Persian Warrior
Master Darius Ghaffari & Dr. He-Young Kimm
The Goodwill Tour in the Big Apple
Plus Techniques to...
TKDT 2011 Hall of Fame
Teach You Survival Throw Your Attacker Off Balance Harness Your Mental Energy
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Contents
January 2012 / Volume 32 No. 1 / Issue Number 185 Publisher & CEO Woojin Jung Managing Editor Laura Stolpe Creative Director Jenny Harris Business Director Brian Heckart Copy Editors Bill Heckart Julie Heckart
Features 24
The Goodwill Tour 2011: New York City
Get a first-hand glimpse into the New York City leg of the 2011 Goodwill Tour. Follow team members as they meet and interact with Americans, perform an amazing demonstration and dine at a local pizzeria in the Big Apple.
Web Site Manager
40
Consultant
Take a look at some great photos from the latest ITF Championships held September 2011 in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Midwest Dedicated John Lee
International Cover Consultant
The ITF Championships
Sang Koo Kang
Columnists
Alex Haddox C. M. Griffin Doug Cook Erik Richardson Guy Edward Larke James Theros Jerry Beasley Karen Eden Master Rondy Paul Zaichik Stace Sanchez Stephen DiLeo Tae Yun Kim Tom Kurz
42 The 2011 Super Summer International Korean Martial Arts Seminar Check out who attended Chief Master Robert Ott’s renowned seminar this year and get exclusive photos of masters and grandmasters in action. 47 Iran
Pioneering Spirit: Darius Ghaffari & Korean Martial Arts in
Bloggers
Meet Master Darius Ghaffari, an Iranian martial artist with over 40 years of training. Read about his struggles while pioneering TKD in his homeland and the amazing people he met along the way.
Contributors
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Abby Mattingly David Higgs Hilario Gonzalez Rick Morris Robert Ott Ron Shane Stephen Petermann Zarai Gonzalez
Learn about the 2011 inductees of the prestigious TaeKwonDo Times Hall of Fame.
Aaron Wayne-Duke Erica Linthorst Dr. Dave Nelson Jeremy Talbott Paul Marsala Rick McIntosh
TKDT 2011 Hall of Fame
64 Elucidating the Do: Advanced Training Strategies Cover Photo by Heiko Folkerts
Vice Presidents Don Wells Eui Min Ko George Vitale He-Young Kimm Young Lee
General Advisors Jhoon Rhee Jin Suk Yang Hee Il Cho Woon Chick Park Chuck Sereff Soo Nam Park
Dr. Ron Shane expands on General Choi’s theory of mental training and shows specific ways that practitioners can maximize the “Do” of Tae Kwon Do as they perform their patterns. 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 Pereir 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: Cover
Robin Rafferty Argentina: Ricardo Desimone South America: Jose Luis Giarone Australia: photo by Chee Bill Bly. Tam Fook
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First, Break Their Balance
An often overlooked self-defense technique is explored in this article, which demonstrates several ways to take your attacker off his feet and break his balance. 76
Mind, Body and Survival
Self-defense is more than just knowing some basic techniques, it’s also having the right frame of mind. Train to survive with expert Rick Morris and the team at Mind, Body and Survival. Columns Stretch Yourself, MMA & You, Heart to Heart, Master the Basics, Raising Awareness / www.taekwondotimes.com 22 NEW! Wisdom of the Masters / Martial Integrity 30 Woman of the Times / Kryptonite 32 Nutrition by the Numbers / Increase Your Flexibility with a Fork 34 KICKPICS Corner / Photos by Stace Sanchez 60 Kickin’ It / Developing Flexibility 61 East Meets West / Not Home for the Holidays 62 Traditions / The Demon of Self-Doubt 68 The Knight’s Way / And the Award Goes To… 90 The Last Word / Makes Me Wanna Holla Departments 8 13 18 26 36 38 81 86 88
Publisher’s Page / Unification News / The Latest in Martial Arts Black Belt Beginnings / Immigrants in America TKDT Schools of the Month / December & January Killer Kicks / Get A Leg Up! The Big Break / Cool Photos Calendar of Events / When & Where TKDT Correspondents / Our Global Community Martial Arts Directory / Find a School
TAE KWON DO TIMES, Volume 32, Number One (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 Royle Printing Company. 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 © 2012 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.
Tong-IL
Grandmaster Woojin Jung once again traveled to North Korea on a peace mission, hoping to unify the Koreas. During his visit, he visited Chunji Lake on Baekdu Mountain, which is the highest volcanic mountain (2,744 meters or 9,003 ft) in the Changbai mountain range, which lies on the borders of North Korea and China. He traveled there with other members of the Tong-Il Unification group, from Russia, Argentina, England and the U.S., as well as with French documentary maker Pierre-Olivier Francois, who captured some amazing footage of the Tong-Il group making friends with some local North Korean middle school children and men of the North Korean military. Grandmaster Jung has sought and continues to seek unification between the countries, not out of political aspirations, but out of the deepest love and respect for his homeland Korea and humankind. He has orchestrated several trips to North Korea and two Goodwill Tours, which brought the North Korean Taekwondo Demonstration Team to the United States in 2007 and 2011 to demonstrate their amazing martial art abilities and to create a cultural exchange of peace between the U.S. and North Korea. It is his lifelong dream to see his homeland of Korea reunited and his tool for realizing that dream is Taekwondo. For TaeKwonDo Times Publisher and ninth-dan Grandmaster Woojin Jung, his mission is truly, Uniting the World Through Martial Arts.
Woojin Jung
8
January 2012/taekwondotimes.com
*This is an excerpt of Grandmaster Jung’s latest book, Best Instructor + Best School =Best Life! To find out more about the book, visit our store at www.taekwondotimes.com.
Above: GM Jung saluting a soldier at the DPRK border of the DMZ. Right: The Tong-IL group friended North Korean school children visiting the DMZ. Below: A rare boat ride in Chunji Lake.
The Tong-IL group
January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
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Inside... Help Students Realize Their Dreams Applause Changes People Balance and Order Awaken the Sleeping Spirit! Motivation: Secret to Success Instructor with the Most Students A Good Instructor: A Good Psychologist An Instructor is a Maestro
Training, Trai Tr a ni ai ning ng, ng g, Endorphins En ndorp dorp do phi hins nss aand n nd d tthe he A Atomic toom miic Bomb! B b! Instill Moral Values Noble Ties of Friendship Do Not Cross the Line Ties That Bind One Strike and You Could Be Out! Don’t Lose Your Aura Always Be Righteous
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USAT Hires New CEO Colorado Springs, Colorado—USA Taekwondo has chosen a new CEO. Eric Parthen began his duties at the USAT National Office in Colorado Springs in September 2011. Parthen, a 1994 magna cum laude graduate from Augustana College, was formerly the Managing Director for WSB Americas where he was responsible for leading all North American operations of the new start-up international boxing league. Under Parthen’s leadership, WSB Americas successfully launched the inaugural season with North American teams in Miami, Los Angeles, Memphis and Mexico City, Mexico. Prior to his work at WSB Americas, Parthen served as the Director of National Governing Body (NGB) Development for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). Tasked with starting this new division in March 2005, Parthen and his staff worked to develop enhanced organizational capabilities in the national sport governing bodies that the USOC oversees. Major areas of focus included improving the governance, management and operational efficiency of NGBs to increase overall organizational effectiveness.
Eric Parthen USAT CEO
Parthen first started with the USOC in the fall of 1993 after earning an internship during his senior year at Augustana. After graduation, he spent 18 months working as an Engagement Controller for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) before returning to the USOC in April 1996. Since then, he has held numerous positions in the Olympic Family including as the Executive Director of USA Boxing where he led all staff operations for the national governing body for the sport of amateur boxing. Under his leadership, USA Boxing won two medals at the 2004 Olympic Games including the first Gold medal since 1996. In addition, Parthen stabilized operations and significantly increased revenue by engaging new partners during his nearly three year term.
“I’m excited to join USA Taekwondo as its CEO and I look forward to the challenge of helping to lead the many hard working athletes, coaches, staff and volunteers in their quest to continue to achieve organizational sustained competitive excellence,” Parthen said. “USA Taekwondo has had an incredible history of athletic performance in international competition, including the Olympic Games, and I’m honored to be associated with that success.”
EVENTS 2nd Tactical Hapkido Alliance Conference Erie, Pennsylvania—In October 2011, students, black belts, masters, senior masters and grandmasters from five states came in fellowship to exchange their knowledge of Chon Sul Kwon. During this three-day event, several Chon Sul Kwon masters, along with Grandmaster Barry Rodemaker, Tactical Hapkido Alliance (THA) Founder/President, held seminars covering various training topics. In addition, special guest Grandmaster Dr. Kevin Hufford taught padded weapons and sword in a full twohour seminar segment this year as part of the THA’s student retention program for charter member schools. World Kido Federation Hapkido Seminar Gramado, Brazil—Eighty-seven masters and Hapkido practitioners from Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay came together for a weekend of intensive training with Master Steve Seo, Director of Techniques and Skills for World Kido Federation/Hanminjok Hapkido Association. Participants learned foundational self-defense, striking, danbong, rope, ki training concepts and various application theories throughout an intense weekend of training. Seminar host Master Alexandre Gomez was reconfirmed as the Regional Director of Brazil for World Kido Federation/Hanminjok Hapkido Association and was also awarded a Certificate of Commendation for his ongoing leadership and dedication in growing Korean Martial Arts and Hapkido in Brazil. World Kido Federation Masters Jose Becerra (Ecuador) and Alejandro Hirschmann (Paraguay) were also in attendance and were presented letters of recognition from the World Kido Federation/Hanminjok Hapkido Association.
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CTF Eastern Regional Summer Camp Lock Haven, Pennsylvania—The International Chin Mu Kwan Tae Kwon Do Federation (CTF) held their Eastern regional summer camp the last weekend in July at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania. Master Fred DeStolfo, eighth-dan, Vice President of the CTF, directed the camp. Master DeStolfo has been running the camp for 26 years. The CTF organization is under the leadership of Grandmaster Yon Ho Kang. This year’s camp began on Friday evening with forms competition. On Saturday and Sunday, students and black belts then trained in traditional TKD along with special seminars in Aikido, boxing, Brazilian Ju Jitsu, selfdefense, competition sparring and weapons. Master DeStolfo’s staff included Master Instructors: Lenny Young, Doug Eaton, Robert Pease, Lonnie Clark, Geoffrey Anders, Palmer Cramer and John Wittler. Black belt instructors were: Jeanne Gable and Steve Smith. Global Hapkido Conference Waynesburg, Pennsylvania—In August 2011, the Sinmoo Legacy Group held its fourth annual Global Hapkido Conference in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. This event was hosted by Grandmaster John and Laura Beluschak at the American Judo-Hapkido Institute. This year’s sold-out event drew students from across the county to participate in three days of instruction. Instructors included Grandmaster Larry Dorsey, Farshad Azad, Dr. Egil Fosslien, Frank Croaro, Steve Dougherty and Vincent Valdez. Topics taught included Hapkido kicking, sword, long staff, Judo throws, choking and joint locking, as well as special law enforcement skills and philosophies. A special historic presentation was given by Professor Richard Saccone on the suppression of Korean culture during the Japanese occupation. The Sinmoo Legacy Group was formed in 2007 by a small group of original students of Sinmoo Hapkido taught by Do Ju Nim Ji, Han Jae. This non-political group’s purpose is to preserve the concepts, philosophies and teachings of Do Ju Nim Ji.
Global Hapkido Conference World Kido Federation in Sweden Vasteras, Sweden—In October 2011, the World Kido Federation/Hanminjok Hapkido Association conducted a two-day intensive seminar hosted by Instructors Rikard Larsson and Pierre Sundin of Sweden. Master Scott Seo, General Secretary of Hanminjok Hapkido Association, taught a variety of hoshinsul, forms, ki breathing and many other techniques to over 60 participants from Scandinavia, Ireland and other European countries. The WKF would like to acknowledge their gracious hosts for organizing such a great gathering of martial artists, where participants were able to train hard, exchange knowledge and build friendships. Finally, they’d like to thank Master Sheamus O’Neill of Ireland, Master Dick Skantz and Instructor Daniel Lee of Sweden, Instructor Edward Valhom of Norway and all of the participants for making this event a huge success. World Kido Federation in Sweden 14 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
8th WKA Championships 8th WKA World Kum Do Championships Moline, Illinois—The 8th WKA World Kum Do Championships were held on August 6, 2011 in Moline, Illinois at Black Hawk College. The World Kum Do Association sponsored the tournament and Master Jong K. Jun, CEO of the WKA, designated the tournament to be conducted in Moline, Illinois. The Sei Kum Kwan Dojang of Moline was the host to the event. Dr. David Birdsell, Kum Do instructor in Moline, was the Tournament Director which included the coordination of communication and scheduling of all activities for the weekend. The competitors were from all over the U.S. There were several divisions for competitors to participate. There were the Children’s Division which was for youths 12 years of age and under and also Youth’s 13-15 and 16-18. The competition also included divisions for Non Black Belt, Black Belt 1 & 2, and Black Belt 3 & up. Good sportsmanship and traditional martial art protocol were displayed by the Kum Do players and judges. 45th Oriental World of Self Defense New York City, New York—Great Grandmaster Aaron Banks held his 45th Annual Orient World of Self Defense at the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City on October 2, 2011. Appearances included schools from as far away as California with Grandmaster Irving Soto, Grandmaster Derrick Williams who performed traditional Karate kata, and Suk Jun Kim’s TaeKwon-Do in Manhattan who did a traditional Tae Kwon Do demonstration with patterns, self-defense and board-breaking. Grandmaster Banks had several special guests in attendance including Shihan Gary Alexander, Grandmaster Suk Jun Kim and Grandmaster John McNeil. The event was produced by Grandmaster Jaime Cianfrocco, who is also a Marine Corp. veteran, retired now for 20 years. Grandmaster Banks has been featured on the covers of many magazines and is credited as one of the great pioneers of the martial arts.
AWARDS & PROMOTIONS
Legendary Martial Artists Inducted into Hall of Fame
Legendary Martial Artists Inducted into Hall of Fame Little Rock, Arkansas—In September 2011, two legendary martial artists and martial art pioneers were inducted into the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. He-Young Kimm, Founder and President of Han Mu Do, as well as martial art pioneer and historian was inducted into this prestigious Hall of Fame in the category of Judo. Grandmaster Woojin Jung, Publisher of Tae Kwon Do Times, owner of several Jung’s Tae Kwon Do schools and Tae Kwon Do pioneer who orchestrated the Goodwill Tour two times was inducted in the category of Tae Kwon Do. Other honorees include: Judge Olly Neal for the Justice Advocate Award; Joe “Broadway Joe” Booker for the Lifetime Community Service Award; Lottie Shackleford for the Lifetime Community Service Award; and Louis Bryant for the Heroic Award. Other inductees are: Elijah Pitts for football (posthumously); Ron “Chin” Ingram for football; and Celia Anderson for basketball. To read David Higg’s full account of the ceremony and induction, please visit www.taekwondotimes.com and check out our bonus content.
Soo Kon Kim Inducted into Hall of Fame
GM Soo Kon Kim
Seoul, Korea—Grandmaster Soo Kon Kim of the Universal Taekwondo Association was inducted into the official TKD Hall of Fame in August 2011 at the Kukkiwon in Seoul, South Korea. His award is for his dedication and contribution for popularizing TKD in Korea, Vietnam, Cyprus, India and the United States over the past 40 years. He is the only martial artist to hold the titles of both Korean National Champion and U.S. Grand Champion.
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ICHF 7th Degree Promotion Bronx, New York—Recently at an International Combat Hapkido Federation Seminar, Grandmaster John Pellegrini promoted Master Alfred Medina to the rank of seventh-degree black belt in Combat Hapkido. Master Medina has dedicated over 30 years of his life to the martial arts and heads the Bronx Combat Hapkido in New York. He is a retired NYPD Sergeant and has trained law enforcement officers both domestically and internationally. Master Medina is one of the oldest members of the ICHF and the first Combat Hapkido student to reach the rank of Senior Master.
GM Pellegrini & Master Medina
8th Degree Promotion Orlando, Florida—Master Rod Bohorquez was promoted to Grandmaster, eighth-degree, by Great Grandmaster Jae Kyu Chon, President Of the Korea Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan. Grandmaster Rod has more then 38 years experience in the martial arts. He started under the guidance of the late Grandmaster Pong Ki Kim in New York. He became the highest non-Korean student that Grandmaster Kim promoted. Master Rod supervises schools in the U.S., as well as in Costa Rica, Mexico and Colombia. He was also appointed President of Costa Rica Moo Duk Kwan by the same Association.
GM Bohorquez & GM Jae Kyu Chon
9th Degree Promotion Ottawa, Canada—Phap Lu, Ottawa TKD expert and veteran, was promoted to ninth-dan Grandmaster, the highest level in ITF TKD. The promotion was granted by the ITF at the 21st ITF Executive & Promotion Committees and approved by the ITF Congress in Korea. GM Lu started TKD in 1968, one of the handful of students of the late TKD Founder, Gen. Choi Hong Hi. GM Lu has traveled around the world, assisting General Choi with seminars from 1985 to 2002. GM Lu owns and operates TKD schools in the Ottawa area, as well as helping other practitioners all over Canada and the world.
16 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.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.
