# There's a party goin' on! DC/MD/VA/WV/PA/NC 6/28/03 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 28, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686 "2003-04-28T15:30:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/41 "2003-04-29T19:48:30Z")
Alas I will not be attending this year. Rather than let the fates get me down because something goes wrong when I try to attend a Chance galla I will be staying in New Jersey revocerying from my birthday celebration the night before ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/42 "2003-04-29T20:04:06Z")
Hey **TP** you and **Verrain** are welcome to carpool down with us, if it comes to that. **tdc** ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/43 "2003-04-29T20:17:22Z")
Thanks, **tdc**. This should make for an interesting car ride. šŸ˜ƒ :eek: ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/44 "2003-04-29T20:20:46Z")
Are you referring to my driving, **moi** ā€™s singing voice, my extensive colection of Bulgarian Opera tapes or the court order that keeps you from leaving the state? šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/45 "2003-04-29T20:30:33Z")
Yes. šŸ˜ƒ (Well, that and the amount of fun thatā€™s to be had whenever the four of us are in the same place at the same time. Just keep any coasters out of **moi** ā€™s hands, otherwise Iā€™ll have sore boobage by the time we make it to **JC** ā€™s! ;)) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/46 "2003-04-30T13:31:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Just with swords. We leave the firearms out of it. \*\* Awww, cā€™mon - **Bluesman** will be there. And like he says, _everything_ goes better with firearms! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/47 "2003-04-30T13:53:12Z")
If thereā€™s Trivial Pursuit involved, itā€™s best if Airman and I find other activities. Aaron doesnā€™t need a sibling yet. šŸ˜‰ Robin ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/48 "2003-04-30T14:07:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\*What level/age are you? I havenā€™t sparred competitively in a few years, but when I was in practice I was pfg (pretty _darned_ good). If itā€™s the sort of thing ruled on non-contact (i.e. "he came ā€œthis closeā€ to hitting, and would have if it were legal), Iā€™d love to give you some practice as long as youā€™re not A) much bigger than me; B) much smaller than me; C) much higher level; D) much lower level. If itā€™s ruled on actual contact, then unless you have an extra set of pads Iā€™ll have to bow out:) ā€œGet the married men out of the infieldā€ and all that. > > Could be entertaining, though. **JC** , ever had staged fighting at your place? _Two man enter. One man win._ \*\* Iā€™m competing in the 18-35 menā€™s beginner category (upper end of the age range). I just tested for 7 gup, high beginner (striped yellow belt, at my school; sometimes equivalent to striped orange belt). Size matters not. The larger competitor usually has an advantage in reach, and the smaller competitor usually has an advantage in quickness. I do have two sets of pads ā€“ one for practice and one for tournaments. Youā€™d need your own mouthguard and groin guard. Most tournaments score points for contact with adequate force; sometimes a hit ā€œthis closeā€ to the head also scores. This is actually getting to be a good idea. We could have a casual karate tournament at MountainDope, if thereā€™s enough competitors (and judges). Anybody else interested? If thereā€™s enough people, we can start a thread hijack to work out the tourney format. **JC** , exactly which town are you in? According to Mapquest, Leesburg is at the far end of the Dulles Toll Road extension. Which is not where I had thought it was. Meaning that I might actually be able to attend!!! ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/49 "2003-04-30T14:07:46Z")
Hey, Airman played me in Star Wars TP last Halloween. It CAN be done! ---
**Author:** ![Frank\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Frank\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank_2)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/50 "2003-04-30T14:50:01Z")
Sounds good. Iā€™m in and offering rides to and from the estate. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/51 "2003-04-30T14:53:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Hey, Airman played me in Star Wars TP last Halloween. > > It CAN be done! \*\* I didnā€™t mean that we couldnā€™t play other people. We just have a hard time playing against each other. Letā€™s just say that TP is, well, a form of, ah, well, foreplay in the Doors house. Robin ---
**Author:** ![El\_Marko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@El\_Marko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Marko)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/52 "2003-04-30T15:47:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > \*\* > Letā€™s just say that TP is, well, a form of, ah, well, foreplay in the Doors house. > \*\* Kinky. This whole thing sounds like a real kick in the pants. Iā€™ll try to make it, but no promises. (the introverted engineer in me shudders at the thought of a house full of people I donā€™t know) šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/53 "2003-04-30T16:17:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > **Letā€™s just say that TP is, well, a form of, ah, well, foreplay in the Doors house.** Do you realize how often this is throwing me? I skim through the thread and see something like this and think, ā€œButā€¦ butā€¦ butā€¦ I just want to get him drunk so Robin can take advantage of him!ā€ and then realize that TP isnā€™t me. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/54 "2003-04-30T16:23:27Z")
Iā€™ll definitely look into going, especially since the 28th is my birthday. Transportation is an issue, though. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/55 "2003-04-30T16:35:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TruePisces \* > \*\*Do you realize how often this is throwing me? I skim through the thread and see something like this and think, ā€œButā€¦ butā€¦ butā€¦ I just want to get him drunk so Robin can take advantage of him!ā€ and then realize that TP isnā€™t me. šŸ˜ƒ \*\* I had an answer to this, but some things are better left unsaid. šŸ˜‰ Robin ---
