Totally Tae Kwon Do Magazine Continues Its Serialisation of the Dojang, a Novel by Marek Handzel

Totally Tae Kwon Do

Issue 108 www.totallytkd.com February 2018 Totally TKD News Page 4  ‘Slammin’ Mahama aims to be just champion in China  Williams ready to follow in Walkden’s Grand Slam footsteps  Former athletes return to GB Taekwondo as High Performance coaches  5th Male and 1st Female national Professional ITF Taekwon-Do Championship

Thoughts on the Passing of a Legend Page 10 Grandmaster Florindo and his Place...... in the History of Argentine Taekwon-Do Page 13 “The Dojang” Serialization - Pt. 5 Page 31 An Interview with Sabumnim Colin Wee Page 39 Curriculum Magna Page 65 Taekwon-Do Etiquette Guidelines Page 71 Book Review: Ch’ang Hon Taekwon-Do Hosinsul Page 77 The Battle Page 83 Ask The Grandmaster? Page 87  Pattern Movement Meanings  Tong-Il Ready Posture The Decades of Tae Kwon Do Page 91 Rayners Lane TKD & The Naughties - Pt. 7 Page 92 From Sensei to Sabum - The Original Meaning of the Word ‘Sensei’ Page 103 Totally Tae Kwon Do Wants You! Page 109 Submission Guidelines Page 110 Sponsorship Packages Page 111 Patricks TKD Funnies Various

Contributors: Keith D. Yates (cover), Grandmaster Florindo, Manuel Adrogué, Colin Wee, Richard Conceicao, Mike Swope, Ørjan Nilsen, Grandmaster Earl Weiss, Master Doug Cook, David Stainko, Marek Handzel, Scott Miller, Grandmaster Rhee, Ki Ha, Kelvin Liew, Media Insight, Trevor - Baxtor,Totally Tae GB Kwon Taekwondo, Do Master Ray Gayle, Krishna Balal, John Dowding, Patrick McWade, Shane Fitzgibbon, Liz Porteous and Stuart Anslow

Upubmmz!! Ubf!Lxpo!Ep! EditorialEditorial The Global Tae Kwon Do Magazine Issue 108 · February 2018

Produced and Published by: Harrow Martial Arts Hi everyone, in association with Rayners Lane Taekwon-do Academy Is it just me or has the first half of 2018 got real busy,

Email: [email protected] real quickly? There seems to be a competition or an Tel: +44 (0)7759 438779 event on almost every weekend, some on the same

This PDF may not be distributed at all. Charging a fee for weekend. On one weekend alone, myself and my this PDF (in whole or in part) is strictly prohibited unless school were invited to attend no less than 3 events by the publisher or by agreement. This includes distribution by any body, group or individual where a on the same day, but unfortunately for two of them, I membership, subscription fee or any other charge is required to access or view this PDF and / or its contents. had already committed to the one I attended. Of Such distribution by commercial entities is prohibited. course, the offset of all this is that everyone is losing Commercial entities may not distribute this PDF. Please contact us if in doubt. attendee’s at all events, which isn't great for the

Aside from personal non-commercial printouts of this PDF, hosts at all. written permission must be gained from Harrow Martial Arts before converting this PDF into any other media. This PDF and / or any resulting printout may not be passed on Event hosts often feel that putting a poster of their and nothing may be added to it or removed from it without prior written permission from Harrow Martial Arts. event on Facebook, is enough to get the word out, but believe me, its not. Other instructors (which of Worldwide copyright of all material (including pictures) is held by the originator of that material unless stated course manage their students participation in such otherwise. The reproduction of any material extracted events), may see the post (or sometimes not), but from within this PDF is strictly prohibited, unless prior agreement in writing is gained from the copyright holder may not instantly note the date down, then they of that material. Those wishing to make use of any material as presented on the pages of this PDF must also forget all about it! Even ‘event pages’ on Facebook gain written permission from Harrow Martial Arts. aren't ideal, as you can confirm you are going by

The views, reports and comments expressed herein are clicking the button, but then it disappears into not necessarily those of the editor and publisher. Whilst every care is taken to check their authenticity, Harrow Facebook oblivion, not reminding you until a few Martial Arts disclaim any and all liability for any days before the event, which again, if you have inaccuracies. forgotten, is then too late to organise anything! My The originator, publishers, editor and all contributors are advice is stick to email and chase up (remind) not responsible in any way for any injury, or any other loss, which may occur by reading and /or following the invited guest for replies (especially if a small event), instructions herein. It is essential that prior to undertaking any of the activities described within that the reader take because unlike Kevin Costner, even if you run it, the advice of a doctor and a suitably qualified and they still might not come! [That’s a ‘Field of Dreams experienced martial arts instructor. movie reference btw). The publishers reserve the right to reject any material tendered at their discretion. The publishers accept no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material. The Anyway, onto this great issue. In it we read about submission of manuscripts or materials shall be considered a warranty that such matter is original and in no way the life and times of Grandmaster Florindo and his infringes on the copyright of others. place in Argentine Taekwon-Do history. We have a Harrow Martial Arts make no representations, great interview with Colin Wee, who has been doing endorsements, guarantees or warranties concerning the products and / or services advertised within this magazine. great things with both Tae Kwon Do and IAOMAS for a long time. My own book gets a review and Due to the nature of the magazine being still widely available long past its issue date, customers of adverts are amongst other articles we find out what the word advised to confirm any businesses advertised within this magazine are still trading before sending off any money, ‘Sensei’ actually means and how it relates to as Harrow Martial Arts cannot be held liable for any ‘Sabum’. adverts, advertisers or consumer issues regarding products or services advertised within this magazine, which were correct at the issue date. Enjoy.

