FPO
Master Karen Eden & The Red Shield Warriors Beat a Bully
Fight Cancer MRSA & Martial Arts The Silent Killer Exclusive Kukkiwon Interview
Contents
July 2009 / Volume 29 No. 4 / Issue Number 170 Publisher & CEO Woojin Jung
Features
Managing Editor Laura Stolpe
26 U.S Open Photos and inside coverage of the amazing tournament in Las Vegas. See what went on and who was there.
Creative Director Elizabeth Brown
28 Kukkiwon Special Testing
Business Director An exclusive interview with Hyun-Sup Brian Heckart
Park of the Kukkiwon. Find out why and how the special dan testing took place in the United States for the first time ever.
Copy Editors Bill Heckart Julie Heckart Assistant to Publisher GiSeon Kim
39 Progressive Hapkido Read up on the system created by Doju Klaus Schuhmacher of Germany. Learn how he created the system and why it will work for anyone.
Web Site Manager Midwest Dedicated
Consultant
44 MRSA What you don’t know could kill you. That’s the honest truth about MRSA, or what some like to call, the “superbug.” Find out how to protect yourself and your loved ones from this frightening and widespread illness.
John Lee
Columnists
C. M. Griffin Doug Cook Karen Eden Master Rondy Tae Yun Kim Tom Kurz Suzanne R. Ellenberger Jerry Beasley
Contributors Cynthia Vespia Dillon Patel Dylan Presman Erik Richardson Gary Arkerson Guy Larke Jerilyn Michaels Kathrin Sumpter Klaus Schuhmacher Krystal Armstrong Robert J. Ott Stace Sanchez Vice Presidents Don Wells Eui Min Ko He-Young Kimm General Advisors Jhoon Rhee Jin Suk Yang Hee Il Cho Woon Chick Park Chuck Sereff Soo Nam Park Edward Sell Rick Rojeck Tiger Kim Kwang Sik Myung Soon Ho Lee Chun Sik Kim Public Relations Jung Oh Hwang Taek Sung Cho Michelle Kim General Education Alexander Choi Byungchul Kim Yong Bum Kim Event Coordinator Jun Pyo Choi Sung Yong Ji
Song Son Yu Martial Art Tech. Jae Kyung Kim Scott Greca Barry Harmon Jamie Serio Dojang Operations Mike Menters Marshall Pereira Alex Suh Donald C. Kimm News Director Mike Zeman Marketing Director Scott Warner Lisa Warner International Department Kwang Jo Choi Jae Chul Sin David Moon Jin Suk Yang (WTF) Yong Son Ri (ITF) International Correspondents Asia: Changsub Shin Europe: Bum Ju Lee Africa: Robin Rafferty Argentina: Ricardo Desimone South America: Jose Luis Giarone Australia: Tam Fook Chee
is what a typical MRSA culture looks like.
51 Denver’s Red Shield Warriors Master Karen Eden has teamed up with The Salvation Army to create Denver’s Red Shield Warriors, a group of martial artists in downtown Denver who have come through rough spots in life to find a new meaning with the art of Tang So Doo. 58 Kicking Against the Odds Meet 19-year-old Bradley Schneider. Born with Down Syndrome, young Bradley is passionate about life and learning and loves Tae Kwon Do and his training. 62 After the Fire Catch up with Chief Master Robert Ott, our cover personality from July 2008. Read about his journey over the past year and the good things that have come his way.
Cover Photo by James Rowe, Snap Shot Photography, Aurora Co.
taekwondotimes.com
Cover photo by Bill Bly.
Founded in 1980 by Chung E. Kim
68 Grounded in Clarity Instructor Kathrin Sumpter is on a mission, teaching weekly martial arts classes for cancer victims. In the past year teaching the class, she has seen improvement in the self-confidence and health of her students.
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Circulation & Business Offices 3950 Wilson Ave. S.W. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404 (319) 396-1980 FAX: (319) 396-5070 Editorial & Advertising Offices 800 388-5966 FAX: (319) 396-5070 info@taekwondotimes.com
73 Taeglish Check out this innovative way that one instructor is teaching English to Koreans. The Taeglish program combines the art of Tae Kwon Do with the English language, making learning a new language easy and fun. 76 Tae Kwon Do in Service of the Community Read about Master Lawrence Couch and his school based in a tough neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Check out what he is teaching his students about the value of helping in the community. 82 Beating the Bullies When her daughter became the victim of bullying, one mom decided to stand up and say “Enough is enough!” Find out how she battled the bullies and won. 86 J.K. Lee and MTV MTV’s popular program Made found a young teenager wishing to become a martial artist. TKDT sat down with Master Chan Lee, student to Grandmaster J.K. Lee, to discuss what it was like to represent Tae Kwon Do to the world.
Columns 31 43 47 57 71 80 96 98
Heart to Heart / Be Your First Good Deed MMA & You / Mixed Martial Arts and More The Supplement / Good Deeds Good For You Woman of the Times / Being the Cheese East Meets West / A Link in the Chain Traditions / The Moral Directives of Tae Kwon Do Stretch Yourself / My Best Advice on Injuries The Last Word / Now I’m Bionic Part 2
Departments 10 11 14 22 24 25 34 89 92 95
Readers’ Forum / In Your Words From the Desk of the Editor / TKDT Goes Green News / What’s Happening in the World of TKD NEW! TKDT Schools of the Month / June & July NEW! Killer Kicks / Awesome Kicks by You NEW! The Big Break / Unbelievable Board Breaks Black Belt Beginnings / Inspiring Stories Calendar of Events / Tournaments Near You Martial Arts Directory / School Listings Correspondent Page / Our TKD Community
TAE KWON DO TIMES, Volume 29, Number Three (ISSN 0741-028X) is published bi-monthly, (January, March, May, July, September, and November) by Tri-Mount Publications, Inc., Corporate Headquarters, circulation and fulfillment offices located at 3950 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 (319-396-1980). Editorial and advertising 3950 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 email: Fax: 319-396-5070 800-388-5966 info@taekwondotimes. com. Web site: taekwondotimes.com. Submissions must be accompanied by return postage and will be handled with reasonable care; however, the publisher and editor assume no responsibility for the return of unsolicited photographs or manuscripts. Submissions become the property of TAE KWON DO TIMES upon notification of their publication. Printed in the United States by R.R. Donnelley. Periodical postage paid at Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER, Send address changes to TAE KWON DO TIMES, 3950 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404. Copyright © 2008 by Tri-Mount Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction of contents may be a violation of copyright laws. DISCLAIMER—TRI MOUNT PUBLICATIONS does not guarantee, warranty, or endorse any product or service advertised in this magazine. The publisher also does not guarantee the safety or effectiveness of any product, service or martial art technique illustrated in this magazine. The sole purpose and distribution of some products/services may be illegal in some areas and we do not assume responsibility thereof. State and local laws must be investigated by the purchaser prior to purchase and usage of products/services and martial art techniques. Because of the special nature of some products/services and techniques, a physician should be consulted before application.
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A Martial Arts Poem em Why I Train As a mom who does Tae Kwon Do I’m boosting my get up an d go With each skill that I gain I’ e les I’v l s fog f on my bra b in n As I shuttle the kids to an d fro Getting fit might thwart ma ladies That run through my fam ily trees Osteoporosis Atherosclerosis The “I Can’t Remember” disease Training can be instrume ntal In learning to live incremen tal We strive for success and learn through distress for much of the struggle is mental And as the seasons keep tur ning Living and training, I’m lea rning Through all the belt ranks Work hard and give thank s for the joy that we find in the journeying —Collette Wilbers, fifth-c up green belt, NPT NP TA A Taekw wondo
10 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
i n rmatio arts innfo ts is l ia t r a l artis find m place to ith other martia ticles, photos, t a e r g Note: A discussions w ns of bonus ar eck us out! Editor’s ip o in rum. Ch e have t tici ate and par otimes.com. W d martial arts fo d n taekwon online store a n a , s o vide
TIMES
TKDT Goes Green
From the Desk of the Editor
$EAR ,OYAL 2EADERS -ARTIAL !RTISTS
In the spirit of TKD and giving back to the community, TKDT is taking steps to give back not only to the TKD community, but to our planet as well. At TaeKwonDo Times, we feel it is important that we role model the responsibility for the Earth that we wish our readers and fellow martial artists to follow. Too much negligence has occurred in our world, leaving our planet on a path filled with global warming and waning resources, but here at TKDT we are joining in the battle to rebuild and give back to our mother planet, Earth. Our first step toward becoming greener and more Earth-friendly is something you may have already noticed. On our front cover, there is a logo indicating our new paper standards. This entire magazine is our first issue printed entirely on paper that is certified in accordance to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. The FSC sets responsible forestry management standards, ensuring that all ecological procedures are maintained when harvesting trees. This means that TKDT is taking the steps it needs to ensure the printing of our magazine leaves as little of a footprint as possible on our planet. Our next Earth-friendly adventure is our new all-natural totes that we will be carrying in our online store. Rather than using plastic bags, paper grocery sacks, or other materials that can end up as litter or garbage in our landfills, we are encouraging our staff, readers, and fellow martial artists to use these all-natural totes for carrying your groceries, belongings, etc. Again, these totes, which bear the TaeKwonDo Times logo, are an attempt to leave the Earth in a cleaner and greener state. Another TKDT green endeavor I’d like to mention is something we’ve been doing for a couple of years. We offer a totally paperless digital edition to our magazine online. While this comes free with a paper subscription, it also can be purchased as a standalone subscription. Our digital edition is exactly the same as our paper subscription, without the paper, making it very eco-friendly.
4O LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OUR NEW ALL NATURAL TOTES VISIT WWW TAEKWONDOTIMES COM AND GO GREEN WITH US
FPO FPO taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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ENTERPRISES PRESENTS
August 14-16, 2009 + Cost of Event: $95.00 Location: Temple of Certain Victory - Olympia, Washington
Grandmaster In Sun Seo
Through the training under his father Chairman Grand Master In Sun Seo, Master Steve Seo has become molded into the Director of Techniques and Skills for the World Han Min Jok Hapkido Association/World Kido Federation for the USA and abroad. This is the second time that Master Steve Seo has been hosted by Master Robert J. Ott the Chief Master of the World Kidokwan Federation. “His techniques are tight and yet vector out with Ki energy through each motion. The way he is able to take true traditional Korean Martial Arts and keep & up hold it while at the same time both shortening and lengthening critical techniques is that of a man who not only understands these skills but is ready to carry on the teachings of his father to the next generation.
This event will be 3 days of training and enjoyment wrapped up into one. From the beautiful Northwest water to the quality of food served at this function any Martial Artist will find this to be educational and relaxing all at the same time. This seminar is designed for fellow Moosa to come together and grow in both relationship and knowledge with guests from all over the country. For information on address, schedule, items to bring, lodging and more, please contact Master Robert J. Ott the official host and Chief Master of the Temple of Certain Victory at pilsung@comcast.net. For more information and or payment visit www.certainvictory.com. Participants will be able to pay through check, pay pal, cash at front door with a $30.00 increase for expedited processing. Our goal is to have students registered by July 1, 2009.
Master Steve Seo
Hanminjok Hapkido Association
World Kido-Hae Federation
SPECIAL GUEST
DXjk\i Jk\m\ J\f
August 14-16, 2009 + Cost of Event: $95.00 Location: Temple of Certain Victory - Olympia, Washington Each participant will be receiving certificates from both the World Han Min Jok Hapkido Federation under chairman & Grand Master In Sun Seo and recognized World Kidokwan Federation President Robert J. Ott with special guest Master Steve Seo. Awards will be presented along with photos both single and group. Signed copies of the front pages of magazines of both Masters will be available for no charge. The Biography of Pilsung/ Certain Victory by Robert J. Ott and filmed documentary are also available. (See website for pricing information)
Grandmaster Kenneth P. MacKenzie
Also featuring special guest visitor Grand Master and highest ranking American Sin Moo Hapkido certified Kenneth P. MacKenzie who will attend in a show of friendship, support and unity in the Korean Martial Arts. Chief Master Robert J. Ott
For an informational package and FREE DVD featuring the instructors of this event, please contact Robert J. Ott at pilsung@comcast.net A deposit will be necessary to lock in your place as a participant of this seminar.
www.certainvictory.com
NEWS NPTA New Schools
Springfield, MO—The NPTA (National Progressive Taekwondo Assciation) is proud to announce the addition of two more facilities. Republic, Missouri and Mattoon, Illinois are the locations of the two newest members of the NPTA Taekwondo family. Purple Dragon Martial Arts is owned and operated by NPTA Certified Instructors Jeff and Brianne York and Lakeland College Taekwondo is owned by senior instructor Kevin Roberts. The NPTA currently has schools in six states, including Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Illinois. Martial Artist Catches Thief
Tucuman, Argentina—A 39-year-old man was arrested in the city center of Tucuman, Argentina, after stealing a briefcase containing almost $30,000. The thief had the bad fortune of running into a Tae Kwon Do master when he tried to escape with the briefcase. Professor Centeno Carlos, after hearing the shouts of the victim and onlookers, stopped the thief with a strike, then threw him to the ground after taking back the stolen goods. The martial artist is a Professor at the School of Police in Tucuman. WTF General Assembly Approves Rules
Thief detained
Seoul, South Korea—The World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) General Assembly has voted to approve the proposed amendments to the WTF Rules and Regulations and the WTF Competition Rules. WTF President Choue stated, “I am pleased with the outcome and I am positive that the new rules will serve us well in the years to come.” Among the approved amendments to the WTF Rules and Regulations were the WTF’s designation of the World Taekwondo Academy in Korea as its international academic center for studies, education and research of Tae Kwon Do. Among the newly approved WTF Competition Rules, which will be effective starting as early as in June 2009, were the shortening of the competition area from the present ten meters by ten meters to eight meters by eight meters; the introduction of a differentiation of valid points (one point for a valid punch or kick to the trunk protector, two points for a valid turning kick to the body, and three points for a valid kick to the head); the introduction of an instant video replay system; the abolition of the win by a seven-point gap and the win by a twelvepoint ceiling; and the awarding of an additional point to the opposing contestant for two kyonggos and a gamjeom. Kuk Sool in San Diego
San Diego, CA—The Black Lotus Martial Arts Academy and Kuk Sool of San Diego owned and operated by Liam O’Connor, is proud to announce their relocation to a new and much larger facility centrally located in San Diego (Clairemont). The Black Lotus Martial Arts Academy is the only Kuk Sool dojang in the city of San Diego. To celebrate, the school is offering a Grand Opening special for all new students who sign up and mention they saw the announcement in Tae Kwon Do Times. The Grand Opening special offers adult tuition at $75 a month and children’s tuition at $55 a month. This rate applies to new students only and is guaranteed for as long as you are a student in good Master Frank Lupo standing. Obituary for Master Frank Lupo
Bensalem, PA—Pennsylvania Taekwondo and the Bensalem Taekwondo School sadly announce the death of Master Frank Lupo, who passed away on January 31, 2009. Master Lupo was one of the founding officers Pennsylvania Taekwondo and served as Vice President of its East Region. Master Lupo will be remembered for his 14 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
dedication to his students and his significant impact on the overall success of martial arts over the past 18 years.
GOOD DEEDS Hefty Donations
Boardman, OH—Students of Master Park Martial Arts International recently donated $5,200 to Hospice of the Valley, a local hospice organization. Master Park Martial Arts International donated over $85,000 to the local community in 2008. This year is the 25th year of Master Park Martial Arts International in the valley and the school places a strong emphasis on giving back to the community and helping others.
AWARDS
Mrs. Choi (center) and daughters
General Choi Inducted
Toronto, Canada—On April 11, 2009, the fourth edition of the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame 2009 was held in the Korean Cultural Centre in Toronto, Canada. General Choi Hong Hi was inducted as the Founder of Tae Kwon Do. On behalf of the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame Board, Grandmaster Park Jong Soo, ninth-dan, presented the award to Mrs. Choi. Over 300 people were in attendance for the presentation. Tae Kwon Do Promotions
Master Couch (3rd from left)
Washington, D.C.—Mr. Lawrence Couch, of Silver Spring, Maryland, was promoted to sevent-degree black belt by Grandmaster Sung Hong, ninth-degree black belt, on March 23, 2009. By reaching the level of seventh-degree, Lawrence Couch achieved the rank of Grandmaster. To honor the occasion, Grandmaster Hong presented Mr. Couch with a traditional Korean sword. Mr. Couch is the head instructor of the Han Su Tae Kwon Do School. Grandmaster Hong also promoted Kaseam Carr and Terry Collier to the level of black belt, first-dan, and Dylan Presman to the level of black belt, second-degree.
USAT Juniors Win Six Medals at Dutch Open
Colorado Springs, CO—Female junior heavyweight Adrienne Ivey won the gold medal as competition wrapped up at the 36th Dutch Open Taekwondo Championship in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Ivey’s medal gave the ten-member USA Taekwondo Junior Team a total of six medals at the two-day event. The USAT Junior Team garnered five medals; gold by junior male bantamweight Olie Burton, silver by junior female welterweight Nicole Palma, and bronze medals by female junior featherweight Kiana Lo, female junior lightweight Victoria Stambaugh and female junior lightmiddleweight Merissa Pico. Other Americans earning medals were Ernest Samotshozo, who captured gold in the male junior light-heavyweight division, Haley Kong who earned silver in the female junior flyweight division, Alexander Yow winning silver in the male junior flyweight diviUSAT Junior Team sion, and Anees Hasnain who took the bronze medal in the senior female finweight class. Combat Martial Arts Named Best Team
Del City, OK—Oklahoma City-based Combat Martial Arts Academy (CMAA) was awarded the Best Team trophy in recognition of the school’s performance at the 23rd Oklahoma Invitational Tae Kwon 16 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
Do Tournament held at Del City High School. The tournament, sponsored by the U.S. Central Tae Kwon Do Association, brings competitors from across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Mexico. This year, over 300 individuals competed in a variety of events including Olympic-style sparring, forms, and board breaking. The ages of the competitors ranged from five to over fifty. Combat Martial Arts Academy brought a competition team of thirteen students to the event, including Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) National Champions Ashli Takashima and Rebekah Davenport. The school’s thirteen competitors competed in twenty-seven individual events and earned ten first-place awards, eleven second-place awards, and third-place awards. “We are extremely proud of each of our team members,” said Master James Ray, co-owner of CMAA. “Not only did they perform exceptionally well, but they demonstrated the character traits of honor, respect, sportsmanship, and friendship.” 2009 CTF Black Belt Extravaganza
Conshohocken, PA—In Spring 2009, black belts from the International Chin Mu Kwan Tae Kwon Do Federation (CTF) met in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, for Master Fred DeStolfo’s Annual Black Belt Training Extravaganza. The President and Founder of the CTF is Grandmaster Howard Y. Kang. Schools from Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland were represented for this event which is used as a way to unify the schools and practice the black belt testing requirements of Grandmaster Kang. The instructors also exchange teaching ideas to make classrooms fun and exciting for students of the federation. Workouts and seminars were presented by the following masters: Fred DeStolfo, Steve Davis, Lenny Young, Vince Muscarella, David Burns, Cindy Davis, Michael Trimarchi, Lonnie Clark, Geoff Anders and Nicky Halpin. Topics covered at the extravaganza were forms, prearranged sparring, free sparring, ground fighting, two-on-one self-defense, weapon self-defense, and the use of pressure points in defending yourself. Events 1st African Open
1st African Open
Vienna, Austria—The 1st African Open Taekwon-Do Championship took place in Johannesburg, South Africa in Spring 2009. With over 160 competitors in attendance from nine countries across the continent of Africa, the championship was a great success. Simultaneously, the Taekwon-Do Federation of Africa (TFA) was officially formed at the first general meeting of TFA held in Johannesburg, South Africa. All representatives present at the meeting agreed to fervently grow this new organization. The 2nd African Open Taekwon-Do Championship will again be held in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2011. Krav Maga Seminar
Stadthagen, Germany—Juergen Koehler, the Krav Maga Chief Instructor of Martial Arts Association International, recently held a Krav Maga seminar in cooperation with the World Krav Maga Association. The seminar held at the Golden Dragon Combat Art Center educated participants on different defense techniques and strategies against diverse weapon attacks. Mr. Koehler placed emphasis on preventive measures, informing attendees of realistic situations and the best options for defense. 18 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
Krav Maga seminar attendees
43rd Annual Oriental World of Self-Defense
New York, NY—Aaron Banks 43rd Annual Oriental World of Self-Defense hit Broadway in Spring 2009. The show was a hit, with martial artists performing Karate, Kung Fu, Ju Jitsu, Ninjitsu, Tae Kwon Do and Kendo, as well as performing incredible breaking techniques.Some famous martial artists performing were Paul “Mr. Karate USA” Mormando, Great Grandmaster Ronald Duncan and Maurice Elmalem. Dennis “Suptacular” Burgess 90-year-old Shihan William Mack broke 1000 pounds of ice with his head, and later went on to showcase his incredible strength and experience of over fifty years in the martial arts. Another highlight was Shihan Robert Ornes, who after forty years of training in Shotokan Karate Legendary grandmasters performed
demonstrated the near impossible by blindfolding himself and disarming a knife-wielding attacker. As the demonstration continued, Shihan Ornes knocked his opponent 25 feet into the audience. Next up was Maurice Elmalem. Elmalem is a Guinness world record champion, and a master in the art of Tae Kwon Do. He performed an incredible glass break and left the audience wanting more. Mr Karate USA truly lived up to his title as he captivated the audience by breaking ten cinder blocks on his chest while lying on a bed of razor sharp nails. The audience was gasping for air as Shihan Robert Ornes they watched him absorb the brunt of a 20-pound sledge hammer hitting the bricks on his chest. As the dust cleared the audience was amazed to find that Mormando had absolutely no damage to him. To end this monumental event, world champion Dennis “Suptacular” Burgess broke over a five-minute period, destroying stacks and stacks of concrete blocks, leaving them in dust. Great Grandmaster Aaron Banks proved again that the show he created in 1966, which played the famous Madison Square Garden for twenty years, still lives and will continue its legacy for many years to come. GM Aaron Banks
20 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
TKDT School of the Month une
J
Allen Park Martial Arts Center Allen Park Martial Arts Center (APMAC) located in Allen Park, Michigan, is in its 13th year of business. Dr. Matthew B. Gonzalez is the founder and owner of APMAC, which oers Tae Kwon Do for students of all ages, as well as Cardio Kickboxing and self-defense classes.
Left: The APMAC Spar-AThon raises money for the nonprofit organization Hopeful Tomorrow, which sponsors at-risk youth to train for free at APMAC. The most recent Spar-AThon helped sponsor two children to train at the center for three months.
Right: A recent black belt testing at APMAC. Dr. Matthew B. Gonzalez, the founder and owner of APMAC, is pictured at the far left in the top photo, along with two lead instructors, Helen Taylor and Scott Bolthouse.
22 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
TKDT School of the MonthJuly Missoula Taekwondo Center
Missoula Taekwondo Center is western Montana’s most family friendly martial arts facility. Their goal is to provide fun useful instruction to all students. Whether you are an elite competitor, an energetic five-year-old, an individual looking for confidence, or someone in need of a fun pastime, their classes will suit your needs. They teach Olympic style sport Taekwondo, yet remain grounded in the traditions of the martial art. Their curriculum includes sparring strategies as well as observance of their five tenets: Modesty, Perseverance, Self Control, Indomitable Spirit, and Etiquette. Master Steve Rosbarsky is the head instructor. He and his wife, Amanda, operate the Taekwondo Center and have seen it grow from 35 students to around 200 since opening in 2001. Master Rosbarsky helping a student with a wrist grab release during the self-defense portion of a colored belt test.
(Above) A colored belt test in 2007.
(Right) Lydia performing a rising kick with her father, Master Rosbarsky, during the River City Roots Festival Demo.
Mr. Viet Le doing a flying sidekick over ten people.
(l-R) Amanda Rosbarsky, Kim Sturre and Karen Hammond at their black belt test.
Ruth Austin and Jeff Jones doing double kicks at the River City Roots Festival in Missoula.
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Submit your Killer Kick and Big Break photos, along with your name, age, rank and location to press@taekwondotimes.com or mail to: TKD Times Attn: Killer Kicks / Big Break 3950 Wilson Ave SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 USA
Left: 27-year-old Sergio Arroyo of Columbia, fourth-dan black belt
Right: Daniel Briggs of the University of Chester does a jumping double front kick.
Left:Seventh-degree Michael Muleta of Melbourne, Australia
Right: Christopher Thomas of South Wales does a jump spinning back kick.
