Underhand Free Throw and Dual Blade Kumdo

Maybe no one disagrees that the most 'efficient' way is the wisest way. It is absolutely true. 'Efficiency' leads people to easier and faster success. That's why we invented vehicles, telephones, computers, Smart phones, and etc.... Despite the fact that such efficiency guarantees quicker success, but sometimes, people tends to evade such efficiency. Moreover, they even return to original states, with full of inefficiency and failure. It doesn't make sense at all. If it's true, there must be a factor that overwhelms all I mentioned above.

The first 'underhand' free throw from Rick Barry, was 'remarkable'. Before Rick, nobody had ever expected to shot free throw underhand. Free throwing should be done in perfect pose and balance. Consequences of nice and smooth shooting are one stereotype of basketball. What Rick tried was unbelievable. His half-sitting pose with ridiculous shooting is literally 'antipodal' from what people had believed.

              
Normal style free throwing                                   Rick Barry's style

But Rick successfully proved this new method is more effective than previous way of shooting. His method changed many awkward giants players to professional scorers. Like Wilt Chamberlain. However, soon later, most of the scorers returns to awkward giants again. Since they were so conscious to others' ridiculous attention, they abandoned what they learned. 

I had a similar experience with the story above. I love playing Kumdo. In fact, Kumdo is an only sport that I trained before. In Kumdo, we hold 'one' wooden sword. Through the sword, we assault enemies and measure each other's ability and skills. But, there also some outsiders. Some players hold 'two' sword in each hand, which called 'Dual blade'.


Dual Blade Kumdo. It is hard to find weak spots.

I only saw them through videos, but it was enough to shock me for a moment. I was astonished not because of their abnormality. But because of the tactical merits derived from dual blade formation. One sword strikes the opponent, while the auxiliary blade blocks enemy's blade. Whenever the opponent tries to attack, one blocks and another strikes right back. Simple but effective.

After the video, I was so eager to learn dual blade Kumdo and tried to look for gyms to learn this. But I failed to. All the gyms that I visited refuse to teach dual blade style. They insisted dual blade style is insolent and superficial than original style of Kumdo. They were so strangled in traditions and attentions from others, they are losing the chances to upgrade themselves. Moreover, most of the official competitions in Korea 'ban' to perform dual blade style. Anyway, after that, I gave up learning dual blade kumdo. 

Maybe it because people are highly developed 'social' animals. In other words, we consider not only merits that can be earned from the action, but also attentions from others. If the fear derived from attentions full of askance, people usually get rid of new behaviors without any hesitation. Efficient and innovative actions can also seem bizarre to others at first. So despite the efficiency and advantages, people usually give up maintaining what they achieved. In this case, such merits are not a big deal. Attention and prejudice from other are big deal.

Sexism and President Park

First, I have no doubt that sexism one of the most inveterate problem in our society. Until today, female are not equally treated as male in most of the country. Moreover, struggles of female to attain equal rights occurs all over the world.

What I mentioned in the paragraph above is true. Social movements for women's right greatly increased and they contributed on removing gender unfairness and discrimination. They also improved treatments of women in the workplace.  These changes higher the positions of women in most of the society. If we imagine the inferior and unfair treatments or conditions of women in late 19th centuries, there are no doubts that our societies had changed a lot.

Unfortunately, however, I disagree with the statement that 'sexism had entirely perished on this society, so we don't need to discuss it anymore', sometimes argued by biased male chauvinists. What I believe toward this complex and sensitive topic is, 'we still have a long way to go'.

Last Friday, we(I and students in 11V1) listened to Malcolm Gladwell's 'Revisionist history, The Lady Vanishes' in class. While we were listening, teacher popped several additional pictures from google in order to aid our understanding. Once, since Gladwell mentioned 'female presidents' and teacher typed exactly what Gladwell mentioned. And what I saw was the photo of president park, the most unsavory president in my country(I'll not mention why she is unsavory, since there is not enough space in this margin). At that moment, I sneered at her. Not only I but also most of the students in the class sneered too.

During 15 minutes of discussion time, a focus of debate consequently flows to president Park. Some combines 'criticisms' toward president Park to sexism. They insisted the criticisms are turning to condemnation, produced by the male with a sense of superiority about gender. In another word, sexism is inciting people to become outrageous to the president. Which sounds quite plausible, but I somewhat disagree this statement. But I'll mention that I'm not the advocate of sexism. I just want to focus this topic in separated view between sexism and political corruptions.

Actually, I agree that criticisms toward president Park are becoming more and more aggressive than before. And I also approve some condemnations are outrageous. But, I don't believe this is a matter of sexism. Instead, it is the matter of karma or retribution. What president had done, and how she mocked the nations can't forgivable according to my opinion. As a criminal, condemnations from the public are not unfair at all. They are necessary procedures. This is a matter of cause and effect, crime and punishment, and just and unjust. So conducting this to sexism can be out of focus I believe.

Sexism is a hot potato. When people face sexism topic, they precisely and carefully approach and insist their opinion. They tend to criticize sexism, advocate feministic acts, and prove they devoted everything for equality. I don't think this phenomenon is normal or right. But also I don't want to assert this is wrong and abnormal. Since I'm just a young and inexperienced student, I'll not declare my opinion in this post. However, I strongly insist the political corruption should also be considered precisely, as same as sexism topic. Without any bias, delusion, or prejudice.

We can't perfectly divide sexism and political corruptions in President Park. Nobody knows what is the biggest problem with her. But we should avoid losing our focus from scrambling several topics about her. Always deal with one by one, step by step. It will find answer.