Omac

**Sun Bae** · 10-30-2004, 19:05

i was thinking of joining an OMAC, the hq is like 10 minutes from where i live, and i was wondering if anyone had any opinions about OMAC, because i've heard mixed things from friends and i really want to do tournaments. Since they're a tournament studio thats why i was thinking about them, so any thoughts someone might add?

**kodanjaclay** · 10-30-2004, 20:45

It is a chain. I haven't heard too much about them. I spoke to one of the Choi brothers in Indy and he seemed like he genuinely cared about children.

**moogong** · 10-30-2004, 21:43

I train and teach at a OMAC affiliate in Virginia. I believe I sent you the link a little while ago. I think you should go and see the school for yourself. Both Choi brothers are excellent teachers and train differently. Joon P. Choi is very skilled in TKD and has an open relationship with other instructors of other arts so there is always new things in the schools. OMAC is really a banner organization, so by joining you open yourself up to lots of crosstraining, which is always good.

Just go and see if you like it. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask.

**kodanjaclay** · 10-31-2004, 00:34

They also teach ShipPalGi, a rare form of "Korean" Kung Fu... it is actually a strain of Northern Kung Fu, but was transplanted so long ago it is considered Korean. I think it was Joon Choi I met. Small Korean man, very pleasant.

**moogong** · 10-31-2004, 07:27

Originally Posted by kodanjaclay

They also teach ShipPalGi, a rare form of "Korean" Kung Fu... it is actually a strain of Northern Kung Fu, but was transplanted so long ago it is considered Korean. I think it was Joon Choi I met. Small Korean man, very pleasant.

Young P. Choi in Indiana teachs ShipPalGi seperate from TKD. He lessons are always great because he has a very laid back demenor and good sense of humor. I used to be very intimated to approach him until one night at summer camp we watched Saturday Night Live together in the campus television room.
There is a big ShipPalGi influence in the OMAC forms that Joon P. Choi created, but by in large, Joon teaches straight TKD in terms of fighting.

Originally Posted by kodanjaclay

Small Korean man, very pleasant.

Yeah, thats him.

**kodanjaclay** · 10-31-2004, 09:42

If I may, and I don't want to hijack the thread here, do you know what the differences in practice would be between N. Shaolin and ShipPalGi?

Thanks in advance.

**moogong** · 10-31-2004, 10:04

Originally Posted by kodanjaclay

If I may, and I don't want to hijack the thread here, do you know what the differences in practice would be between N. Shaolin and ShipPalGi?

Thanks in advance.

Going by what others have told me, it has to do with the forms. The forms in ShipPalGi are not exactly the same in N. Shaolin. ShipPalGi has many more linear movements in it's forms and some incorporate the Korean sword (or Japanese sword, depending on your views

).
The forms were changed slightly to give it more a Korean flavor the same way many shotokan forms were changed.
The main similiarity is that ShipPalGi does put a great amount of time in developing the lower body, much like N.Shaolin.

I need to dig out my ShipPalGi reference material...I find info on the style more and more scarce in the US.

**Sun Bae** · 10-31-2004, 10:27

thanks, i had an appointment to meet with Joon P. Choi this tuesday i just wanted some more input beforehand, thank you again.

**kodanjaclay** · 10-31-2004, 10:28

I would love to see some of the refernece stuff you have.

Incidentally, right now its looking like the end of march, and both myself and master lim will be there. I'll keep you posted.

Frank

**kodanjaclay** · 10-31-2004, 10:28

Phil,

I say go for it. Good luck and let me know how it goes.

**moogong** · 10-31-2004, 10:36

Originally Posted by kodanjaclay

I would love to see some of the refernece stuff you have.

Incidentally, right now its looking like the end of march, and both myself and master lim will be there. I'll keep you posted.

Frank

No problem...I actually have some video clips I can post, I just have to find them first. I will look today.

Cool, keep me informed on the seminar. I can make it pretty much any time and I have some other students that are really interested. It will be a good time.

**moogong** · 11-04-2004, 17:51

kodanjaclay..I cant find my online clips or my fliers that I have on Sip Pal Gi but I have a dvd on the style that I will make you a copy of. I will give it to you at your seminar. It's a really great overview of the style and it's techniques.