A Husband and Wife Story Mr. Gonzalez By Hilario Gonzalez
My Name is Hilario Gonzalez, I am 39 year old. I was born in Mexico City in 1971. My interest in martial arts began when, at the age of six, I was watching the program Green Hornet and Cato, his supporting character, was played by Bruce Lee. It was then I became obsessed with martial arts, but my parents could not afford to enroll me in classes. It was not until 1982, at age 11, when I was able to get my first job at Aurrera (now Walmart) as a bag boy (serillo), where I worked not for pay, but only for tips, packing products and carrying them to the customers’ cars so I could get the money for registration in the school of Tae Kwon Do. From that moment on, I discovered the magic of Tae Kwon Do. It became a part of me.My Master Don and Bonnie Wells with the Gonzalez family
18 January 2012/taekwondotimes.com
Hilario Gonzalez vision about things, my attitude in relationship to other people, and my parents changed. But there is something that I haven’t forgotten—the conflicts when other children in the neighborhood realized I was studying Tae Kwon Do. They would want to fight with me to see who was stronger, but even so, my instructor and the discipline of TKD helped me to resolve the problem the best way. Unfortunately, when I was a green belt, I could not continue classes. Since the neighborhood where we lived was very violent, with many gangs, my parents forbid me to work. Therefore, I could no longer pay for the tuition. So during that time I exercised and practiced what I had learned on the patio of my house. When I started high school I did not have much time for practice and little by little I stopped. Tae Kwon Do left me, but only physically, because TKD was always on my mind and in my spirit. It stayed with me even after I tried other disciplines: Kung Fu, Okinawa Karate-Do and Lima Lama, which I took three or four classes in each because they were free trials at those schools. But none of these could take away from me the interest I had in TKD. My dream was to receive my black belt, to compete at a national and a worldwide level, and of course, have my own Tae Kwon Do school. But sadly, time does not stop and for many reasons it was not possible for me to return to Tae Kwon Do. When I got married and my first child was born, we decided to move to the United States and shortly thereafter, my next three children were born. With their births, a new illusion was born
inside of me and I thought that if it wasn’t possible for me to accomplish my dream that it may be possible to realize my dream in some of my children, so I decided to talk with them about TKD and try to motivate them into the discipline. When the children were 7, 6, 5 and 4 years old, I started looking for a school in Des Moines, Iowa, but it was not easy because of the language barrier and possibly, our nationality. I don’t know if that was the reason or not, but that is the way that I felt about it. One day without expecting it, by God’s will or destiny, driving on the highway I saw a Martial Arts of America sign in Ankeny, Iowa, and convinced my wife to try one more time. So we stopped in to ask for information. This was in 2008 and Master Don Wells greeted us and our first impression was very good. Still, my wife thought the children were too young and that we should wait. I was very anxious and since I drove by the school every day, I couldn’t resist, so in March 2009, I convinced my wife to visit again. We met Master Wells and again, had a very good second impression. We watched the complete class and when it was done, the kids were already excited and asked if they could register. My dream was now to see one of my children accomplish what I was not able to in the past. While watching the first three classes while I waited for my kids, I saw how Mr. and Mrs. Wells had invited people to the family classes and I could see adults in their 40s and 50s with colored belts. I realized they had started not too long ago. I couldn’t resist my desire to ask if it was possible for me to start practicing. When I asked, I crossed my fingers and started praying for a positive response. When I heard Mr. Wells saying yes, I was so happy and excited I wanted to jump and shout. It was like a green light in the darkness because they were giving me the opportunity to try to realize the dream I had considered lost. I knew that I didn’t have even half of the agility and
dexterity I had 30 years ago, but I had now the knowledge that life has given me and I knew that with hard work, I could achieve many things with Tae Kwon Do. For example, I could motivate my children so that they can accomplish their goals. I could be a good example for them because I have always talked to them about respect, education and humility and at the same time, I discovered that TKD provided physical, mental and spiritual strength, because the Tae Kwon Do tenets and God’s commandments are very similar. TKD has brought our family closer because it gives us the opportunity to spend more time together and to share something in common. TKD has helped me, my wife and my kids to change because we are no longer fearful or shy, now we are mentally stronger and more confident and my kids also started doing better in school. Finally, I learned a lesson in my life: It is never too late to start again and with perseverance we can make our dreams come true. But there is something else more wonderful that I love about TKD, which is to know that TKD doesn’t discriminate, that it is for everyone without regard to color, origin or
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religion. TKD is a universal language; it is like a big family in which everyone is equal. I believe that these are enough reasons to say that I have a lot to thank Tae Kwon Do for and that I have it inside my mind and my heart. It is a hard feeling to explain. I admire Tae Kwon Do and its philosophy and I thank its creators and the people that took it to different countries in the world. Finally, I would like to let you know that all of these beautiful things I have just mentioned: my change, my wife’s and children’s change, would have never have been possible without the wonderful and valuable collaboration and patience of God, the four great persons of Tae Kwon Do (Grandmaster Jung, Master Don Wells, Bonnie Wells & Master Dudak) to which my family and I will be eternally thankful and we do not have a way to pay for all the good that has been brought to us with their teachings. We only wish for them that God blesses them and we will always keep them in our heart as well as Tae Kwon Do. Thank you Martial Arts America.
Mrs. Gonzalez By Zarai Gonzalez, Age 32 I learned about TKD for the first time when I married my husband and we had our first child. He had plans that our children would learn the discipline, but for many reasons we decided to move to the United States and here, we had three more children. He always talked of how much he would like for his children to practice TKD. Sometimes, I didn’t understand why he was so interested in it, but finally when the kids were 4, 5, 6 and 7, we started looking for schools. It wasn’t easy for different reasons that are not worthwhile to mention. Unexpectedly, one day we discovered Martial Arts America in Ankeny, Iowa, and decided to stop in to inquire. This was in 2008 and we were greeted by Master Don Wells. He provided us the information but because of the age of two of the children, we decided to wait until we could be put into the same group. It was in March of 2009 when we returned to Martial Arts America and I must give thanks to God that we did, because here began a new experience, which was marvelous for me and 20 January 2012/taekwondotimes.com
a radical change to my life. Once the children started, my husband and I observed the system of teaching and were feeling so good because it seemed the age of the others was not an obstacle and that the same teaching was for students from four years to fifty. This motivated my husband so much that he was very curious to ask if it would be possible if he could take the class. The response of Master Wells was tremendous. He said yes, but my husband was not completely satisfied with this, and asked me to try it too. I was very scared and shy, I felt insecure because I had never been in an English speaking class and I was afraid of being ridiculed because of my poor English. But they convinced me and I decided to try it. It was difficult at first because I couldn’t understand the instructions and I felt like giving up but the instructors, Masters Don and Bonnie Wells with their patience and the special way they have of teaching, created the feeling of a warm family and their way of motivating made me change my mind and gave me strength to continue.
Zarai Gonzalez
Then it was like a new Zarai awakened. I discovered many things that I didn’t know. I overcame many fears. I broke with a life that I didn’t realize had no excitement and was full of monotony and I discovered that I could achieve much more if I tried. It was so radical, that now TKD is an essential part of my life. Thanks to TKD I am now able to have conversations with my family and know and understand what is being discussed. Thanks to TKD I discovered that I am strong and that I have the capacity to learn and to teach. I have learned to value myself which is something that I didn’t do before starting TKD. I discovered that I should not limit myself, and thanks to Martial Arts of America, I learned to respect this country instead of being afraid of the language. Now I know that the language is not an obstacle for me and I am trying harder to learn the English language as it should be. With the help of Martial Arts of America, I have discovered many reasons to admire and love this country that has given us so many blessings, such as being able live better and provide a better future for our children. I
must thank TKD because it gave me the opportunity to spend more time at home together as a family and to meet many people. TKD is now part of my personal life because now if I don’t attend class I feel that my life is incomplete. TKD has helped me to discover things about me that I didn’t know existed, like the capacity to feel proud of myself instead of ashamed. Really I do not have the words to express how much Tae Kwon Do means to me, but what I can say is that I will be eternally grateful to my teachers, Master Don and Master Bonnie Wells, Master Dudak and all the black belts for the great effort they put in teaching me and for the great patience they have had with me. For these and many other reasons, I would like thank in a special way: God, for the opportunity he gave me to discover martial arts and its members, Tae Kwon Do for existing, my teachers Masters Don and Bonnie Wells, Ms. Dudak and Grandmaster Jung.
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Wisdom of the Masters By Master James Theros
BVgi^Va >ciZ\g^ in For those of us who teach the art of Tae Kwon Do (whether it is WTF, ITF, etc) we use something called the five Tenets of Tae Kwon Do. As a reminder, these tenets are: 1. Courtesy 2. Integrity 3. Perseverance 4. Self-Control 5. Indomitable Spirit I have been training in the martial arts for over 30 years now. I have traveled all across the United States and in both China and Korea. I have seen some of the world’s best schools and some that could use a return to the basics. The word Integrity has to do with being good for our word or being someone that others can put their trust and faith in. Students and parents come to us for many reasons, but one of the most common reasons is to help them develop confidence in themselves. If one were to boil down all the various reasons why a person would study the martial arts (self-defense, sport, weight loss, fitness, coordination, etc), one could easily see that the underlying
22 January 2012/ taekwondotimes.com
factor in ANY of these reasons is, in its basic form, more confidence. There is a term that has been floating around for about 10 years now: McDojo (or McDojang). The outdated term for schools like these was “Belt Factory.” Oftentimes, this can refer to a school whose only focus is collecting money from its members. Now, let me be the first to say that making a good living from teaching martial arts is not only possible, but I believe that as instructors and school operators we have a responsibility to make our schools as successful as they can possibly be. After all, as a master instructor, if I can’t pay the mortgage on my home or I have to drive an unreliable car, what will my frame of mind be like? The most common reason for divorce in this country is financial trouble. How effective can an instructor be if he/ she is stressing out about how to pay the lease at the school? So, I’m an advocate for charging what you feel your program is worth. Now, that being said, I have seen a gradual decrease in student quality over the past 20 years or so. Many schools these days don’t dare fail a student because they are afraid of upsetting the student (or the parent) and having that student leave the school in a huff. Consequently, this is one of the touchiest subjects for most school operators. So, here’s the challenge. How do we maintain “integrity” while making sure the students are happy and motivated to stay with us long-term? One solution would be to just pass students through the ranks so that they experience success after success (all the way to black belt) and make a guarantee that the student will earn their black belt in a given time. This is the route I’ve seen many schools take. Things are fine as long as the students and parents are happy, but what does this do to the martial arts in general? Does real life work this way? Does every student and parent in your school achieve every goal they set? Obviously, the answer is no. So why would anyone expect anything different from a martial arts program? In many cases, students and parents assume that since they are paying for a service that they should be allowed to determine whether or not they promote. Promoting in rank is an earned privilege and should never be tied to money. The other solution is this; if a student has not met all attendance requirements or has not fully grasped the basics of the system (or the etiquette used within
the school), then the student should fail their test, or at the very least it should be explained that they are not ready to promote until they are able to do x, y, z. Now, when this happens, the student and/or parent will be disappointed. They may even show frustration. However, they will also begin to learn. At this point, the student/parent becomes teachable. It’s when they have to face challenges, fall down and get back up again; scrape an elbow or get a bruise on their leg, metaphorically speaking, that they begin to see true confidence begin to develop (provided that they truly support the school’s efforts at character development and confidence-building). School owners who try to make sure everybody is happy actually end up doing the student a disservice by giving them a false sense of confidence and an attitude of entitlement. This is where, as masters and school owners, we must walk our talk and have integrity as instructors. If the student is not ready, they are not ready. Handing out belts to students who are not ready or deserving of the rank only serves to water down what we are trying to accomplish.
Failing is a LARGE part of success. If your students have never experienced failure or setbacks, then what have they really learned? A possible solution is to have students turn in test forms, but only pay test fees (if your school charges them) when they pass their tests. Let’s bring integrity back to the martial arts by correcting our students on things that need correcting, such as properly wearing their uniform and belt, and using good manners inside and outside the dojang. Charge a higher fee for your services if you feel you provide a comparable or greater value to your students. The number one complaint I receive from students who come to my school from other schools is that the master never fails anyone and allows students to promote to higher ranks (including black belt) with very weak fundamentals. Fundamentals are the foundation of skill. Integrity is the most important part of ANY foundation.
Master James Theros has been training since 1976 and has owned and operated Level 10 Martial Arts College in Indianapolis, Indiana since 1995. Master Theros teaches Traditional Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and is the world’s foremost authority on Korean Kung Fu in the United States. He is the author of Korean Kung Fu: The Chinese Connection, available at www.amazon.com or www.ltkfa.com.
New York Team members and Goodwill Tour organizers were interviewed by members of the press, including CNN. The North Korea Demo Team assited students in techniques on the campus of Queens College in New York.
24 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
For more information on the Goodwill Tour 2011 visit: www.taekwondotimes.com
The U.S. and North Korea ags hung side by side for the demonstration.
The New York City stop had a packed crowd watching the amazing moves of the team members.
The tour stopped to enjoy some oďŹƒcial and delicious New York pizza at a local pizzeria.
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
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December Portland Blue Wave By Abby Mattingly, green belt
Portland Blue Wave in Portland, Maine, teaches Kukki Taekwondo with Olympic sparring. There are five classes a week focusing on different aspects of TKD. The instructor is Mr. John Kitonis, a former national competitor who has been training since 1984, and was fortunate enough to train directly under Grandmaster Tae Sung Lee, Blue Wave’s Grandmaster Instructor. Portland Blue Wave is part of the bigger Blue Wave Taekwondo Association consisting of 12 gyms spanning Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. The dojang has the atmosphere of a big family where members hang out, talk or goof around before and after class, making it exciting and fun for students to come to class and train with their peers. There is a strong sense of community at Portland Blue Wave, proven by a recent work day at the dojang, where students and members came together to help repaint the school and clean up
the grounds. Afterward, they celebrated with a family style barbeque. The school also holds a Blue Wave Winter Camp where the association gets together for training seminars with Grandmaster Lee and black belt testing. For more information, visit www.bluewavetkd.com/gymPortlandME.html.
Flying side kick
Summer camp
After class
26 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
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A local parade
Winter camp Beginners’ class Testing
After a tournament
Warmups before class
John Kitonis & Mr, White, President of Blue Wave
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
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January Freedom Martial Arts Freedom Martial Arts in Ludington, Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan, offers programs for all ages and all skill levels in their state-of-the art 8,000 square-foot facility, which offers parent seating with a one-way mirror, locker rooms, a homework area and a private lesson room. They have an intense, fast paced curriculum, and vary their classes to get their students’ adrenaline pumping, teaching TKD, MMA and X-treme Martial Arts. Freedom also teaches the traditional style of Kang Duk Won, a blend of Chinese and Korean martial arts. The philosophy at Freedom is that the body adapts to exercises and if the same drills are done too often, the muscles won’t burn calories, so every class is a new, astonishing lesson. Each class has a balance of gratifying stretching, calorie burning aerobic and anaerobic exercises, and thrilling self-defense drills. Freedom Martial Arts’ instructors are trained professionals at teaching the character building traits that develop black belts from the inside out;
focus, discipline, self-control and perseverance to name a few. They maintain a staff of highly skilled, thoroughly educated adult professionals to give students the very best in martial arts education. Freedom Martial Arts is also a member of Black Belt Schools International. Master Ted Jones, fifth-degree, is the chief instructor and head of curriculum with 31 years of experience in the martial arts being trained by Grandmaster Chul Hee Park, founder of Kang Duk Won, and the late Grandmaster Carl Stolberg. Brenda Jones, third-degree, is the senior instructor and general manager. To learn more, visit www.freedommartialarts.net..
Photos by Sue Brown Photography and Faith Tarrant
Training Floor Training floor
Pro shop
28 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
Nominate your school as a TKDT School of the Month! Send an email to press@taekwondotimes.com.
Teaching class
Master Ted Jones
Homework area
Parent waiting room Master Ted & Brenda Jones Brenda Jones at the beach. Jones’ dog
Outdoor class taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
29
Woman of the Times By Karen Eden
@gneidc^iZ When I was a little girl, Truman Frenchman lived in a small efficiency house attached to his parent’s home in Virginia. I just remember that he was a chain smoker, didn’t want to talk to anybody and was rarely seen. “Don’t pay no mind to him,” his mother used to tell us, “he hasn’t been right since he got back from the war.” That would be the Korean War, where Truman witnessed unimaginable atrocities as a young Marine. Things he never talked about. Things that made him return home, only to discover that he would never be able to cope with society in the same way again. According to his mom, when he first came home, if you made any kind of sudden noise, he would duck under the table. After doing that a couple of times, he resorted to eating on the porch where he wouldn’t have to deal with anybody else during meal time. Today, we know it as “post traumatic stress disorder,” but back then, you “just wasn’t right.” Truman Frenchman kind of reminds me of Superman. You see, of all of the more popular superheroes, Superman never had a side kick. He was more of a loner who never quite got the hang of fitting in with the rest of society. And as strong, kind and respectable as Superman was, there was one thing that always caused him to become weak and worthless— kryptonite. Simply put, kryptonite was
a piece of Superman’s past. Evidentially, my childhood acquaintance Truman had so much “kryptonite” in his pocket that he could never again live a fulfilled life. As a Karate instructor, I can’t begin to tell you how many of my new students come through the door with their own pocket full of kryptonite. Sometimes the kryptonite is in the form of health issues. ADD, ADHD and autism in children whose parents were told that they would never be able to focus or be socially acclimated. Sometimes the kryptonite is in the form of emotional issues; female students who are shaken to the very core of their being from having survived physical or sexual violations. For these women, it’s overcoming trust and body memory issues, which leave them unable to retain healthy relationships. I love this about my profession. I love being able to say “come over here and let’s try to empty your pockets.” It won’t be quick and it won’t be easy, but it is a good start on the right path to recovery. Truthfully, some of these students will walk away from their training without having managed what makes them weak at all. But then there is that one percentage of students who will rise from the depths of the impossible, and leave their Karate teacher standing in amazement with tears in her eyes. At black belt ceremonies, I’ll approach a brand new black belt formally diagnosed with ADD or autism, or a host of other childhood dysfunctions. I’ll say to him or her, “What happened?” “Guess they were wrong,” they’ll answer. And as always, I, as an instructor, learn so much more than what I teach. What I am personally reminded of each and every day, is that doctors can be proven wrong, and people can overcome the impossible. But most importantly, even a superhero can be taken down by kryptonite…a piece of his past.