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IssueIssue 108108 ContentsContents

Totally TKD News Page 4  ‘Slammin’ Mahama aims to be just champion in China  Williams ready to follow in Walkden’s Grand Slam footsteps  Former athletes return to GB Taekwondo as High Performance coaches  5th Male and 1st Female national Professional ITF Taekwon-Do Championship

Contributors: Keith D. Yates (cover), Grandmaster Florindo, Manuel Adrogué, Colin Wee, Richard Conceicao, Mike Swope, Ørjan Nilsen, Grandmaster Earl Weiss, Master Doug Cook, David Stainko, Marek Handzel, Scott Miller, Grandmaster Rhee,Totally Ki Ha, Tae Kelvin Kwon Do Liew, - 3 Media Insight, Trevor Baxtor, GB Taekwondo, Master Ray Gayle, Krishna Balal, John Dowding, Patrick McWade, Shane Fitzgibbon, Liz Porteous and Stuart Anslow

TotallyTotally TKDTKD NewsNews

‘Slammin’ Mahama aims to be just standard of results. champion in China Mahama Cho bids to become the first male And he’s keen to not only replicate his GB Taekwondo athlete to hit the jackpot at performances but take them to a new level. the latest World Taekwondo Grand Slam Champions event in China tomorrow. “Bianca had a fantastic year so massive (Saturday). congratulations to her,” said Cho who hasn’t fought since the World Taekwondo Heavyweight Bianca Walkden set the bar Grand Prix finals in the Ivory Coast a by winning the title and £52,000 at the month ago. “When a team mate does so inaugural tournament in Wuxi last month. well it motivates others to do the same so let’s get the ball rolling. I aim to focus on Welsh star Lauren Williams reached the doing the same things but push myself a quarter-finals of her Grand Slam little bit more to get the results needed. competition last weekend. Top six in the world isn’t bad but I am going to try and get in the top three. And Now it’s Cho’s turn to boost his bank why not aim for number one as well? That balance in the World Championship silver would be fantastic.” medallist’s first outing of 2018. Cho is the first GB male fighter to compete The London raised heavyweight was voted in the exciting new event boasting the GB Taekwondo’s athlete of the year for sport’s richest ever prizes. In addition to 2017 because of his consistently high the jackpot, silver medallists receive £15,000 and bronze medallists, £3,700.

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“I am feeling good but it hasn’t been easy Williams ready to follow in because a lot of the players have been Walkden’s Grand Slam footsteps away over Christmas and the New Year,” LAUREN Williams will be inspired by team said Cho. “So, I had to be extra motivated mate Bianca Walkden’s trail blazing to get in the best of shape for this success when she competes at the second tournament.” World Taekwondo Champions’ Grand Slam event in China tomorrow. (Saturday) Cho will be joined in China by comeback star Charlie Maddock. The 22-year-old World number one Walkden won the from Stoke on Trent fought sparingly in heavyweight title and a record breaking 2017 but Great Britain’s inaugural female £52,000 first prize at last weekend’s European Games gold medallist is keen to inaugural competition in Wuxi. make up for lost time in 2018. Now, it’s the turn of 2016 European Reigning European champion Williams Championship gold medallist, Williams. reached the quarter-finals in Wuxi last weekend. The Gwent born ace enjoyed an “I haven’t been as confident going into this opening 32-29 win over host nation competition,” admitted the 18-year-old favourite and Asian Games champion, Pan Welsh star. “However, seeing Bianca take Gao. away the gold medal has given me that extra bit of motivation. I need to get myself However, in a bid to make the semi-finals in the right headspace to put in the best Williams lost 11-10 to Gao’s compatriot performance I can. So, it has made me a Yunfei Guo. lot more excited to compete.”

“Being a part of the Grand Slam series is a huge honour. To think that I am among the “best of the best” after the journey I have

Totally Tae Kwon Do - 5 had is incredible. It only sunk in a few kickboxing where all eyes were on you and weeks ago that even some of the top top everyone was shouting for at least one players haven’t been able to qualify for this fighter. It’s a good vibe and gives you a event. Knowing that I am here amongst the really good buzz. That energy during a ones who have is like a dream come true.” fight is why I love the sport.”

Walkden aims to put her winnings towards Williams is the second of five GB a new house. And Williams says the Taekwondo fighters taking part in the money on offer is a major draw. Champions series.

“Getting a big prize like this would mean Mahama Cho (+80kg, January 13), Charlie more to me than I can explain,” added the Maddock (-49kg, January 13) and Jade double world junior champion. “My family Jones (-57kg, January 20) will have their and I have sacrificed a lot to get me to this shots at a cash jackpot in the coming position. So, to be able to start getting weeks. recognised and rewarded for such work over the years is phenomenal.” Former athletes return to GB Williams is also excited by the prospect of Taekwondo as High Performance competing in the exciting new tournament coaches that aims to raise taekwondo’s profile. Former Olympian Michael Harvey and

European Championship medallist, “I love a big atmosphere in the stadium,” Ruebyn Richards, have joined GB she said. “It really does drive me to Taekwondo’s High Performance coaching perform in front of a bigger crowd. It squad. reminds me of fight nights I used to have in

Michael Harvey in action 6 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

Ruebyn Richards in action

Both Harvey, 28, and Richards, who Michael has been part of the GB celebrates his 25th birthday on January 30, Taekwondo set-up since his home city of had both retired from competition several Manchester was chosen to become the years ago. National Performance Centre more than a decade ago. The new appointments follow a rigorous recruitment and assessment process. He won his first senior medals in 2008 and the same year represented Great Britain at “Both athletes spent a significant time on the Olympic Games in Beijing. the GB Taekwondo World Class Performance programme,” confirmed Gary In 2011, Michael captured a World Hall, GB Taekwondo’s Performance Championship silver medal and went one Director. “They gained huge experience of better in 2012 securing gold at the what athletes need to do to make European Championships hosted in sustained progress in the training and Manchester. competition environment. I am sure they will be a great asset to the team’s future Fittingly, Michael’s last major competition success. It is particularly pleasing to be was the 2015 World Taekwondo Grand able to recruit and invest in retired former Prix, again held in Manchester. elite athletes of the GB TKD programme. We have a successful track record of Ruebyn last fought at the 2015 World blending top domestic talent with our Championships having won bronze at the experienced international coaches and European Championships 12 months producing world class coaches. I am earlier. confident that this trend will continue with these appointments.” The Nottingham born former fighter also