24 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
Big Break Master Henrik S. Hunstad, sixth-dan TKD, fourth-dan Hapkido, of Norway
Master Antonio Lanni, seventh-dan TKD, of Montreal, Canada
Both Photos Below: Tiffany Vasquez, third-degree TKD, Orland Park, Illinois
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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U.S. Open By Cynthia Vespia
It’s been nearly ten years since the U.S. Open Taekwondo Championships were held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The competition started early on Thursday, February 12, as eager young hopefuls and skilled veterans filled the Tropicana Hotel readying themselves for an intensive three days of competition. You can always note the telltale signs of a fighter: backpack full of gear and nutrients; sweats emblazoned with team logos; headphones keeping outside distractions at bay; and a mask of concentration. Once they stepped inside the ring, it was all business. For the first time in the history of the U.S. Open, the fighters wore the LaJust electronic body protectors as a scoring system to more accurately track points with each strike. Hits to the body are one point each, where a legal headshot would be two. “We are excited and gratified to see unprecedented worldwide support for this important event,” said USA Taekwondo CEO David Askinas. “The U.S. Open has long been recognized as one of the premier world events in the sport of Tae Kwon Do and USA Taekwondo is known for running the highest level events in the world. We worked very hard to secure a venue in Las Vegas for this event. We also dedicated ourselves to marketing the event for the last six months domestically and internationally and those efforts have clearly paid off. I also think it is fair to say that there is clearly interest in attending a high level Tae Kwon Do competition featuring the LaJust electronic body protector scoring system. There is a very good chance this system will be chosen for the upcoming world championships. If you combine all of those factors with the international lure of a Las Vegas vacation, there was definitely a chance to make history this year. We are investigating the possibility of making Las Vegas a semi-permanent home for the event and we will be polling our customer base to gauge their interest in returning to Las Vegas in future years.” About 59 different nations were represented, including 17 national teams and 13 Olympians from the 2008 Beijing Games. The U.S. contingent was represented in 47 states and 2008 Olympian, Charlotte Craig, headlined the list 26 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
of U.S. Senior Team members taking part in the international competition. Craig was joined by fellow 2007 Senior National Team members Brian Gallagher, Luis Reyes, Dalia Avivi and Eleni Koutsilianos, as well as 2006 Senior Team member Lauren Cahoon. It was an international competition to test against the best. Matches were set so each competitor was fighting a skill set from a different country, something different from the style to which they were accustomed to fighting. Skilled fighters from every age and weight class were present. Each represented different training camps and each brought their enthusiasm and intensity, including Nancy McClane from Team Lee fighting out of Texas in the 41-50 division who, after winning her first round, remarked, “I like meeting other ladies my age who compete. It’s fun.” Valentine’s Day brought no shortage of fighting. Hearts were pumping and competition remained fierce. Your head was on a swivel trying to keep up with all the action in the various rings. Lots of aerials and attempts at aerials were presented this day. Spin wheel kicks to the head seemed to be the emphasis as China took on Mexico in Ring 1 during the 14 and up division.
The final day of competition brought out the cream of the crop. These fighters knew their skills and knew them well. As Mexico took on the Dominican Republic, a well placed side kick to the chest flattened Mexico early on. In the stands, friends, fans, and supporters of Team Jalisco from Mexico began a chant to fire up their countryman and keep him in the fight. One of the major upsets of the championships came when Breanna Bordon took on Danielle Pelham. Bordon, a local Las Vegas fighter without a lot of fight time, went in as the expected underdog against the seasoned Pelham. The fight turned out to be a classic. At one point Pelham took a toe to the eye but she did not falter. The fight went into sudden death overtime and it was Bordon who scored the upset. Ceremonies and awards followed to conclude an amazing weekend of competition. In addition, the U.S. Olympic Committee will be producing a highlight airing from this year’s U.S. Open in Las Vegas. The 40-50 minute webcast will appear soon after the event on the USOC’s website, www.teamusa.org. taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Kukkiwon Special Testing An Interview with Hyun-Sup Park By Cynthia Vespia
The historic Kukkiwon Special Dan Testing was held February 1315, 2009, at the Tropicana Hotel during the 2009 U.S. Open TKD Championships. Each applicant was judged by a panel of Kukkiwon and USAT Martial Arts Commission judges on their individual test performance. TKD Times was privileged to sit down and speak with Hyun-Sup Park, the Director of General Affairs at the Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Headquarters. TKDT: Tell us a little bit about the Kukkiwon special dan testing. Park: In the whole world there are 180 countries. Under the TKD umbrella, there is the World Taekwondo Federation, as well as the Kukkiwon. And under that there are five regional federations: Asian TKD Union; African TKD Union; Pan-American TKD Union; Europe TKD Union; and Oceania TKD Union. These are the five that are under the umbrella and the TKD Federation. TKDT: Why is the Kukkiwon testing in the U.S.? Park: In the world there are a lot of federations giving black belt certifications, but in the World Taekwondo Federation, the Kukkiwon is the authority who certifies all the black belts around the world. So right now, the different situations in the U.S., you have ATU (Asian Taekwondo Union) certification, ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) certification, because of all of them, the Kukkiwon wanted to come over here and conduct the testing so
28 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
that the people that are qualified would be able to receive the Kukkiwon certification. And the Kukkiwon certification is the basic criteria for any black belt athlete in order to compete under the umbrella of the Olympics. So that’s the reason why the Kukkiwon is so crucial to the TKD practitioner. TKDT: What degree of belt is being tested? Park: The maximum of special testing was up to seventh-degree black belt. TKDT: What are the pros and cons of this kind of testing? Park: There are no negatives. The very positive things about it, because Kukkiwon is really the most renowned authority for black belt certification, is to be able to give the education for the dan requirement, the routine—or what they call the poomsae—so the educated world...you know the people that are holding the certification, and also giving the chance for the people who haven’t had the opportunity to find an authority to be tested underneath. So that they can be able to learn what is the criteria for the black belt certification under the umbrella of Kukkiwon which they have learned here.
To read Master Sang Yun’s thoughts on the Kukkiwon testing, visit taekwondotimes.com and read his editorial. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cynthia Vespia is a trainer and writer based in Las Vegas. Her work includes health and entertainment media, as well as published work in fiction. She is a skilled martial artist and active fitness competitor. For more information visit CynthiaVespia.com.
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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My dear fellow Martial Artists, Change is a great thing. It is invariably a Yin-Yang process. I think we have all experienced it this year, with all the positive comes some negative. In a world of uncertainty, it is so important that martial artists maintain who we are and what we stand for. As martial artists, we are training, and trained, to do good deeds. Most schools list in their rules something to the effect that they are only using the art for positive purposes and most are involved in charity work, such as kick-a-thons or breaka-thons. Perhaps they have toy and food drives, or offer free self-defense classes. At my schools, we have adopted some great causes and everyone participates whole-heartedly. It is a beautiful mission we are all meant to do. “The power is in you, it is your personal choice what you do in your life!” However, sharing with others, doing good deeds, isn’t the whole story. In order to really do good deeds, we have to start with our own selves. I am not talking about just the physical aspect. I am talking about our own self-development. How much good can we do if we are miserable? What kind of energy would we be sending out if we are unhappy? How could someone with a tremendous anger issue help anyone unless he helped himself first? Unless you are at least on the way to a balanced and fulfilling life, you will need to devote yourself to helping yourself first. You’ll need to take action and set a plan in motion. First, you will need to get your energy under control, purifying it, increasing it, and directing it toward goals and activities that promote your growth and development, rather than self-destructive or limited ends. Because you are unique, it is important not to compare yourself with others or have unrealistic expectations. There is already within you a quiet recognition of the goals that are appropriate. An unrealistic goal will make you feel “pushed” or anxious, whereas a realistic goal will bring a sense of excitement and eager anticipation. What is energy? It is an expression of the life force of the whole universe. And you and the life force are one! Because you are at one with the life force of the universe, you are energy. And the sun, wind, water, and all of nature, are also energy. When you cannot find this energy within yourself, often you can go into nature to feel and connect with it. This life force is love in action. When you start feeling this natural love within you, it will change how you see and
respond to the whole world. You will start feeling a warmth and enthusiasm that flows out of you as natural as breathing. One of the goals of self-discovery is to be able to enjoy this natural energy and share it. Yet, why do we often feel such a lack of energy if we are indeed one with the life force? The answer is that our own negative thoughts act like filters that keep this mighty river of energy down to a trickling stream. One purpose of training at Jung SuWon is to purify your thinking and feeling so energy flows more freely and powerfully. For example, one of my black belt instructors told me how his teaching changed when he began to approach it with this natural love. Before he began to feel his spiritual energy increasing, his teaching consisted of making sure the students did every move correctly or learned at the proper rate. This is part of being a good teacher. But when he began to feel the natural love, his teaching went beyond physical instruction. He listened and responded with more awareness and sensitivity to everyone’s needs and feelings. He not only desired to see the students learn the correct moves, but to help them defeat their weaknesses and shine. He cared about every step of their growth with as much enthusiasm as he cared about his own growth. In short, he began loving the students as well as teaching them, and it made his job more joyous and fulfilling. That is how love energizes you. It gives you inner joy, enthusiasm, and awareness that helps you carry out your goals. Would you be surprised to know that you may be wasting your energy, spending it on things that undermine and sabotage your goals and desires? You may have habits that regularly weaken the quality of your energy. Your energy is a creative tool. It must not be wasted. When I teach my students to break a brick with their bare feet or hands, I’m teaching them to control and direct their energy in a positive way. Martial arts training isn’t just movements. Because body and mind are one, this physical training helps students contact their spiritual energy. There is always a balance. You can’t have a pure body without a pure mind, and vice versa. You may develop your mind, but if you don’t develop your body, it will have an ill effect on you. When your body gets hurt, doesn’t that cloud your thoughts? Likewise, if you pay attention to developing only your physical body and neglect your mental training, you will be unable to deal with life’s situations. Body and mind must always work together. Your whole being is an expression of energy. To create, transform, or reshape your life, your energy must be pure and free. And as you purify your energy, you move into the next stage of examining your life. You need to take a hard look at your present priorities, asking, “Have I been true to myself? Am I where I want to be? Do I know who I am? Am I being who I am or am I being who somebody else wants me to be?” Only by looking closely at where you are, can you evaluate the quality of your environment, motives, beliefs, and attitudes. You can’t change anything until you identify precisely what needs to be changed. The conditions in your environment and the quality of your thinking have brought you to where you are now. Do you like where you are? If not, where did you compromise or sell out along the way? How did you get off the track? And why? What forces did you respond to instead of listening to yourself? Only by looking honestly at where you are now can you form a good plan to go somewhere else. A taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
By Tae Yun Kim
Heart to Heart
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Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim is the founder and head of Jung SuWon. She is also the founder and CEO of Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions, a high-tech computer control and monitoring industry located in the Silicon Valley. Grandmaster Kim is a best-selling author and motivational speaker.
careful evaluation will help you see where you detoured, help you determine where you want to go now, and plan how you will get there. As you look at your life, do not underestimate the power your environment. Is your job or family speaking to you louder than your inner desires? Is your environment strengthening or smothering you? You cannot assume everyone you know wants you to change in the ways you want to change. Help is always available to you, but the help you need may not be easy to find. Your environment and the people in it may have to be altered in order for you to change. If this is true, it’s important not to become desperate or make premature moves without thinking things through clearly and thoroughly. Not everyone who promises you help is able to give it. This is when the tools of meditation, concentration, and visualization can help you move wisely. After looking at how you may have missed the mark, you now mobilize your inner power to recreate your life. All the bad experiences you have had can be used as feedback; they are the fertilizer that enables you to grow strong. Mistakes can be a good friend when we use them in a learning process. As a Western society, we are terrified of failure. We often feel that mistakes reveal fatal flaws in our character. But when we make mistakes, it is a sure sign we are learning. One of the ways we learn what’s right is by learning first what’s wrong. As long as we are trying to grow productively and apply the lessons we learn, our mistakes will surely propel us to success. Alexander Graham Bell, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln, and others who achieved something significant failed numerous times before succeeding. But they were also learning before they succeeded, just as you will do. Through your successes and failures you eventually are guided
to choose your path and control your destiny. You will now become your own doctor and surgeon, carefully bringing your new self into the world by constantly removing the strangling, stifling thoughts and feelings of your old self. This is not something that happens and then ends. This rebirth is an ongoing process, a daily practice that goes on for your entire life. As you continue to move down life’s path, you will constantly be made aware of changes you need to make and will constantly be reborn, as you make them. You will always be striving to look at yourself impartially, like a doctor examining a patient for the first time—studying the symptoms, trying to gain insight into the source of the trouble, and prescribing the appropriate cure. Only by being willing to constantly look at your weaknesses, can you constantly do something about them. That is what martial arts are about—self-improvement and self-development, so that then you can share yourself with others; share your joy of life and your happiness, with the world! Always remember, the power is in you, it is your personal choice what you do in your life. You ARE an original—don’t be a copy! So, my fellow martial artists let us do good deeds—for ourselves and for others. Let us share our wisdom and knowledge and our hearts! With love, from my heart to yours, Dr. Tae Yun Kim Great Grandmaster HE CAN DO, SHE CAN DO, WHY NOT ME!
taekwondotimes.com /January 2008
Special appearance by
Dojunim Ji, Han Jae The Founder of Sinmoo Hapkido
Open to all styles Come and join us and experience this exciting Martial Art, taught by Masters and Instructors from around the world.
Hosted by Sinmoo Legacy Group
August 8 & 9, 2009
Held at the: Crowne Plaza Mid-Peninsula Hotel Foster City, California
contact information: www.sinmoolegacy.com
Focus On Our Readers... Black Belt Beginnings tells the inspiring and motivational stories of students climbing the rank system and achieving black belt. To submit your story of 750 words or less, email it to press@taekwondotimes.com.
Eye Focus, Body Focus, Mind Focus By seven-year-old Dillon Patel My name is Dillon Patel and I am seven years-old. I am going to be testing for my seconddegree black belt. When I put on my dobok, I focus all my attention to the reason I am at Tae Kwon Do and what I am there to learn. Tae Kwon Do is a sport most anyone can do if they put their mind, body and spirit into it. Tae Kwon Do is an ancient art form that originated in South Korea. The school I attend is called White Tiger Taekwondo in Cary, North Carolina. I have been training at White Tiger since 2005. White Tiger belongs to many different associations: The World Taekwondo Federation, Korean Hapkido Federation and the Korean Tiger Team School. Last May, I tested for my first-degree black belt. I signed up for Tae Kwon Do to build character and good judgment. Tae Kwon Do teaches respect, kindness, honesty, motivation, focus and perseverance. Even though Tae Kwon Do is a lot of work, you also meet new friends and it is a lot of fun. You can improve your grades and increase energy. Tae Kwon Do helps you build strong bones and muscles. You should always stick together in Tae Kwon Do because it allows you to spend time with your family. I absolutely love Tae Kwon Do because I have learned to speak Korean and Korean history. I have ,- July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
also learned a lot of kicks, punches and board breaking techniques. I have also learned to spar and to break wooden boards. I have learned poomsae forms and self-defense techniques. I have earned seven belts since I joined White Tiger. I was very proud Dillon Patel when I received my black belt and certificate from the Kukkiwon in Korea. Since I am only seven, my belt is called a poom. At White Tiger, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just try our best to get our black belts, we also try our best to help the community. As part of our testing, we have to do a group charity project and an individual project that helps people learn about Tae Kwon Do. For my last testing, I collected prescription eyeglasses for Unite For Sight. I was able to get people to donate their used glasses to help other people in countries that cannot afford to have them. Once I receive my second-degree black belt, I plan to pursue more martial arts. I really like Hapkido and I am excited about joining that. I will also continue being on the Junior Leadership Team at White Tiger, so that I can encourage other students to be the best that they can be. I look forward to also helping my sister, since she is now in her white belt classes.
The Michaels Family
Perseverance Pays Off By Jerilyn Michaels I started my TKD journey 20 years ago at the age of 23, when my husband convinced me to join him in his favorite sport. I had a lot of excuses why I would not like TKD. I was not very athletic, I was very shy, I lacked self-confidence and selfesteem. After a short time, I came to love the sport of TKD. I took lessons from white to green belt at the same school before it closed. It took my husband a little while to find a new school and by that time, I was pregnant with our first child. I decided to end my TKD experience. Fifteen years went by fast and we now have four children. We had just moved to Minnesota from Phoenix and our oldest child was being bullied at the bus-stop. I decided it was time to take TKD again. We found a new school close to where we lived and my husband and older children started training. I could barely sit on the sidelines and
watch. I still loved the forms, philosophy, and exercise of TKD, but I was also still shy and anxious in new situations performing in front of others. Many times, I had to give myself a talk all the way to class that I could get out there and workout in front of others. Once in class though, all my fears were gone and I enjoyed the workout. I did get over my anxiousness and moved through the belts from white to purple. When I was a purple belt, I tore my ACL in my knee sparring and I had to have my knee rebuilt. The next nine months were spent in physical therapy. I really had to put blinders on at this time to all the people who told me I should not pursue my dream of becoming a black belt. I worked hard in physical therapy and followed my doctor’s orders. I rejoined class two months after surgery to hold pads for kids’ classes. At four months after surgery, I was able to join class but not pivot, and at six months I was able to participate in class without restriction. Nine months after surgery, I was able to break two boards with that leg using a jump back kick for my brown belt test. One year after my knee surgery, I got the news that our school was closing. This may have been the biggest challenge yet. We had a lot of friends there and I wasn’t sure I wanted to start all over again. Many questions raced through my mind.
Master Kim & Jerilyn taekwondotimes.com /July 2009
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Did I want to deal with the anxiety I felt in new situations? Did I want my goal of black belt bad enough? In my mind came a resounding “YES.” This time I was surprised that my jitters about starting a new school were much less and I credit it to the TKD training I had done already. I was about ready for my red belt test but at our new school we had two sets of patterns for each belt. This meant learning nine new patterns before I could test for red belt. I spent every day practicing patterns for the next four months to be able to take the test. I was also able to do a speed break for the first time with the help of our new instructor, Mr. Kim. Six months after my red belt test, I tested for my black belt with my husband. I had great success at my test with many friends and old instructors present. Twenty years after my initial start, I achieved my goal of black belt. Several times during my journey I had someone say, “If one more thing goes wrong, maybe you should take it as a sign you should quit.” I take comments like that just the opposite way. There are always excuses and reasons why you shouldn’t pursue goals, but perseverance is about pushing forward toward your goals no matter what life sets in your way. That is how you succeed in life and TKD. I am currently working toward my seconddegree black belt and assisting in kids’ classes under the direction of Master Young Kim at Kukkiwon Tae Kwon Do Academy in Blaine, MN.
seniority roster and time became more available to me. It was at this time in my life, at the age of 55, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and Type II diabetes. I needed an exercise program. Since my wife had joined a local fitness center, she convinced me to do the same. At the fitness center one evening, I noticed a group of people in white uniforms doing exercises in one of the center’s rooms. At that moment, one of the black belts came out. I asked him about the class, and he said it was Mr. B’s TKD. He asked if I’d like to meet the owner, and I said “Yes.” That day changed my life, although I did not realize it at the time. The owner, Mr. Adam Boisvert, asked me if I wanted to start training in TKD and I agreed. He suggested that I try it for a month to see if it was a fit for me. After a month, I was ready to quit, confused with techniques and did not have much flexibility. Mr. Boisvert took me aside one evening and asked me if I would give two more months before deciding whether to continue training or not. After three months of training, the techniques started to fall into place and my flexibility increased. As months of training progressed, my commitment grew stronger and a more positive attitude grew. After training a year and a half, I was having trouble learning my new tul, Won Hyo. Being in my mid-fifties, I thought my age was going to put my training at an end. I kept my indomitable spirit and with Mr. Boisvert’s help, I was able to continue training. Even today, when I start that tul, I say to
Sticking with It By Gary Arkerson During my younger years, I spent most of my time as a Locomotive Engineer, running trains throughout New England. At times, I was required to be on duty any given hour of the 24-hour day, which gave me little or no consistent time for activities. Having been an avid outdoorsman since my teen years, it was difficult to find the time to pursue these activities. Later in my railroad career, I advanced on the (L to R) Mr. Gary Arkerson 2nd Dan, Grandmaster Hwang 9th Dan, and Mr. Adam Y. Boisvert 5th Dan
,/ July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
myself, “and this is where I was going to quit.” In my life today, being a black belt is second to none. I try to live the tenets every day, one day at a time. At age 60, I retired from my railroad career after 35 years of service. Mr. Boisvert gave me my own class to run, beginning the day after my retirement. I am now teaching four morning classes a week. Mr. B’s Tae Kwon Do is a traditional ITF (International Taekwon-Do Federation) school. Along with his wife Shannon (Mrs. B), they have two daughters who also train. Mr. Adam Boisvert is a fifth-dan and Mrs. B is a third-dan, while their daughter Alexis is a recommended black belt, and other daughter Aliya is a high green belt. I am presently a second-dan and am hopefully going to test for third-dan in June 2009. Now at the age of 63, I plan on training and instructing indefinitely. There is always the good feeling of fitness when I leave my black belt class. After instructing a class, there is always that feeling that I have helped another person in some way, whether it be physically or mentally. I cannot write this article without the mention of our Grandmaster K.S. Hwang, ninth-dan ITF. It is always a special treat when he comes to our school for seminars and testing. As time moves on, I will try not to get complacent with myself. I will practice my humility and tenets and be forever thankful to everyone in Tae Kwon Do who has helped show me the way.
Humble Beginnings
Teaching class at Iowa Black Belt Acadamy.
communities and have expanded to two additional locations. We also have a Panther Cubs program for kids aged four to six and 27 of my students have attained the rank of Black Belt. In December 2001, Tae Kwon Do was introduced to New Virginia, Iowa. Our first classes were held in the middle school gymnasium. Twenty people were in attendance at the first session and all who came were eager to learn. The community immediately supported TKD and has continued to do so even to this day. In May 2002, the middle school closed its doors for the last time as it was consolidated in another town. The buildings were sold, but we were allowed to continue our Tae Kwon Do practice in the gymnasium under contract with the new owner while he remodeled the old school into an apartment complex. Remodeling and Tae Kwon Do did not always go together smoothly. Many times during that summer we were locked out of the gym and had to practice outside at a local park or in the football
By Mike McCuddin It has always been a dream of mine to teach Tae Kwon Do and run a dojang. My instructor, Mrs. Bonnie Wells from Martial Arts America, reflects that she can remember me making comments about it as early as green belt level. I was anxious to start teaching as a branch instructor after reaching black belt. We opened our first branch of Martial Arts America eight years ago in a small town of about 450 people in south central Iowa. Since that time we have built our own dojang called Iowa Black Belt Academy and have the privilege of touching the lives of approximately 250 students from our town and the surrounding The new, but incomplete, dojang taekwondotimes.com /July 2009
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Demonstrating in front of the school
field behind the school. Despite the inconveniences, class attendance remained high. As the weather began to turn colder, we were able to use the gym more consistently two times per week. While it was a definite improvement to being outside, the freezing temperatures presented another challenge as we moved into the coldest winter months. Without the old boilers, the gym was just too large to heat effectively. Students would dress with long underwear under their doboks and take breaks to warm their feet huddled around portable heaters. With all of these adverse conditions, class sizes continued to increase. It became obvious to everyone that we would need another place to practice and we began to plan a building of our own. The following spring of 2003, we secured a construction loan from our local bank and purchased a lot in the business district. A local builder was contracted to erect the outside shell. Almost all of the interior was constructed by Tae Kwon Do student volunteers. We had volunteers to excavate the site, dig the trenches for the sewer system, provide electrical contracting and the inside carpentry work. It was truly a testament to the influence Tae Kwon Do had on our lives. The project created a special team-building opportunity for all of us. In October of 2003 we moved in! Even though the floor was just a concrete slab, as we did not have carpet and not all the inside construction was finished, we eagerly began practicing in the new building. We encountered more hardships, but everyone was thankful to have heat and bathrooms that worked! Over time, we made improvements like carpets on the floors as well as other nice-tohaves like heavy bags and mirrors. Almost as soon as we started working out in the new dojang our community began to ask about cardio equipment and weight lifting equipment. The new dojang
Gradually we added these services and more. Over time, we have added classes like Kickboxing, Pilates and step aerobics. The community involvement and support has been truly inspiring. Now, almost eight years later we have outgrown our space. We have branched our Tae Kwon Do classes into the surrounding towns of Indianola and Osceola. Our younger community members have enthusiastically supported our Panther Cubs program which we added just this year. So once again, we have started a Tae Kwon Do project to build a cardio and weight lifting center next to the existing dojang. We hope to finish it this summer. From these humble beginnings we are constantly reminded that value is not always measured in terms of dollars and cents. The hard work and dedication of a few Tae Kwon Do students built what we enjoy today. The special relationships we’ve developed, i.e. the confidence of knowing that a fellow Tae Kwon Do practitioner will drop everything and be there when help is needed, is remarkable to witness and is part of the traditional Tae Kwon Do practice. It is traditional values and the people who uphold them to which I attribute our “success.”