Karen Eden is a fifth-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 atrisk youth through the Salvation Army in Denver, Colorado. For contact or booking information, email her at sabomnim@toast.net.
30 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
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Nutrition by the Numbers By Erik Richardson
>cXgZVhZ Ndjg ;aZm^W^a^in l^i] V ;dg` Stretching is not only a vital part of training to help prevent injuries and increase our range of motion for executing certain techniques, but it also serves to strengthen our muscles, joints and connective tissues. Like a lot of other aspects of training, however, the ability to get the most from our stretching does not begin when we put on our dobok; it begins when we pick up our fork. What is happening when we stretch? To have a sense of why some of the different elements we will discuss are important, it will be helpful just to be reminded what is actually going on inside the body when we stretch. Research shows that maximum flexibility gains are achieved by holding a static stretch for 30 seconds or more. When we do that, the muscle fibers elongate. At the point where they have reached their maximum length, the stretch begins to cause collagen fibers in connective tissues surrounding the muscles to align themselves along the line of force. When the muscle is stretched, stretch receptors, the specialized nerve endings present in the muscles and tendons, send signals to the brain initiating “the stretch reflex,” a protective reflex to counter the increase in muscle length by causing it to contract. The more sudden the stretch, the stronger the stretch reflex. This reflex maintains the muscle tone and reduces the risk of injury. It is only when the muscle is in a stretched position for 30 seconds or more that the nerves get accustomed to it and the reflex to contract relaxes and allows the muscle to reach its full extension. How does that translate to nutritional demands? Glucosamine In the lead-off position of our batting lineup is glucosamine, which occurs naturally in the shells of shellfish, in animal bones and marrow and in some types of fungus. In some studies, it has shown good results in promoting health of the joints and cartilage. The primary way to get more of this in your diet is through over-the-counter supplements, but make sure you check with your doctor first if you have an allergy to shellfish. Chondroitin Chondroitin is one of the major components of our cartilage (the tough, connective tissue that cushions the joints). Chondroitin is naturally created within the body, and it helps keep cartilage healthy by allowing the connective tissue to absorb water. Clinical results suggest that it not only provides the building blocks for new cartilage, but it may also contribute to increased joint health by helping to block certain enzymes that work to break down cartilage. A number of scientific studies suggest that Chondroitin may be an effective treatment for Osteoarthritis. Vitamin D Vitamin D works to build bone strength and to protect the joints. This is important in both preventing and recovering from the strain put on the joints by stretching, as well as other parts of an active sports lifestyle. Some of the most common sources of vitamin D are the supplemental amounts added to dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, and it’s also found in fish and fish oils. Your body can make vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, so use that Erik Richardson is a Certified Sports Nutritionist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he practices two different martial arts. With graduate degrees in philosophy, education, and business, he is currently President of Richardson Ideaworks, Inc., which specializes in education and corporate training.
32 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
as an excuse to get out into the fresh air as part of your normal routine. Vitamin B Fourth up to bat is a group of B-vitamins. Vitamin B-3, also known as niacin, comes from sources like tuna, seafood, asparagus, mushrooms, sunflower seeds and tofu. Studies indicate that B-3 reduces the risk of developing Osteoarthritis. Vitamin B-5, also known as pantothenic acid, comes from eggs, soybeans, wheat germ, whole grain cereals, and from legumes like lentils and peanuts. The third member of this group is vitamin B-6, and it comes from bananas, fish, legumes, meat, and nuts. Vitamin E Vitamin E is next up to the plate. Like vitamin C, it contains antioxidants, which research continues to support as a valuable component of long-term joint health and the pain associated with Osteoarthritis. One of the more significant ways it contributes is by relieving inflammation in the joint and connective tissues. Foods bringing in their fair share of vitamin E include nuts, sunflower seeds, whole grains like wheat germ and whole wheat flour, dark green, leafy vegetables like chard, mustard greens and turnip greens, and avocados. Vitamin C Batting clean-up comes vitamin C. It is the major building block for collagen—the protein that is the main component in the construction of tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Foods that are a good source of natural vitamin C include fruits and vegetables. Some of the more common—in decreasing order— are: broccoli, brussels sprouts, papaya, strawberries, oranges, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, spinach, cabbage, dark leafy greens, and so on. To improve your stretching, stretch your grocery list For those of your pressed for time, or who already eat a wide variety of the things listed in the sections above, the two highlights that I might suggest as a take-away from the article would be to consider a standard supplement of glucosamine and chondroitin and to pile on the vitamin C. As always, I look forward to hearing your experiences with a topic as well as your successes. Until next time remember: What you put into your body determines what you put into your punch.
Photos by Mr. Stace Sanchez www.facebook.com/kickpics
Jacob Thompson 1st Dan Lawrence, KS
Anton Barybin 2nd Dan Lawrence, KS
Brian Kutte, Dai Sihing San Francisco, CA
Christian Ahlf 1st Dan Lawrence, KS Bryce Marchington 5th Dan Hobbs, NM
James Cox, 7th Degree Kajukembo, Abilene, TX
Jessen Noviello, 5th Dan Tang Soo Do, 1st Dan TKD, 1st Degree Karate, 1st Degree Kenpo, BJJ Blue Belt Los Angeles, CA
Richard Dristy, 1st Degree Pontiac, MI
Ashley Potte 1st Dan Broken Arrow, OK
Kyler Marchington 1st Dan, Hobbs, NM
34 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
Bryce Marchington 5th Dan, Hobbs, NM
Sarah Jacobson, 3rd Dan Lawrence, KS
Josh Potter, 2nd Dan Broken Arrow, OK
Trevor Dent 1st Dan, Lawrence, KS
Scott Base and Jimmy Golden Scott: 2nd Dan Jimmy: 4th Dan Lawrence, KS
Josh Potter 2nd Dan Broken Arrow, OK
Nico Real Blue Belt Midland, TX
Noeu Chan, 5th Dan, Lawrence, KS Sarah Jacobson, 3rd Dan, Lawrence, KS Fe Brinkley, 3rd Dan, Lawrence, KS Taylor Dowell, 2nd Dan, Lawrence, KS
Seth Potter, 4th Dan, Broken Arrow, OK
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
35
Submit your Killer Kick photos, along with your name, age, rank and location to press@taekwondotimes.com or mail to:
Vince Soo, 4th dan, Kalamazoo, Michigan
TKD Times Attn: Killer Kicks 3950 Wilson Ave SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 USA
Floyd Soo, 6th dan Orion Twp, Michigan
Annie Soo-Mott, 5th dan Kalamazoo, Michigan
36 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
Chief Master John Murphy age 41, 7th dan Dallas, Texas
Marc Sigle, 4th degree American Kenpo, 3rd dan TKD Esslingen, Germany
Germany
Joey Johnson, age 8 high green belt Des Moines, Iowa
England Paul Drury, age 53, 7th dan Teignmouth Devon, England taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
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Alex Martinez, age 16, 2nd dan Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Submit your Big Break photos, along with your name, age, rank and location to press@taekwondotimes.com or mail to: TKD Times Attn: Big Break 3950 Wilson Ave SW Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 USA
Canada
Ander Wolff, age 9 Temporary jr. black belt Pleasantville, Iowa
Betsy Sawyers, age 64, 3rd dan (2nd dan at time of break) Graham, Washington
38 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
Donald Tinsley, age 29 3rd dan USCDKA Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Brian Reagles age 42, 4th dan Milwaukee, Wisconsin
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
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2011 ITF Championships The recent 2011 ITF Championships were held in Pyongyang, North Korea. Publisher Woojin Jung attended and was very impressed by the opening ceremonies, as well as the talented martial artists that vied for the title of Champion.
Joint Masters of Ceremony
A competitor attempts a ďŹ&#x201A;ying side kick break. Competitors came from all over the world.
Performance at the opening ceremony.
Children sing for the audience.
Opening ceremony procession
40 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
GM Woojin Jung, Son Hee Choi (Gen. Choi’s wife) & Youngwal Kim (TaeKwonDo Palace Guide)
Spectators enjoyed a drumming performance.
(Above & Below) Performance at the opening ceremony.
High-flying break
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
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Uif!3122!Tvqfs!Tvnnfs! Joufsobujpobm!Lpsfbo!Nbsujbm! Bsut!Tfnjobs! By Chief Master Robert J. Ott
“Fresh minds, new to the world, may find lust and desire in knowledge; while minds that have experienced a true taste of living, are salacious and passionate towards the victory of understanding… ”—Chief Master Robert J. Ott Uncertainty almost defeated our 2011 seminar before it began. The Super Summer International Korean Martial Arts Seminar of 2009 was very memorable, and very successful. Truthfully, as founder and host, I felt victory, honor, and worry—perhaps only a Flowering Warrior may deeply understand—many mentioned how they were looking forward to our next event. After our 2009 gathering, my professional and economic security suffered, as my company’s fiveyear military food service contract ended. We excelled at doing this and so much more. Deeply committed, my company focused on providing excellent food and service for our U.S. soldiers. Happily, we contributed, donating time, money and effort for many well deserved causes. Without a contract, I found myself terribly lost and frustrated. An extension for our services was given with no guarantee. We faced many business, professional and even personal indignities. This uncertainty lasted for 1 year and 9 months, and each day, we continued to serve, as well as we could, with forced limitations. I live by the principles and values of Korean martial arts, in all aspects of my life. My martial arts sustained me more than I can explain. I wanted very much to host another great seminar, but I was torn with uncertainty. I had to make a decision, could I even attempt to have another Super Seminar? Just when I finally knew that there was no way I could possibly host another seminar, as great as our 2009 event, suddenly, I really saw the light! The answer had been directly in front of my face. The Flowering Warrior realization I had was 42 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
that without martial arts in my life I would have never been able to achieve the many victories I had. Truthfully, I would not even be alive today! My mind was clear. I knew what I had to do. I turned my uncertainty about our 2011 Super Seminar from a “not sure” to an “I’m going to do even better than last time!” Through advertising in Tae Kwon Do Times, reputation, relationships, credentials and the great success of the 2009 event, people came from all over the world to attend. I hosted this unforgettable event, along with many students and supporters, through Flowering Warrior Enterprises, LLC. Our Special Guest Instructors, Grandmaster Kenneth P. MacKenzie, Grandmaster Rudy Timmerman, Chief Master John Godwin, Chief Master Kevin Janisse, Master Guy E. Larke and Master Yang Jae Sik, all attended. Also, Grandmaster Michael De Alba, Grandmaster Geoff Booth, Grandmaster James McMurray and Grandmaster Billy Lee Burchett attended this gathering for support and brotherhood. Furthermore, two months prior to the event, we were informed that the President Grandmaster Jeong Kyung-Hwa and Vice-President Master Shin Joung Kun of the Korea Taekgyeon Association would officially attend, upon request and financial consideration, from the South Korean Government. True support flowed from all directions of the Korean martial arts. On Wednesday, August 17, official ceremonies began with an exquisitely delicious meal, catered by the Korean BBQ (Mr. & Mrs. Kang.) Our Master of Ceremonies, Grandmaster Kenneth P. MacKenzie, was very talented as he flawlessly made the special guest introductions and presented the large screen video presentation, highlighting the event preparations. Captivating presentations about history, health and Internet marketing were given by guest speakers. Several exciting and superbly performed martial art demonstrations followed; the first being by Emily Juhl, who is the senior student of
Grandmaster Billy Burchett, then Chief Master Kevin Janisse, followed by Grandmaster Geoff Booth. Everyone performed magnificently. Following this, the Korea Taekgyeon Association further astounded our audience by amazingly executing several different forms rarely performed in the United States. They also performed partner techniques, bringing the audience to a standing applause! The last demonstration, performed by Cameron McFadzen, who is a nine-year-old warrior, showed the crowd true Certain Victory. Cameron McFadzen was born with ectrodactyly, a condition where both hands and feet are missing many bones and are shaped in a V. Regardless, his Flowering Warrior personality and heart of victory enables his passions to surpass his challenges. Following Cameron’s demonstration, I asked for all to come closer and watch, as I presented to Cameron McFadzen the 2011 Flowering Warrior Martial Artist of the Year Award, a six-foot, solid-wood trophy engraved with his name and title. As I shook his hand and presented it to him, tears came from my eyes, for the happiness and belief, which this boy will carry in his life. This award has not been presented in many years, only because a person who deserves such recognition, has not crossed my path. Bright and early, before breakfast, both Grandmaster Mackenzie and Chief Master John Godwin instructed meditation. After breakfast, the training began. Through the entire seminar, there was over 30 hours of training, along with hiking, swimming, Wave Runner riding and relaxation. The Flowering Warrior Shopping Mall featured unique products, never seen on the Internet or at martial arts distributors. A Women’s Self-Defense Seminar and a Youth Self-Defense Seminar were instructed. For all attendees, a wooden engraved name plate was carefully placed at each guest’s seat, and on the last night of the event, all were given a 3 x 4 foot framed poster, with special words of appreciation. Laughter and warmth filled the air, happiness abounded. I’ve always believed that goodness brings goodness in life. I was greatly honored to be given incredible gifts, which are all deeply appreciated and will always be cherished, from many of the Special Grandmaster Instructors who attended. The first was from Grandmaster Jeong Kyung-Hwa, who is the President of the Korea Taekgyeon Association, and it was an exquisitely done, handmade scroll, accomplished with such heart and passion, representing the true philosophies of the art of Taekgyeon. Next, I received a gift from Grandmaster Rudy Timmerman—a set of his unique handmade Dan Bongs (like no other in the world) and with that set, was one Ugly Stick. These items were presented to me, in a handmade case and are on display in my dojang. A formal Certificate of Appointment, naming me an American Ambassador for Cheon Ji Muye Do was presented along with an Honorable eighth-dan black belt certification in Cheon Ji Muye Do by the President/ Founder, Grandmaster Wong-Ho. Lastly and all so touching to my heart, were two gifts given from Grandmaster Billy Burchett. The first being a custom made cane, designed with beautiful colors and
Master Yang Jae Sik demonstrating Korean Taekgyeon.
Group photo at the lake house
GM Jung Kyung-Hwa with CM Ott cutting the cake.
Bowing in before training.
GM James McMurray teaching techniques.
(L-R): CM Jung Kyung-Hwa, GM James McMurray, GM Rudy Timmerman, CM Ott, GM MacKenzie, GM Geoff Booth
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
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GM Burchett presenting CM Ott with gift.
GM Mackenzie’s students resting before the next training session.
Presenting Martial Artist of the Year award to Cameron.
GM Jung Kyung-Hwa & CM Ott
carved out edges—a true weapon that can be taken any place. The second was a painting of me, riding on one of my favorite animals, the buffalo. It is without question, a gift from the heart. This masterful work of art was created by Grandmaster Billy Burchett’s sister. At the end of our 2011 seminar, each participant was presented three certificates from the following organizations: The National Korean Martial Arts Association, Korea Taekgyeon Association and, of course, Flowering Warrior Enterprises, LLC. These certificates were each personally signed by Grandmaster Kenneth P. MacKenzie and me. In the big picture, success, growth and togetherness came to be. We each experienced many unforgettable moments. I will always remember when I had tears in my eyes presenting the trophy to the young warrior, presenting a gift of honor, the Flowering Warrior Sword to Grandmaster MacKenzie, and even the time both the President of the Korea Taekgyeon Association and I cut the custom designed cake together. In any case, all the participants left knowing that, if he or she would have allowed the economy or struggles that our nations are going through to prevent their attendance, they would have only experienced a great loss! On April 19, 2011, I received an official telephone call notifying me that Certain Victory Food Services had been awarded a new five-year contract. Pilsung! So I share to all: Never forget that each wall was made for a reason. “To go over it, under it, around it or through it!” Don’t let your challenges stop you from achieving your goals! Recently, I was contacted by the Los Angeles region Korea Times newspaper. The article about the 2011 Super Seminar appeared in the Thursday, August 24 edition, and also in the November 2011 edition of Tae Kwon Do Times. In those articles, and in this one, I acknowledge my appreciation to all for assisting me in making this gathering a true success!
To view or purchase the official album of this event, please visit www.certainvictory.com.
GM Rudy Timmerman demonstrating the ugly stick.
CM Ott reflecting.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chief Master Robert J. Ott was born and raised in Southern New Jersey. In 1995, he relocated his life to the Great Northwest and continued forward with his passion for Korean martial arts. Having lost his eye sight in 1990 as an innocent victim of a violent crime has not stopped him from living and breathing his practice. He is often called the “Flowering Warrior” for his positive attitude and strong character that he shares with all walks of life. Today, he is the President/CEO of Certain Victory Food Services, which provides the labor that feeds the third largest U.S. Army site in the country. He is also a Chairman, father and husband and even more so, a survivor. His book is titled Certain Victory and is often used as a reading requirement for students who are getting ready to test for their black belt. For more information on his book, audio book, filmed documentary, seminars, speaking engagements or the ability to read any of his other articles that have been written in the past years, please go to www.certainvictory.com.
