When was the last time you paid attention to how you breathed? It’s one of those autonomic body functions that we take for granted until we find ourselves in a situation where that very function is put at risk, such as during a taxing exercise, when we are under duress, Continue Reading
Yoshi Ota
In Order to Go Fast, You Need to Go Slow
When I first started training, there was a single black belt in the class that my instructor referred to as “Steve the Marine”. I’m not sure if he actually was a marine, but he had crisp technique, a no-nonsense attitude, and very hard shin and forearm bones. He provided a Continue Reading
The Meaning of Dojang
We discussed the Meaning of Do here, and if you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, I highly encourage you to do so before continuing on. This is because the “Do” in “Dojang” is the same character, and it is critical to understanding “Do” first to truly appreciate Continue Reading
Meaning of “Yin” and “Yang”
The terms “Yin” (or “Um” in Korean) and “Yang” have become commonplace in our modern Western culture, and whenever anyone uses these words, it is mostly used to contrast two individuals or two objects. The Yin and Yang symbol is commonly represented by a white and black circle, as shown Continue Reading
The Meaning of Cho
Learning to count is one of the first things one learns when learning a language, whether it is their first or tenth. It was no different when I began training Tang Soo Do; while I am fluent in Japanese, the Korean language is quite different enough that it took a Continue Reading
Rock What You Got: Your Martial Arts, Your Do
In simple terms, training in martial arts is essentially being in a constant state of comparing your skills to your instructor and your peers, and eventually your students. You are constantly striving to match your instructor, be better than your fellow students (or at least their equal) and stay one Continue Reading
The Meaning of Cha Ryut
One of the first commands we learn in any traditional martial arts is the command to come to attention. In Tang Soo Do and other Korean martial arts, it is “Cha-Ryut” (or Ryot), and it is one of those commands that is not only instantly recognizable, but quintessentially Korean. In Continue Reading
Dealing with Injury and Setbacks
If you’re old enough to understand anything in this sentence, then it is very likely that you have been injured at some point in your life. It’s an unavoidable part of life: we all make mistakes, we can’t control everything around us, and entropy exists, so inevitably something will fall Continue Reading
How to Respectfully Voice Your Opinion to Your Seniors, Especially if You Disagree
In my article about politics, any group of human beings will inevitably have some form of politicking, whether we like it or not. It’s an unavoidable fact in society, and this is true even in martial arts organizations. As such, disagreements are bound to spring up, not just in interpretation Continue Reading
The Meaning of Bo
In my association, there is a rank called “Cho Dan Bo”, which translates to “black belt candidate”. It is a solid blue belt, and it is the rank that you receive prior to testing for your black belt. I discussed what “Dan” meant in this article, so this one will Continue Reading