Black Belt Beginnings tells the inspiring and motivational stories of students climbing the rank system and achieving black belt. To submit your story of 750 words or less, email it to press@taekwondotimes.com. ,1 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
The History of PHKD
a fight. PHKD doesn’t believe that yells should be a part of today’s realistic street self-defense. It encourages multiple strikes and low kicks, rather than Klaus Schuhmacher of Germany has been teachrelying only on joint locks and throws. It provides a ing martial arts since 1977. After many years as a range of techniques that recognizes the gender, size member of the international martial arts commuand strength of the student. With no high kicks, no nity, he became dissatisfied. He began to wonder acrobatic maneuvers, no unpractical stances, and no about some of the limitations he’d discovered with forms to learn, PHKD is a realistic training system. conventional forms. So he started to practice HapIt requires no athletic ability and is oriented to adult kido. students. When developing his system, Progressive HapkiPHKD also is a philosophy. It is a smart, streetdo (PHKD), in 1997, Doju Schuhmacher primarwise martial art that teaches tactics using the ily sought to address the major principles of balissues he felt were hindering ance, speed, and leverage the development of martial to overcome an opponent’s arts. He found he could superior force. Through get as much power without PHKD, students also learn hyper-extending his blows the history and techniques by following through with of traditional Hapkido. shorter, more natural, soft The art created by Doju strikes. This innovative way Schuchmacher seeks to of attack not only was more balance traditional techpowerful, but quicker. Soon, niques with new innovative he began to incorporate training methods. It is a the same concept into all realistic and logical develhis maneuvers, drills and opment of Hapkido and is techniques. based on the very effective original three Hapkido What is PHKD? principles (non-resistance, circular motion, and the PHKD is a complete water principle) created martial art that includes by Choi Yong Sool, conkicks, strikes, punches, joint sidered by some to be the Shoulder manipulation technique against an locks, chokes, takedowns, founder of Hapkido. attack from behind. throws, ground fighting, and skills to defeat attackers who may be younger, larger, Character growth and stronger. It’s a realistic and effective approach for self-defense. It incorporates the latest advancePHKD is a holistic discipline where the spiritual ments in physiological and scientific research, and and moral developments of the students are very was made for real-life situations. important. The qualities spelled out in the tenets PHKD retains many traditional Hapkido are vital in their significance: Self-Confidence, Rebreathing exercises, which are vital to focusing and spect, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, Humilconserving energy, while at the same time eliminatity, Discipline and Courage. ing high-risk techniques that might get you hurt in taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Left: Klaus controls his attacker’s elbow, preventing a forward slashing knife attack. Below: Still controlling the attacker’s arm, Klaus applies pressure to a point below the attacker’s ear.
Below: Klaus pulls the attacker’s elbow to his chest, locking it and hooks around to control the knife hand.
No one receives promotions into higher levels without displaying these qualities. PHKD is definitely concerned with physical skills, but the spirit and character behind those skills are very important. In the event of a conflict, the system trains you to prevail, but not necessarily by devastating your opponent. With the maturity and self-confidence fostered by PHKD, it should rarely, if ever, be necessary to resort to violence. Insecurity leads to violence. PHKD develops secure, disciplined, well-rounded individuals who are also, as a last resort, well-equipped to protect themselves in a physical confrontation.
The Benefits In a real fight, every second counts. Most attacks last under one minute. In PHKD, martial artists are not left exposed with artificial stances or poses. It includes some other ideas too, like: 1. You do not need brute strength to win. 2. You do not need the same muscle mass as your attacker. 3. You do not have to be an Olympic athlete to win. PHKD depends on skill, not strength. On the street, the prize is being safe. Of course, it is always better to be strong rather than weak; PHKD believes that good technique is more critical than brute strength.
40 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
Striking Principles In PHKD, one should never extend the joints all the way to the end, but should rather use the natural action of the force of the strike, springing the feet and the hands back to the body, using the full weight of your own body. The system’s punching and kicking techniques are built upon these dynamics. Much more force comes from short sequential motion of the entire body, than from the joints of the elbow and knee. The most traditional forms of martial arts teach you to extend your arms and legs to the maximum. But half the force of the blow is absorbed by your own knee and elbow joints, which are not designed to withstand that amount of pressure and, in time, will collapse. Students of PHKD are also taught to hold back their strikes. The negative transfer of power goes directly to the larger muscle groups and joints: the shoulders, the lower back, the neck and so on.
Blocking All the blocking methods and drills in the art of PHKD do not need a great deal of force to run interference. All motions are gentle, subtle and remarkably fast. They are so quick and easy, that punches can be thrown immediately with the same hand used to block without readjustment. This adds a dimension that is absolutely devastating. Every block is directed toward the incoming blow. There is no rearing back to generate momentum. No time is lost. The blocks are all done with the fleshy part of the appendages, not the bone. The goal is to redirect the attack away from its target, not to meet it head on with equal force. You are looking to throw your opponent off balance, using his own strength against him.
without any concentrated effort on your part. It happens by itself. As in punching, training sessions emphasize the form and technique of kicking in the structured movements. Street Fights There are eight principles of street fighting in PHKD: 1. Offensive 2. Simplicity 3. Manoeuvre or Planning 4. Security 5. Economy 6. Strategy 7. Control 8. Tactic
Kicking
Special Components
The same principles are applied to kicks. At no time is the leg pulled back after a kick, as in the traditional forms. The natural momentum of the strike will spring the leg back,
PHKD also touches on some special components of fighting, such as fear management, fight body language, stances and verbal instruments. These are all important parts of realistic street combat. The PHKD system is noted for its hard-core approach to street defense training. ABOUT DOJU SCHUHMACHER: Klaus Schuhmacher continues to be sought after for his breakthrough research into fear and panic management, verbal and physical tactics and behavior psychology in the martial arts. His pioneer spirit leads him into affiliation with several martial arts.
Above: Klaus disarms the attacker. Right: Using a wristlock, Klaus uses a Jae-Up-Sul pressure point strike to takedown his attacker.
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Dr. Jerry Beasley is Professor of Exercise, Sport and Health at Radford University in Virginia where he heads the Asian Martial Arts Minor and produces the world famous Karate College MMA training camp. Dr. Beasley has earned an eighth-dan in Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan and an eighth-dan in Joe Lewis Kickboxing. Visit his MMA trainers’ association at aikia.net.
The term mixed martial arts (MMA) was first introduced to viewers of the popular Ultimate Fighting Championship as early as the midnineties when the hosts of the program began describing fighters that represented a “mix” of several arts as “mixed martial artists.” Over the years, it has been demonstrated that mixed martial artists differ from their classical martial arts brothers, in that they tend to show less interest in style and more focus on obtaining performance based skills. It can be argued that the obvious lack of identification with traditional styles like Tae Kwon Do (TKD) and Karate has made mixed martial arts a very controversial topic.
Voicing an Opinion on MMA Because of its popularity as a spectator sport, MMA is not without its detractors. Complaints about the practice of mixed martial arts range from “it’s ineffective against multiple opponents” to “the fighters have no concept of what it takes to master an art. They just learn skills to hit people.” MMA is different from classical martial training, true, but it remains popular among various age groups, including kids and young adults. A fan of MMA volunteered this explanation of why he enjoys watching the sport. “As a kid, I watched professional sports with my dad. We became turned off by the way the athletes seemed to value the long term contract and money over the love for the game. MMA is real sport. You have two men fighting it out to the finish with no help from the managers and agents. MMA is pure sport.” Another fan puts it bluntly: “I like to see a good fight. I also watch NASCAR for the wrecks and hockey for the fights.” MMA certainly fills the bill for those who want violence in their sport. A black belt offers this complaint: “The fight is real but the environment is contrived. When are you ever going to fight someone in a cage?” If you look for reasons to be against MMA, it’s not hard to find complaints among skilled martial artists. Another black belt notes: “The grappling takes place on a comfortable mat, whereas in the street you’re liable to end up on broken glass and grease.” One instructor explains, “The misconception is that all fights end up on the ground. All fights begin standing up. Only the guys that can’t fight standing up, end up on the ground.” An instructor offers this opinion, “I watch MMA to learn about what works and what doesn’t. I have a new appreciation for knee strikes, leg kicks and an overhand right because of seeing the techniques actually work in competition.” A student and fan of MMA competitions volunteers this opinion, “I like the whole idea of building my body and testing my metal by stepping in the ring in front of people that might not like me and still coming out the winner.” In spite of the lip lashing and the praise MMA receives from classical martial artists, it has become the top spectator oriented fighting art today. MMA events have recorded larger audiences than boxing or professional wrestling. People on the street may not know the names of Mas Oyama or General Choi, both significant to martial arts historians, but they readily identify names like Chuck Liddell, Royce Gracie and Georges St-Pierre. MMA draws attention to the martial arts community. For some there remains a misconception about what is meant by the term MMA. It is understandable since the term MMA has been used in more than one context. While MMA has been most effectively used to identify the ultra-popular spectator sport called mixed martial arts, it is a fact that MMA has also been used as an abbreviation for “multicultural martial arts” (arts representing more than one country). And, the term MMA has often been used simply to identify the fact that the school offers instruction in more than one martial art, i.e., multiple martial arts.
blends the arts into one multi martial arts style. For example, the 1960s fighting style of Chuck Norris was said to include “the kicks of Tang Soo Do and the punches of Shotokan Karate.”
Multicultural Martial Arts Proponents of the multicultural format tend to focus on the concept of range. Instructors select arts from different countries based on the arts expediency in a selected range. For example, English boxing works best at boxing range. TKD, Karate and Muay Thai are most functional at kicking range. Judo, Jujitsu and wrestling are used when the focus is on ground fighting. Escrima and Kubodo are often employed to prepare the student in weapons range. Proponents of the multicultural martial arts method typically identify the flow from one art form to the next as a preferred way to offer solutions to selfdefense situations.
MMA and You
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A Functional Definition for MMA The term mixed martial arts appropriately implies that a single style does not dominate, but rather the fighter uses stand up skills when in the upright position and grappling skills when engaged on the ground. More importantly, the MMA fighter must identify his best attributes and match them with a successful strategy. A strategy is much like a game plan. The fighter may plan a ground game or maintain the fight in the stand up position. The fighter may also choose a mix of ground and stand up. Every form of competition, including a street fight, MMA bout or even a playground scuffle, is governed by three variables called attributes, strategy and chance. Chance is luck. By chance, the police just happen to be driving by as you face a gang of punks. Chance happens. But you can’t expect it or plan for it. Attributes can vary per fighter and may be developed or neglected. To improve the attribute of strength, the fighter may lift weights, maintain proper nutrition and rest. The attributes of speed and accuracy may be improved through various drills. Professional fighters often claim that the fight is won or lost not in the ring, but in the gym. Every martial arts style represents a particular strategy. The TKD player plans to kick the opponent, while the Judo practitioner plans to off balance the opponent. The boxer’s strategy is to strike, while the MMA fighter plans only to fight standing up or on the ground. He requires no particular art. He needs skills and tactics that will work regardless of the art from which the skill may have originated. The champion MMA fighter often develops his own unique style as he discovers the best strategy to highlight his specific attributes. In the next issue, we’ll talk more about the importance of attributes and strategy.
Multi Martial Arts A number of martial arts instructors choose to interpret MMA as a format for learning and practicing the skills from more than one martial art. This idea goes all the way back to Bruce Tegner, a 1960s martial arts writer, instructor and black belt, who was known for combining Judo and Karate to form an art he called Jukado. Many instructors have followed Tegner’s example. Today, you can consult the yellow pages and find an ad for martial arts schools listing two or more styles. Oftentimes, the multi martial arts format includes separate classes in Karate, Jujitsu, TKD, etc. However one is just as likely to come upon a school that
By Dr. Jerry Beasley
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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MRSA in the Dojang What You Don’t Know Could Kill You By Suzanne Ellenberger, Ph.D. Let’s start by defining MRSA. MRSA stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, and is sometimes called a “superbug” because of its ability to become resistant to several antibiotics. MRSA infections are now very common among healthy children and adults in the community. A MRSA infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria—often called “staph.” Many MRSA strains are currently resistant to antibiotics commonly used to treat staph infections such as penicillin, methicillin, amoxicillin, and cephalosporins. Although Staphylococcus aureus has been causing infections (staph infections) probably as long as the human race has existed, MRSA has a relatively short history. Unfortunately, MRSA can be found worldwide and invasive MRSA infections can be deadly. Recent statistics show the mortality rate to be between four and twelve percent or approximately 19,000 deaths in the United States each year. These figures suggest that MRSA infections are responsible for more deaths in the U.S. each year than HIV/AIDS. Staph bacteria are normally found on the skin or
These are two different pictures of what MRSA looks like under a microscope.
in the nose of about one-third of the population. If you have staph on your skin or in your nose but are not sick, you are said to be a carrier—a person who is not infected but is colonized with the bacteria. Healthy people can be colonized and have no ill effects, but, they can pass the germ on to others. As many as 11 to 40 percent of the population is estimated to be colonized with no symptoms. Staph bacteria are generally harmless unless they enter 44 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
the body through a cut or other wound, and even then they often cause only minor skin problems in healthy people. However, staph infections can cause serious illness. This most often happens in older adults and people who have weakened immune systems, usually in hospitals and long term care facilities. But in the past several years, serious infections have been occurring in otherwise healthy people in the community. For example, athletes (reported mostly in sports such as wrestling, football, rugby and martial arts) who share equipment or personal items or have skin-to-skin contact with one another. Some MRSA infections occur in hospitals or other healthcare settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at most risk for this type of MRSA. More recently, another type of MRSA has occurred among otherwise healthy people in the wider community. This form, community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA, is responsible for serious skin and soft tissue infections and for a serious form of pneumonia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that about 14 percent of all MRSA infections are community associated. The best way to avoid MRSA infection is avoiding direct contact with MRSA. This is often not possible because MRSA-infected individuals or MRSA carriers are not immediately identifiable. There are two major ways people become infected with MRSA. The first is physical contact (sparring, grappling, throwing) with someone who is either infected or is a carrier of MRSA. The second is physical contact with MRSA-infected objects, such as floor mats, air shields, focus mitts, heavy bags and standing bags, door handles, sinks, and even towels that have been touched by a MRSA-infected person or carrier. Normal skin tissue in people usually does not allow MRSA infection to develop; however, if there are cuts, abrasions, or other skin flaws—even something as seemingly innocent as a hangnail—MRSA can develop. Many people, especially children and young adults, do not notice small skin imperfections or scrapes and may be lax in taking precautions.
Risk Factors for CA-MRSA Young age: CA-MRSA can be particularly dangerous in children. Often entering the body through a cut or scrape, MRSA can quickly cause a widespread infection. Children may be susceptible because their immune systems aren’t fully developed or they don’t yet have antibodies to common germs. Children and young adults are also much more likely to develop dangerous forms of pneumonia and bone infections, which can result from CAMRSA. Participating in contact sports: CA-MRSA has affected sports teams because the bacteria spreads easily through cuts and abrasions and skin-to-skin contact. Sharing towels or athletic equipment: CAMRSA has spread among athletes sharing razors, towels, uniforms or equipment. So, what does a MRSA infection look like? How do you know if you have it and what should you look for? The symptoms of MRSA infections are variable; staph skin infections, including MRSA, generally start as small red bumps that resemble pimples, boils or spider bites. These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Occasionally, cellulitis can occur which is easily identified as a “red streak” with accompanying fever, sometimes with chills, sweats and swollen lymph nodes near the area of infected skin. MRSA can also infiltrate the bone. One major problem with MRSA is that occasionally the skin infection can spread to almost any other organ in the body. When this happens, more severe symptoms develop. MRSA that spreads to internal organs can become life-threatening. How does the doctor know if you have a MRSA infection? Doctors diagnose MRSA by checking a tissue sample for signs of the drug-resistant bacteria by passing a swab over the suspected area. The sample is sent to a lab where it’s placed in a dish of nutrients that encourage bacterial growth. But because it takes about 48 hours for the bacteria to grow, newer tests that can detect staph DNA in a matter of hours are now becoming widely available. How is the dreaded MRSA infection treated? MRSA is resistant to anywhere from 15 to 30 different antibiotics. That means when it’s detected, a doctor has only a very small number of compounds at hand that are able to kill it. CA-MRSA may be treated with Vancomycin or other antibiotics that
This is what a typical MRSA culture looks like.
have proved effective against particular strains. Vancomycin is a very strong antibiotic that is not taken orally but is administered directly into the vein through an intravenous port. Although vancomycin saves lives, it may become less effective as well. Some hospitals are already seeing strains of MRSA that are becoming resistant to vancomycin. In addition to antibiotic therapy, MRSA infections usually require opening and drainage of the infected site, but more often surgical removal of the infected area is necessary. Even with these treatments, unfortunately, patients can still die from a MRSA infection, if it overwhelms the patient’s immune system. How likely are you to get another MRSA infection if you have already had one? The recurrence rate of MRSA infection in mild cases is thought to be very low, but some investigators report that patients may be carriers for up to 30 months. Most investigators agree that strict hygiene helps reduce the risk of recurrent infections.
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Protection Against MRSA Wash your hands: Careful hand washing remains your best defense against germs. Scrub hands briskly (the amount of time recommended for hand washing is 20 to 30 seconds—you can time this by singing the Happy Birthday song twice), then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol for times when you don’t have access to soap and water. Do not share personal items: Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and protective hand and foot equipment. MRSA spreads on contaminated objects as well as through direct contact. Keep wounds covered: Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal. The pus from infected sores may contain MRSA, and keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading. Shower after athletic practices: Shower immediately after each practice. Use soap and water. Don’t share towels. Sit out if you have a concerning infection: If you have a wound that is draining or appears infected (red, swollen, warm to the touch or tender) consider sitting out athletic practices until the wound has healed. Sanitize linens: If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in a washing machine set to the hot water setting (with added bleach, if possible) and dry them in a hot dryer. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing. Get tested: If you have a skin infection that requires treatment, ask your doctor if you should be tested for MRSA. Doctors may prescribe drugs that aren’t effective against antibiotic-resistant staph, which delays treatment and creates more resistant germs. Testing specifically for MRSA may get you the specific antibiotic you need to effectively treat your infection. Use antibiotics appropriately: When you’re prescribed an 46 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better. Don’t stop until your doctor tells you to stop. Don’t share antibiotics with others or save unfinished antibiotics for another time. Inappropriate use of antibiotics, including not taking all of your prescription and overuse, contributes to resistance. If your infection isn’t improving after a few days of taking an antibiotic, contact your doctor. How can you increase your safety in the dojang? Recommendations from the CDC state that athletic facilities should always be kept clean whether or not MRSA infections have occurred among the athletes. Shared equipment should be cleaned after each use and allowed to dry. Cleaning procedures should focus on commonly touched surfaces and surfaces that come into direct contact with people’s bare skin each day. Regular household bleach (use 1/4 cup of bleach in one gallon of water) is an effective and inexpensive cleaner effective against MRSA. Alternatively, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a list of registered products that work against MRSA called List H. For more information on this list, visit epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm. There is a lack of evidence that spraying or fogging rooms or surfaces with disinfectants will prevent MRSA infections more effectively than a more targeted approach of cleaning frequently-touched surfaces. Equipment with damaged surfaces that do not allow surfaces to be adequately cleaned should be disposed of or repaired. In most cases, MRSA infections are mild and can be treated successfully with proper skin hygiene and the appropriate antibiotics. If left untreated, MRSA can progress to life-threatening infections and become difficult to treat because there are fewer effective antibiotics available at this stage of the illness. Practice good health. Recognize the signs of infection, skin sores that have redness, pain, swelling or pus. Don’t treat yourself. When in doubt, check it out. Your health matters. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Suzanne Ellenberger is a first-degree black belt in Choi Kwang Do martial arts. She works at Clemson University in South Carolina, where she teaches both freshman chemistry courses and a class in Choi Kwang Do martial arts. Suzanne also leads the Clemson University Choi Kwang Do Club.
The author has had personal experience with the devastating superbug MRSA. To read her full story, go to taekwondotimes.com and click on our bonus content.
A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. —Saint Basil After decades of looking at what ails human nature, science is just starting to explore the influence of positive behavior on health. Using brain scans, scientists have found evidence that human beings are conditioned to help each other. Experiments show that thinking about someone else’s problems lights up the same part of the brain that gets activated when we reflect on our own problems, while compassion registers in the brain’s pleasure zones. In the classic story, A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge, the narcissistic, mean-spirited, miserly old man who was the epitome of selfishness, discovers the joy of good deeds. He blooms with the “helper’s high” and his spirit is reborn. “It is better to give than to receive,” is literally true. In everyday life, countless people choose to give up free time to volunteer. People who perform random acts of kindness generally agree that doing a kind deed for someone else makes them “feel good.” Many people find that helping others brings feelings of health and happiness. But apart from sheer niceness, why should people be encouraged to commit acts of kindness? Are there any other concrete benefits that would motivate more people to become kinder? When we act on behalf of other people, research shows that we feel greater comfort and less stress. In the last few years, researchers have looked at the so-called helper’s high and its effects on the human body. When you do something nice for someone else, your focus turns away from yourself and your own problems, and toward others, helping them feel good. A smile that you bring to the face of someone else is a contagious smile, bringing contagious happiness. Also, when faced with others in need, people tend to focus more on what they already have than on what they are lacking. Scientists are searching to understand just how altruism, the wish to perform good deeds, affects our health, emotional well-being, and even our longevity. A number of scientific studies show that acts of kindness result in significant health benefits, both physical and mental, for those who perform them. In a study involving more than 3,000 volunteers, a clear cause-and-effect relationship between helping others and good health was observed. The study concluded, “Helping contributes to the maintenance of good health, and it can diminish the effect of diseases and disorders both serious and minor, psychological and physical.” The volunteers in the study testified to feeling a rush of euphoria, followed by a longer period of calm, after performing a kind act. This feeling, the helper’s high, involves physical sensations that strongly indicate a sharp reduction in stress and the release of the body’s natural painkillers, endorphins. The helper’s high results in the same kind of endorphin
rush that runners get loping along a trail. This initial rush is then followed by a longer-lasting period of improved emotional well-being. Scientific studies have shown that only 36 percent of the people who performed volunteer work experienced major illness compared to 52 percent of those who did not volunteer. More dramatic results showed a 44 percent reduction in early death among those who frequently volunteer, an effect greater than exercising four times a week. A quick good deed can be anything from a kind word, to a gift for a loved one or a charity, and can make you feel happiness right away. Stress can be the cause of many maladies. The Buddhist scripture says the evil-doer suffers here and hereafter; on the other hand, the man who does good deeds rejoices here and hereafter. When we engage in good deeds, we reduce our own stress, including the physiological changes that occur when we experience stress. During this stress response our heart races and breathing rates increase, kicking on the “fight or flight” response. Stress also sparks the adrenal glands to pump adrenaline into our bloodstream, giving us extra strength. In addition, corticosteroids, which are powerful hormones, and adrenaline work together to release fatty acids into the bloodstream, where they become energy for our muscles. If this stress response remains “turned on” for an extended period, the immune and cardiovascular systems are adversely affected, weakening the body’s defenses, making it more susceptible to abnormal cellular changes. These changes can ultimately lead to a downward spiral causing abnormal cellular changes that cause premature aging. Altruistic emotions, or the helper’s high, seem to gain dominance over the stress response. Studies have shown that when one is feeling empathy and love there is a lowered stress response resulting in improved immunity (higher levels of protective antibodies), faster recovery from surgery and fewer restless nights. Many of the study volunteers had stress-related health problems that improved after performing kind acts. One quick and simple way to turn your mood around is to change your expectations. Instead of looking at what you don’t have, look at all that you do have. There will always be people who have more than you in one area of life or another, but many have less. Revel in the benefits of gratitude, and change the way you view what you have (and don’t have), and you can feel more happiness right away.
The Supplement
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The luxury of doing good surpasses every other personal enjoyment. —John Gay Suzanne Ellenberger is a first-degree black belt in Choi Kwang Do martial arts. She works at Clemson University in South Carolina, where she teaches both freshman chemistry courses and a class in Choi Kwang Do martial arts. Suzanne also leads the Clemson University Choi Kwang Do Club.
By Suzanne R. Ellenberger, Ph.D
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Denver’s Red Shield Warriors Strong and Courageous By Master Karen Eden The Red Shield Warriors, under the direction of Master Karen Eden, is located in the Five Points section of inner-city Denver. It’s a program supported and sponsored through the Denver Salvation Army. Each week, a multi-racial and diverse group of students meets to practice the discipline of Tang Soo Do (traditional Korean) at the Red Shield Community Center. Some of these students have been homeless, some recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. Some have been associated with gangs, and many have been considered “at-risk” youth. They also have law enforcement officers and even pastors who have trained with The Red Shield Warriors. This is a success story of discipline, focus and obedience. It’s the discipline of the recovering addicts to find a strict art form to replace their addiction. It’s the focus of school-aged students who go from a failing report card, to honor roll students with As and Bs or even straight As. It’s also the obedience of a local TV personality, to listen to her heart and reach out to make an impact in an area that many would rather forget about.
