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Home Page Tang Soo Do Schedule Instructors Black Belts Students Articles		Starting Over: What it means to start over, Mr. Seth relays his feelings and gives his advice. Written by Mr. Dave Seth back in 2002. Starting Over As with most things in the America life everything is “Rushed”! There is this need to do and to have everything now! It seems that the Martial Arts is not immune to this type of mentality either. This is a small article about a man who was in a rush to become a black belt. It is also the story about a studio that was more than happy to help him reach his goals, fast and easy. Ah, the American way. OK, to make a long story short “I” did make it to black belt rank, I even made it to 2^nd Dan, and all in a matter of 41/2 to 5 years. Quick, fast, easy, what else could you ask for? There were a few problems though with this. First, the black belt really didn’t mean as much as I thought it would. Second, I really was lacking in my training. A big problem today is there are so many studios and so few true Masters or certified black belts owning and running them. Most people pick their studio out of a phone book or by convenience to how close it is to their home or work. Trust me this is a huge mistake! Believe it or not some people are less than honest! No! Really it’s true! In the town that I live there are many self proclaimed Masters! These are people who have had about the same amount of training I had at 5 years, that go out and start their own studio. After a year or so of owning the studio they miraculously appoint themselves as a master! Sorry, but this is a slap in the face to the true Masters who have put tens of years of training and sweat in to earn a Masters rank! This is also a great injustice to the people who they train under this disguise! Not only is this unfair to the student it is very dangerous for them. Taking lessons at these types of schools is about the same as letting a high school auto mechanic work on your new Ferrari! You will learn inferior techniques that will not work in a combat situation. You will also gain a false sense of security in what you have learned. This will only lead to you getting hurt! Another big problem is that most of these schools do not stay open very long. Once one of these schools close and you go look for somewhere else to practice you find out a hard truth! The only place that will recognize your rank is the school that just closed down. These schools are not recognized by a legitimate organization. Now, finally here comes the title of this article. You are faced with STARTING OVER! You ask yourself is it worth it? Most people would just stop practicing! I can tell you by my own experience of this and give you my opinion. I would say, most definitely to start over again. This time however, do it smarter, research your school first. Find out where the instructors train. The instructors, even the Masters, should still be training and honing their skills under a higher ranking teacher. They should have to answer to the Grand Master of their organization. Make sure that this is a legitimate studio. I have trained now for over ten years and I have just received my 1^st Dan with the World Tang Soo Do Organization. Was it long, hard, and difficult? You bet!! But this belt really has a lot of meaning. Not only do I feel like a true black belt now, I also have learned technique and amazing power! But the biggest thing I have learned is to humble myself and to start over again after making a mistake, like choosing the wrong studio to start my martial arts. When you come right down to it, is it really starting over? Not really, it’s more like continuing your education, this time you’re just doing it a whole lot smarter. Remember, research before picking your next school. By, Dave Seth 1^st Dan
		JWTSD 526 Somerset Street Johnstown, PA 15901 814-255-9569 Email: JWTSD "YWCA Building" Third Floor

Starting Over

As with most things in the America life everything is “Rushed”! There is this need to do and to have everything now! It seems that the Martial Arts is not immune to

this type of mentality either.

This is a small article about a man who was in a rush to become a black belt. It is also the story about a studio that was more than happy to help him reach his goals, fast and easy. Ah, the American way.

OK, to make a long story short “I” did make it to black belt rank, I even made it to 2^nd Dan, and all in a matter of 41/2 to 5 years. Quick, fast, easy, what else could you ask for? There were a few problems though with this. First, the black belt really didn’t mean as much as I thought it would. Second, I really was lacking in my training.

A big problem today is there are so many studios and so few true Masters or certified black belts owning and running them. Most people pick their studio out of a phone book or by convenience to how close it is to their home or work. Trust me this is a huge mistake!

Believe it or not some people are less than honest! No! Really it’s true! In the town that I live there are many self proclaimed Masters! These are people who have had about the same amount of training I had at 5 years, that go out and start their own studio. After a year or so of owning the studio they miraculously appoint themselves as a master! Sorry, but this is a slap in the face to the true Masters who have put tens of years of training and sweat in to earn a Masters rank! This is also a great injustice to the people who they train under this disguise! Not only is this unfair to the student it is very dangerous for them. Taking lessons at these types of schools is about the same as letting a high school auto mechanic work on your new Ferrari! You will learn inferior techniques that will not work in a combat situation. You will also gain a false sense of security in what you have learned. This will only lead to you getting hurt!

Another big problem is that most of these schools do not stay open very long. Once one of these schools close and you go look for somewhere else to practice you find out a hard truth! The only place that will recognize your rank is the school that just closed down. These schools are not recognized by a legitimate organization.

Now, finally here comes the title of this article. You are faced with STARTING OVER! You ask yourself is it worth it? Most people would just stop practicing!

I can tell you by my own experience of this and give you my opinion. I would say, most definitely to start over again. This time however, do it smarter, research your school first. Find out where the instructors train. The instructors, even the Masters, should still be training and honing their skills under a higher ranking teacher. They should have to answer to the Grand Master of their organization. Make sure that this is a legitimate studio.

I have trained now for over ten years and I have just received my 1^st Dan with the World Tang Soo Do Organization. Was it long, hard, and difficult? You bet!! But this belt really has a lot of meaning. Not only do I feel like a true black belt now, I also have learned technique and amazing power! But the biggest thing I have learned is to humble myself and to start over again after making a mistake, like choosing the wrong studio to start my martial arts.

When you come right down to it, is it really starting over? Not really, it’s more like continuing your education, this time you’re just doing it a whole lot smarter. Remember, research before picking your next school.

By, Dave Seth 1^st Dan