44 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
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Darius Ghaffari & Korean Martial Arts in Iran By David W. Higgs I became acquainted with Dr. He-Young Kimm in 1975. I have known the majority of his early students in Louisiana throughout my entire martial art career. However, there was one of his students that I heard much about but never had the chance to meet; Darius Ghaffari. Master Ghaffari was among the original class that Dr. Kimm formed on the campus of Louisiana State University in the early 1970s, and a member of Dr. Kimm’s famous demonstration team. They traveled throughout the Deep South and the Midwest promoting Korean martial arts and culture and became legendary on the tournament circuit of that time. I have heard many stories about Master Ghaffari, but for some unusual reason we never met face-to-face. In July of 2011, I finally had my chance, as he was a guest instructor and lecturer at Dr. Kimm’s Black Belt Seminar in Baton Rouge. At long last, I had the chance to meet someone whom I had always considered my “elder brother” in martial arts. The following story contains portions of lessons he shared with me: I remember the late 1970s and the events that led to the poor relations between the United States and Iran today. But, this story is not about that. It is about one young Iranian student in the U.S. whom, during that time, was able to complete his education and return to Iran. His experience was a test of the skills he learned to survive in a foreign country, and upon his return, to survive in a country far different from the one that he had known. Darius Ghaffari came to the U.S. in 1970 to pursue an education in Petroleum Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Little did he know how his education and experiences in learning martial arts would impact the rest of his life and the introduction of Korean martial arts into Iran.
Executing a chokehold on his longtime friend and partner, Master Sang Soo Kimm.
During the fall semester of 1970, Darius Ghaffari enrolled in Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, and began his formal education. Majoring first in Petroleum Engineering, his classes were intense and required a great deal of discipline. He studied constantly in order to be prepared for the next class meeting. One day, while crossing the campus, he came upon a poster announcing the performance of a martial art demonstration by the instructor of the LSU Judo/Hapkido Club; Master He-Young Kimm. The poster attracted his attention and interest. He felt that martial arts might be a beneficial diversion from his tedious classes and constant studying. He arrived at the site of the demonstration a few minutes early so that he might find a good vantage point to watch the performance. The demonstration team arrived
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
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on time, led by Master He-Young Kimm, who allowed his students to perform their techniques and offered explanations on the purpose of techniques and how they were used to overcome larger adversaries. Young ladies performed in these demonstrations as well as young men. Mr. Ghaffari and the crowd were quite awed by the skill of the demonstrators. From what he had seen in the demonstration, Darius Ghaffari was determined to learn the martial arts from He-Young Kimm.
call upon Grandmaster Suh. Until that time, they knew each other only by reputation and this was their first meeting. As the President of the American Hapkido Association, Master Kimm had a great interest in the techniques and philosophy of Kuk Sul. He felt that Hapkido had strong joint-locks and kicks but lacked weapons techniques and forms. Grandmaster Suh was familiar with Master Kimm’s reputation from the recent Black Belt Magazine article, which featured Master Kimm’s front cover photo of a flying double sidekick. They decided to initiate a five-year program of joint-seminars to be held on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. The seminars were called the “Kuk Sul Hapkido Seminars.” Dr. He-Young Kimm was appointed as the Secretary General of the World Kuk Sul Association and most of his students joined as members of the association. Darius Ghaffari was one of the many students who joined.
Mr. Ghaffari enrolled in Master Kimm’s class and joined the LSU Judo/Hapkido Club. The training was rough and painful. The classes met upstairs in the “old gym” on the LSU campus, which had no air-conditioning to offset the steamy and humid weather of south Louisiana. Classes were centered on Hapkido joint-locking and throwing, combined with TKD kicking and punching, with some Master Ghaffari comJudo throwing and pleted his B.S. Degree at groundwork thrown Louisiana State University in for good meain Mechanical and sure. Mr. Ghaffari Petroleum Engineering. enjoyed the sparring Then, in 1978, he was practice and spent also promoted to first-dan. many hours practicAfter accomplishing his ing his skills with immediate goals, Master the other students. Ghaffari returned to Iran The club performed where he was employed demonstrations as an engineer by the around the southTehran municipal governeast and attended ment and also began tournaments from With his first instructor, teaching martial arts. His Houston and Grandmaster Dr. He-Young Kimm. first martial art teaching Oklahoma City to experience came about Atlanta. The demonas an invitation to teach the fire department trainees. stration team was highly sought after on the tournament He began classes in an old gymnasium in the center of circuit as they always presented a spectacular perfora densely populated area of Tehran. He taught patiently mance that amazed and entertained the crowd. and persistently, disregarding low wages and poor facilities. Without any qualified assistants, Master Ghaffari was As a member of the LSU Judo/Hapkido Club, Mr. responsible for teaching each class personally. Ghaffari had the opportunity to attend training seminars lead by famous martial artists from around the country The fire department authorities were soon impressed and foreign countries: such visiting experts included In by his endeavors. As a result, they arranged for national Hyuk Suh, In Sun Seo, Bill Wallace, Antonio Marquez, and television coverage of martial art classes and demonKang Rhee. strations by Master Ghaffari. In a short time he was able to open a private school in the northern part of the city. In 1974, Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh came to New It was a great success with large numbers of enthusiasOrleans to promote the teaching of Kuk Sul. Master tic students enrolling regularly. Shortly, Master Ghaffari He-Young Kimm visited New Orleans to pay a courtesy 48 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
developed a number of talented students who could assist him with the teaching responsibilities. Spectators flocked to see demonstrations and events where Master Ghaffari’s students performed. Other martial art instructors in Iran also attended these events and respectfully asked questions of Master Ghaffari. They were eager to know more about his teaching methods and the techniques they saw in his demonstrations. Some of these instructors joined in training with Master Ghaffari. Two years after the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the government became concerned about the authenticity of some martial art schools and clubs. Therefore, some schools and clubs were declared to be unofficial and “illegal” and they were forced to close. Only a handful of systems were allowed to remain open. These schools and organizations usually were the ones that maintained large enrollments and a long history of operation in Iran. Master Ghaffari’s school was one that was sacrificed in the name of government regulation. Master Ghaffari was too enthusiastic to give up the fight. His students were also determined not to surrender to this circumstance. He was still the instructor for the fire department, and as a result, he moved his operation back to that location. As a department of the government, they were still allowed to practice under Master Ghaffari. He trained them free of charge, although they had to tolerate poor and unfavorable conditions. Master Ghaffari was subjected to a great deal of stress in earning a living as an engineer by day and teaching martial arts by night, but he enjoyed every minute of the challenge. In spite of the difficulties, his teaching flourished in Iran. He was requested to perform demonstrations at several national events and thousands of observers enjoyed the elaborate exhibitions. Many television
programs were taped and broadcast during the three years he fought for the survival of his school. Martial artists from other systems sought him out for instruction and joint training sessions, and he began to gain attention from the government sports officials. He arranged private demonstrations so that the officials could better grasp the dramatic and artistic dimensions of his art. His efforts finally paid off as the Iranian Martial Arts Federation, a branch of the Ministry of Sports, officially accepted his school as a member. Very soon after this success, Master Ghaffari began writing articles on Korean martial arts that appeared in Iranian magazines. He became an official contributing correspondent for Keyhan Var-Zeshi, a popular sports magazine. His articles reported on various martial arts and his column became an overnight sensation. The magazine publishers and Master Ghaffari received thousands of communications from the readers wanting to know more about Korean martial arts. He-Young Kimm felt that Darius Ghaffari’s experiences teaching Kuk Sul in Iran for four years was enough. He felt that Master Ghaffari should pursue more advanced training. Master Kimm served as the co-director of the 1984 International Martial Art Championship in Pusan. He invited Master Ghaffari to Korea and in June of 1984, Master Ghaffari took the opportunity to leave Iran and travel to South Korea. After attending the championships, he advised Master Ghaffari to come to the U.S. in order to learn more advanced techniques at the Kuk Sul Headquarters in San Francisco. Master Kimm encouraged Mr. Ghaffari to learn Kuk Sul in a three-part manner; first he should learn from his original instructor, next he should seek training from two other high-ranking masters in Kuk Sul. Ghaffari had the chance to learn directly from Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh and Grandmaster taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
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In Sun Seo. Before leaving Iran, he worked diligently to qualify four of his students as competent black belt instructors to carry on the training in Iran. The credentials of these students were later reviewed and accepted by Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh, who certified their black belts in 1985. Master Ghaffari eventually returned to the U.S. where he worked directly with Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh in San Francisco. More recently, Master Ghaffari offered this explanation of martial arts in Iran: “Japanese martial arts were first introduced in Iran in early 1960. Judo and Karate were the first to be introduced. Kan Zen Ryu Karate has Japanese roots and was created by Grandmaster Varasteh. Shotokan Karate was introduced by Grandmaster Sharifi; an engineering student at LSU who trained under Grandmaster Takayuki Mikami of New Orleans. Grandmaster Mirzaee developed an Iranian system of Kung Fu Toa. The first Korean martial art introduced to Iran was Tae Kwon Do by Grandmaster Kim Soo Ryun. It should be mentioned that one of his first and oldest students, Grandmaster Azarpad, is still currently practicing and teaching. At present, there are numerous styles and systems of oriental martial arts practiced in Iran today. Iranians take martial arts very seriously and are among the best in the world. Their participation in competition in world championships and recipients of Gold Medals are the honors that they bring to their nation. Tae Kwon Do probably is the most popular and widely practiced martial art in Iran. The Iranian National Taekwondo Team has stood tall and in the past years has taken first and second places in world and Asian competitions. I hope that Kuk Sool, Hapkido, Han Mu Do, and other Korean martial arts will do the same in years to come.” Throughout his martial art career, Master Ghaffari recognized various philosophical similarities between Korean culture and Iranian culture. As early as the teachings of Zoroaster (ca. 1,000 B.C. although the date is debated), Iranian people adhered to a belief in “dualism” and the complementary forces of nature described in Korea as the Um and Yang. The Prophet Zoroaster is credited with introducing concepts of monotheism, the duality of good and evil, mankind’s free choice between the two alternatives, messianic redemption, resurrection, final judgment, heaven and hell, and the notion of an almighty loving God. He believed that man’s salvation in life and in the afterlife could only be insured through Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds. This three part philosophy is similar to Tan Gun Han Bae Kum’s 50 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
three part philosophy of; Cultivate your skills, Help other people, and Make the world a better place. Each philosophy stresses that a successful society/civilization is dependent upon your frame of mind and the actions you take to insure its success.
Master Ghaffari’s Influences Grandmaster Dr. He-Young Kimm “I met Dr. Kimm in 1972 at a Hapkido-Judo demonstration at Louisiana State University. I was very fascinated by his techniques and personality. I began training with him. The training was very hard in those days and only a few of those students from that time period are still training and teaching today. He instilled in us a strong foundation, technically and ethically, which has been with us ever since. Part of our training included lectures about history, philosophy, and culture, which we learned and carry with us all the time. Once in Korea, Dr. Kimm took me to different festivals to learn about Korean culture. My relationship with him for the past forty years has been on the basis of love, trust, honesty and friendship. I have enjoyed every moment of it. His long time research and writings about oriental martial arts, specifically Korean martial arts, has caused him to become one of the most recognized martial art historians today. He will always have a special place in my heart.” Grandmaster In Hyuk Suh “I have been under his training since 1974 in Kuk Sool Won. He is best known among us as Kuk Sa Nim (National Teacher). He is Grandmaster of all Grandmasters. He is really a man of wisdom, vision, and knowledge. Upon my request and invitation, and his encouragement, he helped me travel to Iran accompanied by his son, Master Sung Jin Suh, in 1989 for the purpose of conducting demonstrations, training seminars and rank promotions. The demonstration was televised nationwide and had more than one hour of airtime. Later in 2003, for the second time upon my request, he helped to send three Korean masters for further training, demonstrations and rank promotions. Grandmaster Suh is truly a living encyclopedia of martial arts. I am very thankful to him for his continuous support.” Grandmaster In Sun Seo “I met Grandmaster In Sun Seo for the first time in 1984 in Korea and took training under his supervision. I have been a member of his organization since then. He is
Above: Master Ghaffari with wife Afsaneh and son Kevin. Right: Performing a double flying side kick
widely known to be the custodian of Korean martial arts. His managerial and leadership abilities have been superb. He is courteous, friendly and inspirational. He promoted me to higher ranks on different occasions. I am indebted to him for his generous hospitality while I was training in Korea.”
Training Partners “Today I feel very fortunate to have learned from these three grandmasters. I practice Korean martial arts frequently with Master Sang Soo Kim, my old classmate under Dr. He-Young Kimm in Baton Rouge. Someday I hope to return to Iran and teach more advanced techniques and philosophies to my students there and to upgrade the level of Korean martial arts in Iran. Other masters to whom I am very thankful are Master Kim Tate, Master Bill Wallace, Master Barry Harmon, Master Jong Sung Kim and Master Sung Jin Suh.” The experiences of Master Darius Ghaffari could be explained as the blending of U.S., Korean, and Iranian cultures to derive a positive lifestyle for his own benefit. However, his experiences need no explanation; they are merely the events that directed his life. From them he has been able to adapt to his changing environment and still pursue his dream of martial art training. Master Ghaffari has been fortunate enough to train under some of the greatest masters in Korean martial arts. He has taken that knowledge and molded his life into a success. Along the way he served as a pioneer of Korean martial arts and culture in Iran. His efforts have caused us to gain a new perspective on a portion of the world that gets little positive attention in the Western world. His story helps us to see people for what they are; inquisitive students pursuing their dreams in the
Western world. His story helps us to see people for what they are; inquisitive students pursuing their dreams in the study of Korean martial arts. Throughout his forty years of training and teaching the martial arts, Master Ghaffari has had a very positive impact upon thousands of students, his masters and the countries that he has served. To learn more about the history of martial arts in Iran, visit www.taekwondotimes.com. “I would like to take the opportunity to thank the publishers of the following magazines who trusted my credibility and gave me a chance to put articles on the cover and inside their magazines. They include: Kayhan Varzeshi, Donya Varzesh, Danestaniha, Martial Arts Monthly and Razm Avar Martial Art Magazine. I am also grateful to my following students who put their time and effort to lead Kuk Sool, Hapkido, and Han Mu Do to where it is today: Mr. Valinejad (Kuk Sool and Hapkido), Mr. Shabafroozan (Kuk Sool), Mr. Kiani (Kuk Sool), Mr. Soroosh (Kuk Sool) and Mr. Khanian (Han Mu Do). I also wish to thank Iranian National Television, Channel 2.”— Master Ghaffari ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Higgs began martial arts training in 1973. He holds the rank of fifth-degree black belt in Han Mu Do, fifthdegree in Hapkido, and third-degree in TKD. He currently resides in Wesson, MS, where he is employed as an instructor of World History at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.
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From the Desk of Dr. He-Young Kimm Grandmaster He-Young Kimm, the founder and President of the World Han Mu do Association. Serving as director and senior advisor of the International Division of the Korean Kido Association.
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4+$4 (ALL OF &AME >iXe[dXjk\i f] k_\ P\Xi Grandmaster Young A. Kwon
G`fe\\i f] k_\ P\Xi Grandmaster Shin Chul Kang
DXjk\i f] k_\ P\Xi Master George Vitale
@ejkilZkfi f] k_\ P\Xi Martin Zámečník
Ni`k\i f] k_\ P\Xi Master Doug Cook
DXik`Xc 8ik`jk f] k_\ P\Xi Evgeny Piksaev
JZ_ffc f] k_\ P\Xi Master Rondy White Tiger Martial Arts
ttaekwondotimes.com ta ek e ekwo kwo ond ndot otiim mes s..c co om m / January Jan anu ua ary y 2012 2 201 01 012 12
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>iXe[dXjk\i f] k_\ P\Xi Grandmaster Young A. Kwon
To make his life one with Tae Kwon Do, Grandmaster Kwon, Kukkiwon ninth-dan black belt, has dedicated his whole life to this art. Through years of determination and self sacrifice, he has evolved the art of TKD to fit into the modern way of life. At the age of seven, Grandmaster Kwon was introduced to TKD through his elder brother. Since then, he has introduced the art to many people, training friends and colleagues through high school and college, while at the same time competing on his own. He was drafted by the Korean Marines in 1969, where he instructed Tae Kwon Do and represented the Marines in competition until 1970. He was then appointed to train fellow soldiers in Vietnam in the use of high level lethal TKD techniques. In 1972, he received an honorary discharge and from there opened up Young Ahn Taekwondo School in Korea in 1973. After teaching 16 years at his own studio in South Korea, Grandmaster Kwon came to the United States and opened up Kwon’s Taekwondo, Inc., in 1989, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. He then opened up a second studio in 2005, in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. He is an amazing husband and father of five children. His wife Betsy is a sixth-dan black belt, his oldest daughter Hoejin is third-dan black belt, son Greg is a fifth-dan black belt, and daughter Jayne is a fifth-dan black belt. His younger daughter, Alexandra, began Taekwondo at age two years and eight months, and is now a blue belt, and his youngest daughter, Alicia, hopes to follow in the family’s footsteps and begin learning TKD in the near future. For the love of martial arts, Grandmaster Kwon created his own form of martial arts and self-defense system called Ho Kwon Do, which utilizes joint locks, pressure points, kicks, hand strikes and blocks. The art also uses longrange techniques, short-range techniques and speed techniques. He has seen the practice of TKD become the most practiced martial art in the world, reaching across all ages and genders. Over 80 million people are training in TKD in over 200 nations, which are part of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). What Grandmaster Kwon prides himself on the most with younger students is the ability to transfer the discipline and respect learned in class to a student’s life at home and in school. For Grandmaster Kwon, Tae Kwon Do is a way of life, giving all practitioners at all levels a healthier and happier life. Through the promotion of TKD across the globe and the unity of its practitioners, he hopes and believes Tae Kwon Do can contribute to world peace. To read Grandmaster Kwon’s CV, visit www.taekwondotimes.com.