Red Shield white belt warriors practicing one-step sparring Above: Karen, Issac and James Left: Issac and James
Master Karen Eden: In Her Voice Let me be perfectly clear, I don’t feel sorry for my students who are from less fortunate situations. I know that many of them come from “hard times,” but so did I. When I see students walk in as homeless or recovering addicts, I’m not in any way taken back. I say to myself, “But by the grace of God, that could have been me…maybe that should have been me.” And I’m very humbled. I had every reason to grow up and not make it in life. I came from a broken home. I know what it’s like to come home from school and find the cupboards and refrigerator empty. I understand having to live with poverty and emotional despair on every level. But I don’t look at my past as “bad” anymore. I view it as a “training ground” for what I feel became a major purpose in my life. I know I beat the odds in my life. I went on to obtain a pretty successful broadcasting career in major market radio and TV. I would actually teach class before I went on the air at the FOX affiliate in Denver. Some of the taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Strict, Traditional and Disciplined
Master Karen Eden and the Red Shield Warriors
students recognized me, but many of them didn’t. It didn’t matter to me either way. And what most people don’t know is that I’m not just a martial arts instructor for The Salvation Army, I’m a member of The Salvation Army, and I have been for many years (I actually wear the blue uniform.) Those who wear The Salvation Army uniform basically take an oath to uphold God and the community, sometimes even before your own self. Little did I know that taking this oath would lead me into the most depressed part of the city, to answer a calling that reminds me every day of who I really am and from where I have come. No, I’m not an impoverished, overshadowed child anymore, but that’s just it. I want to get the message across that they (students) don’t have to be this way in life either. When you’re a child, there’s only so much you can do about your current situation. But teaching kids to stay focused and disciplined, and helping them develop a spiritual understanding, is a great start to building a successful life. Junior warriors practicing hand/ eye distance coordination. T and Rachan
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Let me also make it clear that this is not an easy class. I teach a very strict, traditional art form that’s based out of the Korean military. I’m really amazed at how successful this program has become over the years, because I’m not nice when it comes to teaching martial arts. I don’t give free rank rides and I don’t just pass out belts. Each and every student will walk away after a promotion knowing that they have absolutely earned their
Junior warriors practicing hand/eye distance coordination. Karen, Cody and Unique
rank. In nine years, I’ve only promoted six black belts, and one second-degree black belt. And these students may not pay for classes, but the requirements to train with The Red Shield Warriors are stiff. I require that all of my students attend a church or spiritual meeting at least once a week. They have to bring me signed notes and/or church bulletins as proof. I also require that the younger students produce a progressively improving report card every semester, and that the working adults bring me a monthly pledge that they are giving a portion of their income to a better cause or higher purpose. I don’t ask how much they have given or where they have chosen to do so, but they must sign off on this every month.
I have discovered that the combination of “body, mind, and don’t forget spirit” all working together is a beautiful thing. That’s the way the original monks designed martial arts to work in the first place. I have also discovered that regardless of where they may come from, these students are definitely not dumb. Matter-of-fact, I’m blown away at the potential that I see. I’ll sometimes look around when I’m teaching and say to myself, “If these students stick with this Tang Soo Do, many of them will be far better than me…a lot quicker than me.”
Why the Program Works
A Pay-Off Far More Than Money
A crash course on The Salvation Army: This organization will single-handedly go out into the community, and extend a helping hand in any and every way it’s needed. They feed and shelter the homeless; they take in addicts off the street and put them into recovery programs. They feed children and take
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a problem with making money, but there are some things you just have to do in life…just do because you have to do them, and money isn’t even part of the discussion. Teaching this class is one of those things. When I think that here I am a woman, and one who was considered somewhat of a local celebrity… is the one answering this calling, I can only say that God must have a sense of humor. But this is my way of giving back. This is how I choose to make a difference in the lives of many who need martial arts training, but couldn’t otherwise afford martial arts training. I tell you honestly, what I have gotten out of doing this over the years, has been more than any amount of money, or any glory that local celebritism could ever bring me.
care of them after school. They harbor families in dire straits, and provide assistance to the elderly. In addition, every officer is an ordained minister, and trained to counsel in spiritual matters…and I’ve only just scratched the surface of what they do. But because they are in constant contact with the community in this way, anyone and everyone is invited to sign up for the martial arts lessons that I teach. This has become a successful partnership, that has touched hundreds of lives over the years, whether the students stuck with the training or not. The Red Shield Warriors are a multi-racial and diversified group of students from all walks of life.
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When you see someone who used to be homeless become a contributing member of society, or you see a student go from failing grades to the honor roll, you know that you have truly left your mark. And it’s a permanent mark that will resonate far beyond the present. It will also be passed on to whomever these students decide to help along the way as well. To me, this is a spiritual matter, and it’s absolutely priceless.
The Hard Truth The hard truth is that I do lose students to gang warfare. And the recovering addict who walks through the door has much more to master than just martial arts, he or she also has to master him or herself. Sometimes it doesn’t work out.
Master Eden relies on the young people in the program to set an example for the younger students.
From Homeless to Black Belt
It is not uncommon to see the Red Shield Warriors “take a knee” for prayer before class.
I used to take these issues personally, until I realized what I was truly up against. I’ve heard of evils so unspeakable against some of these students, that I choose not to speak about them. I truly believe that there are things which we can’t control and they must be surrendered and taken care of in a spiritual way. It’s not uncommon to see The Red Shield Warriors take a knee to collectively pray before class. Still, it’s the success stories on which we choose to focus. If one student is off the street because of a martial arts class being taught at a community center or if one recovering addict chooses to go to class instead of choosing to get high…that’s one more soul gained for the right cause. And whether we have come to realize it or not, that is why we all are truly here. It’s about what we can do with our strengths and experienced hardships to impact the world. In the words of The Salvation Army slogan, it’s declaring “Heart to God and hand to man.” 54 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
Black belt candidate, Ronald Neal, has more than one reason to feel proud about his martial arts journey. Six years ago, this man was homeless. “I became an alcoholic after my twin brother committed suicide in 1985,” says this 47-year-old student. “I felt responsible for his death, and I spent the next 18 years of my life trying to drink that feeling away.” Ron says he was a drunkard living on the streets of Denver, when he went into The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC). “I credit my miraculous turn around in life to my new found relationship with God, and to my Tang Soo Do training.” Ron went on to eventually become the resident manager of The Salvation Army shelter he was sent to live in. He has been drug and alcohol free for six years. Best wishes to Cho Dan candidate Ronald Ronald Neal Neal, as he tests for the rank of black belt next year.
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Master Karen Eden with the Red Shield Corps Officers, Captains Celestine and Shosannah Ruwethin.
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taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Those who know me have learned to accept me with all my eccentricities. So I know that after many years go by, surely they must be a true friend. But for those who desire to know me better, I always air a disclaimer: I am a different breed of person. Perhaps it bothered me earlier in life, but whether good or bad, I’ve actually grown quite comfortable with the way that I am today. I often think about how much time it would save, if I could just hand out a resume to everyone who wants to know me better. That way, if I wasn’t their “cup of tea,” they could just never call me. I wouldn’t be offended! I am a deeply religious person. I am a die-hard traditional martial arts woman, with a master’s rank in a Korean, military-based, hand-to-hand combat art form. If that isn’t scary enough to the average person, I’m also an extremely picky eater. I don’t prefer preservatives and artificial ingredients. I also don’t particularly care for parties, and I’m a nightmare when it comes to talking about nothing (small talk.) Some of the labels my closest acquaintances have given me are “food Nazi” and “party-pooper.” To this I am “unoffendable,” because it’s all true. Initially, you don’t want anybody to know that you’re not like everybody else, because it can get pretty lonely out there. But it was a children’s song called The Farmer and the Dell, that made me seriously ponder the act of trying to be like everybody else. In this song, “the cheese stands alone.” In my opinion, it wasn’t fair that the cheese had to stand alone, but he did, period. The song ends there. I must admit that I myself have felt like the cheese many times. It’s pretty amazing how a dairy product could have such a huge impact on one’s life, but “being the cheese” is a huge
message of self-discovery, and many people go through their entire life without ever experiencing this discovery. Being the cheese can be a very lonely journey. Most likely, you will not win any popularity contests, and many times when you stand, you don’t just stand alone…you stand totally alone. Being the cheese can also feel like mental bondage. More often than not, you’re constantly asking yourself: “Did I do the right thing?” But I have discovered that if I can listen through all the noise, there’s always that whisper deep down inside that answers back, “Yes, you did!” Being the cheese isn’t fun, and it isn’t the less stressful path to travel. So why would anybody choose to be the cheese? Because looking back, I can see that every accomplishment I’ve ever achieved wasn’t because I was like everybody else…it was because I wasn’t like everybody else. As much as I’ve always admired those whose journey was uncomplicated and smooth riding, I’ve come to accept that “easy street” has never been my journey, and probably never will be. Bottom line, the biggest accomplishments of my life were always because I was willing to take the chance of standing alone, and I had no fear of what others might think or say about it. Have I been victorious in every up-taking? Absolutely not. But I will be able to go to my grave someday knowing that I stood for what I felt was right, and I at least always attempted to do what I felt I had to do. If I could write a follow-up to The Farmer in the Dell, it would be of how the cheese that once stood alone, became a real success, independent of the farmer, his wife, his child, the nurse, the cow, the dog, the cat and the rat. And for all of the cheese’s strength and fearlessness, in the end he’s the one out of the entire farm that became the “big cheese.” Hats off to the cheese for being true to itself.
Woman of the Times
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Karen Eden is a fourth-degree black belt and master in the art of Tang Soo Do. She is also a published author, former radio personality and TV journalist, who has appeared on CNN, FOX National, and Animal Planet. She has also appeared in two major Hollywood productions. Karen has written for and appeared in many martial arts publications over the years. Her books include The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tae Kwon Do (Penguin Books) and I Am a Martial Artist (Century Martial Arts). She is also the poet behind the popular I Am a Martial Artist product line, also available through Century Martial Arts, and Dojo Darling martial arts wear, available through Karatedepot. com. Master Eden currently teaches at-risk youth through the Salvation Army in Denver, Colorado. For contact or booking information, email her at sabomnim@toast.net.
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
By Karen Eden
57
.LFNLQJ $JDLQVW WKH 2GGV By Stace Sanchez
Since July of 2008, I have been traveling across the nation doing photo shoots for martial arts schools. It is always an awesome experience because I get to meet some incredibly talented martial artists from all walks of life. In December, I stopped in and did a photo shoot at Master Walter Swaney’s school, American TKD Martial Arts Center, in Margate, Florida. This is where I met the most incredible young man who has left a lasting impression on me. Bradley Schneider is a 19-year-old man with Down Syndrome. He is warm-hearted, polite and has a smile that lights up a room. When it was Brad’s turn to take photos, his mother approached me and talked to me about Brad’s special needs. I could see the concern in her eyes, so I took great care in preparing myself for his shoot. But when Brad dropped down into the splits, my jaw dropped at his skill. I asked him to do a stance and he did it—perfectly. I then asked him to do kicks and he threw them effortlessly. I was truly amazed at his talents. Bradley is so passionate about life and learning. His interest in sports, as an active participant as well as an enthusiastic observer, started at a very young age, and the martial arts were no exception. Martial arts were 58 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
also important to his mother because she wanted to know how to defend herself and protect her children. So the whole family joined a dojang and the rest became history. Brad has been devoted to his style of Ko Am Mo Do. His drive and excitement for weapon training, as well as Hapkido training, is an inspiration. He has met many challenges throughout his training. In the early years, he ran across instructors who were not able to cope with his disability. But that didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop Brad. Brad and his mother then found Master Swaney, an instructor who believes that anything is possible and focuses on Bradâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s abilities, not his disability. That is the motto that Brad and his family have come to live by.
Master Walter Swaney and Brad
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Brad and his mother, Barabara Sternfeld
Brad’s journey continues as his training as a black belt becomes more intense each day. Every day, Brad is ready to train with all his heart and soul. The bond Brad and his family share as they have climbed the colored belt ranks together has deeply strengthened. He is very proud to be training with his mother and she is even more proud to be training with her son. Brad aspires to pursue his black belt training, as learning is a never ending process. His interests are in helping others and making this world a nicer place. He is currently in a post high school vocational life skills program. He has worked in restaurants, a bank, and a children’s center. Brad expresses much interest in living independently and is fantastic at playing Guitar Hero! He is an unbelievable dancer and has great chi. He loves to talk to people. Brad is an incredible inspiration to anyone he meets; his infectious personality and magnificent smile truly illuminate his already positive aura. Over the last few months, we have heard news of professional athletes who have everything going for them, only to succumb to bad judgment. It is unfortunate that we seem to hear only about the bad people in this world. However, two local news stations have stopped in on separate occasions to do a story on Brad. Finally, the public can hear about an everyday person who doesn’t get paid millions and is a true role model. This world needs more people like Brad. We should all have just a fraction of Brad’s love in his heart, his dedication, commitment and honesty to ourselves and others. I am truly blessed to be a part of Brad’s incredible journey. And to you, Brad, we wish you many, many more years of kicking! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stace Sanchez is the Owner and Founder of KICKPICS LLC, Professional Martial Arts Photography, and the world famous, KICKPICS.net. He has been shooting martial arts photos since 2001 and travels the entire United States doing photo shoots for schools. His photography has gone global with photo shoots in the United Kingdom and, more recently, invitations to shoot photos in Norway, Sweden and Australia.
60 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
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By Chief Master Robert J. Ott Certified Correspondent of Tae Kwon Do Times It seemed that no matter where I was or what I was doing, there was only one thing on my mind, and that was receiving the July 2008 edition of Tae Kwon Do Times magazine. I was uncertain what day it would be arriving, but knew that it would be soon. After almost 30 years of studying Korean martial arts under some of the best instructors in the world, I was without question a dedicated reader of this fantastic magazine. There was a period of time in my life, when reading the magazine was impossible. I was learning how to see life again after being blinded in a violent crime. Through a loving family, fellow martial artists and the old ancient philosophy called “pilsung” (Certain Victory), I found the ability to find and see life once again. As I pulled up to my driveway in my new 2008 H2 Hummer, driven by my Administrative Assistant, Karley, I was informed that my builder, who had built and sold us our home, was going over some blue prints in the driveway with one of the subcontractors. It was the first time he saw the black 2008 H2 Hummer with the writing on the side that states the following:
Flowering Warrior Enterprises *Motivational Speaking *Self Defense *Personal Empowerment *Private/semi private lessons www.certainvictory.com It also has the picture of my logo. “Wow!” I heard my builder, Doug Dixon, say. Apparently the letters looked good with the dark tinted windows and chrome. The writing was a silver/purple, showing nothing but class. After getting out of the vehicle, I heard Doug ask, “What does pilsung mean?” I had customized license plates that said “PILSUNG” and I knew I was going to be sharing the definition quite often. Before I could even put my hand out for a shake, I heard Karley say, “The magazines have arrived! There you are on the cover!” Needless to say, I 62 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
never even made it to the handshake. Instead, I turned off to the right, shifting gears, feeling like a magnet being pulled toward metal. As I made it to the top steps of my front porch, I put out my hand to receive a magazine. I stood there staring at the cover. A smile was stretching across my face, portraying an indescribable happiness. Everything about my numerous years of study, challenges in life, victorious battles, and my ability to take a negative event and make it positive, making a difference to others across the country was in this magazine. The cover of Tae Kwon Do Times had me throwing two fellow martial artists. The article I wrote for the magazine was entitled “The Eyes of Kidokwan.” It discussed the philosophies and principles that I learned through Korean martial arts that allowed me to overcome and continue to move on with life, both in who and what I am as a human being and a martial artist, even though I am now blind. This was more than my first cover. The true uniqueness of this cover was that a completely blind practitioner was demonstrating what many other fantastic Korean martial artists could have also done. The picture was much larger than what the eyes of any reader would initially come to see. I personally don’t know how many other martial arts magazines have ever placed such a significant demonstration of indomitable spirit on a cover, but I do know that the most powerful part of what comes from the study of the arts is, at times, also forgotten. Thus “The Eyes of Kidokwan” is not about the physical techniques that a blind person is capable of doing, instead it is about the way of the mind and the fire that lies within the spirit of a man who has learned to take his challenge and turn it into a positive difference bringing vision to all who become part of his path. Upon the arrival of the magazine, a ball of fire that I have always kept in my dantien (the red field, three fingers below the navel) began to expand. I felt it not only throughout my body but in and around my life. It seemed like I was becoming an important tool for various events, schools, businesses and even fellow Moosa (martial artists).
My first stop from the Great Northwest was San Francisco. I was invited to become the key note speaker and an instructor for a Global Sin Moo Hapkido Seminar. At first, I was informed that I was going to be teaching one class that was focused on what I wrote in the TKDT article, the topics of “black on black” and “touch to touch.” It turned out that there were many people who wanted to experience what I had to share. Two other classes were being taught at the same time as mine, but sadly they were empty, since everyone was in my classroom wanting to learn and comprehend my methods. During that two-day event, I ended up teaching two other classes on joint locks and takedowns while with the help of my two assistants, sold over $2300 in books, audio books and CDs. In conjunction with that I was signing more autographs than I had ever before. Each student wanted a signed TKDT magazine along with a photo standing with me. From San Francisco, I jumped on another plane and flew over to Las Vegas. The next morning, I hopped on a helicopter and flew to the Grand Canyon. Once we landed inside the canyon, I stepped out of the helicopter and my photographer took numerous photos of me. After spending another
day in Las Vegas, I caught another plane back to Seattle. Once I arrived home, it was a combination of mailing signed, stamped and gold sealed TKDT magazines to people all over the country and into Canada. I was promoting numerous things from the magazine. The sales of my biography entitled Certain Victory increased and with each purchase the customer would receive an official signed magazine from me. Along with it was information on my seminars and speaking engagements that I offered. Between that and holding two different black belt tests during the summer, along with my title of President and CEO of Certain Victory Food Services, Inc., which feeds the ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) at Fort Lewis, it is safe to say that life is nonstop. The two black belt tests consisted of a first-dan in Tang Soo Do and a third-dan in Tang Soo Do. Both times, each student was a prime example of how a test should be executed. Both of the individuals not only demonstrated excellent skills, but wrote excellent heart-felt essays. Upon the completion of these tests and demonstrations, the following people earned promotion: Robyn Goodwin, first-dan, World Kidokwan Federation; and Paul Turner, third-dan, World Kidokwan Federation. taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Following the tests, word started getting around that I was on the cover of the magazine and that I needed to hold a women’s self-defense seminar. Needless to say, without much advertising, my class was filled up within one week. I had women come from all over the Northwest area of the United States and even from as far as Canada. The seminar ended up being quite successful and the participants shared with me how anxious they were for the next one to take place.
64 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
Within a blink of the eye, I was back on a plane again flying to the East Coast. I spent two weeks in the Delaware Valley area (Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey) holding seminars and speaking engagements. A southern New Jersey newspaper advertised that I was coming into town. Each seminar was a winner and each of the speaking engagements ended with a standing ovation. Going a step further, a Salem County newspaper did a fantastic article regarding my speaking to the high school students. On top of all of that, I was invited as a special guest to attend Grandmaster Kenneth P. MacKenzie’s black belt ceremony. There was over 150 students testing and demonstrating at a large indoor soccer field. The honorable feeling it was for me to be sitting side by side with Grandmaster MacKenzie during this event is one I will not ever forget. Having known him since I was a child, I always looked up to him as not only a good true friend but a big brother as well. He was always by my side when I needed him the most. After saying goodbye to my family in New Jersey and all my fellow Moosa, I hopped on a plane to the Bahamas. There I spent four days relaxing my mind and clearing my thoughts. Enjoying the saltwater and feeling the sand between my toes was a pleasure that has no words. Within that short trip, I picked the sunniest day to go to the coast and had photos taken of me practicing my martial arts. The water was as blue as it could be and the surrounding areas were close to perfect. It came to the point where I knew inside that it was time to go home. Not only to be there for my family, but to make sure that my business was doing well. Until a person becomes a President and CEO of a large corporation, he or she has no comprehension on the type of orchestrating, delegat-
ing and confidence that it entails. No sooner did I arrive home when, I received a phone call from a hospital located on the other side of the Cascade Mountains in a town called Yakima. Yakima is an area that has military training outside of the city area in a large tract of land that is much like a desert. Paul Turner, my recently promoted third-dan, had been crushed between two Stryker military vehicles, collapsing both his lungs and severely damaging his spleen. His lower back also suffered some possible bone damage. Within a day, I was back in the Hummer with Karley, crossing the Mountains to go and visit him. There, I met his family and spent the day holding his hand. What was so amazing was the incredible realization that if he had his body facing the opposite direction he would have been crushed. For most people, it would have taken a long time to heal, but only three days after the injury he was sitting upright in bed. I held his hand and told him, “There is no question, Paul, that your Certain Victory will assist you in overcoming this injury.” Within a week he was sent home and within two weeks he came to the dojang with his dobok on and ready to teach again. I, of course, stepped forward and let him know how proud I was of him and that he wasn’t going to be practicing martial arts in my dojang until I had a letter from a doctor. No sooner did this traumatizing thing occur when I received an email from the office of Major General, Patricia D. Horoho, asking me if I would be the key note speaker for 600 people at 2008’s Holiday Ball. This event was held at the Official Convention Center in the city of Tacoma, Washington. The General is in charge of Madigan Hospital at Fort Lewis, one of the largest hospitals in the country. She had listened to me speak briefly at a fundraiser for soldiers. I was honored to be asked to be the key note speaker and took on the invitation. That same week, I received another call from a group called Wounded Warriors, a group that has been developed in the last several years. The reality is because of our advancement in medical technology we are having more wounded warriors coming home from war then dead soldiers. In many ways this is a fantastic thing, but in many other ways challenges have arisen due to the care and need of
these soldiers, who for the most part, end up with some type of disability. We now have less then 3000 deaths from the Iraq war and over 30,000 wounded. This is a fact that will continue into our future. The truth is, the U.S. Army asked me, an individual who demonstrated the ability of going from a victim to a survivor, to possibly help bring that positive strength, courage and indomitable spirit back to these men and women. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that this was going to be one of my most challenging speaking engagements. I took on the obligation because my feelings are that if those men and women can be our soldiers who fight for freedom and independence, then the least I can do is to help when they come home to once again rebuild the freedom and independence they used to have in their lives. Through speaking to the Wounded Warriors, I was assisted by the U.S. Army in selecting the most challenged warrior to donate raised money to support and assist with his or her needs.
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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On Saturday, December 20, 2008, we held the annual North Pole Party that usually has over 150 people in attendance. Through raffle tickets, small local businesses and the money I made throughout the year doing seminars, speaking and selling my books, we were able to donate to a loving person who just needs a little help. This soldier went by the name of Trey and he suffered a gun shot wound to the head. The scar was quite wide and deep. It traveled from the forehead all the way to the back of the neck and around to the bottom of the ear. This man is a proud husband to his wife Brandy, and a special father to two beautiful, young ladies who are like angels from heaven. This year, the amount that martial arts, speaking engagements, local businesses and caring corporations raised, allowed us to give this Wounded Warrior over $12,500. Today, I find myself living into another year filled with new and positive journeys, sharing the gift along with my special wife, Kimberly, in raising our two wonderful children. I am both holding and teaching seminars, as well as hosting workshops with special martial artists who go by the names of Grandmaster Rudy Timmerman, Master Steve Seo, Grandmaster Kenneth P. MacKenzie, Grand-
master Michael De Alba, and others who will be spending time here at my dojang. None of us can know for sure what tomorrow will bring, but it is all so true that what we put into life each day can make for our tomorrow. Once again I go back to Shin Gong (the way of the mind) and I see the Um and Yang in motion, sharing with me the cohesion of what giving and making a difference for another can give back to one’s own self. Since the day the magazine was put in my hand there on my front porch and the fire inside started filling me with drive, lust and passion to make a difference, I can only say that my blindness and love of life reminds me that: “After the fire…the fire will still burn!” ABOUT THE AUTHOR: For more information on Robert J. Ott, his seminars and motivational speaking, the World Kidokwan Federation, Flowering Warrior Enterprises, up and coming seminars (Grandmaster Rudy Timmerman June 21, 2009 and Master Steve Seo August 14, 15 and 16 *see the two-page advertisement in this edition) and the book, Certain Victory, available in hard, soft, audio and e-book, please visit certainvictory.com.
