I've split blog entries up so that one doesn't become massive when I miss loads of days. ...Which I will probably do a lot.



Anyway. I work as a supervisor in a toy shop (sounds much cooler than it is). My store tends to do quite well, considering it is so small and out of the way. Owing to this, we're a training store. That is to say, other stores that are newly opened send us their managers and assistant managers, we train them up for a week, and send them on their way.

Two weeks ago we had an assistant manager sent to us from somewhere up north (of England this is). It turned out that he was a 3rd dan black belt in taekwondo. Weird! However, he practiced WTF style.

A quick lesson

There are two main styles in taekwondo. WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) and ITF (International Taekwondo Federation). There is one heck of a lot of politics involved in tkd, unfortunately, and this is why there is a divide between the two. Sure, you can learn both, but generally speaking, a dojang (gym) will only practice in one.

WTF is the kind of taekwondo that markets itself as a sport more than an art. It's the sport that was recently shown on the Olympics. As a martial sport, there are differences. You aren't allowed to punch to the face, for one. You wear body armour, for two. Generally speaking, the contact is much less, for three. Those are the basic differences, in sparring, at least.

I, of course, study ITF. I stay of course because I'm a hard bitch. I see no point in not making contact, since in reality on the street, there are no rules. You fight as hard as you can to defend yourself. But that's just my view.

End lesson

The reason I brought up that he practices WTF, is because he was giving me weird advice. He said put your weight on your front leg, not back. He said don't copy people because you'll get no where. As interesting as I find his comments, I'll take them on board and explore them, but my master is a 7th dan in tkd, and 8th dan (making him a grandmaster) in hapkido. He has raised 9 world champions, and countless European and British champions. I am loyal to him (our 6th tenet). Having said that, I will explore the comments because I want to know why they think it works. I like knowing all about something, question everything. That's just how I roll.

But either way, it was nice being able to chat to someone not from the club about taekwondo. It gave a new light on how I see things. Renewed envigour, even.