Ancient Asian philosophies believe our life span is broken into 4 quarters. The first quarter is like the new flame. (0-20) Beautiful and contained. The second quarter is like the forest fire, showy, bold and impressive. Very yang fire (20-40). The third quarter is the hot ember. This more of the yin fire. It is not showy. The gray Ash covered ember however has enough power in it to start 1000s of fires. (40 to 60) The last quarter is the dying ember. Its power is diminished and become ash for the potters clay. (60-80) Yes there are 60 to 80 year olds practicing Tae Kwon Do. It is a time for considering what type of clay we want to be when the master potter make us into a vessel of the universe. I am a Christian and Jesus is referred to as the master potter that molds us into a vessel so this is a very meaningful image to me. As Christians we constantly try to make ourselves into the best clay possible. So there is no yin with out yang. So even in the dying ember there is still a brilliant flame. Even the new flame creates a small ember.
So studying this I began to ask myself when was it going to be ok to be old. When was I going to accept that I am more in the 3rd quarter than the 2nd quarter of my life. I recently lost my mother-in-law. She would not see the doctor regularly nor take her medicines. She really was forever young in her head. Forever in the 2nd quarter of her life. She was very "well kept" person. She always had her hair dyed blonde and styled. She wanted to be a showy flame to the end. So the stroke that eventually killed her took her by surprise. Had she been following the advice of her physician she could have avoided it all together. But she had never let herself get old and some where in her head she wasn't old enough to have a stroke.
So I decided to stop dying my hair and what is growing out is a total surprise to me. Long white and silver hairs. I have decided to stop hiding my aging process from myself an everyone else. I have decided to be 39.
In Tae Kwon Do we constantly work to overcome the limitations of our mind and body. This is a fruitful fight that yields a metal edge folded 100s of times. But I have discovered that working to overcome gray hair is pointless. The fool assaulting the mountain.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Ho Sin Sool or Hol Sin Sol However you say it here are all 60
So I got your emails saying you wanted me publish more of basics we use in class. I agree us older folks have to stick together. We need a little more reinforcement then the kids. As a refresher if you are new to Tae Kwon Do it is not like Hap Kido or Hop Kee-Dough as we say in the south. In Tae kwon Do you have a set number of Ho Sin Sools. These are the notorious first 60. I will try to get video of all 60. So you have something to study by.
Master Lee’s Best Martial Arts, Inc. Ho Sin Sool
No Belt
Attack…………………………………………………Defense
1. Grab wrist with one hand…………………........Make a fist, pull hand free, back fist to jaw.
2. Arm around the shoulder…………………........Inside foot back, turn in finger to throat.
3. Grab the hair…………………………………......Immobilize the hand, head to the floor.
4. Grab waist from behind (inside arms)………....Stomp foot, knee behind the leg, elbow to solar plexus.
5. Grab waist from behind (outside arms)……….Head butt, throw hands off, reach down, pull on ankle, side kick to the jaw.
White Belt
6. Grab the sleeve at the triceps………………………Immobilize the hand, knife-hand to the elbow
7. Grab the lapels and pull…………………………...Grab the lapels, hook the leg, twist to the weak side
8. Grab the lapels and push………………………….Grab the lapels, roll back and kick the attacker over
9. Over/under hug……………………………………...Pin the arm and pull into the small of back, with the free arm, palm strike to the attackers chin
10. Bear hug from the front…………………………..Jab the thumbs into the ribs, grab and hip throw
High Yellow Belt
11. Spear hand .................................................Jab thumb between the tendons, dip under arm & twist the arm behind the back.
12. Grab the sleeve end.....................................Rotate the wrist down & out, then up & in , then pin the hand.
13. Grab the sleeve at the shoulder.....................Immobilize the hand, knife-hand to the shoulder joint.
14. Grab the wrist with one hand.........................Free hand palm strike to the chin.
15. Grab the wrist with both hands......................Captive arm elbow to solar plexus
High Green Belt
16. Arm around the shoulder………………………...Arm around the waist, hip throw
17. Middle punch…………………………………......Outside block, grab shoulder, knee to solar plexus
18. Front two hand choke…………………………....Two hand knife hand to wrist and neck
19. Middle punch……………………………………...Scissors: outside block, ridge-hand to neck, side kick to the knee
20. Middle punch……………………………………...Outside block, grab wrist, dip under the arm, side kick to the hollow of the knee
High Orange Belt
21. Middle punch……………………………………...Opposite hand outside block, bend wrist, elbow over the shoulder.
22. Middle punch……………………………………...Outside block,, palm strike to chest, grab wrist, dip under arm, bend wrist up, push arm.