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won the Luxor Open and Fujairah Opens in Dhimal from Nepal Armed Police ITF Club 2014 competing in the -68kg weight player won the 2nd position with cash prize division. He eventually retired due to 30.000 (300$) and Nepal Army ITF Club persistent injury. player Mr. Dinesh Budha Magar won the 3rd position with cash prize 20.000 (200$) “Both Mike and Ruebyn are super excited Similarly, Nepal Army ITF Club player to join the team,” added Hall. "They are Miss. Rina Dhimal won the first position looking forward to supporting the squad to with cash prize 50.000.(500$) Miss, Rubika be at their very best on their TKD training Khadka from Nepal Army ITF Club player and competition journeys.” Michael and won the 2nd position with 30.000 (300$) Ruebyn will begin their coaching careers ’s and Miss, Puja Khulal Magar from Central in February. ITF region player won the 3rd position with cash prize 20.000 (200$)

5th Male and 1st Female national Professional ITF Taekwon-Do Championship

There were participated 32 players from all ITF region including Nepal Army ITF teams and Nepal Armed Police Force teams.

NITF President Sabum Anjan Dhamala. NITF executive committee board members, NNMGC President Sabum Prabin Kumar Karki.Dhorpatan Municipality Mayer Mr. Dev Kumar Nepali. Parliament Member 5th Male and First Female national Hon, Tak Bahadur Gharti. Local political Professional ITF Taekwon-Do leaders. Baglung districts senior officials, Championship have concluded with grand Journalists, as well as supporters, were success in Dhorpatan of Baglung on 13 attended. January 2018.

The professional ITF Taekwon-Do Nepal Armed Police ITF Club Player Mr, championship was organized by Dhorpatan Govinda Khetri won the first position with ITF Taekwon-Do Dojang under the cash prize 50.000 .(500$) Mr.Yogendra 8 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

leadership of Bhupendra Pun Magar.

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ThoughtsThoughts onon thethe PassingPassing ofof aa LegendLegend

By Richard Conceicao

An individual who has touched as many lives as Grandmaster Chun can have a thousand different remembrances told about him, and each will remain deeply personal. Each would be a reflection of the importance to him for that individual.

I first met Master Chun when I began training with him in the early 70’s. Over the course of my now 45 years of TKD, he was the only teacher that I had.

It is often said that you don’t realize what you had until it is gone. In my case that was not really true. I realized what I had when I began to be proficient enough in the art to evaluate what others were doing.

As I had stated in previously:

In this era, you took martial arts to learn to fight-everyone knew that! Sure, some passing reference to character, lofty principles, eastern philosophy, etc. was always there, and almost everyone exhibited that quality of virtue we expected- I would venture to say more so than nowadays-but in the end, going out there and banging them down was the order of the day. Schools were judged on this.

The TKD of GM Chun was old school hard knocks TKD. The kind of functional TKD that practitioners of other styles commonly refer to as “when it meant something”. I have often

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heard it termed “traditional” but I believe that misses the point of much of his teaching. In many ways, his art was MMA before there was MMA.

His core curriculum contained joint locks, throws, break falls, grabs, chokes, in addition to the usual kicks and punches. Even white belts would have to learn these. While he added the Kukkiwon forms, he retained the older MDK Shotokan based forms. It provided such a well-rounded solid foundation that one could look at widely divergent arts and have an understanding of them, and you didn’t have to look too far.

Because of Master Chuns broad minded inclusiveness his instructors had a tremendous variety of experience. I received my first exposures to aikido, boxing, judo, street and tournament fighting right there in the same dojang.

When i finally received my first Dan I was unsure as to my future direction—what was next? I asked Master Chun and he informed me that in Korea first Dan was basically “high school”, and that now my real training had to begin. Still confused, I asked what that would consist of. He replied “Research-you must do research. Learn as much as you can, and bring it back”

At the time, I must confess, I almost felt like he was just putting me off. It was only a long time later, after lots of exploring and learning, that I realized that he had done what all great teachers do—give your students the foundation and tools to make their way in the world, and remind them that they have to come back and help others in their journey.

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GrandmasterGrandmaster FlorindoFlorindo andand hishis PlacePlace inin thethe HistoryHistory ofof ArgentineArgentine

TaekwonTaekwon--DoDo

By Manuel Adrogué

Grandmaster Pedro Florindo (68), a celebrated martial arts personality, died in his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina on January 13, 2018.

He was a rare example of an early champion, an innovative teacher of traditional Taekwondo, and a successful coach who was well known at international circles.

Florindo came from a working class environment, and as a teenager had some basic knowledge of boxing, quite useful in his environment. At 18, he started learning Korean Karate under Lee Kae Won for some months until mandatory military service interrupted his training. Upon its completion, he went back to the dojang (one of the few martial arts centers in Northern Buenos Aires) to find that a new instructor was in charge. It was Lee,

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Chong Seo, an blades, to be brutally impressive 6th Dan in expelled into a wall Moo Duk Kwan and without understanding Hapkido black belt. In what had happened. In Korea, Lee had learnt his classes he would from Hong Chong-Soo, use a wooden frame with frequent access to with sharp nails Founder Hwang Kee). protruding to the inside, Out of respect to and ask his students to Master Kim Han perform kicks through Chang, a 5th Dan who the frame, many of was the first and whom would get home seniormost instructor in with breeding ankles. Argentina, Lee concealed his true rank Those who were able saying he was 5th to to cope with Lee’s whoever asked him. rigors became very Lee was an impressive good. Pedro Florindo kicker, acrobatic and and Carlos Verdún precise. At a time were at the top of that when Taekwon-Do was group. very similar to With his teacher master Lee Chong Seo during Japanese Karate, Lee’s the 90s At that time all Taekwon spinning kicks were a -Do in Argentina worked clear example of what the Korean art was under the International Taekwon-Do about. There are many stories of his Federation banner, and General Choi used unusual skills. In one occasion, when to visit the country frequently. The most sparring with a student, he jumped forward relevant Korean masters by the mid 1970s straight over his opponent’s head lightly were Kim Han Chang, Choi Nam Sung, “walking” on his shoulder, and swiftly Chung Kwang Duk, Lee Chong Seo and kicking him in the middle of the shoulder Yang Dae Chol, all of them based in

