Conference bookie::arts

    
    
            Name            : Kevin McDonough
            DEC location    : ZKO
            School          : Tae Kwon Do Karate Club
            Style           : ITF
            Rank            : Yellow belt, green stripe
    
    I took up Tae Kwon Do because my daughter wanted to go and she didn't 
    want to go alone.  So, she has long since quit and I continue on
    because I love it.
    
    I've read through many of the notes in here, and I'm sorry I'm so
    late to the party!  I really would have enjoyed the ding/hopper, 
    contact/no-contact, forms/no-forms discussions. 8-) 
     
    I'm 40 and it's pretty obvious to me that I'll never be as fast as the
    20 year olds in the class.  I stand some chance of beating them on
    point sparring, it depends on the moment.  I have some good kicks, but
    the chance of me being able to throw one fast enough to get in on them
    is slim.  I'm better if I can get inside their personal space. 8-)
    Spinning kicks?  High kicks?  Sorry, I'll never be fast enough to 
    make it worth the effort.  
    
    The notes about TKD not teaching people to be fighters really struck
    a chord with me.  Our club is non-contact, and I really believe that 
    we loose a lot by not knowing what it's like to get hit and having to 
    recover and keep coming.  I work out on a heavy bag just for this
    reason....at least I get to hit something solid and see if I really
    do have those toes pulled back in a front snap kick. 8-)  I also
    agree with a lot of the old notes that say that TKD students can't
    punch with power and stamina.  We do very little in-close work, and all
    of the punches are to the air.
    
    But, the reality is that at this point in my life, I don't want someone 
    whacking me with solid shots to the body.  When I was younger I could
    take a pretty good shot and keep coming, but now I'd likely keel over. 
    TDK is a way to stay in shape and have some fun.  I don't know what
    would happen if I ever had to use it in a fight/street situation, and
    I'm not that likely to find out.  My last real fight was years ago and
    it was a very unusual situation to fight at all.
    
    So, I'm having great fun!  
    
    Kevin
    
    
     
    
    
    
    

Welcome.

I'm really glad to see you enjoying TKD.  Life is not all about 
full contact sparing (and my club is WTF i.e. full contact, with a number
of ex-boxers in it), it is as much about keeping fit, doing something
challenging, and having fun.

Also good to see that there is still at least one other TKD student
left in the company.

gerry