HAPKIDO The World SinMoo Hapkido Federation “DoJuNim” (Honorable Founder of Korean Hapkido)
Ji, Han Jae v v v v v Do Ju Nim
Ji, Han Jae
Honorary Chairman
v v v
10th Degree Blackbelt / Supreme Grandmaster Over 50 Years in the Martial Arts Bodyguard to South Korea’s President Park Instructor to many of the World’s Top Master-Instructors Starred in Bruce Lee’s “Game of Death”, “Lady Kung-Fu”, “Fist of the Unicorn Palm” and “Hapkido” Founder / DoJuNim: Korean Hapkido Founder / DoJuNim: SinMoo Hapkido World SinMoo Hapkido Federation (Honorary Chairman)
“The Future of Hapkido”
Kwang Jang Nim
Ken MacKenzie President / 9th Dan
Chief-Master Scott Yates
For Information on Individual and School Charter Memberships Log Onto:
www.WorldSinMooHapkidoFederation.com Af`e Kf[Xp D\dY\ij_`g J\im`Z\j @eZcl[\1
Technical Support – Manuals – Curriculum – Certification Uniforms - Seminars – Direct Link to the Founder – Networking Training Opportunity – Rank Advancement – Instructor Accreditation Member Newsletter – Dojang Operational Support Note: The World SinMoo Hapkido Federation is the official governing body for SinMoo Hapkido world-wide as sanctioned by DoJuNim Ji, Han Jae
PO Box 262, Atco, New Jersey, 08004, U.S.A.
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World SinMoo Hapkido Federation…..Unifying Hapkido Worldwide!
Hspvoefe!jo!Dmbsjuz By Kathrin J. Sumpter
Judy and Christlyn rep out hubad basics.
two components, it quickly occurred to me that martial arts can combat those two things! That’s when I began to develop the curriculum, and I have a lot of faith in it. As students participate, I’m seeing evidence that it works. The program focuses on the five elements that I find to be the cornerstone of martial arts; balance, proper breathing, true targeting, correct form, and purposeful motions. It incorporates universal martial principles into which any instructor can tap. We open with a half-hour series of moderate stretches that concentrates on these elements. I emphasize the correct position of the limbs and the proper breathing of each technique. We take care and time with the details of stretching because the students begin to reap the deeper benefits of stretching beyond just loosening the muscles; moving on purpose and controlling their bodies in a mindful, healthful way.
Attention cancer fighters and survivors, diabetics and dialysis recipients. Each Wednesday morning, for an hour and fifteen minutes, I host free martial art lessons to cancer fighters and survivors. I recently opened the class to diabetics and dialysis recipients. It’s been a tough sell to get this program off the ground. Since February 2007, I’ve been pounding the pavement with flyers, speaking engagements, weekly newspaper announcements and mailings. But the screen image of martial arts surely puts doubt into the mind of a potential stuMonte leads dent, especially one that’s battling disease. a block drill. The older I get, the fewer people I know that haven’t been affected by one of these illnesses, either by battling the disease themselves or caring for a friend or family member. My dad was a 20-year survivor of diabetes that eventually led him to dialysis. Although he was a trooper, he suffered from mood swings and lethargy. Then, I abruptly lost a family member to cancer, and it changed me forever. I began talking to cancer fighters and survivors, and although their stories were all unique, they all had two things in common; they were scared and their energy levels were low. When I boiled it down to those 68 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
Next, we move onto block work. I’m excited about the block work because it evolves into a challenging volley between the left and right side of the brain. A psychologist friend told me that people suffering from fear, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), anxiety, stress and panic attacks are sometimes given simple exercises to combat the symptoms, hopefully in lieu of medication. These exercises typically involve easy drills that require a back and forth motion between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Even when you are learning it, you begin to feel a deep sense of clarity. Here’s how it works. Students learn five blocks on each side (down, hook, middle, up, outside) until the blocks are second nature. When learning the left side, the student has his or her left foot and shoulder in front. When it’s the right side, it’s the opposite. Whatever foot and shoulder are in front, that’s the blocking arm. When the techniques are hardwired, we square off in front of the mirror into a gentle riding stance. Then, we alternate blocks. For example, I’ll call out “Left hand, down block,” and the students will know that the next technique will be executed on the right side and so on. We also incorporate these blocks into walking drills, which again requires the student to switch their chambers and blocks each time. It feels great, and the better you get at it, the more grounded and in control you become. Then, we move on to Eskrima, a Filipino martial art that focuses on stick combat. The infinity motion of partner stick drills is another exercise in ownership and clarity. At a time in their lives when students feel out of control, there’s undeniable power in wielding a weapon. This is without a doubt the most popular part of the class. We start with single count high strikes, single count low strikes, circle strikes (strike high and followthrough strike low) and “sword fight” strikes (slash left/slash right, slash right/slash left). Then, we stack these basic drills into a fun and easy two-person pattern or kata. Of course, form and function are detailed at all times. Hardwiring these basics have allowed us to move on to four and six count drills, where the possibilities grow. I make sure to give them solo drills as well because, like the block work and the stretching, I want them to be able to take some of the curriculum home. Since this stick work is all upper body operation, it gets the blood circulating around the heart. It’s also not too physically taxing, and instead, I’m seeing students getting
Students hammer out two-person Eskrima patterns.
a mental workout and rejuvenating in every minute of it. The natural follow up to the sticks is the same infinity motion and upper body work of handsfree, basic hubad drills. Also a class favorite, hubad is a tactical hand-combat drill. There’s something extraordinary about this tactile (and tactical!) partner work. The immeasurable healing power of human touch makes the hubad the perfect addition to this curriculum. Students are able to safe-touch at a time when perhaps they’re on the receiving end taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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find and cultivate their inner strength during the Kathrin and fight of their lives. I am honored to be able to help Carolyn perform a them in their battle. targeting drill.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kathrin Sumpter began studying Tae Kwon Do after moving to Sequim, Washington from the San Francisco Bay Area in 1991. She earned her second-dan rank in 2007 and actively pursues the traditional and modern Tae Kwon Do way. She also trains in weapons such as the bo and nunchakus. She opened her school Sequim Martial Arts in 2006.
Judy, Christlyn, Linda, and Carolyn rep out hubad basics.
of unpleasant human contact in the form of treatment. We start learning with a basic knife-hand strike to the neck, using only light touch. We use big motions from the right to left side, and back again, stressing that we’re partners, not adversaries. It’s the same grounding clarity you foster practicing these drills. There is nothing but pain-free trust in this class, nothing but gentle kindness and positive energy. I do not, however, mince words. The practical application of each technique is explained frequently. Students that are battling and surviving disease are fighters, so they must learn the language. A knifehand strike to the neck is just that. A Number 8 from Eskrima is a strike to the knee that will devastate a kneecap and drop an attacker. I give them the language that will help channel the anger and fear. Students embrace this approach. At their most vulnerable, it empowers them to seize control and call things what they are. I’ve had little more than a handful of students on which to test this curriculum, and I’m seeing results. They’re coming back week after week, and that in itself is a testimonial. I’m seeing students walk into class, sometimes post-treatment, lethargic and low. By the time they leave, they’re walking erect and purposeful in a grounded, confident fashion. They don’t just put their fear on the shelf for an hour and fifteen minutes. They dissolve it. There’s no measuring the vast benefit of that. From bow-in to bow-out, I’m witnessing the physical and mental about-face with these fighters; the one that all of us martial artists humbly know and gravitate toward. I’m still pounding the pavement to get the word out about this program. It’s clearly helping people 70 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
I believe that anyone who dedicates their life to teaching martial arts does so because they have witnessed the numerous benefits gained by their students. Shy students gain confidence and come out of their shell. Bullies build self-esteem and develop respect for themselves and others. The small and frail develop strength and endurance. The non-athletic become graceful and fluid. The unfocused develop concentration. The undisciplined learn to take care of themselves so they can care for others. The unmotivated establish pride and set higher standards for themselves. Martial arts instructors hold the key to unlock so many obstacles that prevent one from achieving their goals. It is natural that we want to pass this knowledge on to touch as many lives as possible. Imagine my disappointment when I contacted the local school system to offer my school’s services to their students. Surely the teachers would appreciate the increased focus and concentration in their students. “No thanks, we don’t promote fighting and violence.” Is this really what others think we do? Does the school system actually think I spent the last 25 years of my life, obligated myself to a martial arts school mortgage for the next 20 years, so I could teach our future generation to become more violent? Apparently some of them do. Our public school system issued a statement: “This school system prohibits the presentation, demonstration or participation in any and all martial arts by students and guest speakers.” My area is not alone. I have heard from schools around the country having the same problems when dealing with public schools. This unflattering impression of martial arts is held by many. It is up to us martial artists to find a way to enlighten them. In another region of the country, 25 years ago, I was writing my two-page essay, a requirement for my first-degree black belt exam, entitled, “How Taekwondo has Changed My Life—Developing Black Belt Character.” To date, this was the most meaningful paper I had written. I poured my heart and guts out onto the pages, revealing my private and personal struggles along my journey. I imagined the judging masters in Korea on the edge of their seats, with a box of tissue, anticipating the conclusion of my dramatic story. Imagine my disappointment when I found my unread essay, still sealed in the manila envelope, on a corner of my master’s desk years after I had received my black belt. I vowed to myself that when I was in charge, I would read each and every one of my students’ black belt essays. And I did, usually with a box of tissue. The essays, possibly therapeutic for my students, heartwarming for me, were however, barking up the wrong tree. Such passion and emotion toward their beloved art was being spent on me, and I was already a “lifer” of the martial artists. This is when I put it all together. Instead of having the students write a paper that would never reach the people it needed to persuade, I would have them show the public the character of a black belt. When I took over for my aging master, he explained that it was time for me to become a link in the martial art chain. His English was limited, and he talked while forming interlocking chain links with his thumbs and forefingers pinched together. He taught me what he had learned from his master, and now it was my responsibility to pass that training along to the newer students. It was time for me to teach as I had been taught. In addition to making me feel needed and important, it made me feel immortal, my way to have something live on, long after I am gone. Because of my link, my master would not be forgotten. Being a link was more satisfying than being a black belt.
By Master Rondy
As a master with my own students, of course I want all of them to have the opportunity to be a link in the legacy of their martial art. It is unrealistic that they can all have their own martial arts schools. I doubt that Dr. C is going to give up his heart surgeon career or our Jr. Olympic gold medalist is going to leave middle school so he can open the next White Tiger school. Instead of writing an essay for the black belt requirement, students now participate in a project that shows the character of a black belt. Instead of the old-school impressions of martial artists, violence and destruction, the black belt candidates have the opportunity to educate the world on the positive traits of their art. So now, our black belt candidates, nearly 200 per year, are raising money for charities and performing good deeds everywhere. Over the last decade, students have collected mountains of toys and stuffed animals for rescued children; held book drives; sent loads of gently-used uniforms and gear to poverty-stricken dojangs in Africa; stocked entire rooms with canned goods for the needy; provided free eyeglasses for underprivileged children; rebuilt damaged houses; provided a seeing-eye dog for the blind; financial funding for at-risk youth (gang prevention); found loving homes for homeless pets; coats for the cold; food for the hungry and medicine for the sick...just to name a few! These good deeds of our future black belts have shown the public what it truly means to be of black belt character. White Tiger was honored with the Community Service Award presented by the mayor of our city. Our students, and their untiring efforts have changed the once frowned upon perception of martial arts. To be a martial artist in this town is to be a valued and productive member of society. This new and improved image of a martial artist has opened many doors for public appearances and performances showcasing our art, thus leading to numerous new students. Our black belts have truly found a way to keep the tradition of the Korean culture link in the chain and updated it with the generosity and charitableness of many Americans. Master Rondy is a sixthdegree black belt in WTF Taekwondo, a fourth-degree in Hapkido and a seconddegree in Kickboxing. She was the only non-Asian member of the Korean Tigers Professional Martial Arts Team, spending two years in Korea, living in Seoul and YongIn. Master Rondy successfully blends the cultures of a Korean teaching staff and an American management staff for her 24,000 square foot superschool located in Cary, North Carolina. For more information visit whitetigertkd. com.
East Meets West
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Reasons why some schools think they shouldn’t consider Mile High Karate, maybe you are one of them:
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TAEGLiSH
By Guy Larke
Kicking Broken English to the Wayside It’s a fact that English is the number one international language in the world. Now that we are facing the 21st century, fluency in English is no longer an asset, it’s a necessity. This has become most obvious in the Pacific Rim. Untold fortunes are sacrificed for the ideal of bilingualism or multilingualism. In no other country is this harried sacrifice more apparent than in the Republic of Korea. Looking back upon my ninth year of teaching in South Korea, I’ve seen a lot of education trends come and go. Lately out of necessity, “hakwons” or private learning centers have taken to combining other subjects or activities with English. Some have even attempted to ally themselves with dojangs. As many instructors and school owners can attest, this later combination resulted in failure. Reasons were multi-fold. To state a few: ≤ Improper research and development
It would be easy to give another twenty or thirty excuses, but the point has been made. Previous attempts at mixing martial arts with literary education failed, and therefore were discounted as foolish or a waste of time. Excuses for failure varied from “It’s strange” or “It’s too much work” to “My friend said it wouldn’t work.” Part of the problem, at least in Korea, was with the implementation of Confucianism. The culture favored the pen over the sword and military arts were seen as barbaric. So even to this day, parents who want clever children, quickly get their child’s first black belt then cram them into six or seven schools afterward. The intangible link between scholastic pursuits and athletic ones is seen as a fantasy best kept in old movies. Ironically, the upper class youth of almost every ancient civilization practiced armed and unarmed combat along with scholarly pursuits to help refine the mind and body. I think it would be safe to say that Alexander the Great would not have been so great if he spent his free time getting his nose powdered. This fact is sadly rejected here in Korea. Enter 2001. An entrepreneur in Seoul province, Kim Sung-Hoon (Bryan Kim), a successful interpreter, language school owner, and Tae Kwon Do expert, had a vision of how he thought English should be transmitted to his nation’s youth. He developed a program into a large binder, which was later divided into 18 notebooks. It included elements of grammar, vocabulary, and English conversation, useful for the school and everyday conver-
TAEG
≤ Poor marketing strategy
≤ No research done on target market ≤ Improper staff training
≤ Mostly broken English used
≤ Scarce supply of educated and certified foreign ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers/ martial artists ≤ No association support
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A revolutionary concept where foreigners can study the Korean language while studying Tae Kwon Do. sation. It was fun, new, and as it was done during practice, much more exciting than parroting from a school desk. He aimed it at elementary school students, as that is the age that youth begin English study. At this impressionable age, children can develop a love or hate relationship with a second language. So innovative was this concept, that it attracted media attention from over four television networks, plus countless articles and radio shows. Due to the popularity of his program, he had to patent and trademark his entire system of Taeglish.
Taeglish Now There are currently several schools using the Taeglish system. Also there are 140 certified school owners and instructors. The certified members range from Tae Kwon Do experts, Hapkido sabumnims, Kumdo athletes, physical education teachers and even English instructors. At this point, there are four foreign instructors. Due to the popularity of his Taeglish café or internet blog group, there are 1800 martial art instructors who use elements of the Taeglish curriculum. Approximately 6000 students study this system. Not bad for something that started in a community center room in a department store eight years ago. Up to now, all the Taeglish dojangs were just running Taeglish as an additional program. On April 3, 2009, the first pure Taeglish dojang opened in the city of Daejeon. Others will be following. In fact, the city of Daejeon will become the “capital” for Taeglish.
bally in class during a particular week. Each level has three books that are color coded like martial art belts (three books for yellow belt, etc.). Each book takes the student to a higher level. The entire program takes an average of about three years to complete. A side benefit of Taeglish is that Korean martial art instructors can have more confidence in attracting and developing relationships with foreign students in Korea. They can feel at ease in basic conversation and showing and correcting techniques in their chosen discipline. Later, TaeKorean can be implemented to promote further understanding and friendship between master and student.
TAEG The System
The classes are conducted entirely in English. No Korean is spoken. At first, the instructor uses body language as well as English to identify direction, basic techniques, parts of the body, etc. After that, question and answer combinations from the Taeglish book series are used. The book series is actually three sets of study books called “Junior Journals.” They are bilingual and consist of “Home Missions” (which is homework) and “Weekly Missions” which are done ver74 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
Advancement
Students undergo monthly tests where they are expected to chant out technique names in English while performing basic Tae Kwon Do techniques and the Taegeuk poomsae. After the tests, questions are asked to each student in English and the student must respond in kind.
Certification There is a belt system in Taeglish, much the same as in Tae Kwon Do. Some schools choose to use stripes on their existing belts to signify Taeglish level. Instructors get qualified by attending the regularly occurring seminars.
Other Programs
CD-ROMs for teachers and students alike. Also, teacher’s guides will be developed and future seminars will enhance the instructors’ teaching abilities and marketing skills will be taught.
Opportunities As stated before, there are just a few nonKoreans affiliated with the organization. There is a lot of room for more black belts of any legitimate system. Presently, you need to already be working in South Korea, typically as a teacher, but there are steps being taken to bring in foreigners as full-time instructors of Taeglish.
GLiSH Gymglish: Like English Tae Kwon Do, not a new idea per se, but much more organized and systemized with a full arsenal of games, oral quizzes, riddles and sports. It’s geared towards preschool and kindergarten students. Taeglish naturally picks up where Gymglish leaves off.
TaeKorean: A revolutionary concept where foreigners can study the Korean language while studying Tae Kwon Do. It is certainly much more interesting for the student and allows foreigners to learn about Korea’s culture, history and people much easier. It is still in development, but the program plans to go into much more detail than Taeglish does with English (since it will be for adults primarily).
The Future Master Kim wants to see Taeglish, TaeKorean and Gymglish as international commodities. Already negotiations are underway with schools in China, Japan and Colombia. Taeglish will then be translated into the target markets’ languages and made relevant to their cultures. In addition, the textbooks will undergo their second revision (a third edition), complete with accompanying
For more information on the Taeglish program, please visit taeglish.com. In the very near future, an English link will be provided. Following, will be other languages as well.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Guy Edward Larke sabumnim has been in love with the martial arts all his life. It eventually led him to move to South Korea in 2000. He now holds black belts in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Taek Kyon, Karate-Do, Korean Kickboxing, Bon Kuk Kum, Wushu and Cheon Ji Muye Do. His other passions include public speaking, economics, hoplology, Asian culture and travel. He currently resides in Daejeon, South Korea with his wife Gi-Ryung and their son, Alexander. He’s also the founder of Kisa-Do Martial Arts & Marketing. In addition, he is the Director of International Affairs for Taeglish and the International Consultant for Cheon Ji Muye Do. He can be contacted at kisa_do_muye@yahoo.ca.
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
75
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2FXYJW 1F\WJSHJ (TZHM By Dylan Presman
In the Lyttonsville neighborhood on the northern outskirts of Washington D.C., urban deprivation has long been a fact of life. Until the 1960s, the residents lived without paved roads, running water or indoor plumbing. In the 70s, 80s and 90s, violent crime rates here were almost double the national rate. In an attempt to create a safe haven, community leaders built the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center as a place where children and families could receive sustenance for the body and spirit to buttress them against the world around them. It is here that Master Lawrence Couch chose to base the Han Su Tae Kwon Do School as part of his vision of Tae Kwon Do in service of the individual and the community as a whole. Through the school, Master Couch offers structured activities to youth and adults in a traditionally underserved community because he believes in the unique nature of Tae Kwon Do to provide individuals with a focus to strengthen their discipline, self-esteem and respect,
76 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
especially for potentially at-risk youth and underserved families. Master Couch, a sixth-degree black belt, founded the Han Su Tae Kwon Do School in 1992. In explaining the school’s name, Master Couch noted, “Han Su represents water that creates life and allows growth. Although a single drop of water can achieve little, drops of water make rivers and the ocean. By learning one technique, we may accomplish little, but through perseverance, we can progress as martial artists. As we progress, we learn greater confidence and to respect others. Through self-discipline, we learn the importance of being of service to others.” Martial arts have always served a higher calling and Master Couch’s vision forms a modern link in a philosophical chain that stretches back through the ages. In the 19th century, Jigoro Kano, the founder of modern Judo, declared, “If the work of a human being does not benefit society, that person’s existence is in vain.” A century later, Morihei Ueshiba,
the founder of Aikido, dedicated his art “for the good of all.” Since establishing the Han Su Tae Kwon Do School, Master Couch has maintained a policy of providing classes free of charge. As Master Couch put it, “Traditionally, Tae Kwon Do was not a commercial enterprise, but a skill and a self-discipline passed from master to student. I would hate for anyone not to train simply because he or she lacks money.” Providing free instruction opens the classes up to individuals who may not otherwise be able to take advantage of the opportunity. As a result, the classes include a broad range of participants of all ages and from all walks of life, enriching the experience for all involved. “Many in the community would not be able to pay the usual monthly fee for martial arts classes. I am reminded of the quote by St. Paul who said, ‘Freely have we received, so let us freely give,’” Master Couch said. Master Couch’s idea of service permeates every aspect of his relationship with his students. At the Han Su Tae Kwon Do School, he strives to create an environment that nurtures self-discipline,
Master Coach trains with Joseph Valere
self-control and self-confidence in students while instilling respect of self and others and, on a more profound level, the integration of mind and body. Master Couch serves as a role model by treating all his students, from the most inexperienced beginner to the most practiced black belt, with respect, courtesy and consideration. In serving as such a positive example, Master Couch demonstrates the tangible social benefits that Tae Kwon Do can bestow on the community by influencing practitioners— especially the younger students—toward positive behaviors and a respectful outlook. Says student Terry Collier, “I had actually stopped taking Tae Kwon Do for years due mainly to fatigue. I discovered Master Couch’s class during a community day. I joined because I was impressed with Master Couch’s obvious down-toearth dedication to the art and to the community. I continue to be impressed by and have started to emulate his spirit of welcome and of giving something back.” Although Master Couch does not charge for the classes at the Coffield Centre, participation does not come without a price. As “payment” for the classes, Master Couch requires all his students to commit to community volunteering or service. “Volunteer service provides a way for students to pay back for the classes they have received. Also, volunteer service provides a way for the students to relate to their community in a positive way. Further, volunteer service provides an opportunity for stutaekwondotimes.com / July 2009
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Master Coach awards the author’s son, Henry, a new belt.
dents to enhance their sense of self-esteem and selfworth,” Master Couch said. Students are allowed to volunteer in any community or non-profit organization that they choose. In recent years, students of the Han Su Tae Kwon Do School have racked up hundreds of volunteer hours in local schools and libraries, tutoring and mentoring programs, as well as local non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. A recent report by the Corporation for National and Community Service concluded, “Mobilizing people to serve others is key to promoting more effective communities.” The report also found that “volunteers who serve as tutors and mentors The author’s daughter, Sarai, earns a new belt.
can help increase test scores and graduation rates among youth from disadvantaged circumstances.” By promoting volunteer service, Master Couch encourages the students of the Han Su Tae Kwon Do School to form more meaningful bonds with their community and, in doing so, build stronger, more resilient communities. To facilitate volunteer service in 2008, Master Couch organized a community service day for the students of the Han Su Tae Kwon Do School. On that day, students conducted cleanup activities at a local river and park, called Rock Creek Park. The service day was organized collaboratively with a number of local schools and community organizations. In all, more than 110 people participated in the clean-up activities, dragging several tons of trash out of the river and surrounding parkland. The final pile of trash included 60 full trash bags, 21 car and tractor tires, four bicycles, two lawn mowers, two mattresses, and even a fridge. Master Couch has explained his philosophy this way: “Although Tae Kwon Do provides a way for the individual to achieve physical health and develop confidence, Tae Kwon Do also has a social dimension. By requiring the student to serve his or her community, we are channeling the energy toward a positive social goal. We remind the students that we are not just individuals, we are also members of our community. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our parents and other family members, teachers, fellow students, friends and even our enemies. As Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador said, ‘We drink from wells we did not dig.’” ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dylan Presman is a first-degree black belt and practices Tae Kwon Do with his daughter, 11-year-old Sarai, and son, eight-year-old Henry. Born in England, Dylan lives in Washington, D.C., where he works on education issues.