1970’s

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Fighting against his classic rival, Carlos Ouro

Buenos Aires. Other instructors (such as Florindo had a very nasty side kick that he Kim Young Whang and Kim Sung Su) used either stepping in or spinning, and he taught in other provinces. The first national also liked to rush into opponents with a tournament was held in 1975, and combination of straight punches as competitors were required to wear chest typically seen in Shotokan karate. His guards, which contrasted with the physique was rather stocky and not very customary way to conduct sparring at the flexible, but his dedication and intelligence dojangs, with no protection and a overcame any athletic disadvantage. particularly violent sort of “non contact”. When his instructor Master Lee decided to Verdún became the heavyweight discontinue teaching Taekwon-Do, champion, and Florindo came up with a Florindo and Verdun decided to follow with second place as middleweight under Master Yang Dae Chol, a former Junior Carlos Ouro, inaugurating a classical Korean champion at the KTA who came rivalry. Ouro was a tall and highly talented from Ji Do Kwan. Yang was the son of a athlete; Florindo was five inches shorter, Korean Army Colonel and, as it would be aggressive and with some unexpected expected from a former champion, his kicking combinations. Along the years, sparring training regime was very Ouro –a student of Choi Nam Sung- demanding, with a kicking style and prevailed twice, Florindo once, and one footwork that reflected the newer trends in was a tie. Korea. Lightning fast kicks, and painful contact were the norm at Yang’s. Florindo used to cross train with Karate stylists, and also participated in the open- Florindo and Verdun participated in the style circuit, winning a South American 1977 WTF Chicago World Championships. championship organized by Robert Trias’ The lack of information at the time was so USKA branch in 1977. As a fighter, big, and their understanding of what was

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happening in Taekwondo politics so low that they expected to see General Choi in the event.

During the two following years new Korean teachers arrived to Argentina, promoting the World Taekwondo Federation. The most important of them was Ku Yong Chae, a proponent of a modern and dynamic Taekwondo who was a Vietnam veteran and had a strong dislike of communists, a category which included anything ITF. Ku was sponsored by Edgar Perez Colman, the Argentine ambassador that was returning from Korea and caused the WTF to be officially recognized by the Argentine Government. As events unfolded and political pressures from the Korean Embassy in Buenos Aires became clearer, the Korean masters that had previously belonged to the ITF started to reconsider their situation. Flying side kick with his student Claudio Iedwab on The spark of Taekwon-Do in Argentina had the cover of Yudo & Karate magazine been ignited by Kim Han Chang. Kim had suffered the Korean war as was looking for a fresh perspective in life. After finishing his University studies, during late 1966 he mentioned his intention to travel to Argentina to his instructor Uhm Woon Kyu and senior Park Hae Man, they instructed him to contact General Choi, who was then in charge of dispatching instructors overseas. Kim trained in General Choi’s house at the fancy Han Nam-dong district in Seoul for about eight months where he learnt the new ITF patterns. Prior to his departure he was promoted to Fourth Dan and entrusted with the mission to spread Taekwondo under the ITF supervision. The trip on a Dutch cargo vessel took two months navigating through the Indic Ocean, Madagascar, South Africa, across the Atlantic to Brazil, and finally Buenos Aires. At that time Kim was 29. At the deck of the ship, he met Choi Nam Sung, 31, and Chung Kwang Duk, 18, who were both heading to Paraguay to settle and hopefully prosper at commerce. The three had a deep interest in the martial arts, and Kim convinced them to teach Taekwon-Do under the ITF banner. Choi had endured a Roundhouse kick picture, that he used for the cover of his book Totally Tae Kwon Do - 17

The meeting of two super kickers rough infancy and liked tough training methods that helped him to develop his notable strength; Kim had a more privileged situation and a flawless technique. Actually, Grandmaster Kim enjoys legendary status in Argentina. Chung, whom they considered their “little brother”, was passionate, strong willed and ambitious in everything he undertook. Although he moved to New York on the late 70s, he would become a significant figure in the Argentine ITF Taekwon-Do scene until the early 1990s.

The new political circumstances in Korea and the instructions to cut all connections with Gen. Choi disturbed Kim. He even flew to Korea to speak with his seniors at Chung Do Kwan, and confirmed the situation. After careful consideration and pressed by the threat of treason, in 1979 he decided to join the WTF, leaving his students free to decide their own way. Other masters followed similar paths, and Chung Kwang Duk became the only Korean instructor in Grandmaster Kim, Manuel Adrogué Argentina who remained in the ITF. and Grandmaster Florindo 18 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

Grandmaster Kim Han Chang's signature scissors kick Argentine Taekwondo was split forever. As In 1979 master Jong Chan Kim visited a general rule, the most senior Argentine Buenos Aires and gave a technical students decided to continue in the ITF, seminar which was an eye-opener to all while the newer black belts understood that students, as there were substantial their obligation was to follow their teachers differences with the prior karate-like style. and trust their decision. On that occasion an exam was held in which the 21 seniormost instructors were

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His teacher Lee Chong Seo awarded 4th Dan: Enrique Eiriz, Javier Grispino, Desimone and Luque. There Dacak, Pablo Trajtenberg, Héctor Marano, were also 3rd and 2nd degree promotions. Carlos Mattos, Pedro Florindo, Ricardo Florindo and Casagrande were rather Gurtler, Sosa, Emilio Casagrande, Vargas, strange cases since until then they were Miguel Nasini, “Mito” Ramisch, J. Sanchez, quite identified with Taekwondo R. Sanchez, Sanz, Pintos, Aquino, Diehl, competitions that were the strong point of