January uar ary 20 2012 012 / taekwondotimes.com taekw kwon ondo doti t me ti m s.com m 54 Janu
Alexandra (age 3) at the 2009 New England Taekwondo Championship
G`fe\\i f] k_\ P\Xi Grandmaster Shin Chul Kang
Grandmaster Shin Chul Kang has dedicated the last 40 years of his life to teaching traditional Tae Kwon Do to the people of South Korea, his home country, and the Middle Eastern country of Iran. His teaching philosophy strongly focuses on the tenets of Tae Kwon Do—courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit—in the pursuit of establishing confidence and self-discipline in all of his students. He believes that Tae Kwon Do should teach practitioners to have mental leadership. A Tae Kwon Do traditionalist, Grandmaster Shin Chul Kang’s pioneering began over 40 years ago in the capital city of Tehran, Iran, with his first open Tae Kwon Do lesson. That initial class was very trying, with every one of his first students showing up late. But once they had all arrived, Grandmaster Kang taught an inspiring session, ensuring that each student would be on time after that. And they were. His popularity grew in Iran and more and more students came to learn from him. While Grandmaster Kang loved teaching Tae Kwon Do in his new home country of Iran, he still yearned for home and returned often, keeping homes, students, dojangs and friendships in both countries. He has several schools in South Korea, which is dominated by sport Tae Kwon Do. But Grandmaster Kang stays loyal to the traditional teachings of Tae Kwon Do, giving his students in both South Korea and Iran the ability to learn the original forms of Tae Kwon Do for the past forty years. His presence as a pioneer in the world of Tae Kwon Do cannot be doubted, as he has produced more than 5000 students from the country of Iran that have gone out on their own, leaving Iran, to teach traditional Tae Kwon Do all over the world. Currently, he is the Technical Commissioner for the Iran Tae Kwon Do Association and TKDT’s Pioneer of the Year. ttaekwondotimes.com ta ekwond dotimes.com / January 2012 201 0 2
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DXjk\i f] k_\ P\Xi Master George Vitale
George Vitale’s participation in the fighting arts started in the 1960s with his exposure to boxing and wrestling. In the early 1970s he briefly experienced Tang Soo Do. Shortly thereafter he started training under Grandmaster Kim Kwang Sung. This started a lifelong pursuit of a wide range of experiences that would help shape his entire life. Now 40 some odd years later, George’s training has taken him around the world. In 1989, he led the USA delegation to the first ever Tae Kwon Do event held in North Korea. It was there that Tae Kwon Do’s founder, Gen. Choi Hong Hi told him, now that an American team has been to North Korea, we must have the North Koreans visit the USA. At that time, George had no idea of what later would develop. The ITF connection opened the doors to global training opportunities under the guidance of many leading TKD Pioneers. In 1987, he graduated from a two-week international instructors’ course and became certified International Instructor #404. In 2002, George crossed the threshold to master, when the ITF promoted him to seventh-degree. Once Master Vitale retired from the NY State Police, he redirected his TKD involvement to full-time status. His writings started to appear in various martial art publications. In 2005, he began to involve himself in efforts already under way to bring a North Korean demonstration team to the USA. These activities led him to initially assist as a researcher, with several documentary films about Tae Kwon Do, including Tong-Il (www. TONG-ILmovie.com), soon to be completed. Master Vitale was promoted by the ITF to eighth-degree in 2009. The decision was unanimous, with recommendations coming from many prestigious TKD leaders. George has been using his investigative skills gained during his police career with his extensive academic education to conduct in-depth research into Tae Kwon Do’s history. Graduate school education began in 1993, earning an MA in 1997. George continued two more years in a Doctoral Program. The education included writing numerous papers on the benefits of traditional martial arts. This was supplemented by the completion of education science, history, political science and Korean studies. These are all areas that are vital if one is to understand Tae Kwon Do’s complex history. Master Vitale became the first American to ever earn a Ph.D. in any academic discipline from the D.P.R. Korea, when he completed a Sports Science Doctoral Program in Tae Kwon Do. George wrote over a 200-page doctoral dissertation on the history of Tae Kwon Do and the benefits of its traditional training. Tae Kwon Do was offered as a way to bring people together, in hopes of “building a more peaceful world.” Students, regardless of rank, take an oath to do so and to be “a champion of freedom and justice” in hope of building peace. Tae Kwon Do has been used in hopes of reuniting Korea. George’s effort to support these endeavors has garnered the attention of governments and organizations that are involved in working on issues with North Korea. These organizations have taken notice of these successful cultural exchanges constantly taking place between the USA and the DPRK. They have begun a process of outreach to Dr. Vitale and these Tae Kwon Do leaders in an effort to learn about these successes. George looks forward to continuing with these efforts, as it is the responsibility of a TKD master to work towards these honorable ends. He refrains from taking money for TKD as he wants it to be more holistic and commercial free. For this, his diplomatic efforts, a lifelong pursuit of Tae Kwon Do and his sharing with many, he is TKD Times’ Master of the Year.
January anu nua ar y 20 ary 2012 012 / taekwondotimes.com tae a k kw won ondo doti do time mes me s.c . om 56 Ja
@ejkilZkfi f] k_\ P\Xi Martin Zámečník
Martin Zámečník on the right
Mr. Martin Zámečník was born on February 7, 1977 in Prague, Czech Republic. He started to practice martial arts in the mid-1980s, attending a school that taught Judo and Karate. In the late 80s and early 90s, after the fall of communism, Prague offered a lot of different martial arts and Mr. Zámečník tried most of them. In 1991, he started with ITF Tae Kwon Do. His first instructor was Hwang Ho Yong, now Grandmaster, from the DPRK (at that time, Czechoslovakia had a good connection with North Korea) and his first assistant instructor was Jiří Gazda, the first Czech black belt. He reached first-dan in 1996, in front of Master Hwang Ho Yong in Prague. In 1997, he started teaching ITF in his school which was named Hosin Sool. He participated in more than 100 international seminars with many well-known Tae Kwon Do pioneers, including the founder of TKD, General Choi Hong Hi, GM Choi Jung Hwa, GM Rhee Ki Ha, GM Park Jong Soo, GM Hwang Ho Yong and GM Kim Ung Chol. He also practiced with GM Hwang Kwang Sung, GM C.K.Choi, GM Leong Wai Meng, and GM Jhoon Rhee. At the age of 25, Mr. Zámečník made an important decision for his future. He finished teaching history and philosophy in high school, finished his university studies and finished teaching and practicing other martial arts altogether and became a professional teacher of ITF Tae Kwon Do. He had more than 300 students when he began. Mr. Zámečník was also an active competitor. For four years he was a member of the Czech national team for power breaking and patterns. In 2008, he was named to the Technical Committee of the ITF (now called the Technical and Education Committee of the ITF), of which he is still a member today. After years of working for Czech NGB, he was elected to be President of the Czech Taekwon-do Federation on April 11, 2010. Today, Mr. Zámečník is teaching 30 lessons a week, from white belts to black belts. Every week he is practicing with Grandmaster Hwang Ho Yong and he is assisting him with all his international seminars. This year he was promoted to sixth-dan. He is head of the largest Czech school, Ge-baek Hosin Sool (www.tkd.cz), with 1000 students and 30 teachers. He is personally also teaching autistic and hyperactive children in an orphanage, doing a lot of charity work for the organization. He continues to build up Czech TKD, his school, and still trains each day, forever learning and striving to understand Tae Kwon Do. taekwondotimes.com tta aek ekwo wond ndot nd dottim imes es.c es ..c com m / January Jan anua anua uary ry y 2012 201 2 0 2 01
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Ni`k\i f] k_\ P\Xi Master Doug Cook
Master Doug Cook holds a sixth-dan black belt in the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon Do and is certified as an instructor in rank by the United States Taekwondo Association and the Kukkiwon. He is a six-time Gold Medalist having frequently participated in the New York State Championships and the New York State Governor’s Cup competitions. Master Cook has trained in Korea on multiple occasions and currently administers training cultural tours to the homeland of Tae Kwon Do. He holds a D3 status as a U.S. Referee and has received high honors from Korea in the form of a “Letter of Appreciation” signed by World Taekwondo Federation president, Dr. Un Yong Kim. In 2003, Master Cook was awarded the Medal of Special Recognition from the Moo Duk Kwan in Seoul, South Korea. In 2004, while attending a training camp in Korea, Master Cook received a Special Citation from the Korean government for forging a stronger relationship between Korea and the United States through the martial arts. A six-page interview featuring Master Cook appeared in the May 2005 issue of Tae Kwon Do Times focusing on Tae Kwon Do philosophy and his views on the role martial arts will play in the 21st century. In June 2006, he was inducted into the Budo International Martial Arts Hall of Fame as “Taekwondo Master of the Year.” In 2007, Master Cook was invited on several occasions to speak as a guest lecturer at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, the only institution of higher learning in the country to offer a major in the martial arts. Master Cook was recently listed in Black Belt magazine as one of the Top Twenty masters of the Korean martial arts in America. In 2009, he was invited to speak at the prestigious Korea Society in New York City and will appear in Legacy, an upcoming television documentary centering on Tae Kwon Do, scheduled for release in 2013. Master Cook is credited with the creation of the Chosun Women’s Self-Defense Course. He has also provided training for the U.S. Army National Guard/42nd Division prior to military operations and has instructed agents from the Department of Homeland Security, the New York Police Department and the Bronx County Sheriff ’s Department. Master Cook was called upon to demonstrate Tae Kwon Do as part of a three-man team at the annual Oriental World of Self-Defense held in New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden. There, he and the team were cheered on by martial arts legends such as Richard Chun, Henry Cho and Chuck Norris. Because he is a traditionalist, Master Cook places great emphasis on the underlying philosophical principles and self-defense strategies surrounding Tae Kwon Do. He demonstrates this belief by infusing meditation, breathing exercises, a strong attention to basics, and the practice of the classical forms, or poomsae, in his instructional methodology. Aside from continuing his martial arts education under the tutelage of world-renowned, ninth-dan Grandmaster Richard Chun, Master Cook owns and operates the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in Warwick, New York, an institute specializing in traditional martial arts instruction and Ki, or internal energy development. Master Doug Cook currently shares his knowledge of Tae Kwon Do through a series of articles he has written for Tae Kwon Do Times, Black Belt, Totally TaeKwonDo and the United States Taekwondo Association Journal, as well as various other martial arts publications. For the past ten years he has written a monthly column for TaeKwonDo Times called “Traditions.” Master Cook is the author of three best-selling books entitled, Taekwondo: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, Traditional Taekwondo – Core Techniques, History, and Philosophy (a finalist in ForeWord magazine’s Book of the Year Award), and Taekwondo – A Path to Excellence, released in 2009 (a USA Book Award finalist). His fourth book, Taekwondo Poomsae: Original & Kukki Koryo, authored in partnership with Grandmaster Richard Chun, will be released in 2013. All editions are published by YMAA of Boston and are available online and at booksellers throughout the world. Master Cook can be reached at info@chosuntkd. com or at www.chosuntkd.com and is available for seminars, workshops, book signings and lectures.
January anu n a arr y 2 20 2012 01 12 2 / taekwondotimes.com tae aekw kwon kw on o ndoti time me es.c com m 58 JJa
DXik`Xc 8ik`jk f] k_\ P\Xi Evgeny Piksaev
Evgeny Piksaev was born October 23, 1983, in the town of Dolgoveras located in the republic of Mordova in the outback of Russia. There Tae Kwon Do was not available growing up. Evgeny’s life turned a different direction when his family moved to another town called Vyksa, which had a Tae Kwon Do school. At age eleven, like many boys, Evgeny tried Tae Kwon Do. At first, it did not seem to appeal to him, but after a year he began to like it and later developed a love for it. This love grew over the years and it soon became his life and profession. At the age of sixteen he received his first-dan black belt. He was filled with pride and happiness, but knew that it was not the end of his journey, but instead this was the beginning to a long and difficult path called “The Way of Tae Kwon Do.” Currently, Evgeny Piksaev is the President and Founder of a Tae Kwon Do Club in Moscow called “Pek Tu San.” He has over 150 students and the number of people in the club is growing. His pupils are the city, country, and European champions, winning awards and tournaments. Evgeny also still performs in competitions and is a champion of both national and international tournaments, winning bronze medals in the World Championships in both St. Petersburg, Russia and Pyongyang, North Korea. GM Pak Bon Dok, eighth-dan (DPRK) had a big role in putting Evgeny on the path of Tae Kwon Do. For Evgeny, GM Pak became more than a teacher and a trainer by communicating personally with him and immersing him in Tae Kwon Do. Evgeny, now a fourth-dan black belt, says his experience with Tae Kwon Do is just starting. “Let all people that are interested in Tae Kwon Do try it, practice it, and let it flourish!”
taekwondotimes.com tta ae aekwo ekwon nd do ottim mes.c es s.c . om o / January Jan anua uary ry y 2012 201 012 12
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JZ_ffc f] k_\ P\Xi Master Rondy White Tiger Martial Arts
White Tiger Taekwondo & Martial Arts located in Cary, North Carolina, first opened in February of 1996. The school opened in a leased space of 4,000 sq. ft. in a shopping center located at a T-junction. The budget did not allow for both great location and large space. The budget was spent on large space, hoping that great demonstrations would bring in the traffic. White Tiger reached the crucial 100-student mark within six months and 195 students by the end of the first year. The school exploded with over 250 additional students the second year and doubled that the third year. At over 1,000 students, plans were soon underway to build their own facility. Master Rondy used her design and Feng Shui consulting background to not only select the most auspicious location, but for the architectural design and functionality of the facility. The 24,000 sq. ft. family fitness facility broke ground in 2001 and opened its doors in January of 2003. The facility features 26’ high ceilings, four matted training areas, a private lesson room, a proshop, a Tiger Tube play land childcare, a fully equipped gym, a suspended running track, showers, cedar saunas, a climbing wall, a retractable ring of heavy bags, cargo nets, a zip line, a flipping harness and a Koi fish pond. Recent additions to the facility include a homework station, a recording studio, a video training room, a stretching station, a snack cafe, and an outdoor luxury Leadership Lounge including palm trees, ponds, a hot tub, grill and outdoor movie theater. But a building is just a building. The true success of White Tiger is the martial arts community within. White Tiger seeks, selects and employs the best of the best in instructors. A teaching team of home-grown American instructors blend their culture with that of Korean Masters here on Visa to create the ultimate instructor force. In addition to an outstanding staff, a variety of teams work together to meet the needs of each and every one of the nearly 2,000 students. Teams include the Leadership Team (instructors’ assistants), Management Team (office help), Counselor Team (children’s camps and activities), Community Cares Team (conducts weekly charity work), Team White Tiger (demonstration team), Redman Team (teaching self-defense seminars), and the new PTA or Parent/Tiger Association (for family input and involvement). With all the staff and teams working together, the school is able to offer classes six days a week (and special events on Sundays), in a combination of rank-specific-including black belt only classes, multi-rank, and special program classes. In addition to TKD and Hapkido, White Tiger offers classes in weapons, Tiger Tots, Korean Language/Martial Arts History, Elite Sparring & Forms, MasterQuest (advanced black belt training), cardio kickboxing, and, most recently, Beachbody’s P90X and Insanity fit clubs. Current projects for White Tiger include staff training and development for future locations and Master Rondy has accepted several speaking engagements in 2012. She will be conducting seminars on “cures” for common obstacles faced in most dojangs. White Tiger MD is for Management Development, with proven ideas and programs for student recruitment. White Tiger PhD focuses on Physical Development and provides proven ideas and programs for student retention. January J anu nuar ar y 20 2012 2012 2 / taekwondotimes.com tae aekw kw k won ond do o oti ttiime mes es..c co om m 60 6 0 Ja
My time spent in Korea with the Tiger Team was everything you would think it would be—exciting, thrilling, a little scary—but all around, a great adventure. Except for the holidays. I noticed this the most with my first “family” holiday spent half way around the world on my own. I woke up on my first Thanksgiving out of the country and realized I had to go to work like any other day. Knowing that you were working, and everyone you knew back home was together and celebrating was a terrible, left-out feeling. This was in a time before the Internet, Skype and phone cards. I could only call home about once a month from a pay phone in town. It took a month to save up the change for a ten-minute call, and that is if the phone is working that day or if you can get a line through. No one, not even my English students, had ever heard of Thanksgiving. There were no turkeys in Korea, or ovens for baking to even celebrate by myself. It was my first real homesickness. Christmas was similar. Everyone knows of this holiday, but it is not celebrated with the family. It was a day off of work (one day). There was no moderation, if you were “religious,” you spent the whole day in church; if not, you spent it drinking with friends. Like most things in our lives, we don’t realize how much they mean to us until they are taken away. The New Year in Korea is not celebrated on January 1, but by the lunar calendar, around the end of January/beginning of February. This is not a big party night, but a celebration spent with the entire family over several days. The women make heaps of food in the kitchen, and the days are filled with visiting relatives, children showing respect to their elders, gift giving (usually fruits) and attending to the family tomb sites in the mountains. Meals are served throughout the day as each group of visitors arrives. I was part of a Korean family now, and they tried their best to include me in the celebrations. My shioh-moni, or mother-in-law, told me that she had been to town and picked up some “American groceries” and that they wanted me to make American food for our guests. My excitement quickly turned to panic as I looked in the kitchen. There on the bare counter was a big bag of potatoes and a big jug of cooking oil. It was
like a nightmare episode of Iron Chef. I went to the refrigerator. No butter, milk, cheese or even ketchup. The only meat was still alive and running around out in the courtyard. I wasn’t going to ask. As our guests came in, I could hear it being explained that soon they would be having American food. I started peeling. French fries were too obvious. I wowed them with potato wedges. Although I was a little embarrassed by my meal presentation, it was their effort and my inclusion in the celebration that made it my first real holiday in my new home. I learned the importance of our connection to home and vowed I would always remember this when I was hosting guests in my country. At White Tiger, half our teaching staff is here from Korea with work Visas. Many have not seen their families in over a year. I cannot give them their holidays off from work, but we do make a big effort to celebrate as a school. All our staff wears traditional hanboks (clothing), Korean food is catered in, including the New Year’s soup. At the end of each class, the children perform the big bow all the way down to the ground and the instructors impart their wisdom and blessings for the following year, they then give the children money. We use our own currency, “Taekwondough,” to be spent in the proshop or cafe. It is fun for the students and meaningful for the masters. Of course, it is not the same as being home for the holidays, but it is our White Tiger way to show our masters that they are part of our family. My potato wedges must have been a hit or my Korean family was very kind; they asked me the next day, “da-shi” (again). This time I made hash browns.