**Author:** ![that\_darn\_cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/59ef9b/32.png) [@that\_darn\_cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/that_darn_cat)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/56 "2003-04-30T16:37:26Z")
**Cleophus** , like I said; we are available to carpool, though if we take **Verrain** and **TP** weā€™ll be full. I think Frank was volunteering his services as well. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/57 "2003-04-30T17:28:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Marko \* > \*\*Kinky. > > This whole thing sounds like a real kick in the pants. Iā€™ll try to make it, but no promises. (the introverted engineer in me shudders at the thought of a house full of people I donā€™t know) šŸ˜ƒ \*\* Have no fear! Weā€™re all anti-social engineer sorts too. You can play with the satellite broadband. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/58 "2003-04-30T17:36:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scuba\_Ben \* > Iā€™m competing in the 18-35 menā€™s beginner category (upper end of the age range). I just tested for 7 gup, high beginner (striped yellow belt, at my school; sometimes equivalent to striped orange belt). Ooh ā€¦ and youā€™re already doing competitive sparring? Looks like youā€™ve been going for six months at most, based solely on belt level (TKD schools in the US are known for each following a different belt system. Where I went there was no striped yellow belt). That might put me, in terms of sheer knowledge, at a bit of an advantage, since I got to 1st Dan 9th Gup or so before I stopped going (combination of factors; partly, I was moving to another state for high school). Iā€™m getting kinda scared now (no offense meant here) that I might hurt you. Even with pads (see **Ninjachick** ā€™s pit thread). ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/59 "2003-04-30T18:56:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\*Ooh ā€¦ and youā€™re already doing competitive sparring? Looks like youā€™ve been going for six months at most, based solely on belt level (TKD schools in the US are known for each following a different belt system. Where I went there was no striped yellow belt). That might put me, in terms of sheer knowledge, at a bit of an advantage, since I got to 1st Dan 9th Gup or so before I stopped going (combination of factors; partly, I was moving to another state for high school). > > Iā€™m getting kinda scared now (no offense meant here) that I might hurt you. Even with pads (see Ninjachickā€™s pit thread). \*\* Iā€™ve been doing TKD for ten months now. My schoolā€™s ranks start at 10 gup, and we get a new belt at each gup grade; late last year we phased out the colored tape on belts. (Note for the non-students: Student grades (gup in Korean, kyu in Japanese) start at a high number and go down to 1. Black belt degrees start at 1 Dan and go up.) Donā€™t worry _too much_ about hurting me, **pun**. Iā€™ve been hurt plenty already. Iā€™ve been hit in the nose twice, bruised my shins several times ā€“ through the pads! ā€“ and once recently blocked a backfist with my face. :eek: You might have a skill advantage on me, especially if you did make 1 Dan. And youā€™ve definitely got a youth advantage on me. I wouldnā€™t mind sparring for practice or for a demo. To other Philly area Dopers: **Pun** is kinda talking me into going; I can help with the car pools. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686/60 "2003-04-30T22:23:59Z")
I made first dan 8th gup or so, but using a different belt system (no yellow stripe belt, for example). I cruised through the belt system in two years. I am told that this is rather fast, and some people Iā€™ve met thought this indicated some lack of integrity of the school. Well, I dunno 'bout that. The guy who ran the school was an international and olympic TKD judge in addition to having been around it all his life. I have the youth advantage, to be sure, but you have something as well: I have not been to a class since before I was in high school. Iā€™ve practiced some, but I havenā€™t had any formal instruction since I was 13. I will want to understand the particular rules of engagement, so to speak, to ensure that A) I donā€™t throw anything at you that wouldnā€™t be fair (no back hook kicks, I assume? No tornado kicks either?:D) and B) itā€™s actually helping you to prepare for this as opposed to just being something funky you do. Either practice or demo would be fine, though weā€™d have to find an area suitable for falling and such (trips okay, or not? Youā€™ll have to let me know whatā€™s ok and whatā€™s not). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-party-goin-on-dc-md-va-wv-pa-nc-6-28-03/171686.md?page=4)