05/06/07
Ok, where to start? hmmm….Well i supose the idea of starting a diary of my TSD training was mainly copied from a colleague and friend who has done the same. I have left it a bit late, as i think my first lesson was on the 29th of April.
Starting with that first lesson then. My good friend Mr Richards (James) had been trying to convince me to join TSD training for quite a few months, and on the above date finally managed to drag my unfit excuse for a body into his car and over to Gazelles gymnasium. What followed was what i can only describe as an hour and a half of physical and mental exhaustion!!! It is kind of a ritual that when new members start, they are given a tough lesson (to show how hard it can be) and i was no exception! The toughest part was having to drag each member of your team (about 5 – 6 people) from one end of the hall to the other in the fastest time possible. This may not sound to hard sat in front of a computer screen, but i will put my hand on my heart and swear it is one the hardest things i have ever done in my life. I honestly thought i was going to collapse.
To anyone who may be thinking of starting Tang Soo Do – please do not let my above ramblings put you off. Even though it was tough, i was completely hooked from that lesson on!!!
I have learnt so much over the last month or so that it would take me a week to fit it into this section of my blog, so i will explain try and explain a few relevant things which i have and will be doing for my first grading.
For my first grading i will have to perform the first TSD form (or “Hyung” in Korean) The form is known as “Kee Cho Hyung Il Bu” – basic form one. This comprises 20 movements from your beginning position “Joon Bee”, into a consession of low blocks and mid-section punches, before returning to the finishing position of “Ba Ro” Its hard to explain but you move up and down the “Dojang” (training hall) in the shape of the letter I.
Also for the grading i must perform two seperate one step sparring techniques or “Il Soo Sik Dae Ryun”. For this a partner attacks you with a high section punch, and in return you block the attack and follow with a mid section punch to the torso, a high section punch to the head and a high section (if you can!) roundhouse kick to the head.
I must also display two different methods of self defence or “Ho Sin Sool”. This involves your partner gripping your wrist tightly. You must then release the grip, strike with a knife hand attack to the neck, palm strike to the nose, a ridge hand strike to the groin and a palm strike to the chest. (like i said before there are two self defence techniques, but this is generally what they both involve).
Finally (looking forward to this!!!) i must break a board “Kyo Pa” using either an elbow strike or a front thrust kick. You dont know which it will be until the day, and you dont get to practice so will have to leave this one with God!!!
All this comes after an extremely hard warm up and stretch, and i think i may have to do some sparring too plus terminology (a series of questions and korean language).
Hope i didnt miss anything! This is all to gain my 9th gup (yellow belt), which should be at the end of July…..will keep you posted.