East Meets West By Master Rondy
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Master Rondy is a sixth-degree black belt in WTF Taekwondo, a fourth-degree in Hapkido and a second-degree 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.
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
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Traditions
By Doug Cook
I]Z 9Zbdc d[ HZa["9djWi Remember your first Tae Kwon Do class? I will never forget mine and I am confident most of our readers will not forget theirs either. The experience was like meeting a new love for the first time. I felt an instant connection to the art and as the years went by, a blossoming of passion that remains with me to this day. And just like a successful marriage, that early infatuation has matured into an enduring bond. Yet, I do not feel unique. Many of you certainly share similar emotions. So, how do we explain the actions of those who initially concur with this line of reasoning, yet impulsively terminate their training at some point for no apparent reason? Anyone who engages in a serious study of traditional Tae Kwon Do can tell you it is a difficult pursuit. There is no elevator to success; you must laboriously scale each step to the top. Every class represents a challenge of some sort coupled with the fact that the Tae Kwon Doist cannot help but experience peaks and valleys in the course of their practice. Tae Kwon Do mirrors life and, just as in daily life, things are not always perfect. Certainly, there are times when you will enjoy an exemplary training session, one where every stance flows smoothly, where every kick is well placed and strikes exhibit unstoppable power. However, if that were consistently the case, everyone would be a master. Instead, it is more likely that days will be endured when techniques refuse to come easy, when you seem to be digressing rather than advancing. It is times such as these when the true spirit of Tae Kwon Do must materialize allowing indomitable will to trump faltering action. For the martial artist, one of the greatest adversaries is not an aggressive sparring partner, but the Demon of Self-Doubt: that insidious state-of-mind that unfailingly attempts to rot away dedication while whispering false promises of leisure and comfort if left to its own devices. “Stay home today. Sit on the couch, eat potato chips and watch reality TV. Don’t go to class. Go tomorrow.” And then “tomorrow” turns into next week and next week fades into next month until…well, you get the picture. Yet, the temptation to retreat into a fog of procrastination is not always the first demand of the Demon. Frequently, the voice commands us to focus on matters that, at the moment, appear eminently reasonable and necessary. “Your children need you tonight. Cook dinner. Do the bills NOW. Why practice…you did that yesterday.” So, your personal needs are again marginalized and relegated to the back burner. The practice and routine intrinsic to Tae Kwon Do that undoubtedly results in improved health, technical proficiency and a greater
62 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
sense of well-being, again falls victim to the enemy within. Subsequently, permitting your training to suffer based on unsubstantiated demands represents a shortfall of tenacity that has a nasty habit of rippling out into every facet of life. Dubious patterns begin to emerge. Delay becomes the byword of the day where action once dominated. Enthusiasm is masked by lethargy. Little aches and pains begin to surface that not too long ago were commonly erased by constant, mindful practice. Yet, perhaps worst of all, hollow excuses begin to multiply and gain veracity: you find fault with a fellow student or teacher. You wait for that “injured” wrist to heal. The distance between home and the dojang mysteriously begins to elongate. Work, that for years seemed mundane, suddenly gains massive importance. Sports or other extracurricular activities conveniently begin to take precedence. And once this trend has borne fruit, the final act is played out as the Demon of Self-Doubt ushers in the process of rationalization; the illusion where all pretext is accepted and justified. The curtain falls, the progression complete…it is time to quit Tae Kwon Do and search as you may, there is no good reason not to. Sounds daunting…and it is. Over the decades I have seen this scenario gain legs in some of my most dedicated students. Individuals, black belts who have trained vigorously for years, begin to lag in attendance and then one day, all but disappear, summarily vanquished by the Demon of Self-Doubt. Moreover, adding insult to injury, as mentioned in a recent column, this final deed is often unaccompanied by formal closure. Nevertheless, the sad chain of events illustrated above need not end so tragically. Situations will arise that unquestionably require a student’s immediate and undivided attention. A sick child or spouse, a rerouted work schedule, an unlooked for business trip, cannot be ignored. But these should represent temporary setbacks, not a permanent, damaging redirection of lifestyle. A simple, objective analysis of a given situation can often yield a positive course of action when sitting at the crossroads of indecision.
Personally, I have been forced to endure several situations across the years that have challenged my seemingly unshakeable dedication to traditional Tae Kwon Do. On two separate occasions of significance, the Demon attempted to insinuate his presence between me and my passion in a disturbingly aggressive manner. I am pleased to say he failed both times. Triumphing instead, I was greatly inspired by the actions of two senior instructors who, given the severity of their afflictions at the time, could easily have succumbed to their short-term disabilities exacerbated by internal demons. Yet they did not falter and neither did I.* Of course, the level of victory enjoyed when facing down the Demon of Self-Doubt is directly proportional to the passion invested in a given activity, in this case traditional Tae Kwon Do. If you approach training solely as a mode of entertainment or exercise such a bowling, golf or jogging, abandonment, though disappointing, is easy; no serious harm done. But, if you are like me and others I know, the practice of traditional Tae Kwon Do has indisputably evolved into an irreplaceable component of life and any thought of retirement would be tantamount to a
catastrophic divorce. It is often said that a black belt is a white belt who never quit. This axiom plainly represents an oversimplification of the issue, yet it is equally true to say that none of us are immune to the ups and downs presented by the sincere and vigorous practice of traditional Tae Kwon Do. Consequently, once the innumerable excuses introduced by the Demon of SelfDoubt are internally reconciled, it becomes virtually impossible to crawl out of the sinkhole of personal defeat. Clearly, when earnest intent and indolence collide, too often indolence abides. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, when all is said and done and the quest for the talisman of certain victory is realized, the solution to this potentially toxic quandary can be distilled down into three simple words that have become the lifelong slogan of my teacher, Grandmaster Richard Chun: “Never give up!” *See Champions of the Heart in Part Three of Master Cook’s third book, Taekwondo – a Path to Excellence, page 77.
Master Doug Cook, a sixth-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 three best-selling books entitled: Taekwondo…Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, Traditional Taekwondo Core Techniques, History and Philosophy, and Taekwondo–A Path to Excellence, focusing on the rewards and virtues of tae kwon do, all published by YMAA of Boston. Master Cook and Grandmaster Chun have just completed a new book on Original and Kukki Koryo poomsae targeted for publication in 2013. He can be reached for lectures, workshops or questions at www.chosuntkd.com or info@chosuntkd.com.
&MVDJEBUJOH UIF %P "EWBODFE 5SBJOJOH 4USBUFHJFT By Dr. Ron Shane, 6th Dan With contributions from:
Master Fabian Nunez, 8th Dan Master Robert Wheatley, 8th Dan
Master Andy Mencia, 8th Dan Travis Young, 6th Dan
General Choi never explained how the senior black belt might consider the “Do” or “Way” during execution of the ITF patterns. The founder of Taekwon-Do, in his lectures and writings, stated that his martial art is primarily based on mental training. He actually purported in his encyclopedia, in the section on moral culture, that an advanced practitioner should have the acumen to move the body’s Chi (Will) with the mental sphere’s Ki (Energy). This concept was never fully expanded in any of General Choi’s writings. General Choi’s theory of power, as well as his training secrets, provide black belts with the exquisite protocol for execution of the physical movements of ITF patterns; however, these training strategies do not delve into the ways one might experience the Do of Taekwon-Do or accelerate Chi throughout the body as a result of activating Ki. The intent of this article is to elucidate what General Choi was referring to by the mental or etheric aspects of Taekwon-Do when executing the 24 ITF patterns. General Choi asserted, “Strong conviction can be gained through the broad and deep “Ki”—spirit. Ki is a form of active energy which fills every physical cell and organ while “Chi”—will, is the motivating force: the former moves and the latter leads…its soaring power and outreaching strength fill the heaven and earth, enabling man to reach a new height of great achievements, so Mencius exhorted his disciples.”1 Tong-Il is the pattern required for testing to seventh-dan (master level) within the ITF; and the senior black belt should comprehend how to use Ki to move the body’s Chi within this and all Alex Gret’s portrayal of the etheric body
64 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
1 General Choi Hong Hi, “Taekwon-Do, (The Korean Art of Self-Defense)”. New England, International Taekwon Do Federation, 1995, page 32-33.
patterns. The senior black belt, in most instances, has internalized all facets of General Choi’s theory of power and training secrets when executing the physical movements of the patterns. By this point in their training, they should also start to feel the energy within and without, and start to comprehend how patterns practice is a benefit and nurturer of the “Do” in Taekwon-Do. Furthermore, General Choi implicitly felt that advanced practitioners should be conscious of how to experience these diverse aspects of “Do”. The first motion of TongIl The first movement of Tong-Il is far more complex than just executing a twin-fist middle-punch in slow motion. The physical body must be thoroughly relaxed without any Chi blockage. It is of essential importance that senior black belts condition the outward dimension of the body’s physicality as a function of various crosstraining protocols. The founder of Taekwon-Do, in his writings, also implicitly purported that it is important for the advanced practitioner to mitigate any kind of energy obstruction in the body. Seven Chakra, or energy centers
The body’s energy obstructions make it difficult to experience the various aspects of Do when executing ITF patterns. The body’s emotional turbulence, likewise, annuls the dynamic power of Ki associated with the upper dan-tien or mental eye.
Starting position of the pattern Tong-Il A senior black belt prior to executing the first motion of Tong-Il should be activating the body’s entire Chi channels harbored within. The intermediary position prior to executing the first motion of Tong-Il
The senior black belt must totally relax all bodily appendages when he or she executes sign wave in slow motion; and likewise, it requires that a practitioner open up the body’s navel center (third chakra) or dan-tien. The senior black belt then slightly elevates the torso enabling this individual to then propel the Earth’s fervidness or energy into the feet. The highly activated mental eye, in conjunction with the body’s lower centers, ascends the Earth’s energy upward to where it becomes viable in the third chakra.
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The mental eye empowers Ki driving the energy harbored in the navel center (third chakra) down the legs into the Earth’s core. The Earth’s energy comes up the feet, then ascends to the navel center as a result of executing the second part of sign wave in the intermediate position of the first motion of Tong-Il. Furthermore, the Do master is provocatively involved with attracting celestial energies through the crown center where it is diffused throughout the etheric sphere of the physical body; and likewise increases the power of the practitioner’s navel center. The middle dan-tien or heart center must
and directs the body’s deeper “Chi” out through the practitioner’s striking tools. The Chi energy actually precedes the arrival of the practitioner’s twin fists, especially when it is executed in slow motion. The advanced black belt likewise experiences the entire energy force of the body being activated when he or she impacts an adversary’s striking surface. The body’s subtle energy simultaneously moves where it descends from the navel center down the legs and also ascends beyond the skull or crown chakra from the lower dan-tien.
In summary, the “Do” of Taekwon-Do is a meta-science or art of energy, which is an essential facet of an advanced black belt’s experience. This experience should be nurtured and explored while one practices all 24 of the ITF patterns.
be open and calm as the advanced black belt commences to execute a twin middle-punch in slow motion. The mental eye or the progenitor of Ki is now activating and releasing energy harbored in the navel center that consists of the body’s primal force blended with earthly and celestial energies. The integrated bodily energy is directed out the arms through the two knuckles of the fist. The mental eye empowers “Ki,” which heats up 66 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Ron Shane is a faculty researcher at U.C. San Diego in the field of Neuroendocrinology as well as a director of optimal medicine at Zen Beauty Institute. In addition, he is a Director of Research at New Image Cosmetic Surgery Center. Currently, he is working on Growth Factor Therapies to attenuate the senescence of aging with the International Stem Cell and Burnham Institute. Dr. Shane completed post doctoral studies in different disciplines including Renaissance Literature, Theater at U.C.L.A. and events training at U.C.S.D in biological anthropology, neuroscience, medical science, molecular biology, and attended medical school. He is a Taekwondo sixth-degree black belt, certified energy master, a Kundalini yoga master, and a doctor of Oriental medicine. Dr. Shane has given many medical lectures and was a college instructor in English, Drama, Social Psychology, and Sociology. He has published over 150 articles in medicine, martial arts, as well as research studies in Cosmetic Medicine. Several of Dr. Shane’s books are now available, including: The Lethal Art of Taekwondo, Zen Beauty, The Elite Fitness Revolution, Epigenetics and Optimal Medicine, A 21st Century Urban Female Warrior, and The Aesthetic Medical Revolution.
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1534 Sugar Bush Trail • Allen, TX 75002 • 903-583-6160 • jtmshapkido@gmail.com
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he Jun Tong Mu Sool Korean Martial Arts Group is an internationally recognized, and fully accredited organization designed to assist the traditional Korean Martial Arts practitioner, instructor, and master alike. The Jun Tong Mu Sool Korean Martial Arts Group offers individual, instructor, and master level memberships, school charters, advanced level training, rank testing and certification (for qualified individuals), Korean martial arts seminars, tournaments and much, much more! Membership into the Jun Tong Mu Sool Korean Martial Arts Group is available only to a dedicated, and spirited few. We follow a unique approach to training in the traditional arts, that is, one that treats the arts with holism and totality. We are an “apolitical” training group, where respect is earned through dedicated study and practice.
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John B. Murphy JTMS Director • Tae Kwon Do, Teuk Gong Moo Sool and Hapkido Chief Master Intructor • Regional Director, World Kido Federation & Hanminjok Hapkido Association • Former police officer • Former FDIC security supervisor Dallas, TX
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now accepting applications for state and regional directors To obtain general membership please send a martial arts biography and a $35 check or money order made payable to J.B. Murphy 1534 Sugarbush Trail, Allen, TX 75002
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The Knight’s Way By Guy Edward Larke
6cY i]Z 6lVgY <dZh Id¬ µ9V"h]ZZ bVc"cV]" hj] WV]c"\V lj]"nd¶ or “Welcome back.” Finally, I can keep a promise I’ve made to you from the beginning of this column. I’ve detailed various aspects of Korean culture, where to stay, and what to eat. Now for the most controversial part, which is where and where not to train. There will be no name calling, bad mouthing or rumor mongering. I will list associations, federations and academies that are well-known or at least should be well-known. Once again, for those who read my work, I have little or no use for whomever or whatever is awe-inspiring or loud/self-important. I actually tend to blatantly go against the grain as a rule. Results are what matter, not hot air. Starting in the coming issues, I will rate various groups with ten criteria on a scale of one to ten. These factors are:
&# AdXVi^dc/ This is the ease of finding the headquarters and/or the head dojang. Are instructions readily available or is it a maze?
'# >ciZgcZi GZhdjgXZh/ How easy is it to find information online? Is the homepage in English? How much information is there?
Guy Edward Larke sabumnim has dedicated his life from a young age to the pursuit of the martial arts, Asian culture and hopology. It led him to Korea in 2000 and has lived there since then. He lives in Seongnam city with his wife Gi-Ryung and son Alexander. He holds black belts in Taekwondo, Hapkido, Taekkyon, Bon Kuk Kumdo, Korean kickboxing, Karate-do, Wushu, Cheonji-muye-do, and Hosin-sul. Currently he teaches Taekwondo, Karate and Cheonji-muye-do full time in addition to writing for various magazines and running Kisa-Do Muye & Marketing. He can be contacted at kisa_do_muye@ yahoo.ca.
68 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
(# Egd\gVb/ Are there special opportunities for foreign martial artists? How well will they take care of you when you arrive? How many people can speak your language?
)# Deedgijc^ i^Zh/ This ties into number 3. In addition to training, can they offer other chances in and outside of Korea, such as media exposure, competitions, certification and employment opportunities?