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Lee Chong Seo the WTF. completing his studies. It is clear that such knowledge benefitted his approach to the By 1980 Florindo founded the Escuela martial arts, as he always loved to talk Argentina de Taekwondo, with the support about vectors, angles, forces, etcetera. of associated instructors Armando and His dojang at Sucre street and GEBA were Jorge Carabajal, Jorge Rogers, Carlos places where Gen. Choi gave seminars Gómez de Olivera, Francisco Taboada and throughout the years (I learnt at Sucre and Francisco Beloso, among others. Florindo recall receiving Master Tran Trieu Quan on was a successful instructor who produced a 1984 visit). His organization grew across an impressive number students (among the whole country and by the mid 1980s it them Claudio Iedwab, an undisputed included more than 10,000 students. champion until some years later he settled Florindo was appointed ITF Director, and in Toronto, Canada and would deserve an by that time roughly one third of the article himself). Florindo taught in one of Argentine Taekwondo population was the main clubs in Buenos Aires (Gimnasia under his leadership. y Esgrima, “GEBA”), and offered an innovative training program which was By that time he used to put together implemented and supervised by a qualified competitive teams who had great staff of instructors including Gustavo Pérez performance at national and international and Jorge Rábago. By that time he was competitions. Among those, Eric Calvo, studying Physics at University, but his job Daniel Burban, Laura Miceli, Juan Sunini, as Taekwondo instructor and the need to Mari Potenza, José Luis Soler, Marcelo support his family prevented him from Bordiez, Marcelo Cremona, Brian Mutri,

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Florindo & students early 80s

Rubén Sánchez, Guillermo Longo, Julia and in some ways he was justly considered Jakimczuk, Marina Serrano, Manuel a bad example for spreading the ITF way. Adrogué, Víctor D’Amore, Ezequiel Gen. Choi seemed to like him, but at a Borracer, Lucas Villa, and Gabriel Provale. certain point Florindo had become disruptive, and Marano / Trajtenberg In the following years, there were some provided a more solid and reliable platform frictions among the local Taekwondo to ensure that ITF style would keep organizations. The two other significant growing in the 90s. players were the group led by Héctor Marano and Pablo Trajtenberg (two Florindo’s relationship with other talented and senior instructors originally organizations was less than ideal, and his taught by Choi Nam Sung) on the one side, inquisitive and rebel nature (he would not and Chung Kwang Duk’s on the other side. accept instructions unless good reasons Without entering into unnecessary detail, were attached) resulted in his departure one aspect that may have tilted the from the ITF. Such situation did not balance against Florindo is that he was decrease the number of students, since very “personal” in the way he conducted among his group, the figure of General his group. His students wore a Moo Duk Choi was not as central as it had become Kwan dobok (except at ITF competitions), in the teachings of other groups, and

Florindo and students in the early 90s 22 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

With students and Grandmaster Kim when he received 9th Dan in 2017

Florindo was a very charismatic and Rhee, Dan Inosanto, Henry Tae Joon Lee, attractive figure, considering he combined etc. I performed as translator and assisted the abilities to explain (teach) and perform, in the planning of such memorable trips that he had a strong background in where we had the opportunity to train traditional TKD (even Hapkido) and one of Taekwon-Do, Hapkido, Hwarang-Do and the very few senior masters with a fighting other disciplines under some of the most past. He was usually found in the covers of famous figures in the world of 20th century the local Yudo Karate magazine. In 1991 martial arts. In total, around 100 he published “Trabajo especial de piernas instructors joined him in those trips, and para el Tae Kwon Do” (Special Leg their martial arts minds were open forever. Training for Tae Kwon Do), in which he A gap widened between their “enlightened” addressed all aspects of training for kicking plural perspectives and those of other including muscular development in terms groups who had contact with General Choi of strength, flexibility, kicking exercises, and considered him to be the only and anatomy and some concepts related to undisputable source of Taekwon-Do combat. knowledge.

In the early 90s Florindo organized annual On 1993 he became a founding member of tours to the United States in which we, his Taekwondo International, a British-based students, had the chance to meet and train organization under GM David Oliver, who with top instructors as GrandMasters Ji was highly regarded by Florindo. I had the Han Jae, Sihak Henry Cho, Hee Il Cho, chance to travel with him and Jorge Myung Kwang Sik, Jun Chong, Phillip Carabajal to Leicester for the inaugural

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Gen Choi, Master Kim & Florindo (back) early 70s

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meeting. Florindo was in several ways unique. He had been blessed by being a student of At that point Florindo became the first Tae both Lee and Yang, whom Grandmaster Kwon Do leader in Argentina to operate Kim Han Chang himself once told me they outside the traditional ITF – WTF binary were the best among the more than 20 perspective. He was the first Korean masters that settled in Argentina “independent”. during its first 20 years. Florindo had the hunger to become someone in life. He did In the following years he consolidated his not care for money, position or power, just prestige internationally, but also evidenced deeds. He cared little about conventions. his lack of abilities to adapt to the growth of Since his childhood he was a fighter as his senior associates and to allow them to well as a rationalist. He respected tradition display their actions as leaders to the extent it proved useful under his themselves. His success in organizing humanistic approach to the martial arts. He international sparring teams was at the was playful, yet attentive. He was expense of not being able to lead his provocative, charming, and his passion for organization to its next stage. His the martial arts contagious. He was so associates could simply not understand a good at it, you wanted that for you. man who kept inventing new projects and ideas but failed to minimally secure all they After he joined Taekwondo International, had already achieved. Florindo put together several teams which gained prestige in the European open