23. Middle punch………………………………………Same-side outside block, kick opposite thigh with the arch of the foot.
24. Middle punch………………………………………Opposite-side outside block, pull wrist, side kick to the thigh.
25. Middle punch………………………………………Same-side high block, uppercut to triceps with middle knuckle extended.
Medium Blue Belt
26. Middle punch……………………………………......Same-side high block, punch ribs under outstretched arm.
27. Middle punch………………………………….........Slip punch, hand across the chin, finger to temple, twist head.
28. Grab the sleeve……………………………………..Rotate the hand out and up, then in and down, pin hand palm up.
29. Middle punch………………………………………..Same-side outside block, jab thumb to thigh, fireman carry.
30. Hand shake………………………………………….Grab the hand, bend the thumb back.
High Blue Belt
31. Middle punch………………………………………....Opposite foot side kick to ribs, under outstretched arm.
32. Grab sleeve at the shoulder…………………..........Press thumb into nerve above the elbow.
33. Grab lapels with both hands………………………...Over/under hug, step through into headlock, sit, pull up and in.
34. Grab sleeve at the shoulder…………………………Captive arm elbow to ribs.
35. Grab sleeve at the shoulder…………………………Raise captive arm up, bring elbow down on attacker’s arm.
High Brown Belt
36. Middle punch………………………………………....Opposite-side outside block, grab the elbow, bend wrist inward.
37. Punch or kick to mid-section………………………..Front fall, punch the top of foot with middle knuckle extended.
38. Middle punch…………………………………….......Opposite-side outside block, knee behind leg, knife-hand strike to throat, grab, shoulder and turn elbow downward, break arm over the knee.
39. Arm around the shoulder…………………………....Uppercut to solar plexus with the middle knuckle extended.
40. Front kick to seated opponent……………………...Grab Achilles’ tendon, pull ankle up, and push knee to back/side.
High Purple Belt
41. Grab shoulder from behind………………………….Look over shoulder at seized side, ridge-hand below the shoulder.
42. Grab lapels with one hand………………………….Snake: Opposite-side outside block, twist wrist in, palm strike to chin.
43. Low punch…………………………………………....Same-side outside block, turn hand out, twist wrist, knife-hand to back of neck.
44. Grab lapels with one hand………………………….Immobilize hand, knife-hand to shoulder
45. Middle punch………………………………………...Same-side outside block, elbow strike to ribs.
46. Grab sleeve at shoulder…………………………….Jab middle finger into nerve inside collar bone.
47. Push shoulders, turn away…………………………Jab thumbs into kidneys.
48. Push shoulders, turn away………………………....Double palm strike to shoulder blades.
49. Knife-hand chop to neck…………………………….Knife-hand block across thumb tendons.
50. Roundhouse kick…………………………………….Knife-hand block across the ankle tendons.
High Red Belt
51. Middle punch………………………………………Outside block, grab the wrist, pull attacker forward, axe kick to the back.
52. Roundhouse kick to the trunk…………………...Catch the foot, front kick to the stomach, using the ball of the foot.
53. Grab the belt……………………………………....Grab hand to immobilize, knife-hand to the elbow.
54. Middle punch………………………………………Opposite side outside block, right elbow strike to the ribs.
55. Grab sleeve at the shoulder………………………Opposite side arm in-out, hook below elbow, pull upward.
56. Grab sleeve at the shoulder……………………...Thumb to pressure point on the arm, opposite side scissor strike.
57. Grab the wrist……………………………………..Turn the wrist outward, grab the forearm, opposite hand to elbow, wrist the arm behind the back.
58. Middle punch……………………………………….Opposite side outside block, right middle punch to the shoulder.
59. None………………………………………………...Step on the opponent’s foot, push chest with both hands.
60. Middle punch………………………………………Opposite side outside block, grab the wrist, right ridge-hand to the neck.
Master Lee’s Best Martial Arts, Inc. Ho Sin Sool
No Belt
Attack…………………………………………………Defense
1. Grab wrist with one hand…………………........Make a fist, pull hand free, back fist to jaw.
2. Arm around the shoulder…………………........Inside foot back, turn in finger to throat.
3. Grab the hair…………………………………......Immobilize the hand, head to the floor.
4. Grab waist from behind (inside arms)………....Stomp foot, knee behind the leg, elbow to solar plexus.
5. Grab waist from behind (outside arms)……….Head butt, throw hands off, reach down, pull on ankle, side kick to the jaw.
White Belt
6. Grab the sleeve at the triceps………………………Immobilize the hand, knife-hand to the elbow
7. Grab the lapels and pull…………………………...Grab the lapels, hook the leg, twist to the weak side
8. Grab the lapels and push………………………….Grab the lapels, roll back and kick the attacker over
9. Over/under hug……………………………………...Pin the arm and pull into the small of back, with the free arm, palm strike to the attackers chin
10. Bear hug from the front…………………………..Jab the thumbs into the ribs, grab and hip throw
High Yellow Belt
11. Spear hand .................................................Jab thumb between the tendons, dip under arm & twist the arm behind the back.
12. Grab the sleeve end.....................................Rotate the wrist down & out, then up & in , then pin the hand.
13. Grab the sleeve at the shoulder.....................Immobilize the hand, knife-hand to the shoulder joint.
14. Grab the wrist with one hand.........................Free hand palm strike to the chin.
15. Grab the wrist with both hands......................Captive arm elbow to solar plexus
High Green Belt
16. Arm around the shoulder………………………...Arm around the waist, hip throw
17. Middle punch…………………………………......Outside block, grab shoulder, knee to solar plexus
18. Front two hand choke…………………………....Two hand knife hand to wrist and neck
19. Middle punch……………………………………...Scissors: outside block, ridge-hand to neck, side kick to the knee
20. Middle punch……………………………………...Outside block, grab wrist, dip under the arm, side kick to the hollow of the knee
High Orange Belt
21. Middle punch……………………………………...Opposite hand outside block, bend wrist, elbow over the shoulder.
22. Middle punch……………………………………...Outside block,, palm strike to chest, grab wrist, dip under arm, bend wrist up, push arm.
23. Middle punch………………………………………Same-side outside block, kick opposite thigh with the arch of the foot.
24. Middle punch………………………………………Opposite-side outside block, pull wrist, side kick to the thigh.
25. Middle punch………………………………………Same-side high block, uppercut to triceps with middle knuckle extended.
Medium Blue Belt
26. Middle punch……………………………………......Same-side high block, punch ribs under outstretched arm.
27. Middle punch………………………………….........Slip punch, hand across the chin, finger to temple, twist head.
28. Grab the sleeve……………………………………..Rotate the hand out and up, then in and down, pin hand palm up.
29. Middle punch………………………………………..Same-side outside block, jab thumb to thigh, fireman carry.
30. Hand shake………………………………………….Grab the hand, bend the thumb back.
High Blue Belt
31. Middle punch………………………………………....Opposite foot side kick to ribs, under outstretched arm.
32. Grab sleeve at the shoulder…………………..........Press thumb into nerve above the elbow.
33. Grab lapels with both hands………………………...Over/under hug, step through into headlock, sit, pull up and in.
34. Grab sleeve at the shoulder…………………………Captive arm elbow to ribs.
35. Grab sleeve at the shoulder…………………………Raise captive arm up, bring elbow down on attacker’s arm.
High Brown Belt
36. Middle punch………………………………………....Opposite-side outside block, grab the elbow, bend wrist inward.
37. Punch or kick to mid-section………………………..Front fall, punch the top of foot with middle knuckle extended.
38. Middle punch…………………………………….......Opposite-side outside block, knee behind leg, knife-hand strike to throat, grab, shoulder and turn elbow downward, break arm over the knee.
39. Arm around the shoulder…………………………....Uppercut to solar plexus with the middle knuckle extended.
40. Front kick to seated opponent……………………...Grab Achilles’ tendon, pull ankle up, and push knee to back/side.
High Purple Belt
41. Grab shoulder from behind………………………….Look over shoulder at seized side, ridge-hand below the shoulder.
42. Grab lapels with one hand………………………….Snake: Opposite-side outside block, twist wrist in, palm strike to chin.
43. Low punch…………………………………………....Same-side outside block, turn hand out, twist wrist, knife-hand to back of neck.
44. Grab lapels with one hand………………………….Immobilize hand, knife-hand to shoulder
45. Middle punch………………………………………...Same-side outside block, elbow strike to ribs.
46. Grab sleeve at shoulder…………………………….Jab middle finger into nerve inside collar bone.
47. Push shoulders, turn away…………………………Jab thumbs into kidneys.
48. Push shoulders, turn away………………………....Double palm strike to shoulder blades.
49. Knife-hand chop to neck…………………………….Knife-hand block across thumb tendons.
50. Roundhouse kick…………………………………….Knife-hand block across the ankle tendons.
High Red Belt
51. Middle punch………………………………………Outside block, grab the wrist, pull attacker forward, axe kick to the back.
52. Roundhouse kick to the trunk…………………...Catch the foot, front kick to the stomach, using the ball of the foot.
53. Grab the belt……………………………………....Grab hand to immobilize, knife-hand to the elbow.
54. Middle punch………………………………………Opposite side outside block, right elbow strike to the ribs.
55. Grab sleeve at the shoulder………………………Opposite side arm in-out, hook below elbow, pull upward.
56. Grab sleeve at the shoulder……………………...Thumb to pressure point on the arm, opposite side scissor strike.
57. Grab the wrist……………………………………..Turn the wrist outward, grab the forearm, opposite hand to elbow, wrist the arm behind the back.
58. Middle punch……………………………………….Opposite side outside block, right middle punch to the shoulder.
59. None………………………………………………...Step on the opponent’s foot, push chest with both hands.
60. Middle punch………………………………………Opposite side outside block, grab the wrist, right ridge-hand to the neck.
Friday, January 23, 2009
I Ching - Tae Kwon Do Comes to the Office
So how does Tae Kwon Do enter into my work life? So I was in my bosses office and he is struggling with a particularly difficult group in our organization that has become an obstacle to progress. "I said all great achievement is born of correct conduct when dealing with obstacles." He attached to the sentence immediately. I explained to him the I Ching trigram for Obstruction. Now I first became familiar with the I Ching as a young person. My father worked for the FDA and we would have frequent vistors for other countries who work for what ever version of the secretary of interior they had. The I Ching came to me from a group visiting from China. One of the minders had it and introduced me to it. I picked it up again in earnest when I stearted Tae Kwon Do because it is very insightful in how to fight, train and give service to your Do Jang.
So I talked to my boss about how in front there is the sea and behind there is the mountain. The great leader is in between. The mountain nor the sea can be taken on with a direct frontal assault. The mountain and the sea are both obstacle. In history the Mountain has represent and opposing army or illness or famine. The sea is usually the masses - the people. The mountain can not be brought to the sea but the sea can come to the mountain. Therefore to over come this difficult group in our company (ie the Mountain) we need lots of people (ie the Sea). In project management we call these gathering sponsors with buy in. I had already started collecting the sponsors. My VP was very pleased with my approach even if it sounded a bit strange - mountains and seas and all that stuff. But I never thought I would be discussing the principals of the I Ching with my boss. Tae Kwon Do comes to the office.
So I talked to my boss about how in front there is the sea and behind there is the mountain. The great leader is in between. The mountain nor the sea can be taken on with a direct frontal assault. The mountain and the sea are both obstacle. In history the Mountain has represent and opposing army or illness or famine. The sea is usually the masses - the people. The mountain can not be brought to the sea but the sea can come to the mountain. Therefore to over come this difficult group in our company (ie the Mountain) we need lots of people (ie the Sea). In project management we call these gathering sponsors with buy in. I had already started collecting the sponsors. My VP was very pleased with my approach even if it sounded a bit strange - mountains and seas and all that stuff. But I never thought I would be discussing the principals of the I Ching with my boss. Tae Kwon Do comes to the office.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
What to fear next?
I have been gripped with a terrible fear of death my entire life. My attendance at Vintage 21 Church in Raleigh has helped me quite a bit with my existential crisis. Especially our study of Ecclesiastes. My fear is so intense at times that it leaves me frozen solid. Dead in my tracks if you will. My fear is best described as horrible human panic about being human. Here is how ironic it gets. I have at times felt suicidal about my fear of death. Yeah...
But I held my mother in laws hand while she took her last breath. A video tape of it would show that what I saw was a human being take her last breath and die. What I swear I saw was some one fall into the arms of Jesus. Just plain as day. Just like that. A few years ago I read a report about how someone tried to measure the weight of the human soul so they measured the differences in body weight at the exact moment of death. A good bio-chemist could help them out with that one. But what I saw would have thrown their scales off the chart. I didn't see a soul leave the body - I saw God come and get her. How much does God weigh?
Well thanks to Vintage 21 and my mother-in-law's last testament I not afraid of death. So you hear the huge sucking sound too. The enormous black hole of fear that made up most of the mass of my humanity. Its like having a vacuum cleaner on wide open inside my soul.
What to fill that with? I want to make sure I am not indiscriminately sucking up junk like a vacuum cleaner though. I'd like to fill that space with Gods purpose for my life.
"Dear Jesus, I would like to fill the space where the fear of death used to exists with your purpose for my life."
But I held my mother in laws hand while she took her last breath. A video tape of it would show that what I saw was a human being take her last breath and die. What I swear I saw was some one fall into the arms of Jesus. Just plain as day. Just like that. A few years ago I read a report about how someone tried to measure the weight of the human soul so they measured the differences in body weight at the exact moment of death. A good bio-chemist could help them out with that one. But what I saw would have thrown their scales off the chart. I didn't see a soul leave the body - I saw God come and get her. How much does God weigh?
Well thanks to Vintage 21 and my mother-in-law's last testament I not afraid of death. So you hear the huge sucking sound too. The enormous black hole of fear that made up most of the mass of my humanity. Its like having a vacuum cleaner on wide open inside my soul.
What to fill that with? I want to make sure I am not indiscriminately sucking up junk like a vacuum cleaner though. I'd like to fill that space with Gods purpose for my life.
"Dear Jesus, I would like to fill the space where the fear of death used to exists with your purpose for my life."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
American Whores and Islamic Virgins
American Whores and Islamic Virgins. It is such trite imagery. A cliche. When a good friend of mine came from Iran to the US to marry she envisioned all American women would be like Pamela Anderson and everyone would live glamour lives to the point of decadence. She was so surprised when she got to NC. She lived in an upscale community that was buffered by farms and small mom and pop shops. Her whole life she had been sold and image of American women as Godless pornographic looking whores with which she would have to compete to keep her husbands attention. Her steadfast Islamic virtue just wasn't going to cut it in America. And that's why she got the breast implants before her wedding. Yeah, you know that's a choice thats got to suck to live with.
A few weeks ago I was talking with another American friend of mine who had just let her 14 year old daughter go to the mall with out her. She said she wasn't worried about her precosious daughter getting into trouble meeting boys at the mall because her daughter was with Sadaf. One of the Islamic girls in community. She is a modest girl by nature and comes complete with head scarf and is terrified of boys. Because if her dad ever caught her so much as looking at one of the boy she would never leave the house again. Thus making her a good companion for said American friends daughter to go to the mall with.
Deep down inside - Is it really the truth that as Americans moms we find Islamic values of modesty safe and desirable for our own girls. Probably just as much and equally as misplaced as an Irainian brides desire to have large sexy breast to fit in - in America.
A few weeks ago I was talking with another American friend of mine who had just let her 14 year old daughter go to the mall with out her. She said she wasn't worried about her precosious daughter getting into trouble meeting boys at the mall because her daughter was with Sadaf. One of the Islamic girls in community. She is a modest girl by nature and comes complete with head scarf and is terrified of boys. Because if her dad ever caught her so much as looking at one of the boy she would never leave the house again. Thus making her a good companion for said American friends daughter to go to the mall with.
Deep down inside - Is it really the truth that as Americans moms we find Islamic values of modesty safe and desirable for our own girls. Probably just as much and equally as misplaced as an Irainian brides desire to have large sexy breast to fit in - in America.
She Died January 6th
My mother in law died peacefully in the loving care of Hospice of Wake County on January 6th. We were all at her bedside and it was a terribly sad yet incredibly beautiful. I was blessed to be in her life. She is gone and not coming back. I will miss her.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Today hospice takes over
Today Hospice takes over my mother in laws care. They remove a heavy sack of burden from our shoulders. She will be taken off all artificial feeding. She will be taken off all medication except for morphine. She is however going to receive forced oxygen through a face mask. She is not a on a respirator.
It bothers me that they are willing to let her waste away for the the next few months instead of just removing the face mask. A new heavy sack of burden is acquired. If they would just take off the face mask she would go quickly, naturally and painlessly if they did. But it is going to drag out. It does buy the family some time to get her affairs in order and say good-bye. In some ways a heavy sack of burden is lifted.
But this choice isn't mine to make. If I am really going to love my husband and my mother in law. I need to support them in what ever choice they can live with. The heavy sack of burden is shifted to them.
In the Chinese book the I Ching they call these types of choices 'a knife with no handle'. Meaning a knife that is sharp and pointed on all sides and will cut who ever wields it. The choice to remove or not to remove this artificial support or that artificial support - leaves a deep cut. Guilt to be pondered for years. Did I put my mother through needless suffering and its polar opposite response, did I make a choice that murdered my mother. The heavy sack of burden is filled with guilt.
My husband and I have been caring for her since her first stroke in August. He would go to see her during the day and I would go each evening. I washed her hair each week and clipped her nails. We picked up the unavoidable slack that the nursing staff would leave. When MRSA meant that no one would touch her without being covered in latex. We stroked her face with unprotected hands. Letting the purity of a skin to skin touch ease her suffering. What will we do when she is gone with those empty hours? What would she have wanted us to do with them. A new heavy sack of burden can be taken or left behind.
In her living will she requested "no extraordinary measures" to be taken should she suffer an event that would leave her in a "permanent vegetative state". It is the typical wording of most living wills. How she got hooked up to all this artificial stuff is a long story for another day about the semantics of the words "extraordinary measures" and "persistent" and "vegetative state". One lesson from all this that I will convey is reconsider your living will as your heavy sack of burden to lift try not to leave it for your kids. Hyper define all of these words "extraordinary measures" and "persistent" and "vegetative state". Hippocratic oath = keep you alive. If you want to usurp the authority of a doctors Hippocratic oath then you better really spell it out in detail in your living will. You relieve the doctor from his heavy sack of burden.
It bothers me that they are willing to let her waste away for the the next few months instead of just removing the face mask. A new heavy sack of burden is acquired. If they would just take off the face mask she would go quickly, naturally and painlessly if they did. But it is going to drag out. It does buy the family some time to get her affairs in order and say good-bye. In some ways a heavy sack of burden is lifted.
But this choice isn't mine to make. If I am really going to love my husband and my mother in law. I need to support them in what ever choice they can live with. The heavy sack of burden is shifted to them.
In the Chinese book the I Ching they call these types of choices 'a knife with no handle'. Meaning a knife that is sharp and pointed on all sides and will cut who ever wields it. The choice to remove or not to remove this artificial support or that artificial support - leaves a deep cut. Guilt to be pondered for years. Did I put my mother through needless suffering and its polar opposite response, did I make a choice that murdered my mother. The heavy sack of burden is filled with guilt.
My husband and I have been caring for her since her first stroke in August. He would go to see her during the day and I would go each evening. I washed her hair each week and clipped her nails. We picked up the unavoidable slack that the nursing staff would leave. When MRSA meant that no one would touch her without being covered in latex. We stroked her face with unprotected hands. Letting the purity of a skin to skin touch ease her suffering. What will we do when she is gone with those empty hours? What would she have wanted us to do with them. A new heavy sack of burden can be taken or left behind.
In her living will she requested "no extraordinary measures" to be taken should she suffer an event that would leave her in a "permanent vegetative state". It is the typical wording of most living wills. How she got hooked up to all this artificial stuff is a long story for another day about the semantics of the words "extraordinary measures" and "persistent" and "vegetative state". One lesson from all this that I will convey is reconsider your living will as your heavy sack of burden to lift try not to leave it for your kids. Hyper define all of these words "extraordinary measures" and "persistent" and "vegetative state". Hippocratic oath = keep you alive. If you want to usurp the authority of a doctors Hippocratic oath then you better really spell it out in detail in your living will. You relieve the doctor from his heavy sack of burden.
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