78 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
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I]Z BdgVa 9^gZXi^kZh d[ IVZ @ldc 9d If the general public were left to the mercy of the cinematic eye, most would undoubtedly come to the mistaken conclusion that the martial arts are simply disciplines of unbridled aggression. Yet, beneath the dramatic kicks and ferocious strikes of Tae Kwon Do, lies a benevolent heart. This is made all the more evident by the fact that self-restraint, respect and, yes, compassion, are all vital elements cultivated by the martial artist. It is not uncommon for dojangs around the world to engage in community service and fundraising events that benefit humanitarian causes. Just read through any edition of TaeKwonDo Times and you will see mention of the good deeds done by Tae Kwon Doists around the globe. Yet, it is natural for the layperson to ask just how a pursuit so resonant with violent overtones can generate goodwill and benefit humankind. The answer to this question lies in a focused understanding of Korean history. Traditional Tae Kwon Do takes much of its ethical guidelines from principles established in the late seventh century through the practice of Hwarang-do, or the “Way of the Flowering Manhood.” The Hwarang represented a fraternity of elite warriors drawn from noble stock. Aside from their knowledge of Kwonbop and Subak, two native martial arts of the day, these youthful soldiers were distinguished from other combat troops by virtue of their unique holistic training in archery, music, poetry, equestrian skills, and Eastern philosophy. Furthermore, the Hwarang lived under a strict code of honor handed down by the Buddhist monk, Wonkwang Popsa. These basic moral principles included loyalty to the king, filial piety and restraint against misuse of force in battle. In AD 668, the Sillian leadership, using the Hwarang as their instrument of war, succeeded in bringing the three kingdoms under central control. Considering the sophistication of the order, Hwarang-do provided fertile ground for the growth of future kings, generals, and statesmen destined to guide the kingdom of Silla from relative obscurity to its once-legendary position as an influential regional power. One great example of acquired compassion through the search for spiritual enrichment are the deeds and actions of Kwisan and Chuhang, whose exploits ring clear in the annals of Korean history. It is almost impossible to accurately portray the impassioned narrative that likely took place in the late seventh century between Wonkwang Popsa and the two inquisitive Hwarang warriors, mostly due to the fragmentary manner in which the overall history of the Korean martial arts have been documented. Yet, if we were to journey back in time to the age of the Hwarang, perhaps the transmission of this ancient wisdom, at least as I see it, would have taken place something like this: A full moon shone against an ebony sky, its light falling diagonally through the slender branches of the birch trees that rocked gently in the autumn breeze. Although it was well after midnight, Kwisan was restless, tossing and turning on the pine needles he and his loyal comrade had gathered to make their beds. Chuhang slept peacefully across the clearing, warmed by the receding embers of the fire from the night before. It had been a long, arduous journey and the two companions took delight in knowing that their destination drew near. For some time now, the pair of young warriors had shared a concern stemming from the wanton bloodshed they observed almost daily, perpetrated by undisciplined troops on the field of battle. Realizing that their common adversaries fought to
80 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
preserve the national honor and dignity of their respective kingdoms just as they did, it seemed overly cruel to indiscriminately take life so brutally when not directly threatened. But the benevolent thoughts and complex concerns of these men were unique in the history of Asian warfare, since they were no ordinary soldiers. Instead of being kin to the ordinary folk that composed the rank and file army defending the tiny kingdom of Silla to which they belonged, Kwisan and Chuhang were warriors of the Hwarang. With minds unsullied by cynicism, they reasoned: Should not this respect for life be universal regardless of borders? They were confident that the answers to this question and others concerning purification of the mind would be made apparent to them in the days ahead. After rising and consuming the morning meal, they mounted their steeds who till now stood grazing in the grassy field beyond. Both young men felt optimistic about their upcoming audience with the Buddhist monk, Wonkwang Popsa. Acknowledged far and wide for his compassion and wisdom, the elderly sage, now 59 years of age, was currently residing at Hwangnyong Temple and even now was extolling the virtues of the Buddhist faith at the Assembly of One Hundred Seats. Kwisan and Chuhang traveled through that entire day and into the night uninterrupted, feeling their anticipation rise with each hoof beat. Exhausted after gingerly picking their way through brambles and hoping their horses would not stumble on the narrow, rock strewn path that precipitously wound its way down the mountain toward the vast expanse of the Kyongju Plain, the young warriors at last caught their first glimpse of the temple walls silhouetted by the rising sun. Passing monks foraging for the few sticks of firewood so scarce in that environment, the pair passed through the ornate portal of the spiritual compound. Once dismounted, their road-weary horses were stabled. Kwisan and Chuhang were silently led by a group of weathered monks toward a central temple where a congregation from throughout the kingdom had assembled to witness the ministrations of Wonkwang. Upon entering the vast hall, it was difficult to see, given the contrast between the dimly lit interior and the brightening sky outside. Clouds of incense, so intense that they were intoxicating, suffused the air. Those participating in the morning’s first meditation practice were dispersing to enjoy a meager breakfast. Kwisan and Chuhang passed through the throng and humbly approached the master’s door. Beckoned to enter, they raised their robes in the Confucian custom of greeting. Kneeling before the sacred master who was leaning on a tall staff and adorned in a gray undergarment covered by a scarlet robe, Kwisan respectfully intoned: “We are igno-
By Doug Cook
rant and devoid of knowledge. Please convey to us principles which will serve to instruct us for all the days of our lives.” The great master Wonkwang replied that there are ten injunctions in the Bodhisattva ordination. “But, since you are subjects and sons,” he continued, “I fear you cannot practice them all. Here, however, are five directives for laymen. The first is to serve your King with loyalty. Second, tend your parents with filial piety. Next, treat your friends with consideration and sincerity. Fourth, do not retreat in the face of battle. And, finally, be discriminating concerning the taking of life. Though you may have need, do not kill often. These,” the kind monk concluded, “are the good rules for laymen.” Rising in unison, the two Hwarang bowed in supplication and left the chamber feeling gifted with a shared knowledge that would ultimately travel down the centuries to shape the very fabric of Korean ethical principles, and thus Tae Kwon Do. These ancient, moral directives, transmitted to Kwisan and Chuhang by Wonkwang Popsa, eventually evolved into what is widely recognized today as the Student Creed of Tae Kwon Do. As cultures merged, however, it was expanded to instill trust between teachers and students, fidelity in marriage, respect for elders, and perseverance in deeds and actions. Today, we wonder who in the distant past could have predicted that the ethical curiosity exhibited by two young Sillian warriors would result in the prominent posting of these principles in dojangs around the globe, with the intention of promoting honorable behavior in martial artists of all ages and backgrounds. As it reads today, these moral precepts include:
STUDENT CREED OF TAE KWON DO 1. Be loyal to your country. 2. Be loving and show fidelity to your parents. 3. Be loving between husband and wife. 4. Be cooperative between brothers and sisters. 5. Be faithful to your friends. 6. Be respectful to your elders. 7. Establish trust between teacher and student. 8. Use good judgment before harming any living thing. 9. Never retreat in battle. 10. Always finish what you start. As a testament to the timelessness surrounding the ten noble principles that comprise the cornerstone of the Korean martial arts, many training halls routinely call for their recitation at the close of a practice session. Moreover, they remain a dynamic blueprint for ethical conduct. Not to be construed as a neighborly set of values or the casual lines of some benevolent poem, this creed represents a direct link to the past and a reflection of the true essence surrounding the good deeds of traditional Tae Kwon Do. Master Doug Cook, a fifth-dan black belt, is head instructor of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in Warwick, New York, a senior student of Grandmaster Richard Chun, and author of the best-selling books entitled: Taekwondo… Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, and Traditional Taekwondo…Core Techniques, History and Philosophy, published by YMAA of Boston. His third book, Taekwondo–A Path to Excellence, focusing on the rewards and virtues of Tae Kwon Do, will be released in 2009. He can be reached for discussions or seminars at chosuntkd@yahoo.com or www.chosuntkd.com.
By Krystal Armstrong
82 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
In October of 2008, my oldest daughter came home from school one day and started to cry. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me that she did not want to go to school anymore. This statement was very upsetting to me because she loved school. She told me that a classmate of hers had threatened to beat her up several times after school. I was shocked when I heard this, shocked that at seven years old, my daughter was being bullied. I didn’t think this kind of thing would start at such a young age. The next day, I approached both her teacher and principal about what had happened and they were very supportive. The teacher discussed bullying in the class and it seemed to have helped. About one week later, my daughter was at a birthday party which this other child attended as well. Again, she was threatened about being beat up and this time was physically pushed. Now my attitude was ‘enough is enough.’ My husband and I approached the parents and they were very receptive in dealing with the bullying and it has now stopped. I have to admit that I had many sleepless nights over this situation. I felt so upset for my own daughter, who I could see was not only afraid but also stressing out because of the bullying, but now I was feeling upset for all the other children and families who have been dealing with bullies for not only a week, but for months and years. After this incident occurred, I took it upon myself to become more educated on bullying. I went on the Internet and came across the Web site bullying.org. This site was founded by classroom teacher Bill Belsey from Cochrane, Alberta Canada, and provides so much information on what bullying is, how you can deal with it, as well as real life stories from children and adults all around the world. I also discovered that there was an online course for parents and educators. I enrolled in the online course for parents and was supplied with excellent information and resources on bullying. After completing the course at bullying.org, I feel I have a much better understanding on bullying, something I think from which everyone can benefit in learning. Through bullying.org, I also learned about Bullying Awareness Week, an annual event approaching its seventh anniversary in November
2009. The whole idea for this week in 2008 was to not focus on the bully or the victim, but on the bystanders. These are the people that see this type of behavior, but do nothing about it. In fact, 85 percent of bullying occurs within the context of a peer group. I went to the school’s principal and told her about Bullying Awareness Week and how it would be great if the school could participate. She was all for it. I was hoping that if we brought more awareness to bullying, that maybe it could help at least one child or family who is dealing with this terrible situation. A fire started to burn within me. I found myself on a mission. It was great that I had my daughter’s school support on this, but what about the rest of the community? As I have come to understand, bullying is a community issue and is happening to adults and even senior citizens. I contacted the local radio stations and they agreed to broadcast a public service announcement that I had gotten from the Bullying Awareness Week Web site. In addition, I presented a proclamation for Bullying Awareness Week to my city council that they approved, officially making November 16-22, 2008, in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, Bullying
taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
83
Awareness Week. I also contacted the local newspaper, hoping again that I would be able to bring more awareness to bullying and possibly help someone. They published an article on me entitled “Mom Takes Action Against School Bullying.” After the article ran in the paper, there were a few letters to the editor. Some were from adults who were bullied as children, talking about how it made them feel even now as adults. Another was from a girl in seventh grade, telling her story on how she has been bullied for the past three years. Her school was even aware of it, but had done nothing to stop it. Three years? This letter really touched my heart. I responded to that letter and again stressed that in order to prevent this type of behavior we needed to be better educated on it. I commended her on the courage to write the letter and hoped it had helped her. I still think about her often. I had many parents come up to me and tell me that they saw my article and that I should be very proud that I did something. I also had some tell me that their children are being bullied or have been bullied and how traumatic it has been. A couple of moms came up to me and thanked me for doing what I did. Wow! How could the efforts of one person affect so many? It still amazes me. Sure, I could’ve stopped my efforts when I talked to the child’s parents, but like my good friend Chief Master Robert Ott says, “We should give something positive back to others.” I had the absolute honor in meeting him in September 2008 at a women’s self-defense seminar he was holding in Olympia, Washington. My friend and I drove six hours from Canada to attend. I first met him through email after reading his biography, Certain Victory. I emailed him to tell him how his book inspired me to not only be a better person, but a better martial artist. To this day we still communicate through email. I feel so fortunate to have someone like him in my life and to be able to call him a friend. Training in martial arts has done so much for me, not only physically, but mentally and spiritu84 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
ally as well. It gave me the self-empowerment to do what I did. The way I am today is because of my martial arts training. It gave me the courage to believe in myself. For me, presenting to the city council was a bit scary. However, helping others and bringing more awareness to an issue that needed it was far more important than my own fears. I feel so blessed to be able to train in the martial arts and to have my daughters train as well. Martial arts teach not only self-defense, but also respect for ourselves and for others. Respect is something that is lacking in today’s society. Bullying is certainly a community issue and addressing it at a school level is only part of the solution. We, as parents, need to step up and be positive role models for our children, so that they can be part of a strong and happy community. For now, everything seems okay. My daughter loves school again and her classmate that once bullied her is now nice and friendly to her. However, she is only in the second grade and has many school years ahead of her. If I continue to address bullying, maybe, just maybe, one day this kind of thing won’t happen. I have to think positive. I am so proud of what I accomplished and have realized that if we go the “extra mile” in our everyday lives, like we do in our martial arts training, we can accomplish so much more. For more information on Bullying Awareness Week and how you can participate, visit bullyingawarenessweek.org. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Krystal is currently training in ITF TaeKwon-Do under the instruction of fifth-degree black belt and Certified International Instructor, Mr. Rob Gill, at his school Thompson Valley Taekwon-Do.
See page 62 for more on Robert J. Ott!
Krystal & Robert Ott
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By Erik Richardson
MTVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Made is a reality show where young people are trained over the course of six weeks to fulfill a personal goal. Dreams featured on the show have included such things as becoming a ballet dancer, a competitive triathlete, and even a rock singer. On June 14, 2008, MTV aired an episode following a young man, Ryan, in his quest to become a martial artist, and when TKD Times talked with the coach for the episodeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Tae Kwon Do Master Chan Lee of Milwaukeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s J. K. Lee Black Belt Academy founded by Grandmaster J. K. Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we discovered that this popular episode is an awesome representation of the potential of martial arts to connect with todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth. Master Chan Lee
TKDT: In the very early scenes of the episode, we learn a lot about Ryanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motivation and point of view, but almost nothing about yours. So tell us, what did you hope to accomplish in this episode? Lee: My goal was to show people how much of the process is about more than the kicking and the punching, so to speak. I wanted them to walk away with a better idea of how much training in TKDâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and martial arts in generalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is really about building up a certain mindset and a certain set of character traits. I think if more parents knew how much of what goes on inside a martial arts school is about the character building, there would probably be people lining up around the block to enroll their kids. In fact, at the time they were interviewing possible coaches for the episode, I was overloaded. I had two kids under two; we were opening a new 12,000 square-foot strip mall; there was a tournament coming up (700+ competitors); and I had just launched a new martial arts association. I interviewed just for the adventure of it, but when I realized what a great opportunity this could be to show a lot of kids and parents the positive side of TKD and martial arts, I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really resist. TKDT: Interesting. Coming in with that kind of mindset, now we can ask: What was the coolest part of the Made experience for you? Lee: Honestly, it was probably working with Ryan and seeing him change. At the beginning, I was a little doubtful of whether he would be able to follow through on the plan, so at each turning point, when Ryan just kept on going, that was amazing to see. Of course, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all the more awesome that the whole transformation is recorded on film for other people to see and be inspired by as well. TKDT: What do you think other kids could learn from Ryanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience? Lee: If you set your mind to something, if you can show persistence, then you will always manage to find a way to do it. We use the phrase â&#x20AC;&#x153;pilsungâ&#x20AC;? a lot in our schools, and that means â&#x20AC;&#x153;indomitable spirit.â&#x20AC;? That is the lesson that Grandmaster Lee modeled for his students, and it is the lesson Ryan can model for people watching that episode on MTV. TKDT: Did the directors give you a lot of coaching in terms of things theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to see happen in the episode? Lee: A little bit. Using the ninja characters, for instance, because ninjas really have nothing whatsoever to do with TKD, but the producers thought it would make the show really cool to have them show up a few times. The other thing that they really wanted was to show where Ryan was starting from by allowing the audience to see him fail, like that first day in the dojang when we were sparring. I normally start by giving my students a feeling of success, but because of the short timeframe of the episode, it made sense to show some failure to help people appreciate just how far he would go in the six weeks of the filming. 86 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
Ryan and Master Chan Lee
TKDT: Were you able to bring your own ideas/values to the show? Lee: Oh, definitely. TKDT: Where do you think those showed through the most? Lee: I think it showed through in the training for TKD. All of that was completely realistic, and showed exactly the same set of forms and requirements that any of our students have to go through to earn their gold belt. TKDT: I went through and timed it, and out of the one-hour episode, only about six or seven minutes actually showed punching and kicking. That seems kind of light on martial arts for a show about becoming a martial artist, doesn’t it? Lee: In contrast to that, the issue of character development and self-discipline comes up 15 or 16 different times. I think that difference mirrors the balance in regular training at my Tae Kwon Do schools—and in a lot of martial arts schools—so that’s another place where my ideas and perspectives really showed through. TKDT: Even allowing for the condensed timeline of the show, you and Grandmaster Lee still seem to hold Ryan to a pretty tough standard, and at one point when you are pushing to get the room cleaned up, Ryan’s brother asks how your house looks. In that same spirit, do you push yourself in your TKD training as hard as you seem to push Ryan? Lee: The hardest thing is keeping yourself to a consistently high standard. It’s very tempting for most people to settle for 80 percent or 90 percent of their personal best sometimes. I struggle with that too, all the time; but, I guess I would have to say that yes, I do push myself hard. I constantly challenge myself to keep turning in a 100 percent effort. TKDT: Why push yourself and Ryan (or your other students) so hard, though? Lee: When a student has that “aha” moment and feels empowered because they can do something difficult that they never could before, and that confidence changes them . . . at that point their feeling of accomplishment starts to spread beyond the edges of the dojang mat and crosses over into other areas of their lives. That moment is the essence of why I teach martial arts—that’s the part that makes it all worth doing. A lot of times, if you don’t push them past their comfort zone, they never have that moment, and if they never have that moment, then they never acquire the motivation to push themselves past their comfort zone. TKDT: What do you think is the toughest obstacle to getting students to that point? Lee: When parents aren’t on board with a child’s need for success and determination. Sometimes a student will hit an obstacle on the path to becoming black belt, and they feel like they want to quit. At that point, a student’s support system can fail, and they let him or her quit. When that happens, the student gives up on the chance to see what it’s like to carry through on a commitment. Everything worth accomplishing is hard, and everyone is tempted to quit along the way, so I hate to see when students—and their parents—give in to that temptation. That’s the exact moment when they could have achieved a meaningful level of self-discipline that would stay with them when they walk outside the dojang doors. TKDT: Is that why you kept trying to get Ryan to clean up his room in the show? Lee: That’s exactly right. If the attitude and values that we teach in the martial arts studio only have an effect inside the studio, then we haven’t really reached that student. As a result, we are constantly looking for creative, innovative ways to have an effect on our students outside the studio. One example of this is that we recently started a program at our schools called Heroic Acts of Kindness that has the same goal: to build character out in the larger community. taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
87
TKDT: Where did you come up with the inspiration for this kindness program? Lee: This was an idea I learned from Master Tom Callos. This program gets kids motivated not only to perform random acts of kindness in their normal daily lives, but, even more importantly, in terms of developing leadership and in terms of making an impact in the community, they try to get other kids motivated to join in with random acts of kindness as well. TKDT: But if you’re a high-flying, butt-kicking martial artist, who really cares if your room is clean? What does being kind have to do with martial arts? Lee: If you think back to their origins, the martial arts were developed to train warriors. Well, the goal of warriors is to achieve peace, whether it is by bringing a quick end to fighting once it has broken out, or by preventing the outbreak of fighting in the first place. Why train people who don’t know what to do if they are succeeding? They were not just training to be good leaders in war, but to be good leaders in peace too. At the end of every class, our students repeat an oath that includes the line, “I shall help build a more peaceful world.” That makes sure that they put all of the physical training into perspective. TKDT: The show concludes with Ryan’s competition at a tournament, is that part of what you do as a lifelong student yourself? Lee: No, I was very successful as a competitor, but after I reached a certain point, I had to decide where my real passion was, because the time it takes to be a competitor at the higher levels was taking away from my time for teaching and for building the business. For me, the real passion was to spread the kind of character education that the school was trying to accomplish. It was a good choice, because even though I now put in 70+ hours a week running five different schools, I always think of the famous quote: “Do something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I still train students for tournaments, though, because it helps them to learn some really important things about themselves and what they are capable of. Again, the kicking and punching are only a small part of it. As shown in the episode, it’s much more about having the will and the self-discipline to go on when there is pressure from an audience full of people watching you and maybe you have an injury or you make a mistake and you really, really want to quit. It’s hard to imitate a situation like that, or the powerful feeling that comes from pushing through it. TKDT: That was just an amazing episode, and it had such a fitting ending. In looking beyond the ending scenes, sometimes the show follows up with the kid who was transformed during the Made episode, but nobody follows up with the coach. What are some of your goals for the future? Lee: Building on the goals of the past. When Grandmaster J. K. Lee came to this country, his dream was to spread the benefits of TKD training to America. He wanted to help American students appreciate the same connection between the kind of person we are building on the inside and the world we are building on the outside that he had seen working with students in Korea. My goal for the future is to keep on doing that same thing as long as I can and for as many students as I can. That doesn’t just mean in my own schools, though. I am also part of a new project to try to spread the same way of thinking to other martial arts schools through The New Way Network (www.thenewwaynetwork.com.) TKDT: Thank you for helping us gain some perspective on one of the best hours of reality television ever. We wish you all the best as you keep growing your school and your program to reach out to other schools. Any last words for the readers? Lee: Train hard in the martial arts and help spread the word that martial artsist are just more than kicking and punching. Be inspirational and a leader in your community. That is real martital arts. Pilsung! 88 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Erik Richardson is a Certified Sports Nutritionist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and he was recently promoted to Online Nutrition Editor for Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine. He is currently the Director of Richardson Ideaworks, which focuses on personal and small business consulting.
Calendar of Events June
6 Intercontinental Cup at Algonquin College WoodroďŹ&#x20AC;e Campus Gymnasium Ottawa, Canada. For more information call (613) 837-4123 or e-mail phaplu@rogers.com. 6 2009 Taekwondo Leadership Summit Weekend in Las Vegas. For more information call (212) 595-1256. 12-14 4th Annual Battle at the Beach International Martial Arts Tournament to be held in St. Croix Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. For more info call (340) 6432265 or e-mail fermin1952@yahoo.com or lmfricke@ hotmail.com. 30 2009 USAT National Championships / Junior Olympics in Austin, Texas. For more information visit us-taekwondo.us.
July th
4-9 7 GTF World TKD Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Find out more at worldchamp2009. pgtf-taekwondo.com. 10-15 2009 Chuncheon Open International Taekwondo Championships to be held in Chuncheon City, Korea. For more information please visit koreaopentkd.org.
25 1st Annual All-Star Specially Challenged Martial Arts Championship & Banquet to be held at Salem Lutheran Church in Tomball, Texas. For more information visit AllStarMA.com.
August 8-9 Global Hapkido Conference 2009 to be held in Foster City, California. For more information visit sinmoolegacy.com. 14-16 Robert Ott Seminar with special guest Master Steve Seo to be held at the Temple of Certain Victory in Olympia, Washington. For more information visit certainvictory.com.
September
12 WMAL Hall of Fame to be held in Frankfurt, Germany. For more information visit www.wmal.de.tl.
October
23-2 The 5th International Korean Martial Arts Federation (IKMAF) Jong Hap Mu Sool Symposium and Awards Banquet to be held in Philadelphia, PA. For more information contact Ian Cyrus, Headmaster at (267) 342-5880 or visit ikmaf.com.
November
19 IX Pan-Am Games in Yauco, Puerto Rico. For more information visit ptc-games.com.
Coming Next Issue
Master Andrew Fanelli Fighting Autism with TKD Serious Elbow Strikes An Interview with Mauro Sarmiento Plus More Inspiring Stories! Top News! Killer Kicks! Big Breaks! & the August & September TKDT Schools of the Month!