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Founding member of TKD international at Leicester, 1993 (on the right side, Pedro sitting and Jorge Carabajal and myself behind him) tournament scene. On the year 2000 World to make people feel comfortable, making Championships at Eindhoven, jokes as he explained. At seminars, he Netherlands, the Argentine team won the liked to surprise with skills and knowledge, first place with Pedro Florindo and Edgardo talking about psychology, strategy and Villanueva as coaches to a truly non- technique. On one occasion in 1996, at a political group that showcased some of the seminar he was teaching a counterattack best fighters in the country (M. Cremona, J. against a spinning hook kick, in which he Sunini, P. Ferreiro, F. Figari, E. Borracer, y used his rear-leg twisting kick to the A. Gattembank). stomach sneaking under the attack. That was typical “out of the box” Florindo, The 2002 Taekwondo International World showing unusual things. At that point a Championships were organized in Miami, loud voice was heard from the back of the USA, by Florindo and assisted by Eric hall saying “that is fake, it doesn´t work in Calvo and other students. The Argentines the real situation.” Florindo invited the won a first place against the notable team challenging black belt to step up and try for presented by the Taekwondo Association himself. Of course, one factor that makes of Great Britain. the technique work is that it is unexpected, but anyway… The guy went and tried his Some years later Florindo faced personal best “real” spinning hook kick to Florindo’s situations that affected his organization face: he was nailed with a twisted kick that and other areas of life, thus retiring from put him down immediately bent to his Taekwondo International. Several of his knees grasping for breath. students such as master Victor D’Amore have remained active in such entity, In his later years, Florindo could redirect or keeping up the Argentine reputation. render useless an opponent’s attacks with minimal motions of his arms, shoulders or As a teacher, Florindo had a special aura hips. He would use distance and timing in that captivated the audience like a master ways hard to perceive, frustrating anyone magician. He was rather informal and liked sparring with him. He would not telegraph

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Florindo with student Leo Salguero his motions and his strikes, even in relaxed born in Argentina. situations with his students, were always sharp and painful. He had perfect control Florindo was very charismatic, and people of his strikes, and liked to hit with his liked his simple and friendly manner. He protruding knuckles slightly stronger that always asked people about their families you would accept to receive. His reflexes by their names. Students were very fond of were otherworldly. About seven years ago, having access to such a legendary martial I visited his dojang and had a light sparring artist with an unassuming personality. session. I was a lightweight, fast 6th Dan in my early 40s, and we were mostly playing Partially the humbleness of Florindo may (seriously, as you always did with him). At be explained in that he did not care about a point he got me right in the middle with the past, he always looked to a future with his spinning side kick and, without planting projects to fulfill and skills to master. He his foot, did a roundhouse kick, his instep was almost an addict to challenges, like a barely touching my face. He was over 60 naughty boy with a grin in his face that years old and not in perfect shape, but his wants to prove he is the boldest at the Taekwon-Do level was extraordinary. neighborhood. He never hesitated to risk it all to gain a little more. On 2017 he was awarded 9th Dan by GM Kim Han Chang, the father of Taekwondo I cannot help but think about some lines of in Argentina. Grandmaster Kim recognized the great poem by Rudyard Kipling… him as one of the top Taekwondo masters

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If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; 28 - Totally Tae Kwon Do If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

We his students for several decades have experienced admiration, gratitude, joy, and sometimes exasperation as he very much exceded Kipling’s standard. Some of us left his organization years ago, some few remained by his side (Eric Calvo, Daniel Castera, Hernan Diaz Rentsch, Walter Lee, Leonardo Salguero, Sergio Cantore, etc.), but we are all proud and feel blessed to be his students.

In the last months his health was rapidly deteriorating, but his martial art skills seemed unaffected. He had lost weight but managed to keep his invincible image intact to us his students, like a magician, conceiling from us his condition at plain sight. He always said a martial artist should not expose his weaknesses. Last month he died unexpectedly in his apartment. We were struck in surprise and with pain, as he used to like.

Always a rebel dreamer, Argentine Taekwon-Do owes him so much. If there is one phrase that we can say that guided his life, is the mythic motto of Star Trek’s Enterprise:

“To boldly go where no man has gone before”.

Florindo & Adrogue

Manuel Adrogué, a 7th Dan, was a student of Grandmaster Florindo since 1983. He is a member of the Allied International Taekwon-Do Council under Grandmaster Park Jong Soo. For more information, see http://taekwon.com.ar/index.php/english/ Totally Tae Kwon Do - 29

Who Will Benefit Most From Black Belt Success Plan? Black Belt Success Plan is a book that can literally help everyone. However, some people are the best candidates to benefit the most. These people include:

 Those who want to start and run their own business  Those who would like better financial rewards for their efforts  Anyone who would like to have better relationships  Those who believe that someone has to be born into a rich family to have any chance of living in their dream home  Anyone who believes that their religion, skin color, gender and present situation will not let them be the person they want to be.

For more information on 'Black Belt Success Plan' including where to purchase a copy, please contact Master Gayle at; [email protected] 30 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

“The“The Dojang”Dojang” Part 5

By Marek Handzel

Totally Tae Kwon Do magazine continues its serialisation of The Dojang, a novel by Marek Handzel. In this issue, we present the fifth part of the entire novel for readers of Totally Tae Kwon Do

PIOTR TOOK THE BUS to The Red Duck early in the morning, hoping it would be empty. When he walked in, the shop assistant with the brunette ponytail was standing behind the counter, flicking through a magazine. Piotr picked up a shopping basket and checked the assistant’s right hand. There read the shopping list that his Aunt had were no rings on it. His eyes darted to her given him. There were two other people in left one. It was bare as well. ‘Do you get the shop. He walked through each aisle them in every day?’ he said. slowly, picking what he needed. When the ‘What, the beetroot?’ she said, raising other shoppers had left, he went to pay. her right eyebrow. He placed the shopping basket on the He nodded. counter. ‘Hi,’ he said, grinning. ‘No, every few days. They’re not that The shop assistant looked at him popular. Lots of people don't make their briefly, returning his smile. ‘Hi.’ own barszcz, they buy the packets. Or they She started taking the items out of the get the pre-cooked ones for salad.’ basket and registering them with a ‘Too busy earning a living I guess,’ said handheld scanner. She flicked open a Piotr. white plastic bag and put the scanned ‘Aren’t we all?’ items in it. The bag had a large red Piotr put the flyer down and took a silhouette of a duck on it. deep breath. ‘Too busy for dinner?’ he When she picked up the beetroot, Piotr said. said, ‘They look fresh.’ She laughed, tucking her hair behind ‘We try to keep fresh produce,’ said the her ear again. ‘You’re not one to waste assistant, tucking a strand of her hair time are you?’ behind her ear. He grinned. ‘It was too good an A bunch of flyers advertising a Polish opening.’ disco night at a local pub sat next to the She tapped some buttons on the cash cash register. Piotr picked one up, register and studied a laminated piece of pretending to read it. At the same time, he card that had a list of prices on it. Totally Tae Kwon Do - 31

