I agree with Youngman68. I mean look at this guy's badges. I bet his level of technique is appalling.
I stand by my statement. I've seen many people whose uniforms were covered with patches and whose technique was, shall we say, unimpressive. It shouldn't be about patches anyway. I would think an organizational patch would be sufficient. After that, it becomes an ego thing.
For a lot of the guys being shown the badges/patches are sponsorship patches. The athlete is being paid money to wear them. If your suit is covered in patches you have paid money to wear, the dynamic and implication is slightly different. Mitch, in association with Timothy Taylors Landlord, Britains finest Pale Ale.
I wear only two things on my white TDK uniform: one patch that has a TDK logo on it (which I bought with the uniform) and my name written in Korean Hangul in black permanent marker next to the collar below my neck. After that, I prefer no patches. Besides, I figure plain white is easier to wash, anyhow.
I tried to avoid this controversy by training in underwear only but the whole boxers vs. briefs reared it's head. Plus plaid vs. plain. Switched to b-day suit, but even then the circumcised vs. uncircumcised became an issue. There is just no escaping the controversy of what to train in. Going to have to quit I guess...
I just realised I should state that I thanked aaron mag's post for the chuckle it gave me, not for the mental image of him in the buff. Pass the bleach, Mitch.
You know I didn't think about it too closely either when typing. Now I need some of that mindbleach myself...
That's awesome. It takes true determination to stand by your position in the face of contrary evidence. You should consider politics.
I dont mind a couple of patches on the uniform. Have at least the organization and school. You should be proud of who you are a part of. I certainly agree with Thomas, it has a bit of quality control as well. While I dont believe in embrodered gup rank belts I do believe in the black belts havin the name, name of org., official rank, and name of grandmaster.
It seems like sport-oriented martial arts tend to have more patches than traditional martial arts. TKD is the sport version of the 8 (9?) Kwon arts...hence you see their uniforms with a little more decoration (patches, colored piping, ect). Maybe a TKD guy's dojang belongs to both the ITF and WTF (are those accurate acronyms?). If they are at a large tournament, it would behoove them to represent both patches since high-ranking officials from both groups will be there (as a sign of respect to them). Same thing with sport judo and sport SAMBO. Or, some martial arts just lean toward that. No biggie. Now, if your from a traditional Japanese martial art...where the cultural and art's tendencies typically lean toward simplicity...someone rocking a bunch of patches can be alerting. In my aikido dojo, we typically only make a deal about wearing our patch during tests and seminars. When I travel to non-affiliated dojo, I typically wear a sanitized white dogi and belt just to ensure I'm not creating any political waves.
My GM wears a white uniform with an american flag patch on it to show his loyalty to the US. Other than that you wouldn't know how good he is except for his black belt.....It seems the more higher ranked you are the less it matters what your uniform looks like.
Oh man... Funnily enough my Enshin gi has more badges on it than my TAGB TKD one has. Neither is exactly ornate mind you. Mitch
I've heard through the grapevine an Enshin club is opening in York this Monday. Might check it out myself.
I think one of the guys who trains at Loughborough travels all the way from York to do so and is teaching/about to teach there. I haven't asked the details but I'll check. Can't hurt to go look can it? Mitch
Patches and Stripes... In our dojang we follow a general structure, according to rank. Patches: Geup Ranks School Patch on Left Chest Korea Flag on Right Chest American Flag on Left Shoulder Other National Flag on Right Shoulder for International Students Dan Grade The same as above, except Asst. Instructor or Higher may wear the Seal of Daehan Taekwondo Ohdokwan TAEKWON! SPookster
Seriously? If I saw someone wearing that getup I'd have to force myself not to laugh or snicker. Nice uniform!