agree that basics have been overlooked by most schools in the past few years, but don't you think that that is a product of the Olympic style sparring craze. I have seen black belts who have a quick roundhouse or a great jumping back kick, but a terrible horse riding stance or can't punch their way out of a paper bag. I also believe that it is an instructional issue. If you are training your students to be good at that kind of sparring then they will be, but if you are training them continually to have great basic then they will. The problem is that instructors who produce tournament champions can use that to market their school and make more money. So it becomes a choice, do I teach the art and starve or the sport and drive a BMW. It is really about who the instructor is and what he is willing to do to keep the art intact. Another thing that I saw just about a year ago was a gentleman testing for 1st Dan. This man was a great Olympic style fighter, but his poomse was terrible from bad stances to bad kicks to not knowing the correct movements in Koryo poomse. Even his One step sparring was bad but he was passed by his instructor because of his ability as a tournament fighter. I disagree with that on several levels the first being that I know good tournament fighters that wouldn't stand a chance on the street or even if you just changed the rules a bit like say alowing punching to the head or takedowns. On the other hand if things like this keep happening then we are promoting people who may some day teach bad technique and thus waterdown our art. Its sad isn't it!

Respectfully,
Anthony B. Monti

I agree Anthony, it's the nature of the beast, it's watered down in some places, but yet there's enough of the "old style/grass roots" of instructors around to propagate the martial arts, et al :)

PS You're not from Peoria, are you :)

[silverhand]

We had this problem at our dojang as well. We noticed people coming up through the ranks and their basic stances, for example, getting worse. To correct the problem we slowed everyones progression, even my own, and focused more on the basics. We didnt move on in class until everyone was doing it correctly and not just once or twice a week, but all the time, even subconsciencely.

Dont know what its like now, I have been back to teach for 8 months.

[Eliz]

Glad to know it's not just me being "picky." The overall "watering down" of traditional instruction is truly sad.

Love the statements about the Olympic style fighters - I have watched point fighters get kicked straight to the face and been told, "I have to understand, the other fighter is a 'cross-over' fighter from the Olympic style."

As for National tournaments that I work, this year I am scheduled for several state qualifiers, the State Finals, The U.S. Nationals, and The Junior Olympics. I'm sure I will pick up some open circuit tournaments - I always like "The Battle of...." (Maine, Atlanta, Vegas, Baltimore, etc.) They are usually jam-packed with events. Overall, I'm winding down a little and looking forward to it - of course, I have said that in the past!!!

[Eliz]

I thought the fundamentals WERE the interesting stuff...

No arguement from me on that. :bow:

[nosh276]

I've also noticed that alot of schools teach that the traditional stances are useless. Many teach more of a boxer's stances for sparring.

[tbmonti]

Jack, Yes I was born in Peoria But, have lived out here in the country since I was 3.

Respectfully,
Anthony B. Monti