‘So what do you think?’ said Piotr. A trickle of cars came in until mid- ‘Maybe.’ morning, when a man drove into the car ‘Well maybe I could call you or wash in a silver estate. He had a small something.’ Nigerian flag hanging from his rear view ‘Or something?’ mirror. Dennis asked him what type of ‘Well, I mean I could call you. If I had wash he wanted. your number.’ ‘I don’t need a wash. My car has been A customer walked in, picked up a loaf cleaned very recently. Don't you remember of bread and queued up behind Piotr.’ She me?’ he said. ‘I was here yesterday.’ grabbed a flyer and scribbling down a ‘No, sorry,’ said Dennis. ‘It’s hard to telephone number on the back of it. ‘I’m remember sometimes. We don’t really free on Thursday,’ she said. notice the cars, we just look at the dirt on ‘OK, great,’ said Piotr. He held the flyer them.’ in his hand and stared at it, as if he was The Nigerian got out of his car. ‘Well I checking that the writing on it was real. was here. And one of you stole my watch. ‘That’s £21.35 please.’ It was in my car when I came here. Then ‘Right, of course,’ said Piotr. He when I searched for it, it was gone. I have fumbled in his pockets and handed over scoured everywhere, so the only option is the exact amount in cash. you.’ At the door, he said, ‘See you later ‘We don’t touch any personal stuff in then.’ the patients’ cars,’ said Dennis. She gave him a little wave. ‘See you ‘Then how do explain my missing later.’ watch?’ said the Nigerian, thrusting a finger at him. ‘I don't know, but we don’t have no watch. We just wash the cars. We don’t When Piotr got to the car wash Dennis take anything, believe me.’ told him that the Doc had fired two ‘Well you obviously do. Because as I workers. told you, I came here with the watch but ‘As soon as you’d gone off with the left without it. I want to see your manager.’ flyers, he thanked them for all their work, ‘The boss, I mean, the doctor, he’s not gave them an envelope each, and that was here,’ said Andrzej, who had walked over it.’ to them. ‘He’s away visiting one of his ‘Did they do something wrong?’ said other surgeries.’ Piotr. ‘Call him to come here then,’ said the ‘Nothing wrong, no. I guess we’ve had Nigerian. a couple of quiet weeks. And the weather’s Dennis said, ‘Listen, we don’t have no been good. We should be flat out. It watch of yours OK? We are honest guys. doesn’t look great.’ You have to believe us. Come and check. ‘You think we’re going to get shut You want to look in our bags?’ down?’ ‘I am not stupid,’ said the Nigerian. ‘Well, he sent you out with those flyers ‘You have probably taken the watch away didn’t he? He’s never done that. He’s already. So one of you who is the thief worried, that’s for sure.’ must go and get my watch and bring it ‘We’re not advertising ourselves well back.’ enough,’ said Piotr. ‘That wash down the Dennis turned away, shaking his head. road? They’ve got huge banners telling Andrzej shrugged. ‘So?’ he said in people about themselves. We’ve just got Ukrainian to Dennis. ‘Nobody here would that small sign at the front. I bet some have stolen a watch would they?’ people can’t even tell that we’re a car wash ‘No, of course they wouldn’t have. I’ll as they pass by.’ call the Doc.’

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He returned his attention to the outstretched. Nigerian and said, ‘I’m going to call the ‘OK, OK. Hang on,’ said the Doc. ‘What owner, OK? Do you want to sit down and wash did you have?’ wait in the cabin?’ ‘What?’ ‘No, I will wait in my car,’ said the ‘You know, what kind of wash did the Nigerian. car have? Was it basic body healing, all The Doc arrived about half an hour over body cosmetic surgery, or miracle later. Dennis and Andrzej were waiting for cure?’ him. The Nigerian screwed up his face. ‘Where’s this chief?’ he said. ‘You know, how much did you pay? Six ‘He’s in his car,’ said Dennis. pounds, eight or ten?’ said the Doc. ‘Is he all there?’ the Doc said, tapping ‘It was the most expensive one.’ his head with his middle finger. ‘OK, right,’ said the Doc. ‘Boys,’ he ‘I don’t know,’ said Andrzej. ‘But he’s said, in English, turning towards Piotr, not happy.’ Dennis and Andrzej, who were standing by ‘I’ll talk to him.’ The Doc walked up to the cabin. ‘Who was doing miracle cure the silver estate and knocked on the yesterday at–’ He turned back round to window. It slid down. ‘Are you the man in face the Nigerian. ‘What time did you have charge of these thieves?’ said the Nigerian. the miracle cure?’ The Doc bent down to speak at the ‘About eleven.’ Nigerian’s head level. ‘Yes, I’m the head The Doc shouted out again, ‘Morning doctor. My colleagues told me you lost shift – who was on miracle?’ your watch.’ Piotr and Andrzej put their hands up. ‘No I did not lose it. It was stolen. By ‘OK, boys,’ said the Doc, waving them someone here. I know that because I was over. ‘Did you take a watch out of this here yesterday with my watch, which I patient’s car?’ He gestured at the Nigerian. must have left on the dashboard.’ ‘No, of course not Doc,’ Andrzej said. ‘We are all very honest here. You must ‘I didn’t even see a watch,’ said Piotr. believe me. We would not steal anything ‘See?’ The Doc turned to look at the from any patients. I promise. Everybody Nigerian. ‘Nobody has even seen your here is a good Christian.’ The Doc reached watch.’ into the front of his shirt and pulled a gold ‘They are lying,’ said the Nigerian, cross out and kissed it. ‘See? We know it’s glaring at Piotr and Andrzej. very bad to steal. Nobody here does it. We ‘Listen, my workers are honest, OK?’ are honest hard workers.’ said the Doc. ‘We have no trouble. We ‘Are you suggesting that I am a liar?’ clean cars, that’s it. Come on, why would ‘No, I’m not saying anything like that, I we steal your watch and cause trouble? swear.’ He kissed his cross again and left it What’s the point? It’s a bit stupid to do that to hang out over his shirt. ‘Maybe you lost when you are always here and someone it in back of the car? Down the seat? I will can come back and find the thief. You help you look.’ The Doc went to open the understand? Makes no sense.’ rear passenger door. The Doc ran his hand over his face, ‘Get away from the car!’ said the thinking. ‘I can give you two free car Nigerian, opening his door and pointing at washes to say sorry for your the Doc. ‘I know you have my watch. Don’t inconvenience. And we will look tonight, to take me for a fool.’ make sure it’s not fallen somewhere into a The Doc held his hands up in the air. bucket or something.’ ‘I’m helping you find it, that’s all.’ The Nigerian gripped the frame of his ‘I said get away from my car!’ The car door. ‘Now you listen to me. Very Nigerian took a step towards him and carefully. I had my watch yesterday in this pointed at him again with his arm fully car. A very expensive watch. And now it’s