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ARIZONA
Martial Art Directory CONNECTICUT
HAWAII
Defensive Services Intl 4960 S Gilbert Rd Suite 485 Chandler 85249 (480) 985-9700 (480) 895-9755
Turtle Press 403 Silas Deane Hwy Wethersfield 06109 (860) 721-1198 turtlepress.com
GM Hee Il Choʼs TKD Center Koko Marina Shopping Center Honolulu 96825 (808) 396- 8900 aimaa.com
CALIFORNIA
DELAWARE
Best Martial Arts Supply 7120 Alondra Blvd Paramount 90723 (562) 251-1600 sangmoosa.com
Korean Martial Arts Institute 2419 W Newport Pike Stanton 19804 (302) 992-7999 KMAIWEB.com
Black Lotus Martial Arts Academy Kuk Sool of San Diego San Diego 92117 (619) 723-1592 KukSool.net
FLORIDA
DeAlba Productions PO Box 641286 San Francisco 94164 (415) 661-9657 Kenʼs Trading Golden Tiger 9528 Richmond Place Rancho Cucamonga 91730 (909) 980-0841 GoldenTiger.com Kuk Sool of San Diego (BLMAA) 3901-B Clairemont Drive San Diego, 92117 (619) 723-1592 KukSool.net Jung SuWon World Federation 4150 Technology Place, Fremont, 94538 (510) 659-9920 jungsuwon.com Kuk Sool Won of San Francisco 1641 Fillmore Street San Francisco 94115 (415) 567-5425 Robinsonʼs TaeKwonDo Center 2155 Fulton Ave Sacramento 95825 (916) 481-6815 World Hapkido Federation PO Box 155323 Los Angeles 90015 (714) 730-3000 World KIDO Federation 3557 Valenza Way Pleasanton 94566 (510) 468-8109 kidohae.com World KukSool HKD Federation PO Box 16166 Beverly Hills 90209 (310) 859-1331
COLORADO Colorado Intl TaeKwon-Do Master Roberto Carlos Roena Denver/Wheatridge/Ft. Collins CIT-ITF.com US TaeKwonDo Federation Chuck Sereff 6801 W 117th Ave Broomfield 80020
American TKD Union 1303 E Busch Blvd Tampa 33612 (313) 935-8888
ILLINOIS Great River Martial Arts 1647 Hwy 104 Quincy 62305 (217) 257-9000 International Hapkido USA 1385 N Milwaukee Ave Chicago 60622 (312) 225-4828 K. H. Kimʼs TaeKwonDo 3141 Dundee Rd Northbrook 60062
Aruba Karate Institute 7440 NW 79th St Miami 33166 ecco@setarnet.com
Kimʼs Black Belt Academy Grandmaster Tae H. Kim 2230 Ogden Ave Aurora 60504
ATU Headquarters 1303 E Busch Blvd Tampa 33612 (313) 935-8888
Ottawa Martial Arts Academy 500 State St Ottawa 61350 (815) 434-7576
Choi Kwang Do Largo 13819-C Washington Rd Largo 33774
Universal TKD Association 1207 W Main Peoria 61606 (309) 673-2000
East Coast Martial Arts Supply 1646 E Colonial Drive Orlando 32803 (407) 896-2487 NKMAA- Florida Master Thomas Gordon Gordon Martial Arts PO Box 1966,Crestview 32536 Jun Kimʼs Martial Arts Center 10024 West Oakland Park Blvd Sunrise 33351 (954) 741-8000
US National TKD Federation 9956 W Grand Ave Franklin Park 60131 usntf.com
INDIANA Self Defense America 2450 Lincoln Street Highland 46322 (219) 545-7894
IOWA
Independent TKD Association 2919 E North Military Trail West Palm Beach 33409 (561) 745-1331
Ancient Memories Academy 2600 E Euclid Des Moines 50317 (515) 266-6209
USNTA National Team Training Center 5720 Old Cheney Hwy Orlando 32807 (312) 443-8077 USNTA.org
Chung Kimʼs Black Belt Academy 1423 18th St Bettendorf 52722 (563) 359-7000
United Martial Arts Center 11625 S Cleveland Ave # 3 Ft. Myers 33907 (239) 433-2299 Yeshá Ministries(14 NE FL locations) Grand Master Charles W. Coker 904-399-0404 or 904-838-8585 Yeshaministries.com
GEORGIA Choi Kwang Do Cartersville 1239 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy Cartersville 30120 (678) 721-5166 Choi Kwang Do Suwanee 4285 Brogdon Exchange Suwanee 30024 (770) 654-1510
Jungʼs TaeKwonDo Inc. New Life Fitness World Cedar Rapids 52404 (319) 396-1980 Jungʼs TaeKwonDo 501 Panama St Nashua 50658 (641) 435-4920 Martial Arts America 621 S. Ankeny Blvd. Ankeny, Iowa 50021 www.martialartsamerica.net Raccoon Valley Martial Arts 104 S 7th St Adel 50003 (515) 993-3474
Two Rivers Martial Arts Inc. 2017 Southlawn Des Moines 50315 (515) 285-5049
Choon Leeʼs Black Belt Academy 121 NE 72nd St Gladstone 64114 (816) 436-5909
Richard Chun TaeKwonDo Center 87 Stonehurst Dr Tenafly 07670 (201) 569-3260
KANSAS
Kuk Sool Won of St. Peters #1 Sutters Mill Road St. Peters 63376 (636) 928-0035
World Sin Moo Hapkido Federation PO Box 262, Atco, N.J. 08004 WorldSinMooHapkidoFederation.com
Master Jeʼs World Martial Arts 6204 NW Barry Rd Kansas City 64154 (816) 741-1300
NEW MEXICO
Choon Leeʼs Academy of TKD 11453 W 64th St Shawnee Mission 66203 (913) 631-1414 Ryu Kyu Imports 5005 Merrian Lane Merriam 66203 (913) 782-3920
LOUISIANA Han Do Group 4816 Jamestown Ave Baton Rouge 70808 (225) 924-2837 hanmudo.com
NEVADA Cane Masters Intl Association PO Box 7301 Incline Village 89452 canemasters.com
MARYLAND
East West Martial Art Supply 2301 E Sunset Rd Suite 22 Las Vegas 89119 (702) 260-4552
World Combat Arts Federation PO Box 763 Owings Mills 21117 (410) 262-2333
Wheatley Intl TaeKwon-Do 1790 W Fourth St Reno 89503 (775) 826-2355
MASSACHUSETTS
NEW JERSEY
AAU Taekwondo Mr. Mike Friello (518) 372-6849 mfriello@aol.com
Cumberland County Martial Arts 531 N High St Millville 08332 (856) 327-2244
Myung Kimʼs Acupuncture 347 Massachusetts Ave Arlington 02474 (781) 643-3679
International Martial Arts 10 Main St Woodbridge 07095 888-IMATKD1 www.IMATKD.com
MICHIGAN B.C. Yu Martial Arts 5204 Jackson Road Suites F & G Ann Arbor 48103 (734) 994-9595 BCYU.com D.S. Kimʼs TKD-Milford 125 Main St Ste 500 Milford 48381 (248) 529-3506 www.dskims.com Choi Kwang Do Trenton 3010 Van Horn Rd Suite A Trenton 48183 (734) 675-2464 International TKD Association PO Box 281 Grand Blanc 48480 (810) 232-6482 itatkd.com Universal American Natl TKD PO Box 249 Sturgis 49091 (574) 243-3450 uantu.org World Martial Arts Association 37637 5 Mile Rd #348 Livonia 48154 (734) 536-1816
MISSOURI American Midwest TKD Academy 315 W Pacific St Webster Grove 63119 (314) 968-9494
Ki Yun Yiʼs Karate Institute 560 S Evergreen Ave Woodbury 08096 (609) 848-2333 MacKenzieʼs TaeKwon-Do & Hapkido 200 White Horse Road Voorhees, N.J. 08043 (856) 346-1111 GoldMedalFamilyKarate.com MacKenzie & Allebach Family Hapkido 302 White Horse Pike Atco, N.J. 08004 (856) 719-1411 GoldMedalFamilyKarate.com MacKenzie & Allebach TaeKwon-Do 1833 Route 70 East Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003 (856) 424-7070 GoldMedalFamilyKarate.com MacKenzie & Barnabie Martial Arts 7710 Maple Ave. Pennsauken , N.J. 08109 (856) 662-5551 MacKenzieandBarnabieKarate.com MacKenzie & Barnabie Martial Arts 1599-D Route 38 Lumberton, N.J. 08048 (609) 702-0666 MacKenzieandBarnabieKarate.com
Grandmaster Hee Il Choʼs TKD 8214 Montgomery Blvd NE Albuquerque 87110 (505) 292-4277
NEW YORK Black Belt Fitness Center 54-10 31st Ave Woodside 11377 (718) 204-1777 idlokwan.org Dynamics World Martial Supply (800) 538-1995 dynamicsworld.com Intl Taekwon-Do Academy 54 Nagle Ave New York City 10034 (212) 942-9444 itakick@aol.com Iron Dragon Fitness & SelfDefense 88-8 Dunning Rd Middletown 10940 (845) 342-3413 New Age TKD & Hapkido 2535 Pearsall Ave Bronx 10469 (347)228-8042 Pro Martial Arts (866) 574-0228 mauricepromartialarts.com Queens Taekwon-do Center 89-16 Roosevelt Ave Basement Jackson Heights 11372 (718) 639-6998 TʼaeCole TKD Fitness 909 Willis Ave Albertson 11507 (516) 739-7699 taecoleTKD.com
NORTH CAROLINA NKMAA - North Carolina Master Monty Hendrix Essential Martial Arts, Inc (336) 282-3000 Lionʼs Den Martial Arts 413 N Durham Ave Creedmore 27522 (919) 528-6291 sajado.org World TaeKwonDo Center 112 Kilmayne Dr Cary 27511 (919) 469-6088
OHIO NKMAA-Ohio Master Doug Custer Nacient Oriental Fighting Arts 608 S Platt St, Montpelier 43543
OREGON NKMAA-Oregon Master Kevin Janisse NW Korean Martial Arts 12083 SE Eagle Dr,Clackamas 97015
PENNSYLVANIA
Kuk Sool Won of Austin 13376 Reserach Blvd #605 Austin 78750 (512) 258-7373 Kuk Sool Won of Baytown 805 Maplewood Baytown 77520 (281) 428-4930 Kuk Sool Won of Clear Lake 907 El Dorado Blvd #110 Houston 77062 (281) 486-5425 Progressive Martial Arts 112 E Sam Rayburn Dr Bonham 75418 (903) 583-6160
ICF Hapkido 7252 Valley Ave Philadelphia 19128 (215) 483-5070 Intl Tang Soo Do Federation 3955 Monroeville Blvd Monroeville 15146 (412) 373-8666 Mark Cashatt始s TKD School 30 West Broad St Souderton 18964 (215) 721-1839 Pan-Am Tang Soo Do Federation 1450 Mt Rose Ave York 17403 (717) 848-5566 Red Tiger TaeKwonDo-USTC 1912 Welsh Rd Philadelphia 19115 (215) 969-9962 red-tiger.com The Martial Artist 9 Franklin Blvd Philadelphia 19154 (800) 726-0438 World Tang Soo Do Association 709 Oregon Ave Philadelphia 19146 (215) 468-2121
TENNESSEE World Black Belt Bureau Grandmaster Kang Rhee Cordova (Memphis) 38088 (901) 757-5000 worldbbb.com
World Kuk Sool Won 20275 FM 2920 Tomball 77375 (281) 255-2550
VERMONT
COM-DO Direct (780) 460-7765 comdo.com First Canada Tang Soo Do 209 3400 14th St NW Calgary T2K 1H9 (403) 284-BBKI
QUEBEC Intl Bum Moo HKD-Hoshinkido 111 Laurentides Blvd Pont-Viau Montreal Laval H7G-2T2 (450) 662-9987
ONTARIO Kuk Sool Won of Sault Ste. Marie 40 White Oak Dr E Sault Ste. Marie P6B 4J8 (705) 253-4220
Stadion Enterprises Island Pond 05846 (802) 723-6175 stadion.com
NKMAA- Ontario Master Dusty Miner Sidekicks School of MA 2421 New St, Burlington
VIRGINIA
GERMANY
USA Tiger Martial Arts 48 Plaza Drive Manakin Sabot 23103 (804) 741-7400
World Martial Arts League Klaus Schuhmacher Rhoenstr 55 Offenbach 63971 wmal@mail.com
World Famous USA Tiger Martial 3941 Deep Rock Rd Richmond 23233 (804) 741-7400 World Martial Arts Group Dr. Jerry Beasley Christiansburg 24068 aikia.net
WASHINGTON Robert Ott Martial Arts 9235 Piperhill Dr SE Olympia 98513 (360) 888-0474 Sim始s TaeKwonDo USA 9460 Rainier Ave S Seattle 98118 (206) 725-4191
TEXAS
WISCONSIN
Alakoji Knife & Martial Art Supply San A 302 W Madison Ave Harlingen 78550 (956) 440-8382
American Martial Arts Center 2711 Allen Blvd Suite 82 Middleton 53562 (808) 831-5967 amac-tkd.com
Central Texas TKD Council Master Danny Passmore (254) 662-3229
J.K. Lee Black Belt Academy 12645 W Lisbon Rd Brookfield 53005 (262) 783-5131
Champion Training 522 W Harwood Rd Hurst 76054 (817) 605-1555
ALBERTA
GREAT BRITAIN Great Britain Tang Soo Do Headquarters for Europe TSD Tel: 01234-766-468
INDIA Martial Arts Academy of India 30 GF DDA Flads, Sarvapriva, Vihar, New Delhi 110016 Tel: (011) 686-1625 Martial Arts Training Gulmohar Sports Center New Delhi 110049 Tel: 9111-467-1540
PAKISTAN Zulfi TKD Academy of Pakistan II-B 10/2 Nazimabad Karachi Tel: 9221-660-5788
SOUTH KOREA Korean MA Instructors Association SongSanRi 661, BonJi JonNam JangSongKun JangSongUb Chollanamdo Kmaia.org
CANADA
Kim始s Academy of TaeKwonDo 4447 Thousand Oaks Dr San Antonio 78233 (210) 653-2700
NKMAA- Headquarters Master Rudy Timmerman 1398 Airport Rd,Sault Ste. Marie, P6A 1M4
To list your school or business email info@taekwondotimes.com or call 319-396-1980.
TKDT Correspondents Iowa Dan Spangler Jason Amoriell Julia Freel Ron Johnson Soyang Kwon Wallace Cooper Zoe Verchota
United States Alaska Lucinda Miller Arizona Jerry Laurita
Arkansas Johnny D. Taylor
Louisiana He-Young Kimm Ronda Sweet Maryland Dylan Presman Eric Frederick William Blake
$ % . . / 4 0 3 Florida Arthur Pryor Cynthia Breed Mel Steiner Sang Koo Kang Steve Blanton Thomas Gordon Victor Fontanez
South Carolina Daniel Middleton Hyo-Won Choe Michelle Kim Texas Dennis McHenry Don Kirsch Greg Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neal Richard Sacks Robert McLain
New Zealand Rua Kaiou Nigeria George Ashiru
Bulgaria Robert Haritonov
North Korea Bong-Man Ra Jae-Hun Chung
Canada Marc-Andre Roy Mounir Ghrawi Phap Lu China Dong Yong Zheng Liang Huiyu Costa Rica Carlos Orozco
Norway Dag Jacobsen Jessica Stenholm Pakistan Rizwan Zubairi
Croatia Nenad Seferagic
Russia Alla Rabkina Nazarenko Ekaterina Yong Hun Kim Slovenia Zeljko Gvozdic
!002/6%$ !00 $
Georgia Michael Wilson Seong Young Ji Susan Whitfield Suzanne Ellenberger Illinois Aaron Wayne-Duke Fernan Vargas Jeremy Talbott Michael Curtis Indiana James Theros
Mississippi David Higgs J.R. West
Pennsylvania Charles Vaughn Chong Su Kim Gregory Bruno Jennefer Pursell LaClaire MitchellNzerem Michael Aloia Stephen DiLeo
Missouri Dan Perry Joshua Paszkiewicz Nebraska Jeffrey Helaney Sue Sands-Buss
New Jersey Anthony Roure Belida Han Uckan Benjamin Paris Michael Robinson Quoc Tran Taek Sung Cho
Virginia Arlene Limas Carol Griffis Chuck Thornton Joseph Catlett Jr. Pamela Justice
Washington Aaron Rayburn Joshua Dylka Kathrin Sumpter Robert Ott Sang B. Yun Susan Mix
# /2 2 %
Delaware Frank Fattori John Godwin
Michigan Stace Sanchez
Oklahoma Edward Smith
Nepal G.L. Chapain Krishna Balal
Brazil Ricardo Capozzi
New York Elvis Mendez Erica Linthorst George Vitale Kalynn Amadio Maurice Elmalem Sidney Rubinfeld Wee Sun Ngiaw North Carolina Jun Lee Master Rondy Steven Childress Ted Abbott
Wisconsin Erik Richardson Koang Woong Kim Tarryl Janik Argentina Nicolas Toboada Ricardo Desimone
Egypt Azza Ahmed Fouly Mohamed Riad Ibrahim France Pierre Sabbah
Germany Byonho Won Klaus Schumacher India Sanjay Sachdeva Shammi Rana
$%
Connecticut Kenneth Hilliard Robert Beaudoin
4+$4
Massachusetts Gilbert Woodside, Jr. Norman McLinden
Colorado Dan Piller Karen Eden Renee Sereff
Ohio C.M. Griffin David Hamilton Joon Pyo Choi Shawn Hamblin
Australia Joon No Steven Luxmoore Tam Fook Chee Bangladesh Mohammad Sikder
,$ 7/2 7)
California Alex Haddox Daniela Camargo Federico Luna Jodi Lasky Man Tran Oscar Duran Peter Dallman Ray Terry Ron Shane
North Dakota Jere Hilland
Iran Bahmanyar Roudgarnia Hossein Farid Sabbagh Japan Pak Chong Hyon
Mexico Angel Flores Gerardo Rosales Jose Lozoya Jose Velardes Marco Cardenas Roberto Mendoza Sonja Patratz
South Korea Chan-Mo Chung Chang Sup Shin Dong Young Park Gregory Brundage Guy Larke Hyun Chul Kim James Yoo Jinsung Kim Jung Doo Han Seok Je Lee Sook Kyung Moon Young Mi Yun Sweden Daniel Lee
Tanzania Lawrence Masawe Pascal Ilungu Uganda Sang Cheol Lee United Kingdom Alasdair Walkinshaw Anthony Aurelius David Friesen Ralph Allison
*List does not include all worldwide correspondents
Become a Correspondent! Learn how at taekwondotimes.com taekwondotimes.com / July 2009
95
Stretch Yourself
Bn 7Zhi 6Yk^XZ dc >c_jg^Zh Many people write to me with questions that can be summed up as: “I have a boo-boo…I have overdone my exercises…I have torn this or broke that...what should I do now?” I generally answer: “I think you shouldn’t be doing it, but now that you have done it, you should see a doctor.” I have no clue why these individuals think it makes sense to ask what to do of someone who has never seen them and who is not a physician, but rather a physical education teacher. The best I know about treating injuries is this: Look for the best specialist you can find. Then follow the doctor’s orders without second-guessing. A good injury specialist can tell you in advance how your symptoms will change over time as you heal, when you will feel improvement, and how long it will take for a full recovery. One more thing: Make sure the doctor understands your sport—what you do in contest and in your typical exercises, against what resistance, and your training regimen. My hard-earned experience taught me to trust only doctors who know my sport (preferably did it competitively or are team doctors) or a least watched it and can intelligently discuss its demands and injury potential. I reiterate the above in the following three points: 1. Go to a good physician, not just any M.D. 2. If a doctor cannot tell accurately what you will feel and be able to do at all stages of healing and rehabilitation—go to another one. 3. Follow the good doctor’s treatment to the letter. Most of the questions below are from people who either did not train correctly and were injured, or after the injury did not follow the common sense advice given above. Question: I have a groin and hamstring pull that still bothers me. I would like to improve my flexibility, form, sparring ability, and balance in my spinning kicks. What are your suggestions? Answer: Your objectives of improving flexibility, form, and sparring ability all depend on first properly treating your injuries. Before your hamstring and groin muscles are back in excellent working order, no other work can
96 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
be done. (You need to see an Applied Kinesiologist, or a Muscle Activation Technique specialist, or a Sports Chiropractor.) After successful treatment, you may start working on strength and flexibility according to the book Stretching Scientifically and the DVD Secrets of Stretching. Develop balance in spinning kicks by performing spinning kicks at a low (below knee) target (initially imaginary, then soft, which will allow kicking and spinning through it). To strengthen your legs and prevent hamstring and groin injuries, do deadlifts and squats. Question: On page 63 of Stretching Scientifically (fourth edition) you state that people who experience knee problems should do strength exercises. What are these strength exercises? Answer: Squats and deadlifts. Question: Although the book Stretching Scientifically and the DVD Secrets of Stretching go into depth about stretching, I found that they did not fully explain the stretches to be performed by those who suffer from “weak knees.” What strength exercises will strengthen the muscles that stabilize the knee? Answer: If your knees hurt when you do a stretch, change it so your knee bears less or no weight. For example, in hamstring or adductor stretches leading to a front or side split, place the lower end of your thigh on the chair or on any support. If bending your knees is not a problem, you may do the last exercise shown on page 82 of Stretching Scientifically. The strength exercises that stabilize the knee are all those that affect muscles that originate above and attach below the knee joint. These exercises are squats, step-ups, deadlifts, and good mornings. If you cannot do these exercises because your knees were injured, then you can do isometric tensions with your knees held at angles at which you do not feel pain. Thomas Kurz is an athlete, a physical education teacher, and a Judo instructor and coach. He studied at the University School of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland (Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego). He is the author of Stretching Scientifically, Science of Sports Training: How to Plan and Control Training for Peak Performance, Secrets of Stretching, and Basic Instincts of SelfDefense. He also writes articles for Stadion News, a quarterly newsletter that is available from Stadion Publishing (stadion.com or stretching.info). For self-defense tips visit self-defense.info. If you have any questions on training you can post them at Stadion’s Sports and Martial Arts Training Discussion at stadion.com/ phpBB2.
By Thomas Kurz
HIGH Impact DVDs
TRAIN SMART
Beginner Taekwondo Perfect for new students to practice at home DVD-TKD35.......$19.95
Beginner Karate Learn the basics of Isshinryu Karate DVD-ISR3.......$19.95
Complete Sparring Progressive instruction in full contact sparring DVD-TKD21.......$29.95
Karate Kumite Learn over 40 karate sparring techniques DVD-STK5.......$19.95
Taegeuk Poomse
Adaptive Kenpo DVD Jerry Meyers takes a series of Ed Parker Kenpo techniques and shows you how to adapt them if your opponent disrupts the Àow of the technique. DVD-KENPO1.........$29.95
Learn the eight Taegeuk Poomse. DVD-TKD31........$29.95
Hapkido Essentials
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Learn over 75 stand-up skills of Hapkido. DVD-HKD5.......$29.95
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Junsado Fundamentals
Power Breathing
100 tactics & strategies of realistic unarmed combat DVD-JSD20.......$29.95
Follow along breathing exercises, develop power and Àexibility. DVD-PBR.........$19.95
Sambo DVD
Ki: Internal Energy
ULTIMATE FLEXIBILITY | Sang H. Kim | 80 minutes | code: DVD-FLEX | $19.95 Core holds & ground¿ghting of Sambo DVD-SMB......$29.95
Documentary on the science of internal energy DVD-KI.......$24.95
Jujitsu #1 DVD
Self-Defense DVD
The fundamentals of traditional Jujitsu DVD-JJ1.........$29.95
Fast-paced self-defense skills and principles DVD-SDE.......$29.95
Muay Thai DVD
Police Combat #1
Learn the key skills of this hard hitting style DVD-MT.........$29.95
Street tested combat tactics for police of¿cers DVD-PT1......$29.95
Kickboxing 1 DVD
Nunchaku DVD
The core punches and kicks of full contact DVD-KBX1.......$29.95
Essential striking, whipping & swinging combos DVD-NK1.........$29.95
Secrets of Breaking
Knife Defense DVD
Learn power breaking from a world record holder. DVD-BRK.......$29.95
The essential basics of defending against a knife DVD-ADKD1.........$29.95
ate Flexibility in 20 minutes a day! Based on his bestselling e Flexibility, Sang H. Kim has created a series of 20-minute retching workouts that you can follow at home to increase your tone your body. Each of the three workouts - easy, moderse - gives you a total body stretch with a special focus on the monly used in martial arts training. You also get an introducing, tips on getting the most out of your workouts, exercises to eight and power of your kicks, and a bonus 7-minute workout pecifically on martial arts stretching for high kicks and splits. to dedicate 20 minutes a day to improving your flexibility, this . e preview of this and all Turtle Press DVDs at www.TurtlePress.com
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The Last Word
Cdl >¸b 7^dc^X EVgi ' C. M. Griffin holds black belts in several martial arts. He is involved in many facets of the performing arts from stunt coordinator to director. He has written, produced and directed projects for television and for corporations. He owns and operates his own Hwa Rang Do school in Ohio.
