If i was to train in STH Korea.Will they accept my ITF BLACK BELT?

[Damian Mavis]

Jubaji No... the real problem is I'm SPOILED. I live in Bangkok, pretty much THE most exciting place on the planet. I could give examples and try to explain but you wouldn't believe me and would not accept (I'm kinda joking but kinda serious... I've told people stories of this place before and they just couldnt accept it and when they did finally visit me they freaked out... even after I had already told them what to expect). Now wherever I go just seems kinda.... boring, but Korea especially. Japan was very exciting but I love alot of things about Japan and its culture so maybe it wouldnt be as fun for everyone, they have a huge martial arts culture with so many cool things to train in, not to mention anime and video games..... But Thailand has something for everyone heh, good vacation spot. Even if you do bring a girlfriend heh.

Despoja, all my friends that are SERIOUS TKD practitioners didnt like their experience training in Korea. But dude, any travelling and training in a foreign country is a good experience, I suggest you visit Korea but also make sure you hit Japan and as many other places as you can (Hong Kong, Bangkok if possible). All of them have ITF and WTF schools to visit. And you are welcome to come train at my ITF school in Bangkok as long as you like, if you did come here I would suggest you try living in an authentic muay thai camp and training that for a while too, good stories to tell after you put yourself through that.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

[jubaji]

Jubaji No... the real problem is I'm SPOILED. I live in Bangkok, pretty much THE most exciting place on the planet. I could give examples and try to explain but you wouldn't believe me and would not accept (I'm kinda joking but kinda serious... I've told people stories of this place before and they just couldnt accept it and when they did finally visit me they freaked out... even after I had already told them what to expect). Now wherever I go just seems kinda.... boring, but Korea especially.

Yeah, I get that you really, really like Bangkok, but if you were bored in Korea you didn't experience it properly.

[Damian Mavis]

Well... it's not just me, no one I know enjoyed Korea on their visits either..... so 1 of 2 things is happening...... either you have a limitted view of what fun is and have low expectations due to a lack of experience in a REAL fun place OR!... or you know some things about Korea that I and my friends do not! So in all seriuousness, please tell me what is good, fun or exciting about Korea. If this enters the realm of R rated than email me personally HA! Seriously, let me know why you think its more interesting a place than I do.

2 memorable things from my trip to Korea was the KIMCHI, best Kimchi I ever ate and the really cute girl at the information counter at the airport... man what a cutie! Oh and the hotels were very cheap for the good quality... unlike Japan and Thailand.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

[jubaji]

Did you and your friends visit a Room Salon when you were in Korea?

[Damian Mavis]

No, please describe.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

[dodgeduckdodge]

If you seriously want ITF in Korea there is at least one ITF school in South Korea and North Korea is all ITF now..... since they have the presidency of one of the 3 ITF's. Don't know why you want to train in South Korea though... hope you aren't thinking they have good TKD there. I'm sure they do, but they also have the WORST TKD in the world. It is too common and commercialised and almost everybody seems to have a black belt regardless of ability.

North Korea.... well not the nicest place to be and I personally wouldnt want to visit unless I was with some powerful friends.

South Korea is pretty hardcore boring too... so go train in another country! heh

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

Damian, when you were in South Korea, with whom, where and what year did you train?

The best Taekwondo training is in South Korea, that is if you know where to go. This is why over 180 nations send their national teams to South Korea to train. South Korea is the original home of Taekwondo.

Alcohol

[dodgeduckdodge]

[QUOTE=Damian Mavis;243585]No no no heh, I already said I'm sure they have excellent TKD, but they also have the WORST yes the WORST. Yes I've been there.<<<<

This is great commentary. I hope you don't mind some back and forth discussion?

You base this (WORST TKD) on what? It seems you did not see to much Taekwondo while in South Korea, since you did not see any excellent Taekwondo while there.

>>>>And most of my friends in the WTF have visited there and trained.<<<<

Your friends are not in the WTF. Do they practice according to Kukkiwon methods?

>>>>They would go to watch 4th degree black belt testings that looked like the equivalent of a green belt from Canada.<<<<<

Where in South Korea did they watch these 4th Dan test?

>>>South Korea INVENTED THE MCDOJO.<<<<

I diagree, please tell me what you base your statement on.