**Sun Bae** · 11-06-2004, 19:13

Another question sort of relating to the topic... I liked the studio a lot but the emphasis on forms and basic movents isnt as much as our studio,... Then again i only went to one class. I talked to the ranking instructer there for a while and he said that i could practice for a few months no belt and then test for what i wanted to be. I have been thinking and im not sure what i should test for if i go through with it. I've been practicing for almost 11 years now in Ji Do Kwan and i got my 4th dan this past summer, but im not so sure ive been practicing long enough to obtain that rank so...
Should i end up testing for 4th or 3rd Dan?

**sidekick** · 11-06-2004, 20:07

I'm a little confused here. You said "i got my 4th dan this past summer".....
Why would you have to test for it over again? Does OMAC stipulate that you must test in order to keep your ranking?

**moogong** · 11-06-2004, 21:19

Originally Posted by Sun Bae

Another question sort of relating to the topic... I liked the studio a lot but the emphasis on forms and basic movents isnt as much as our studio,... Then again i only went to one class. I talked to the ranking instructer there for a while and he said that i could practice for a few months no belt and then test for what i wanted to be. I have been thinking and im not sure what i should test for if i go through with it. I've been practicing for almost 11 years now in Ji Do Kwan and i got my 4th dan this past summer, but im not so sure ive been practicing long enough to obtain that rank so...
Should i end up testing for 4th or 3rd Dan?

I would suggest talking to Grandmaster Choi, asking him to evaluate you and abide by his decision. After all, you would be testing before him so it would be good to get his opinion on things.

**tkdcanada** · 11-06-2004, 23:27

Sidekick,

You've been around long enough to know the name rule......Please adjust your user CP so it's done permanently. Thanks.

**kodanjaclay** · 11-06-2004, 23:55

Side,

If I may....

First, my esteemed colleague has you. Please fix your signature.

Second, OMAC teaches its own style. My guess is that they want to test him for proficiency in their style. Nothing wrong with that. I tested in TSD and TKD CDK because they are similar, and yet different.

Hope this helps.

**sidekick** · 11-07-2004, 00:18

Sorry about the sig, fingers got a little quick.......

Mike Dunn

**Gae-Bek** · 11-09-2004, 10:01

I've been practicing for almost 11 years now in Ji Do Kwan and i got my 4th dan this past summer,

4th Dan is the first of the "Master" ranks, and it's nothing to be taken lightly. As Master Clay has stated before (think it used to be in his sig), "one who has mastered an art reveals it in his every action." If you're "not so sure" about it by this point, then I would definitely hold-off on testing.

Next, you say that you've been training for 11 years. And your profile says that you're 15...which puts you starting at age 4. Most orgs require you to spend time [equal to the next rank in years] at the previous dan ranking before you test, which would be...

4 years as a 3rd, 3 years as a 2nd, and 2 years as a 1st. That's 9 years right there. That has you getting your Black Belt in 2 years...when you were 6.

but im not so sure ive been practicing long enough to obtain that rank

Personally, I would say that you're correct with that statement.

I have to ask...what organization did you test through? Sorry, but as much as the 6-year-old Black Belt bit has been beaten to death here, I must say that I'm absolutely dumbfounded over the fact that someone has tested you up to a Master rank at 15. It's just me, but I think that's a tad too early for such responsibility. I'm curious to hear more about your training and background.

**kodanjaclay** · 11-09-2004, 10:07

I am thinking that instead of dan he really means poom. Kukkiwon regulations do allow up to fourth poom.

To be a master, one also needs to have a certain amount of life experience and success in implementing martial philosophy. This is one of the reasons why some organizations require instructor certification.

I think pretty much the standard for sabom certification is between 21 and 25 years old. i would like to point out that historically in many Kwans fifth dan is master. MooDukKwan and WTF TKD are big exceptions. I think Chang Han and ITF require yuk dan to be considered a master, so there is some organizational variance.

No one under the age of 21, and in my mind that is stretching it, should be considered a sabom. Maybe a Bu Sabom, or a kyo sa, but not a Sabom.

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