It’s the day of my surgery. I first go to that “Star Trek” room where they give me a radiation treatment. Then, they draw more blood and send me to the surgical floor. I strip down and put on that damnable gown. You know what I mean. It’s the one the hospital folks make you wear so they have something to laugh about. Your back is open and it’s always cold. You back away from folks so they don’t see your big butt hanging out and you back into a wall that’s ice cold! Then you spin around to see what was so cold, then spin back so people don’t see you! Oh yeah, it’s a riot! I make my way to what they call a “pre-op” room and they place me on a bed. The nurses flit in and out, take more blood and give me an IV drip. Now comes the real fun part—this guy comes into the room and says he’s going to shave me! Say what?!? He says the doctor needs my hip, stomach, chest, leg, everything on my left side, shaved. I was not happy, and I let him know it. But it had to be done. He turned on the clippers and began to shave me. Now…um…how can I say this? He, well, the clippers got close to…ah…something personal. I sat up and grabbed his arm. I let him know that…um…I am not from Brazil, so what the $#@* was he doing? He said he had to shave everything and that he’d been doing this for 20 years and had never once slipped, tripped or made a “soprano.” I reluctantly let him go, but he completely understood that if he did make a slip, I was going to remove his spleen with my bare hands. I will admit he was a pro. He finished and my wife returned, trying not to laugh. After a few minutes, the anesthesiologist arrived. She explained what they were going to do and then said she was going to give me an epidural. I asked if that was the same thing they gave to pregnant women, a needle in the spine? She said yes. I reminded her that I was not pregnant so I would not need any gigantic needle stuck into any part of my body. She thought I was cute and said not to worry, I would never even remember her giving it to me. Oh, that’s comforting. She left, returning with something she added to the IV, then an orderly came into the room. The orderly and anesthesiologist wheeled me into the operating room. This room was just like you see on TV; everyone wore white with masks covering their nose and mouths. They resembled reverse ninjas. A nurse leaned over me and asked if I was ready. I said, in a controlled calm voice, “Wait a minute, I am wide awake, I can see and hear and feel everything. It is too soon to do any kind of cutting on me, because I would feel it.” (Yeah, you believe it was in a nice calm, controlled voice don’t you?) The nurses and doctors laughed. Someone said, and I quote, “Nrff glsihkish skully booly.” I remembered thinking that language didn’t sound familiar. I blink my eyes and try to focus. Everything is a blur and someone had removed my glasses. I have an intense pain on my left side, and I feel like I’m not in my own skin. A female voice leans over and says I have been asking about my wife, making sure she’s okay. They bring her in and she assures me that she’s fine. I remember her saying something…and I drift back to sleep. I wake up and I’m in a room, my family is there and I remember eating some nasty jello thing for dinner. I can’t remember much else. The Day After: I feel a little better, more like myself, except for this damn pain on my left side. They seem to check me every few hours to take blood. I really can’t sleep, I drift off, time has no real meaning except how it relates to TV shows. I have an oxygen thing attached to my index finger and whenever I move it goes off. It is really annoying. I don’t take drugs, and I don’t want any unnecessary chemicals in my body, so they give me a “weak” version of a painkiller. I do my best to not touch the control which makes it drip into my IV. I try to do ki exercises to reduce the pain. I meet with a physical therapist who teaches me how to use a walker, how to get in and out of bed and chairs, walk up and down stairs and so on. I feel like I’m three years old. He goes over “hip precautions,” stuff I need to remember or otherwise I could pop the new hip out of place, and he assures me that would be quite painful. Alright, memo to self: DON’T FORGET ANY OF
98 July 2009 / taekwondotimes.com
By C.M. Griffin
THESE! Don’t cross my legs, even at the ankles; don’t have my knees higher than my hips, don’t bend beyond 90 degrees, keep my left leg elevated when lying down or seated, don’t let my knees touch, sleep with a thick pillow between my legs so the “bad hip” is supported and the knees don’t touch; use a special seat for the bathroom and a few more items. Trust me, I still remember them all. My family visits me and I actually feel a little better. When my wife tells them I have a titanium hip, my eldest son jokes about me setting off detectors at the airport. My daughter calls her friends and brags that her father is “bionic.” My wife and I both say, “Let’s hope that all this doesn’t cost six million dollars.” My eldest son laughs, while my daughter, who’s 22 and youngest son, who’s 17, don’t get it. Oh, trying to go to the bathroom is an experience and I’ll leave it at that. The Next Day: More blood tests and some cute nurses. Finally, I can wash myself and everyone is happy that um…I actually went to the bathroom, if you know what I mean. Grandmaster Fairbanks visits me and we go over some ki power, pain management techniques and man, do I need them. I really don’t want to take these damn chemicals to ease the pain, but sometimes it gets so intense. Going over these techniques really, really helps. Dr. Welsh visits me and tells my wife cutting through me was like cutting through solid marble, which was why the operation took so long. He said the procedure usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, but with me it took almost three hours, cutting through all the muscle fibers in my leg. I have to say, the doctors, nurses, therapist and staff at the hospital were all wonderful people. They treated me with respect and made me as comfortable as possible. They were all so different from the people I had dealt with previously. I don’t know, maybe it was just the luck of the draw? Or maybe it was that balance theory, where I had to experience the bad, so I could really appreciate the good. The one thing I had to smile about, when certain members of the staff heard that Grandmaster Fairbanks was visiting me, they made a point of stopping by my room. A few of them read this magazine, so we chatted about training, different martial systems and their similarities. I even did an impromptu Nae Gong Sul session with some of the staff and a few patients. The Final Day: I can go home after I visit with the occupational therapist. He shows me how to get in and out of a car as well as a few other things. We go over those “hip precautions” again. When I return to my room, the nurse goes over everything I will need and makes sure I am comfortable giving myself those daily injections. A doctor stops by and gives me a once over and a thumbs up. I get dressed, fill out some paperwork and a nurse pushes me in a wheelchair to the front of the hospital. It’s a sunny day, not too cold. The air is a mixture of car fumes and frying hamburgers. In the distance, I can hear the children playing at the local elementary school. They help me get into the van and I’m finally on my way home.
Tel (562) 251-1600 Fax (562) 251-1611 7120 Alondra Blvd., Paramount, CA 90723 www.sangmoosa.com, info@sangmoosa.com
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TKD Enterprises
Catalog
Martial Art Products
Featured DVDs
WTF Standard Taekwondo Poomsae
Flow and Flexibility
The only WTF-recognized standard poomsae video textbook available used by instructors, demonstrators and referees. Each DVD contains full-length poomsae instruction. Multilanguage version (Korean / English / French / Spanish / German). Item D035 / 4-disk set / $99.00
These carefully chosen techniques from the Budokon System will teach you to address areas of weakness and limited range while cultivating kinetic chains of energy and seamless transitions. Props recommended: fitness mat, yoga brick. Item DPP01 / $25.00
ITF Tul
Strength and Balance
ITF Basic Posture, Chon-Ji, Dan-Gun, Do-San, Won-Hyo, Yul-Gok, Joong-Gun, Toi-Gae, Hwa-Rang, Choong-Moo. Vol. 2:Kwang-Gae, Po-Eun, Ge-Baek, Eui-Am, Choong-Jang, Ju-Che, Sam-Il, Yoo-Sin, Choi-Yong. Languages: Korean, English and Japanese. 210 minutes. Item D043 / Entire 2-disk set / $55.00
This program is designed specifically to strengthen and tone the entire body while cultivating incredible arm and single leg balance. Props recommended: fitness mat, yoga brick. Item DPP02 / $25.00
17th Spain World TKD Championships Watch gorgeous techniques of top-level players as they compete in Madrid. Witness the introduction of “sudden death” and how changing the matches from three to two minutes intensifies the bouts! 240 minutes. Item D040 / $32.00
World Taekwondo Hanmadang 2005 Watch 2,899 TKD players from ten countries compete in diverse events like poomsae, breaking, aerobics, hoshinsul, and more. New events such as ‘consecutive turning and kick-breaking’ and ‘jumping kick-breaking’ appear for the first time and set new world records. Languages: Korean, English. 140 minutes. Item D037 / $19.00
Power and Agility This is the preferred training tool for experienced yogis, MMA fighters, martial artists, and Olympic athletes alike. Props recommended: fitness mat, yoga brick. Item DPP03 / $25.00
Essential Defense System This three-disc DVD set with Michael Aloia delivers a simple, effective approach to self-protection. Vol 1: methods of E.D.S. Vol 2: striking, takedowns, joint locks, controls and theory. Vol 3: falling, confined spaces and weapon defenses. Item DPP04 / $32.99
Secrets of Stretching Learn what determines how flexible you are, how to choose your stretching method for any sport or martial art, and have full flexibility without any warm-up.Multi-language version in English, French and Spanish. 92 minutes. Item DPP06 / $49.95
Revolution of Kicking II This product is a two volume set. When you grasp the knowledge and skills in this DVD set, you will possess the skills to be a master! Now Mooto reveals the know-how of Tae Kwon Do Air kicking on the master level. This easy explanation with classified kicking can be modeled for your training. Vol 1: Pine board breaking, single breaking, breakfall breaking, and combination. Vol 2: Breaking with turn, In air dwi-chagi, obstacle breaking, and general breaking. Item D048 / $43.00
2001-2003 World Taekwondo Matches A four-disk set showcasing the World Taekwondo matches from 2001 to 2003. Vol. 1 (200 min.): The 2001 World Cup in Vietnam. Vol. 2 (240 min.): The 15th Jeju World Taekwondo Championships. Vol. 3 (235 min.): The 2002 Tokyo Taekwondo World Cup. Vol. 4 (240 min.): The 2003 World Taekwondo Championships.Item D039 / $109.00
Master Jung’s Know-How of Actual Gyeorugi This 4-disk set, featuring the Bible of Taekwondo Gyeorugi is taught by Professor Jung. Amongst his highest achievements are being a four-time consecutive World Taekwondo champion and a gold medalist in the 1988 Olympics. Vol. 1: Basic Skills. Vol. 2: Step and Feint Motion. Vol. 3: Strategy. Vol. 4: Real Competition Strategy. 480 minutes. Language: Korean Subtitles: English, Spanish. Item D038 / $99.00
The Power High Kicks with No Warm-Up! Learn to kick high and with power without any warm-up! Kick “cold” without injuring yourself or pulling muscles and put more power and snap in your high kicks. 80 minutes. Item DPP07 / $49.95
Clinic on Stretching and Kicking See the dynamic stretch that is most important for kickers; plus step-by-step drills for front kick, side kick, roundhouse kick and for combinations. 101 minutes. Item DPP08 / $29.95
Basic Instincts of Self-Defense Learn defenses against unarmed attacks, including 55 common attacks that turn the attacker’s force against him. 104 minutes. Item DPP09 / $39.95
Acrobatic Tumbling Step-by-step instruction for one-hand, two-hand, and aerial cartwheels, round-off, front and back handspring, and front somersault. 105 minutes. Item DPP10 / $49.95
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Featured DVDs Elite Israeli Combat DVD Set 1 ) ) . ) ) ) ) 4 ) ) 56 , 7 ), * * ) ) 5/ 7 ) ) ) 8 - +, ) - )) ) 9 & :; ) , . ) ) 4 ) ) * )
Hapkido: Weapon of Self-Defense: Walking Cane
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The 3-disc set includes: defense and disarm techniques for firearm threats; edged-weapon defense; â&#x20AC;&#x153;on the groundâ&#x20AC;? survival defense; hand-to-hand techniques; military, police and counter terrorism CQB; combat conditioning essentials; and applicable defensive tools for every person. Item DPP11 / $99.00
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An instructional video with Grandmaster So, tenth-dan black belt in Hapkido and Kung Fu. Learn how to use an everyday walking cane as a weapon of self-defense. Great for senior citizens! DPP16 / $29.99
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The Complete Library Set -17 DVDs Commando Krav Maga (Vol.1-5): Survive Vicious Ground Attacks (Vol.1&2): Survive Any Gun Confrontation (Vol. 1&2): Best Of The Israeli Fighting Systems (Vol. 1&2): Vicious Knife Attacks (3 Disc Series): Military Krav Maga (One Vol.): Street Survival (One Vol.): Combatant (One Vol.). Item DPP12 / $392.95
Tai Chi for Arthritis Learn how this centuries-old art can benefit arthritis sufferers through deep breathing from Grandmaster So. DPP17 / $29.99
The Quick Fit Library: 6 Dvd Set + FullColor Book
Hapkido Defense Against Punches, Grappling Techniques and Knife Attacks Brought to you by Grandmaster So and the Universal Martial Arts Association. DPP18 / $29.99
6 Training Dvds: Over 6 hours of revolutionary training drills: Over 300 proven techniques: Solo and partner exercises: Step-by-step progressive routines: PLUS The Elite Combat Fitness Book with 240 full color pages. Item DPP14 / $239.95
Asociacion Mexicana De Hapkido
The Platinum Set-23 Dvds + Book
A Mexico Martial Arts Seminar in Monterrey with Grandmaster Yong So, tenth-dan. Text in Spanish. DPP19 / $29.99
The Complete Library Set with 17 DVDs with the Quick Fit Library with 6-DVD set and book. Item DPP13 / $594.95
Aikido- art in motion DVD series Aikido is one of the most innovative and adapting of the modern day martial arts. With its roots based in kendo and jujutsu, Aikido is well versed as an art and means for self defense. The techniques within the art are both subtle and dynamic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; each lending a hand in creating an axis of power exclusive to Aikido. Volume I: Movement Volume II: Connection Volume III: Control Item DPP15 / $55.00
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Featured Books The Book of Teaching & Learning TaeKwonDo
Taekwondo: Korean Traditional Martial Arts: Philosophy & Culture
Martial Meditation: Philosophy and the Essence of the Martial Arts
12 chapter book details how TKD was introduced as an Olympic sport and the tasks facing TKD people to maintain its Olympic status after the 2012 London Olympic Games. Also with 68 pages of poomsae diagrams.448 pages, Hardcover. Item B041 / $69.95
Grandmaster Kyong Myong Lee, a certified WTF ninth-dan, writes this 300-page, full color, coffeetable sized book offering a panoramic overview of TKD. Item B034 / $59.95
This 370-page textbook by Dr. Daeshik Kim and Allan Back examines the essence, distinctions and dynamics between art, sport, martial arts and martial sports and their historic and philosophical perspectives. Hardcover. Item B021 / $22.75
Taekwon-Do: The Korean Art of SelfDefense A well-condensed version of General Choiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Encyclopedia, the book, also by Gen. Choi, is 765 pages and focuses on self-defense aspects of Taekwon-Do plus its history. Additional postage required. Hardcover. Item B015 / $99.00 Reduced to $69.99
WTF Taekwondo Textbook This 766-page Kukkiwon textbook is a compilation of all available updated data regarding TKD and focuses on the scientific analysis of theories as well as the three-dimensional illustrations of major physical motions. Additional postage required. Item B039 / $84.99
Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do This one of a kind encyclopedia by Gen. Choi Hong Hi has 15 volumes consisting of 5000 pages with 30,000 photos. The encyclopedia is the culmination of General Choiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifelong research into TKDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and development. Hardcover English Version. Additional postage required. ORDER NOW, LIMITED SUPPLY! Item B014 / $275.00
Taekwondo Kyorugi: Olympic Style Sparring Learn sparring secrets of Olympic Gold Medalist and four-time World Champion Kuk Hyun Chung, WTF Deputy GeneralSecretary Kyung Myung Lee, and translator and editor Sang H. Kim. Item B027 / $12.95
Eastern Spirit, Western Dreams This 226-page memoir captures the true hardships and joys of a small town, South Korean farm boy, TKDT Publisher Woojin Jung, who lives out his American dream. Item B038A (English) / $14.00 Item B038B (Korean) / $14.00
Mastering Taekwondo Sparring: The Basics A comprehensive look at all aspects of sparring and how to become the complete Taekwondo fighter. Item B029 / $29.95
Featured Books Best Instructor + Best School = Best Life! This 329-page book written by Grandmaster Woojin Jung is a must-have for school owners, instructors and students with a dream. Not only a helpful guide for new students to find the best instructor possible, this book is also a guide for new and established instructors and school owners on how to successfully manage and maintain a martial arts business. Item B030 / $25.00 Reduced to $19.00!
Gold Medal Mental Workout for Combat Sports Package Set includes one book, one training log and four CDs. Let Dariusz Nowicki, the top East European sports psychologist, show you how the science of psychology can combine with your skill and physical training to make you a winner! Item BPP01 / $59.95
instructions, plus special training drills for fighting, endurance, speed and power. Learn breaking, self-defense, fighting applications, and how to become the best of the best. Paperback Item BPP06p / $29.99 Hardcover Item BPP06h / $34.99
Breaking Unlimited Breaking Unlimited by Maurice Elmalem is the only book written solely on the art of breaking. It features step-by-step instructions on how to break wood, glass, bricks, ice, cinder blocks, and more, in many different ways. Paperback Item BPP07 / $29.99
The Bible of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu A special book for studying and perfecting the “soft art” of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It details step-by-step the technical aspects of various techniques and submissions using easy to understand photos. Paperback Item BPP09 / $29.99
Stretching Scientifically Attain maximum height in your kicks with no warm-up! Stretch safely and quickly to achieve and maintain maximum flexibility. Develop each of the three kinds of flexibility: dynamic, static active and static passive.214 pages. Softcover. Item BPP02 / $25.99
Explosive Power and Jumping Ability for all Sports How well you jump and how powerfully you punch, pull, or throw depends on your explosive power, on your special endurance for explosive movements, and on your speed, coordination, and flexibility. This book tells you how to develop each of these abilities. 138 pages. Softcover. Item BPP03 / $23.95
Science of Sports Training This book uses the sports training know-how of internationally known training specialists to improve your speed, strength, power, endurance, coordination, and flexibility, as well as technical and tactical skills, while avoiding overtraining and injuries. 424 pages. Softcover. Item BPP05 / $39.95
Children and Sports Training The needs of boys and girls in sports training are dramatically different. Learn how to match the right sport with the right child, the right training program for the age and gender of the child. Learn the “sensitive ages” for development of movement abilities (endurance, coordination, speed, strength, flexibility). 250 pages. Softcover. Item BPP04 / $29.95
The Will Power This complete martial arts book by Maurice Elmalem has over 700 photos, illustrations and
JKD Without Limits Discussing the martial art founded by legendary Bruce Lee, Jeet Kune Do, the book contains: lessons from the ring, sparring, Bruce Lee’s five ways of attacking, and firearms training for martial artists. Paperback Item BPP10 / $29.99
Fighting Dynamics This explosive book by Maurice Elmalem covers all aspects of fighting with over 1000 photos, various fighting styles of martial arts demonstrated by movie stars, historians, celebrities and grandmasters. Paperback Item BPP08 / $29.99
Taekwondo: Building on the Basics Perfect your Taekwondo skills at every level! Written by experienced instructors and authors, this book expands fundamentals, improves sparring, offers advanced leg and hand techniques, teaches realistic selfdefense methods, and unlocks the potentials of the mind using meditation. 260 pages. Item BPP11 / $18.95
Meditation from Thought to Action with Audio CD Learn meditation with these easyto-follow exercises and methods. Learn the roots of Yoga, Buddhism, Zen, Confucianism, and Daoism. Learn mental and body tools to begin meditating and clear the mind. The CD teaches the skills from the book and guides listeners into a deep meditative state. Item BPP12 / $18.95
Zen Around the World: A 2500 Year Journey from the Buddha to You The entire story of Zen. Martial artists will find
inspiration along with instruction in traditional and innovative Zen meditation methods to help sharpen mental skills to add more focus, accuracy, speed, and power in every technique. 242 pages. Item BPP13 / $15.50
Chung Do Kwan: The Power of Tae Kwon Do The book offers the history and philosophy of Tae Kwon Do. With illustrations, this book presents Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do with clear and easy to follow instructions. 164 pages. Item BPP14 / $15.50
Simple Zen: A Guide to Living Moment by Moment Zen is a dynamic way to enhance living and improve martial arts practice. Easy to follow exercises are given for practice of meditation with poetry, brush painting, martial arts, and more. 158 pages. Item BPP15 / $12.95
Simple Confucianism This book offers a clear and concise guide to the history, key concepts, and principles of Confucianism including benevolence, central harmony, the mean, and becoming a sage.140 pages. Item BPP16 / $12.95
Simple Buddhism: A Guide to Enlightened Living An accessible guide to Buddhist concepts and practices including Mahayana and Theravada traditions. This book gives history, themes, and exercises including key mental practices such as the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. 133 pages. Item BPP17 / $12.95
Simple Taoism: A Guide to Living in Balance A clear explanation of Taoism with simple exercises in meditation, breathing, chi kung, and tai chi chuan. An informative discussion of key Taoist concepts including “wu-wei” (achieving through non-action), “yin” and “yang”, and “te” (power and virtue). 177 pages. Item BPP18 / $12.95
Taekwon-Do and I ( Volumes 1&2) The memoirs of Choi Hong-Hi, the founder of Taekwon-Do. Volume One; Motherland; the land in turmoil. Volume Two; The Vision of Exile: any Place under Heaven is Do-Jang Item B043 / $79.99
Featured Books Simple Tibetan Buddhism: A Guide to Tantric Living A concise introduction to the unique history and traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, a philosophy that integrates ritual with practice. With simple exercies for incorporating visualization, diety yoga, mandalas, mantras and the esoteric, effective tantric methods, this book opens up new possibilities.144 pages. Item BPP19 / $12.95
Tao in Ten, Easy Lessons for Spiritual Growth This book presents fundamental teachings from Taoism in ten easy lessons with a brief history. Each of the ten lessons gives experiences and understandings of a key Taoist principle, revealing the infinite potentials for better living at One with Tao. 158 pages. Item BPP20 / $12.95
Zen in Ten, Easy Lessons for Spiritual Growth
Buddhism in Ten, Easy Lessons for Spiritual Growth
This book begins with a brief history to reveal Zen’s development and evolution through the ages. The ten lessons give fundamental principles and significant understandings of Zen. 152 pages. Item BPP21 / $12.95
The Ten lessons contain fun damental principles of Buddhism along with clear and effective ways to apply Buddhism to many areas of life.152 pages. Item BPP22 / $12.95
Chi Gong Medicine From God
Korean Martial Art: The Conquer of America
Lose weight with a seaweed diet. Prevent altitude and divers sickness, and many other advantages of Chi.Item B042 / $19.95
By Ho Sung Lee.The story of the history of Tae Kwon Do in the United States and the Korean pioneers who brought the art to America. 344 pages. Only available in Korean.Item B040 / $19.99
Closeout Champions 2000: 14th Men’s & 7th Women’s WTF Championships Video Vol. A contains men’s and women’s fin, fly and men’s bantam competitions. Item T021A / $35.00 Reduced to $4.99! Vol. B contains women’s bantam and men’s and women’s feather & light matches. Item T021B / $35.00 Reduced to $4.99! Vol. C contains men’s and women’s welter, middle and heavyweight championships Item T021C / $35.00 Reduced to $4.99!
Success and the Creative Imagination: The Unique Power of Do Sang Kyu Shim’s book provides a rich model of the way one can bring diversity of expression to the unity of understanding and fulfillment. Item B026 / $15.00 Reduced to $4.99!
Tae Kwon Do, Volume I & II Vol. 1 contains all of Poomsae (forms), Taeguek 1-8 and Palgwe 1-8, required to earn a black belt from the WTF. Vol. 2 illustrates Poomsae from Cho Dan to Grandmaster. Item B003 / Vol. 1 / $15.00 Reduced to $2.99! Item B004 / Vol. 2 / $15.00 Reduced to $2.99!
Featured Training Products & Novelties Re-Useable Breaking Boards Endorsed by the Korea Taekwondo Association, the board’s rectangular shape and padding make it easier to hold while its slide groove enables faster and easier reassembling. Board color corresponds to belt level. Item K007/ Yellow (Easiest) $24.95 / Blue (Easy) $24.95 / Red (Harder) $24.95 / Black (Hardest) $28.95
Sold Out The Ultimate Martial Arts Board
High strength plastic construction allows the board to be re-breakable time after time. A rubber palm pad provides a cushion for the holder. Different colors represent level of difficulty. Item K011 / White $34.95 / Orange $34.95 / Green $34.95 / Blue $34.95 / Brown $34.95 / Black $34.95
Double Focus Target Two separate pads are bound together to create a training aid that enables you to actually hear the strength of your kick. A sturdy, elastic wrist band
ensures that the target will not leave the holder’s hand. Item K002 / $24.95
with an inner cavity filled with a durable urethane foam. Weighs 270 lbs. when filled. Made in the USA. BOB Item NPP03 / $280.00 BOB XL Item NPP04 / $340.99
Jang Bong Sul (Long Pole) This three-section staff easily screws together to form the six-foot long bong that has been a part of Korean martial history for over 4,000 years. Constructed with a durable core surrounded by a wood-simulated padded covering that will cushion strikes and blows. Item K008 / $29.95
Karate Kritters They’re back! These cute little toys make karate sounds when you squeeze their belly. Each stands 6” tall. TIGER—Item KKT1 / $9.95 BEAR—Item KKB1 / $9.95
BOB Training Partner He’s the perfect sparring partner! Practice your techniques and accuracy on this life-like mannequin. Fits on a sand or water filled base, which is included. BOB is made of a high strength plastisol
HapkidoGear Shoe This shoe uses existing RingStar technology with Hapkido specific refinements to create the first shoe born for Hapkido. HapkidoGear shoes are specifically designed for both training and sparring. The unique materials used in this make it the lightest, most comfortable and protective shoe available. Item NPP01 / $82.99
HapkidoGear Cane The New Tactical Cane from HapkidoGear is designed to be the perfect training aid in the Dojang and to meet the requirements of real world usage. Using high tech aluminum alloy and durable powder coating in it’s construction along with sure grip knurling on the shaft, this cane is the most highly developed and versatile available today. Item NPP02 / $75.00