Master Martin started out by asking
for a 4th Dan to lead warm-ups, and Mr. Giese was first to volunteer.
Following that, the class began by working on 1-2 punch to D in an
L stance, making sure to come full-facing on the 2 punch. Then on
to high thrust, guarding block, cross cut, guarding block, all consecutive
techniques, forming not executing the guarding blocks. With all techniques
out of the same stance, the feet need to stay solid in the stance,
using knee spring to generate sine wave, therefore power, in the hand
techniques. Note that no sine wave is done for the guarding blocks,
since there is no power needed when 'forming' a technique.
Master Martin asked why the front
foot is not straight in an L stance, why the 15 degree angle? This
is what allows for mobility in any direction.
Kicking: We started with front
kicks, then turning kicks. Then we progressed to combination kicks,
warming up using those same kicks, and then on to combination reverse
hook kicks. Master Martin cautioned us all to avoid leaning over on
those, as it takes so much time to recover between kicks if you do
that. The transition kick to kick is much better if you can maintain
good posture with your upper body while kicking. And keep your hands
up! Note that while you're keeping your hands up, your kicks (front
kicks) need to stay inside your hands - don't kick outside your hands.
Patterns: We did patterns by group.
Upper dans (4th-6th) worked on Eu-Am, the rest of the Black Belts
did Gae-Baek, the 1st Gups did Choong-Moo, and the 2nd Gups did Hwa-Rang.
After doing our patterns one time through, Master Martin offered the
chance to do them again, asking if perhaps they might be executed
a little better, maybe we'd feel better about performing patterns?
I shouldn't speak for everyone, but I think we all jumped at the opportunity,
and each group did their pattern again.
We worked on Sliding and Shifting...
Master Martin noted that there is a SLIGHT weight transfer to the
front leg when shifting back, just enough to facilitate the shift.
These moves are done so that both feet leave the ground, then stop
at the same time, while maintainig a proper stance, and the front
foot doesn't continue to drag after the back foot is set. We worked
on the slide by executing a turn, then slide, as in Choong Jang, making
sure the slide was the length of one L-stance. Stances, shifts and
slides in Taekwon-Do are generally measured using shoulder widths
or foot lengths and widths.
Shift - 1 1/2 foot lengths
Slide - 1 stance length.
Flying kicks: The class split
into 5 groups, each with a pad holder, two pads. Starting with double
front kicks, then on to combination front kicks, two targets. Then
double side kicks and combination front kick - side turning kick.
No time to get bored with one set before going on to the next: twist
- side turning, then front kick - hook kick, all combination, two
targets. And then the Juche special, the two-direction kick, twist
kick - side kick. Then adding front kick to the two-direction kick.
When the class sat down for the
post-workout talk, Master Martin introduced our newest Black Belt,
Mr. Ramsey, who has joined us from another style and is training at
Martin's Casper Taekwon-Do. Welcome, Mr. Ramsey!
Master Martin gave clarification of some points of etiquette regarding
dress. These are Wyoming standards, within the USTF guidelines.
Proper dress blues to attend Taekwon-Do functions:
* For Color Belts: Dark blue slacks, white shirt, blue tie, no jacket.
* For Black Belts I-III Dans: Blue slacks, white shirt, blue USTF
tie, navy blue jacket is optional,
no embroidery on the jacket.
* For Black Belts IV Dan and up: Blue slacks, white shirt, blue USTF
tie, with navy blue jacket.
Head Instructors and USTF Officers will have USTF patch
embroidered on the jacket,
all others embroidery is optional.
Taekwon-Do uniforms:
* Assistant Instructor Flashes (yellow & white) may be worn by
I - III Dans who have
certified at a USTF Class C Instructors Course and who
are assisting their Instructor
by teaching in class, flashes to be worn at the discretion
of the Head Instructor.
* Instructor Flashes (black, yellow & white) shall be worn by
IV - VI Dans who have
certified as a USTF Class B Instructor.
A tentative date for the summer
testing in Sheridan is July 25.
No Wyoming Camp this year.
There is a Black Belt Testing coming up in Broomfield on September
12 that will include several testing to VI Dan and to Master Instructor
VII Dan. Check the USTF site for details.
The Wyoming Black Belt team that
competed at the Maestas Team Challenge in March presented their team
sign to Master Martin - "Martin's Wyoming Whirlwinds". That
team, as well as the junior team from Wyoming, took first place at
the tournament.
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