*# 8jgg^Xjajb/ This is much deeper than the last two. How deep is the syllabus? Is it sport-oriented? How much is actually shared with non-Koreans? Some are very open, while others…
+# :c\a^h] BViZg^Vah/
.# K^h^dc/
This means the quality of printed materials, from brochures and books to DVDs. Are there many available? Is there English available or is it Konglish (broken Korean)?
What are their future plans? Are they far-reaching or are they conservative? Or are they living in a cloud?
,# ;VX^a^ i^Zh/ How clean is the training area? Is it spacious? Are the restrooms clean? No, a dojang is not a hotel, but cleanliness can speak volumes for the priorities of a group.
-# <adWVa^oVi^dc/ How internationalized are the headquarters? Are they even interested?
&%# KVajZ/ If you actually spend your hard earned money and time to come here for study, is it worth the money they are asking? Do they do anything extra to make it worth your while? If there is a particular group or university you would like covered, please to do not hesitate to let me know. In the next issue, I beg your indulgence, as I talk of the most integral person in my career as a journalist, martial artist and businessperson. Till next issue…µ9Vjb VZ WV]"nd
HZZ ndj cZmi i^bZ ¶
First, Break Their Balance By Stephen Petermann
Assailants may go beyond punching and kicking, in their effort to hurt or control us. They may grab our hair, clothing, head, leg or wrists. When grabbing our wrist, they may grab the same side or across our bodies. They might grab two hands on one, or two hands on two. Their hand position may be thumb up, or inverted, or in the case of two-handed grabs, they may have one each. In addition to its wide variety of kicks, Hapkido is well known for its self-defense technique covering the dizzying array of situations outlined above. The curriculum of any excellent Hapkido school will cover all of the various attacks listed and more. Turning an opponent’s effort to control us into our control of them, and getting control of the situation is integral to the study of Jang Mu Won Hapkido. Jang Mu Won Hapkido, founded by the late Grandmaster Chong Sung Kim, uses strikes, pressure points, twisting and throwing to disable any attacker. Grandmaster Dr. Chong Sung Kim is recognized as one of the world’s foremost instructors and practitioners in the Korean martial art of Hapkido. Grandmaster Kim’s teaching style placed emphasis on timing and precision in the execution of Hapkido techniques. If you were one of the fortunate people who got to study with Grandmaster Kim, you heard him say over and over, “First, break their balance.” This was an effort to engrain into our minds that a static, bal-
Master Petermann has been grabbed “cross-handed” by the attacker, Gregory Castle.
Sliding right, and circling down and right on a wrist pressure point, the attacker’s balance is upset, and Master Petermann encircles the neck with his left arm.
70 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
Applying counter force to the attacker’s shoulder (not visible) and continuing to pull on the captured arm, the attacker’s body is arched, and his balance totally lost.
“If you can disturb your assailant’s balance and/or escape; counterattack becomes possible.” anced opponent has advantages that we would like to remove. When you remove someone’s equilibrium, you greatly improve your likelihood of success. Trying to counter an opponent’s force with force is what they expect, and they are ready for just such attempts. You are at even more of a disadvantage if you are smaller, and try to match strength with strength. The squirming and writhing of a captured wrist within the grasp of a strong opponent only succeeds in hurting yourself, chafing your skin and wasting precious time and energy. However, if you can disturb your assailant’s balance and/or escape; counterattack becomes possible, even for the smaller and weaker among us. His loss of balance takes priority in his mind, holding and controlling you becomes secondary. This dividing of his efforts and disruption of control creates the opportunity we are looking for to get away, secure a more defensible position, or even turn events completely around and achieve control over him. Only a person highly skilled in falling can entertain thoughts of anything other than self preservation when headed for the ground.
Your Own Balance
Of course, before you can entertain thoughts of disturbing someone else’s balance, you need to develop good balance yourself. Feet should be a comfortable distance apart, knees bent, and your weight divided 50/50 between your feet. Good balance can be enhanced through the rigors of sparring, which helps to keep your feet under you while you are moving, dodging, blocking and attacking. The motions of the health related arts of Tai Chi or Dan Ki Gong also improve balance.
Releasing the counter force, and continuing to pull on the attacker’s arm, his balance is redirected, and momentum is created.
Capitalizing on the momentum and loss of balance, Master Petermann throws his opponent.
Compliance is attained using an arm bar.
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
71
Reversing the Force
One of the ways to break an opponent’s balance is to reverse the force used against us. In their effort to control us, our assailant must exert energy. The Hapkidoist can take advantage of this by adding to and reversing that energy. Grandmaster Kim was fond of saying, “If they pull, you push. If they push, you pull.” This is the basic application of the “harmonious power” principle of Hapkido. Everyone knows what happens in a tug of war when one side suddenly lets go of the rope. However, with Hapkido, we can go beyond the simple “letting go” and add some of our energy, making the reversal even more devastating. In the event that our opponent is not pulling or pushing hard enough, we can increase their power expenditure by temporarily resisting their efforts. By pulling back on a pulling opponent, his desire to overwhelm and control us causes him to pull even harder—this is when we reverse and push!
Emotion
Another method to disturb an opponent’s balance is through the use of emotion. If we can trigger an emotional response, such as fear, or on the opposite end of the scale, overwhelming anger, we may succeed in getting our assailant to lean backward or forward. For example, by attempting a punch to the face, we may be able to make them lean backward to avoid contact. For our purposes, it doesn’t matter if the punch was a fake, or if we intended contact, as long as we are prepared to handle the eventuality of him leaning backward. On the other side of the coin, if we make them angry enough to lean in and raise their height, such as in an effort to loom over us, we can take advantage of that lapse in balance. It is understandable, that in a bad situation, we may not wish to make our opponent even angrier, but if we choose to fight, a non-thinking, off-balance adversary may prove easier to beat!
Master Petermann makes eye contact with the attacker, Gregory Castle.
Using his left hand, Master Petermann steps in, grabs around the attacker’s head and applies a hold to attack the pressure point on the head.
72 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
Master Petermann brings the attacker close to his body and hits the attacker with his left shoulder.
The Circle Principle
Another method, the one demonstrated in the pictures, is to use the “circle” principle of Hapkido to break your adversary’s balance. Shifting weight and applying pressure to the pressure point on the inside of their wrists, opponents can be manipulated in such a way as to be taken off balance and made vulnerable. An important part of the motion involved is a circular movement of the captured hand. This, along with the pressure point attack and the twisting of the wrist bones, can cause the opponent to move awkwardly off balance. Once the opponent is off balance, we can execute various counterattack and control measures. Calling this concept the “circle” principle does not do it justice. It is not just a two-dimensional ring of limited motion. The principle is one of motion in any direction throughout the sphere we can create. Imagine a bubble surrounding you, from your toes to the tips of your fingers. The circle principle is more like that. You can move in any direction, and even reverse. You can make the diameter of the sphere bigger, by stepping, or as small as your wrist motion. It is in leading your opponent along the edge of your sphere, and beyond the edge of their sphere, that you create havoc for them. Lastly, one other advantage of taking your opponent’s balance is that any attack they had brewing when you took their balance will be considerably less effective. Their punches or kicks will die on the vine. Their attempts to control and manipulate you will be stymied. Your chances of coming out on top and uninjured go up, and that is what self-defense is all about. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stephen Petermann is a seventh-dan black belt in Jang Mu Won Hapkido and has been training for 38 years. He currently owns and operates the Kim’s Hapkido San Dimas Branch Studio. He is currently the President of the Jang Mu Won Hapkido Association. For more information about Jang Mu Won Hapkido, please visit our website at www.jangmuwonhapkido.com.
Still maintaining the hold on the pressure point, Mater Petermann circles his body around, forcing his attacker to move.
The attacker is forced to fall due to the pressure maintained by Master Petermann.
After throwing the attacker, Master Petermann strikes the neck to disable his attacker.
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
73
Kickinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; It!
By Paul Zaichik
9ZkZade^c\ ;aZm^W^a^in In the previous issue, a number of exercises were shown to strengthen the supporting leg, of which flexibility dictates the height of the side line kicks. Once again, if your kick doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t come up high, even if you drop your trunk away from the kick, the issue is in the supporting leg. In this issue we are going to focus on developing flexibility in your standing leg. The idea is to practice the exercises shown, while still practicing the range specific strength exercises, shown previously. The cumulative effect of the stretching and strengthening exercises is much better than the individual components. Strength and flexibility are two seemingly opposite components, but in the game of kicking, they are partners, both of which are necessary. The strength helps to allow for deeper and safer range of motion, while flexibility allows superior strength to develop and tap into the source of unprecedented power. Once the strength is developed in the supporting leg, I recommend combining the strength and flexibility components into one flowing workout. In other words, stretching exercises would be placed in the middle of strengthening exercises and strengthening will be placed in the middle of flexibility training. Standing Over Reach t 4UBSU CZ extending your side kick and making contact with the wall. Make sure your kicking leg is extended and the foot is in contact with the wall. A chair or a table can also be used. t /FYU FYUFOE ZPVS arm on the kicking side straight up. t 3FBDI XJUI UIJT BSN PWFS ZPVS CPEZ LFFQJOH UIF trunk as straight as possible, and articulating only from your hip joint. t 1BVTF BOE DPNF CBDL UP UIF TUBSUJOH QPTJUJPO Round House Chamber Stretch t 4UBSU PVU CZ UVSOJOH ZPVS TVQQPSUJOH MFH PVU BT much as possible.
t -JGU UIF LJDLJOH MFH BOE UVSO UIF IJQ into the round house position. (Some martial arts styles will lift the leg into the chamber as shown, while other styles will only turn the supporting leg out and kicking leg inward, during the striking part of the kick.) For stretching purposes, the chamber of the kick should resemble the one shown. t 0ODF ZPV MJGU ZPVS LJDLJOH LOFF QMBDF ZPVS IBOE PO UIF LOFF 1VMM UIF knee as high as possible and hold. t "EWBODFE TUVEFOUT DBO EP UIJT exercise unassisted, as this will aid in balance training. Beginners should hold onto a chair or a partner. Round House Stretch t 5IJT UFDIOJRVF JT WFSZ TJNJMBS UP UIF QSFWJPVT UFDIOJRVF 5IF main difference is that the kicking leg is extended at the LOFF 5IJT UFDIOJRVF TIPVME be done after the round house chamber stretch is attempted two to three times. This move brings the stretching to completion. However, due to the extra weight of the extended leg, the stretch is much easier with your leg bent at the knee, especially since the focus is on the supporting leg. /PUJDF UIBU BMM UISFF UFDIOJRVFT TUSFUDI UIF MFH XIJMF UIF XFJHIU JT QMBDFE PO JU This carries over well into the kick, which is called â&#x20AC;&#x153;the lengthening under tension.â&#x20AC;? The first exercise focuses completely on the supporting leg, with minimal trunk strength and flexibility SFRVJSFNFOU 5IF MBTU UXP FYFSDJTFT SFRVJSF ZPV UP IBWF at least enough trunk flexibility to be able to reach the knee. If you are having trouble reaching your knee, you can use a strap, though this will be your culprit UP RVBMJUZ IJHI LJDLT /FYU UJNF XF MM UBML BCPVU ZPVS trunk and kicking knee.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Paul Zaichik is an exercise science expert. His specialty is martial arts training as well as body weight conditioning. His innovative method is designed to have a maximum carry over into specific athletic techniques. A large part of his talent is to assess an athlete and quickly understand what kind of training is needed for optimal techniques. Paul is the author of books and DVDs on the topic of flexibility, martial arts and bodyweight training. Over the years, Paul Zaichik has worked with a variety of individuals including athletes, entertainers, and military personnel. His ElasticSteel Method of Athletic Conditioning programs are used worldwide by both professional and amateurs with great success.
74 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
By Rick Morris The world is going to be faced with many challenges over the next decade. The economy, civil unrest, wars, and a rising crime rate will be the daily news headlines for our children. The compounding social problems they will face will ignite the martial arts industry worldwide. During the last century many martial arts businesses became victim to the economy and were forced to shut down. This created a pool of quality instructors who could not survive the economic hits to the industry, causing many to return to the basics. These basics are what will save the industry in the next decade. Returning to the basics is what the instructors at the fighting system Mind, Body and Survival were forced to do while training law enforcement personnel. During the last decade, law enforcement personnel were being programmed in the police academies to follow a force continuum, which are guidelines on how much force can be used against a resisting individual. This type of training was thought to limit the agency’s civil liabilities, but what this type of training produced were police officers reacting with less force than their aggressor, giving them a huge disadvantage and causing many to be injured. This same problem was occurring in Karate schools nationwide—students were unable to train using full force—holding back while kicking or punching severely cripples their self-defense skills. The Mind, Body and Survival instructors have found that a student’s self-defense skills will match the impact of their level of training when confronted by a surprise attack. The fighting system had a strong advantage while training law enforcement. The techniques taught on the mats were applied to attacks on the street and were constantly re-evaluated for improvement. This evaluation developed a training system that when examined, led right to the grass roots of all fighting systems.
Absent from many modern martial arts programs, survival mind set is the most important of the three disciplines. In the Korean arts, it’s referred to as pilsung, or faith in certain victory. Whether you are training your students for sport Karate competition or preparing them for an attack on the streets, their mental conditioning has been found to be the most important tool in combat. Your body goes through a series of changes during the fight or flight response. An increased heart rate, release of adrenaline, and survival focus are all changes that occur within seconds of an attack, and if reactions are not trained, it will lead to confusion and ultimately defeat.
76 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
One training technique to develop these skills is a training system used by our military special forces. A blindfold is placed over the student’s eyes. When the blindfold is removed, the student faces a multitude of scenarios; it could be multiple opponents or a weapon attack. The student must react swiftly with a counterattack or defensive strategy. Repetition of this drill develops the student’s confidence and improves their reaction time. This drill is also excellent for evaluation during belt testing. In another skill set drill, the student is matched with an advanced instructor. The instructor pushes the student to his maximum potential by offering resistance to that student’s skill level. This is accomplished in two skill sets: ground fighting and stand up fighting. The techniques displayed by the student are evaluated and improved. This is a great tool in developing the student’s confidence and providing them with a realistic personal defense system. In another drill to enhance reaction time, students lie on their backs on the mat with their eyes closed. When their name is called, they stand and begin a sparring session with a second student. This is repeated and produces observable improvement in the student’s reaction time.
Physical conditioning is the second most important survival skill. The Internet is loaded with homemade fight videos where innocent parties fall victim to a gang attack. Reviewing these videos online supports the old theory that attacks last less than a minute. Physical conditioning will provide you an advantage for escape. If an attack is unavoidable, conditioning will allow you to maintain a stronger skill set for an extended period of time. This theory is prevalent when watching the Ultimate Fighting Challenge. The sport has produced a level of athletes that are very equal in skill, but the more conditioned athlete will usually dominate the event. One conditioning program for law enforcement, that I have used myself, is to train continuous-fighting champions. Students are matched up with an instructor with an advanced skill level and they must get to a point where they can compete for three-minute rounds without submission. The training is broken down into two disciplines: Kickboxing and ground fighting. Each round is evaluated and skill sets are added and critiqued. Multiple attackers can be added to maximize the student’s conditioning. The objective of the instructor is to push the student to his maximum potential every match without causing injury. Students should also be provided with a personal training program, which includes exercises to get them to the three-minute fighting objective. As the students’ conditioning improves, rounds or time is added to constantly push and improve their conditioning. It is imperative during these types of training that the appropriate safety equipment be utilized, such as18 oz. boxing gloves, boxing headgear, and additional protective padding so the student can feel the impact of combat without injury.
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
77
This discipline is the most difficult to instruct. To truly give your students a standard level of self-defense skills, you must combine Mind and Body skills to the individual student, and develop a personal protection plan. This skill plan must take into consideration the student’s age, sex, weight, and athletic ability. You start by teaching skill sets in combination: v Hands up with solid fists in a boxer stance to protect the head. v Next, ghosting or slipping a punch. v Finally, attack. All these skills must be reactionary. Next would be a jab, cross, and elbows. After mastering these three techniques, the student would have an offensive strategy to fend off an upper body attack. We would then add a palm heal strike, gouge, and hammer fist. The student would practice these combinations until mastered. Then add a front kick, knees, leg blows, and low sidekick. These techniques are practiced repeatedly in combination. The instructors should constantly add and subtract techniques until the student has a reliable personal protection plan. Then add ground fighting skills, falling, the guard and side control. Next, add the mount, arm bars and chokes. Again, all techniques are geared towards the student’s skills and their development. To improve and develop the student’s skills, they must constantly be tested and evaluated. Students will not have to master many techniques, they just have to have solid skill sets that can be administered in combinations. These combinations are taught to attack vital areas of the attacker’s body. Due to the simplicity of the system and the ability for it to be personalized to the student’s talents, the student walks away with a great deal of confidence after their very first session.