>>>They are the kings of selling rank, making money and pumping out useless black belts.<<<<

Do you have proof of this? My experience is that Kukkiwon Dan/Poom is earned. It is a violation of Kukkiwon Promotion Regulations to offer Kukkiwon Dan for sale. Persons have lost the right to recommend other for promotion for this, and have even been stripped of rank. But please, give me proof, I was not aware of this.

>>>>Everyone in the WTF I've talked to about it all says the same damn thing heh.<<<<

I doubt I, unless of course you have proof. Otherwise, it's just hearsay. Again, you don't know anyone in the WTF, do you?

>>>I prefer ITF style but I've trained WTF alot and see them both as TKD.<<<

I have trained in both ITF and Kukkiwon methods as well. I see the ITF as an 1950's Taekwondo, and Kukkiwon methods as a merger of all the styles and modern.

>>>I didnt say you should visit NKorea... but no they won't kill you, they do get tourists. It's just a very sad lame place.... I wouldnt want to go there.<<<<

Why did CHOI, Hong Hi spend so much time there?

>>>>South korea is just a little boring, pretty dry place. Honestly man I would encourage you to go to Japan and train there.<<<<

Actually, South Korea is an awesome place to visit, and if you like martial arts, it's everywhere and non-tourist dojangs are very open to foreigners. As for Japan, it's awesome as well, except there are many dojo's that focus on the tourist industry. So you have to look a bit, and it will help if you know someone to get a more non-tourist experience.

>>>>They have many good strong ITF schools but also a ton of excellent karate schools and other arts. And Japan is very exciting and interesting, it's my favorite place in the whole world. If you decide to go I'll give you numbers and addresses of ITF schools if you like.
Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand<<<<

I never knew that. How many ITF member schools are there in Japan? What cities are they in?

Thanks for the info.

Alcohol

[dodgeduckdodge]

Jubali wrote: Did you and your friends visit a Room Salon when you were in Korea?

No, please describe.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

Damian, I thought you were in South Korea? From your statements, it seems you feel you were there long enough to actually learn something about Korean (North and South) culture? I am surprised you don't know about Room Culture. There are many types of "Room" activities, one being Room Salon, which is only for men customers.

Please explain.

Alcohol

[dodgeduckdodge]

Well... it's not just me, no one I know enjoyed Korea on their visits either..... so 1 of 2 things is happening...... either you have a limitted view of what fun is and have low expectations due to a lack of experience in a REAL fun place OR!... or you know some things about Korea that I and my friends do not! So in all seriuousness, please tell me what is good, fun or exciting about Korea. If this enters the realm of R rated than email me personally HA! Seriously, let me know why you think its more interesting a place than I do.

2 memorable things from my trip to Korea was the KIMCHI, best Kimchi I ever ate and the really cute girl at the information counter at the airport... man what a cutie! Oh and the hotels were very cheap for the good quality... unlike Japan and Thailand.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD

It seems he found a major thing you and your friends where unaware of with Room Culture.

You are right about the Kimchi. Actually all the food I have in Korea (North or South) is very good. Korean's expect fresh everything, even in the cheapest of meals. Makkoli and Dong Nong Ju are also very good, especially if you have Kaegoki.

I don't like the night life in Japan. Lots of perversion there. As for Thailand, if you watch the news, you see that Thailand is the capital of the child sex for sale industry.

Alcohol

[jubaji]

I don't like the night life in Japan. Lots of perversion there.

.......................................

[jubaji]

all the food I have in Korea (North or South) is very good.

When were you in North Korea?

[dodgeduckdodge]

When were you in North Korea?

The last time was eight months ago.

Alcohol

[jubaji]

Ok, where and how long did you stay?

[dodgeduckdodge]

Ok, where and how long did you stay?

In Pyongyang within view of Juche Tower, off Tongil street and mostly in folk hotels that were really renovated traditional Choson period type homes, in Kaesong. We were there for seven days when we abruptly told we had to go back to Beijing. It turns out they suspected a person in our group of being a journalist.

Alcohol

[Damian Mavis]

Dodge, I will respond to your many questions but it seems your answer to everything is that I am lying so what's the point?

If I say I have this or saw that why would you just straight out say "No you didnt". Inferring I'm a liar. Why would I bother?

Take back your denail of my statements on MY life. (you telling me who my friends are or are not) and I will gladly respond.

JUBAJI, I was serious, I said either you don't know what fun is or you know things about Korea I don't (that would be my guess). So please give me the room salon details. (sounds familiar to other Asian countries).

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand