Matt_Gil----4/14/2004 7:07 PM----Post Number: 1


Is it me or does no one seem to be talking about the championships? I'm sure everybodys thinking about them to one degree or another. I wouldn't mind getting a picture of what its going to be like on a international scale. Whos going, where are you from, what are you comepeting in, things along those lines. I've heard (could be only rumour) that the US are expecting over 200 competitors and I know that Europe should send about 40 to 50. Thats excluding Mexico, Canada, Australia so the numbers are looking a lot healthier than last time. I think there were maybe 40 of us! Anyway let us know if your going,

Cheers

Matt

CMA-Casey----4/14/2004 8:59 PM----Post Number: 2


I'll be there to compete in forms and cutting as a first dan. I was born in 1969 and according to the guidelines of the 2002 championships everyone born in '69 or earlier was to compete in the "old fart" division.

This trip is actually multipurpose for me as I will also be meeting my future in-laws for the first time. YuKyung can't come with me this summer, so we're planning on returning in the spring of 2005 to get married. I pointed out to her that doing it that way would be cheaper than flying her entire family here for a wedding.

dberg12408----4/15/2004 12:06 AM----Post Number: 3


Good question Matt. I posted a plea for some information awhile ago. Master Park asked me to go and I said I would. I really can't get a straight answere on what I'm supposed to do or what to expect. As of now I'm going to play it by ear and do whatever I have to do.
Frank

Cheri----4/15/2004 12:12 AM----Post Number: 4


What I remember from last time was that there were kids and adult divisions. We were kind of herded around like cattle. Could someone who has competed at tournaments in Korea give us a list of some useful tournament phrases?

Anthony_Boyd----4/15/2004 6:08 PM----Post Number: 5


The way tournements work here is that there is a lot of hurrying followed by a lot of waiting. You need to be able to start and stop the hurrying and the waiting with lightning rapidity.

For the forms competition, you will need to blend two or more forms together seamlessly. It is not necessary to add a transition between them, and it is frowned upon to add a long transition between them. That said, you can add a few movements to better integrate the ending of one form with the beginning of the next. Competitiors do not sheathe and redraw the sword at the transition point.
As you progress through the rounds, you may be expected to add an additional form to the end. The last time I believe the final round for adult, dan holders had them displaying four continuous forms. Either that or they had us expect to do four and in the end only required three. I cannot recall.

For the cutting competition, the rounds require more and more continuous cuts, and the inclusion of additional poles. There is a clip of Ryan explaining this in the Documentssection. Expect something like 3 cuts for the first round (2 down and 1 up), and 5 or 6 cuts on 2 poles for the final round.

The choreography contest has been a maximum of 2 minutes and there are specific numbers of techniques which had to be included, such as numbers of non-weapon attacks, and tumbling. Preparations for this sort of thing are detailed in the Combat Theory section of the message board.

The group forms section has often required a 10 person entry minimum. Competitors must act together both as a group and in waves.

I do not know if there will be a sparring competition, but I doubt that there will.

clarewithnoeyes----4/16/2004 6:34 AM----Post Number: 6


Cheri, are you looking for things that you can say to the Koreans, or phrases you might expect to hear? The former is probably easier than the latter, as the accent of the announcers coupled with the distortion of the microphone may make any phrases you learn impossible to recognize. Also, there are many different ways to say the same thing and it is difficult to predict what expression they may use. If you could be more specific, it would be easier to suggest some phrases.

The herding may also have something to do with Korean culture. In Korea, everything is done as a group, so they may find it difficult to understand why you want to do something by yourself. Also, when it comes to touring, they tend to race around any museum, etc. as quickly as possible, rarely glancing at the displays, since being there and having photographic evidence seems to be much more important than actually looking around. Also, the 'hurry, hurry' mentality is very prevalent here, while western folk tend to be a bit more leisurely and relaxed (comes from the efforts to rebuild the country following the war and their request to become a developed country).

CandleKilla----5/24/2004 2:40 PM----Post Number: 7


For your information, I have posted the 2004 championship competition guidelines and foreign competitor itinerary on Canadian HDGD Association website.

www.hdgumdo.ca

they are in table format and I'm too lazy to reformat them to post here:P

Anthony_Boyd----5/25/2004 1:13 PM----Post Number: 8


I got the time off work yesterday. I plan to head to the resort on the 21st. It's nice that one the days is a Saturday this year!

CMA-Casey----5/26/2004 7:08 PM----Post Number: 9


Thanks, CandleKilla, for providing the competition guidelines.

I think I may be having a "dumb blond" moment. When executing a right downward cut on bamboo, does the "right" refer to cutting from left to right or cutting the pole from right to left? Now stop rolling your eyes and shaking your head in disbelief and please answer my question. Also, I'm trying to picture making a "right downward cut and left downward cut, spin 360 degrees clockwise and left downward cut of the front bamboo." Is this a correct description or a typo? 360 degrees? Front bamboo? Or is it two poles with the competitor in the middle, cutting the first pole as described, then spinning 180 degrees to cut the other?

Finally, in regards to the chakgums of the individual gumbups, what is meant by "cannot be modified?" And is a partial chakgum between gumbups to be avoided?

CandleKilla----5/26/2004 9:33 PM----Post Number: 10


Thanks for asking, actually. Some of those were confusing and I had to ask too.

right downward cut refers cutting from right shoulder to left leg direction. right upward cut refers from right leg to left shoulder.

360 degree spin refers that you have to make one complete clockwise turn and cut the front bamboo again.

and regarding the chakgums, it means you cannot 'invent' a fancy flashy chakgums between two gumbups.

Upperclassman Brian----5/27/2004 1:01 AM----Post Number: 11

Heh, yeah, I've always wondered exactly how you're supposed to say what a right or left diagonal cut is. I just got into the habit of telling students to make a "right to left" or a "left to right" cut. I guess I know now. Thanks, Casey!

CandleKilla----5/27/2004 3:39 PM----Post Number: 12


All seems to be well with the championship preperation and there is no doubt that we will have a super fantastic experience:D

I hope to see you all at the championship

Ryan----5/28/2004 10:56 AM----Post Number: 13




Is this correct? Finishing with a downward cut is, in my experience, not really something that is a "preliminary" kind of exercise. It is actually quite difficult, particularly with a spin added in for fun. For the demonstration team try-outs participants had to do something similar but it was two downward cuts, spin and upward cut.

Anthony_Boyd----5/28/2004 5:16 PM----Post Number: 14


Has the schedule change affected anyone negatively?

Ryan----6/1/2004 10:40 AM----Post Number: 15


I just saw the Korean handbook and this cutting information is correct. This is a surprise to me. This is a difficult series of cuts - at least for me.