(L-R): Officer Adam Golden (Krav Maga & G.R.A.C.I.E Systems for Law Enforcement), Sergeant David Nissensohn (Niseldo Ju-Jitsu 3rd Degree Sandon), Sergeant Richard Morris (Hapkido)
78 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
An excellent training tool is videotaping the drills and scenarios. This cost effective video analysis allows the student to watch his/her reactions, and the application of their personal defense system, offering their own constructive criticism for improvement. Students should be taught not to stop their defense until they no longer are in fear or their attacker has submitted to surrender and is no longer a threat. Mind, Body, and Survival programs can be added to any martial arts schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s curriculum. It can be separated from traditional classes and added as an advanced course. It can also be a specialized self-defense program geared towards a specified client. A strong interest in the programs can be obtained through public observation of techniques and tournaments. Why is it going to be so important for martial arts instructors to have such a strong self-defense curriculum to survive in this next decade? The reality is the world economy does not look like it will be recovering in the near future. Nationwide law enforcement staffing is on the decline due to budgeting deficits. Criminologists often debate on the effects the economy has on crime, but most agree under the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current conditions it will be on the rise at an alarming rate. Families will be forced to protect themselves from victimization. Firearms, stun guns, and chemical weapons are not always practical for defense. There are many situations in which a weapon cannot be concealed or carried safely. This is why a simplified unarmed self-defense system will increase in popularity as the crime rate rises. During the turbulent times to come, martial arts instructors will have to assume the responsibility of providing Mind, Body, and Survival training to families worried about their security and overall wellness. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: At the age of twelve, while living in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Rick Morris had the rare opportunity to study the art of Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido under traditional Grandmaster Young R. Cho and Grandmaster Il Wong Kim. Mr. Morris continued his Tae Kwon Do/Hapkido training with Grandmaster KC Chung in Coral Springs, Florida. He received his black belt instructor certification and holds a third dan from the Kukkiwon, a fifth dan in Hapkido (Master Instructor) from the Korean Hapkido Federation, and also attained a Shodan rank in Ju Jitsu from National Sport Judo. His rigorous martial arts training led him to be recognized as a Chicago Golden Gloves Boxing Champion and Chicago Full Contact Martial Arts Champion. An international judge and referee, he has trained continuous fighting champions throughout the United States, and has been able to apply these techniques to law enforcement officersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; survival skills. With our system, the instructors have over 80 years combined law enforcement experience and over 70 years of martial arts study. The MIND, BODY, and SURVIVAL system is street-tested.
taekwondotimes.com / January 2012
79
Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu International Association
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Calendar of Events DECEMBER
3-4 Taekwondo Test Event for London 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London, England. To find out more visit www.wtf.org.
APRIL
2012
4-8 9th WTF World Junior Taekwondo Championships to be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. To learn more, visit www.wtf.org.
JANUARY
28 43rd Annual U.S. Eastern Regional Karate Championship to be held in Rockville, Maryland. Find out more at www.tkasudo. com or call (301) 840-9262.
15 Aaron Banks Hall of Fame Banquet to be held at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. Inductees are currently being accepted. For more information, please call (212) 247-7874.
FEBRUARY 15-20 5th Alexandria International Open to be held in Alexandria, Egypt. Learn more at www.alexopen.com.
MARCH 3-4 German Open 2012 to be held in Hamburg, Germany. To find out more, visit www.dtu.de. 24 40th Battle of Detroit World Open Martial Arts Championship to be held in Dearborn, Michigan. Learn more at www.starsforcharityexpo.com.
MAY 3-5 20th European Senior Taekwondo Championships to be held in Manchester, United Kingdom. Learn more at www.btcb.org. JULY 27-Aug 12 London 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London, United Kingdom. Find out more at www.olympic.org.
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“Put together and filmed very well. The multiple angles was very helpful in order for an individual to learn the form. I especially liked the self-defense techs associated with this form. I look forward to obtaining your book and learning more about the history of Ship Pal Gi Kung Fu. ~ Anthony A. Compagnone (Bronx, New York)
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ARIZONA
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CALIFORNIA
Best Martial Arts Supply 7120 Alondra Blvd Paramount 90723 (562) 251-1600 sangmoosa.com Black Lotus Martial Arts Academy Kuk Sool of San Diego San Diego 92117 (858) 274-4212 KukSool.net 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 Jung SuWon World Federation 4150 Technology Place, Fremont, 94538 (510) 659-9920 jungsuwon.com Kuk Sool of San Diego (BLMAA) 4170 Morena Blvd. Suite F. San Diego, 92117 (858) 274-4212 KukSool.net 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
Martial Art
US TaeKwonDo Federation Chuck Sereff 6801 W 117th Ave Broomfield 80020
CONNECTICUT Turtle Press 403 Silas Deane Hwy Wethersfield 06109 (860) 721-1198 turtlepress.com
DELAWARE
Korean Martial Arts Institute 2419 W Newport Pike Stanton 19804 (302) 992-7999 KMAIWEB.com
FLORIDA
World Class Taekwondo Master Mark Thibodeau Clermont, FL 34711 (352) 394-8485 www.worldclasstkd.com
Self Defense America 2450 Lincoln Street Highland 46322 (219) 545-7894
Yeshá Ministries(14 NE FL locations) Grand Master Charles W. Coker 904-399-0404 or 904-838-8585 Yeshaministries.com
Ancient Memories Academy 2600 E Euclid Des Moines 50317 (515) 266-6209
GEORGIA
Chung Kimʼs Black Belt Academy 1423 18th St Bettendorf 52722 (563) 359-7000
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
American TKD Union 1303 E Busch Blvd Tampa 33612 (313) 935-8888
T.S. Lee World Martial Arts 3003 N Decatur Rd Decatur 30033 404-508-3325 www.tsleetkd.com
Aruba Karate Institute 7440 NW 79th St Miami 33166 ecco@setarnet.com
HAWAII
ATU Headquarters 1303 E Busch Blvd Tampa 33612 (313) 935-8888
GM Hee Il Choʼs TKD Center Koko Marina Shopping Center Honolulu 96825 (808) 396- 8900 aimaa.com
ILLINOIS
IOWA
JK International Films, LLC 101 E. Margaret Ave. Terra Haute, IN 47802 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
Choi Kwang Do Largo 13819-C Washington Rd Largo 33774
Great River Martial Arts 1647 Hwy 104 Quincy 62305 (217) 257-9000
NKMAA- Iowa Academy of Korean Martial Arts 336 Fairfield St., Waterloo 50703 319-269-0741 theakma.com
East Coast Martial Arts Supply 1646 E Colonial Drive Orlando 32803 (407) 896-2487
International Hapkido USA 1385 N Milwaukee Ave Chicago 60622 (312) 225-4828
Raccoon Valley Martial Arts 104 S 7th St Adel 50003 (515) 993-3474
K. H. Kimʼs TaeKwonDo 3141 Dundee Rd Northbrook 60062
Two Rivers Martial Arts Inc. 2017 Southlawn Des Moines 50315 (515) 285-5049
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 Independent TKD Association 2919 E North Military Trail West Palm Beach 33409 (561) 745-1331 USNTA National Team Training Center 5720 Old Cheney Hwy Orlando 32807 (312) 443-8077 USNTA.org United Martial Arts Center 11625 S Cleveland Ave # 3 Ft. Myers 33907 (239) 433-2299
Kimʼs Black Belt Academy Grandmaster Tae H. Kim 2230 Ogden Ave Aurora 60504 Ottawa Martial Arts Academy 500 State St Ottawa 61350 (815) 434-7576 Universal TKD Association 1207 W Main Peoria 61606 (309) 673-2000 US National TKD Federation 9956 W Grand Ave Franklin Park 60131 usntf.com
INDIANA
Level 10 Kung Fu Association www.ltkfa.com
KANSAS
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
MARYLAND
World Combat Arts Federation PO Box 763 Owings Mills 21117 (410) 262-2333
MASSACHUSETTS AAU Taekwondo Mr. Mike Friello (518) 372-6849 mfriello@aol.com
Myung Kimʼs Acupuncture 347 Massachusetts Ave Arlington 02474 (781) 643-3679
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 Jidokwan Mooye Federation 1118 Ontario Rd. Niles, 49120 hongsusataekwondo.com eTel:574-532-8321 International TKD Association PO Box 281 Grand Blanc 48480 (810) 232-6482 itatkd.com Korean National Tourism 2 Executive Dr. Fort Lee 07024 www.visitkorea.or.kr 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 Choon Leeʼs Black Belt Academy 121 NE 72nd St Gladstone 64114 (816) 436-5909
Kuk Sool Won of St. Peters #1 Sutters Mill Road St. Peters 63376 (636) 928-0035
Master Jeʼs World Martial Arts 6204 NW Barry Rd Kansas City 64154 (816) 741-1300
NEVADA
Cane Masters Intl Association PO Box 7301 Incline Village 89452 canemasters.com East West Martial Art Supply 2301 E Sunset Rd Suite 22 Las Vegas 89119 (702) 260-4552 Wheatley Intl TaeKwon-Do 1790 W Fourth St Reno 89503 (775) 826-2355
NEW JERSEY
Cumberland County Martial Arts 531 N High St Millville 08332 (856) 327-2244 International Martial Arts 10 Main St Woodbridge 07095 888-IMATKD1 www.IMATKD.com 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 & Yates Martial Arts 302 White Horse Pike Atco, N.J. 08004 (856) 719-1411 MacKenzieandYatesMartialArts.com MacKenzie & Allebach TaeKwon-Do 1833 Route 70 East Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003 (856) 424-7070 GoldMedalFamilyKarate.com MacKenzieʼs TaeKwon-Do & Hapkido Institute. 7710 Maple Ave. Pennsauken , N.J. 08109 (856) 662-5551 GoldMedalFamilyKarate.com MacKenzie & Barnabie Martial Arts 1599-D Route 38 Lumberton, N.J. 08048 (609) 702-0666 MacKenzieandBarnabieKarate.com
Directory Richard Chun TaeKwonDo Center 87 Stonehurst Dr Tenafly 07670 (201) 569-3260
United States Taekwondo Association 87 Stonehurst Drive Tenafly 07670 www.ustainfo.com World Sin Moo Hapkido DoJuNim Ji, Han Jae/GM Ken MacKenzie Federation PO Box 262, Atco, N.J. 08004 WorldSinMooHapkidoFederation.com
NEW MEXICO
Grandmaster Hee Il Choʼs TKD 8214 Montgomery Blvd NE Albuquerque 87110 (505) 292-4277
NEW YORK
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 AWMA 9400 Ashton Rd. Philadelphia 19114 www.awma.com
Black Belt Fitness Center 54-10 31st Ave Woodside 11377 (718) 204-1777 idlokwan.org
ICF Hapkido 7252 Valley Ave Philadelphia 19128 (215) 483-5070
Dynamics World Martial Supply (800) 538-1995 dynamicsworld.com
Intl Tang Soo Do Federation 3955 Monroeville Blvd Monroeville 15146 (412) 373-8666
Intl Taekwon-Do Academy 54 Nagle Ave New York City 10034 (212) 942-9444 itakick@aol.com Iron Dragon Fitness & Self-Defense 88-8 Dunning Rd Middletown 10940 (845) 342-3413 New Age TKD &Hoshinkido 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
International Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Association tm. 802 Main Street Dickson City, Pennsylvania 18519 Usa 570-307-KICK(5425) WWW.ITMA.US Mark Cashattʼs TKD School 30 West Broad St Souderton 18964 (215) 721-1839 Master Kovaleskiʼs Tang Soo Karate USA 802 Main St. Dickson City, 18519 570-307-KICK tangsookarateusa.com 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 Tactical Hapkido Alliance 4006 Main Street Erie 16511 www.tacticalhapkido.com 814-504-8043 The Martial Artist 9 Franklin Blvd Philadelphia 19154 (800) 726-0438 World Tang Soo Do Association 709 Oregon Ave
Philadelphia 19146 (215) 468-2121
SOUTH DAKOTA Tiger Rock www.tigerrockonline.com 1-8000-489-510
TENNESSEE
World Black Belt Bureau Grandmaster Kang Rhee Cordova (Memphis) 38088 (901) 757-5000 worldbbb.com
TEXAS
Alakoji Knife & Martial Art Supply San A 302 W Madison Ave Harlingen 78550 (956) 440-8382 Central Texas TKD Council Master Danny Passmore (254) 662-3229
Manakin Sabot 23103 (804) 741-7400 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
NKMAA- Ontario Master Dusty Miner Sidekicks School of MA 2421 New St, Burlington
Simʼs TaeKwonDo USA 9460 Rainier Ave S Seattle 98118 (206) 725-4191
World Martial Arts League Klaus Schuhmacher Rhoenstr 55 Offenbach 63971 wmal@mail.com
Robert Ott Martial Arts 9235 Piperhill Dr SE Olympia 98513 (360) 888-0474
WISCONSIN
Champion Training 522 W Harwood Rd Hurst 76054 (817) 605-1555 Jun Tong Mu Sool Korean MA Group 1534 Sugar Bush Trail Allen 75002 jtmshapkido@gmail.com
J.K. Lee Black Belt Academy 12645 W Lisbon Rd Brookfield 53005 (262) 783-5131
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 15230 Hwy 3, Webster, 77598 (281) 486-5425 Progressive Martial Arts 112 E Sam Rayburn Dr Bonham 75418 (903) 583-6160
CANADA
NKMAA- Headquarters Master Rudy Timmerman 1398 Airport Rd,Sault Ste. Marie, P6A 1M4 705-575-4854
ALBERTA COM-DO Direct (780) 460-7765 comdo.com
First Canada Tang Soo Do 209 3400 14th St NW Calgary T2K 1H9 (403) 284-BBKI Masterʼs Secret The Collapsable Board Holder Emdmonton www.master-secret.com
QUEBEC
World Kuk Sool Won 20275 FM 2920 Tomball 77375 (281) 255-2550
VERMONT
Stadion Enterprises Island Pond 05846 (802) 723-6175 stadion.com
VIRGINIA
USA Tiger Martial Arts 48 Plaza Drive
Kuk Sool Won of Sault Ste. Marie 40 White Oak Dr E Sault Ste. Marie P6B 4J8 (705) 253-4220
WASHINGTON
American Martial Arts Center 2711 Allen Blvd Suite 82 Middleton 53562 (808) 831-5967 amac-tkd.com
Kimʼs Academy of TaeKwonDo 4447 Thousand Oaks Dr San Antonio 78233 (210) 653-2700
ONTARIO
Korean Mantis Fist Kung Fu Intʼl Association 76 Doulton Street London N5W 2 P7 www.koreanmantisfist.com mantismike@start.ca
Intl Bum Moo HKD-Hoshinkido 111 Laurentides Blvd Pont-Viau Montreal Laval H7G-2T2 (450) 662-9987
GERMANY
ITALY
W.O.M.A. Intʼl C.P. # 59 Conegliano Tv 31015 Womainternational.Com
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
UNITED KINGDOM
Great Britain Tang Soo Do Headquarters for Europe TSD Tel: 01234-766-468 NKMAA – United Kingdom Master Zachary Woon Wune Tang Academy Tang Soo Do 07733008207 wunetang.academy@ntlworld.com wunetangacademy.com
To list your school or business email info@taekwondotimes.com or call 319-396-1980.
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The Last Word
By C.M. Griffin
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.
Check this out: At some point in time we’ve all experienced “burnout.” We’ve all gone through a moment when we’ve been so frustrated that after a while, frustration was replaced by “eh!” There are certain jobs that are more prone to this, namely, teaching. It could be teaching in an academia; one becomes frustrated with administration, parents, city government and so on. At first you are filled with great passion and excitement, but when that is replaced by frustration, you experience burnout and end up just going through the motions. It even happens in the martial arts world; like when parents argue with you because one child did not do well in a tournament, did not receive an award or was not promoted. You explain that possibly their child just wasn’t ready, hadn’t been training as long and so forth. I remember a parent chastising a Sabumnim because their child, well, listen to this: the children were sparring and one child was scoring on the other. After one exchange, the Sabumnim separated the students while he and the other four assistant instructors were going to make a call. Child “B” decided to kick the other one in the groin when they were walking back to the line. The Sabumnim told child “B” to turn around while he checked on child “A.” Long story short, Sabumnim explained that was unsportsmanlike conduct. Child B apologized, they shook hands and that was that. Well, after class, the parent of child “B” yelled at the Sabumnim for making him apologize, singling him out, etc. On top of that, the town council was going to fine him because they said his school sign was over town regulation by six or seven inches! We’ve all had times where we experienced that Marvin Gaye song, Inner City Blues “…makes me wanna holla and throw up both my hands…” (in frustration). I’ve said it before, I may not have been so lucky in the film career, but I am incredibly blessed in my martial arts career. I’ve had the opportunity to train and be taught by some of the best martial artists of our time, especially my teachers, Chief Master Ki Tae Yum and of course, Grandmaster Ki Nam Yum. Whenever I’ve had my fill and am about to throw up my hands, it’s time to see them. It never fails, whenever I’m around them, their energy and spirit always lifts me up, they always energize me and I’m ready to take on the world. For example, my father recently passed away. Two years ago, I lost my mother, and
90 January 2012 / taekwondotimes.com
then, almost to the date, my father went to join her. For so long Clarence Jr. was an incredible guiding force in my life. When he left, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I always looked to him for advice on how to be a father, a husband and a grandfather, and now, he was gone! I felt a nexus of emotions, and I also had to be strong for the rest of the family. Since I was back in New York, I called Kuksa Nim and he said he wanted to see me. When I went to see him, just being around him made me feel strong again. He didn’t say much, but that look and that touch made me strong again. Now, this is a man who is going through some deep, personal situations. Things are coming at him from completely unexpected places and it’s enough to make one heartsick, enough to make you, “…wanna holla, throw up both my hands…” But he does not. Not only does he keep moving forward in a strong positive way, he makes sure his students are also moving in the same direction. So, whenever I’m teaching broadcasting class and I reach the point where it all “…makes me wanna holla, throw up both my hands…” I think about the poise, the compassion, the inner strength of those men. At night, I drop to my knees and ask that I am at least one-fourth of the father and husband that Clarence Jr. was, and in the same breath, I ask that I am one-fourth of the man, the martial artist, the teacher that Kuksa Nim; World Hwa Rang Do Grandmaster Ki Nam Yum is.
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