It *is* a beautiful instrument; moreover, since Gibson has to be one of the primary competitors to Martin?
I'm really curious to actually hear & feel the difference.
"James Taylor's was the best, but he's playing an 8,000 dollar custom job."
I used to live in Urbana, Illinois & while there I met a real, honest to goodness Luthier.
The man's name was Gray, John Gray.
Anyway, he told me all the guitar models by any company are pretty much exactly the same.
It's just the decorations that'll make 'em worth the $$s they command from the artisan; and, then later those same $$s are augmented by the *who* owned it part.
Interesting, no?
I believe my uncle is a 2nd degree black belt. He had a school in Florida for a long time. He got hurt and stopped teaching a while back."
I wonder which type of Taekwondo he learned/taught.
Each person attaining a certain level (degree) is entitled at that point to break away from the Grand Master & begin their own *form*.
"I'll tell ya though, the guy is still the best damn street fighter I have ever had the pleasure of having at my back. I've seen him take out guys twice his size in seconds. It's something to see."
HA!!
I'd bet it is.
I spent yesterday morning at a gymnasium watching 2nd through 5th degree Songahm Black Belts attempt to qualify as "Certified" instructors. They went the gammut from performing [the] open form for their given knowledge level, to demonstrating proficiency with at least 3 different weapons.
Hell, I'm just beginning batons now.
These guys are well past numchuks, staff, stars, commas et al.
Your uncle may have took on -- & dispatched -- these "big" guys (in *seconds*) but it's important to emphasize it was only *seconds*, too.
I practice certain moves -- my favorite(s) -- as determined by my being able to correctly execute 'em precisely and consistently a preponderance of the times I'll attempt 'em using my best speed.
The number of my *favs*, right now, is small at this stage of my training; however, the "fav #" grows with one's years in the arts, too.
Point is, if I make good *contact* using any *one* of my 5-6 fav moves?
The fight's over. Period.
My opponent will be in -- immediate -- need of the services of an Orthopedic Surgeon, Maxofacial guy -- whatever he was careless enough to have shown me he'll be in need of having...rebuilt?
(~ask my wife, she was using the "large" kick pad I just bought to catch my kicks yesterday afternoon, &, went *flying* for a loop on a number of occaisons? :o) )
"He used to do security for my band in the old days. Properly executed, Tae Kwon Do is quite intimidating and generally prevents things from getting out of hand. I have quietly thanked Master Yun on a number of occasions!LOL"
HA!!
I'll bet you have thanked 'em, too.
Yes Taekwondo can be *intimidating*; no doubt.
But it's also a thing of beauty & grace. The discipline I find extremely challenging insofar as my ability to *spot* trouble far enough in advance I would find it completely unnecessary to ever have to use my acquired skills against another human being.
In fact, it is my stated goal to be able walk past another (~troublemaker)?
...without their ever having known I was there.