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not here. I don’t want anything from you here.’ but my watch. You understand?’ ‘OK. I’ve had enough. The police are The Doc opened his arms out. ‘What coming, you understand? I’m going to call can I do? There’s nothing I can do for you? the police.’ I’m sorry.’ The only other car at the wash was He walked back to his cabin. Piotr and being waxed. The driver, a man with short Dennis followed him into it. ginger hair in his twenties, got up from the ‘What’s he going to do now Doc?’ said plastic chairs where the customers Dennis . occasionally waited. ‘How do I know? The guy’s messed up ‘Is he going to move or what?’ he said in the head.’ to the Doc. ‘I got places to go, I can’t be ‘He’s just standing there,’ said Dennis, waiting all day for him.’ looking out of the cabin doorway. ‘He ‘Don't worry. I’m calling the police.’ The seems pretty pissed off.’ Doc dialled 999 into his mobile. ‘Sorry The Doc went to the window and about this,’ he said. ‘I can give you a free watched two of the workers wash the only wash to apologise.’ other vehicle that was in the car wash. ‘Free wash? I don’t want a free wash, I ‘Hopefully he’s cooling down and will want to get out of here.’ head off in a bit. Anyway, don’t worry about The ginger-haired man paid Andrzej him. It’s good you called me. We need to and got into his old Honda. ‘I’ll show you get some more flyers out there. Do you two how to get rid of this tool.’ want to earn a little overtime tonight? We He drove right up to the estate, leaving need to get as many out there as we can. only a few inches between his front We’ve had a couple of people turn up with bumper and the Nigerian’s door and flyers in the past couple of days. So it pressed his horn four times. When there works. But we need to do more.’ was no reaction from the Nigerian, he blew The Doc walked over to the suitcase of the horn repeatedly. On the final blast he flyers he had left on a table in the corner of held his hand down on his steering wheel. the cabin. He unzipped it and starting The piercing sound went on for so long that taking stacks of flyers out and placing them its pitch seemed to alter, like an air raid next to the suitcase. siren from a war movie. ‘I think there’s about 1,700 of them that The ginger man got out of his car and we need to get out there,’ he said. ‘The banged on the Nigerian’s front window. He sooner the better. So, can you both do it? had a large tattoo of a Celtic cross on his I’ve worked out that the two of you could forearm. probably get these done in less than three ‘What are you doing?’ he said, hours if you…’ crouching down to look into the car. ‘This ‘Er, Doc, I think you need to take a look isn’t a lay-by you know. We’re not back in at this,’ said Dennis. They all walked out of Zimbabwe. Move out of the way you tool.’ the cabin. The Nigerian had reversed to The Nigerian stared straight ahead. the entrance of the car wash and turned The ginger-haired man banged on the his car so that it blocked it. window again. ‘Is this chief for real?’ said the Doc. ‘I ‘Move your car,’ he said. ‘Before I start can’t believe this whore’s son.’ He kicking it in.’ The Nigerian continued to marched up to the estate. ignore him. ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ the Doc ‘I’ve got to get to places you tool!’ The said, knocking on the Nigerian’s car driver’s face was getting red, to match his window again. ‘You can’t park here. This is ginger hair. the entrance. You need to move.’ ‘Move your car or I’m going to start The Nigerian, in a muffled voice, said, smashing it in, you hear me?’ The ‘You give me back my watch, or I stay Nigerian’s mobile phone started ringing. He

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answered it. man staggered backwards and this time hit The driver started swearing. He kicked the ground. The driver gawped at Piotr, but the side of the Nigerian’s bonnet. Piotr said nothing. turned to Dennis and the Doc. ‘I’ll go and The Nigerian climbed out of his car try to calm him down.’ The Doc put his arm through the passenger door and went for in front of Piotr. ‘No, leave it. The police will the ginger driver. ‘You bastard! I am going be here in a minute.’ to sue you for damaging my property!’ ‘It might be a minute too late,’ said The Nigerian tried pushing past Piotr, Piotr. ‘It’s alright, I’m only going to talk to who stood his ground. ‘Get out of my way,’ him.’ he said. ‘Piotrek man, he’s a psycho. He might ‘I can’t let you pass. Go back to your have a knife or something,’ said Dennis. car and wait for the police.’ Piotr made his way up to the entrance. The Nigerian walked away, muttering He tapped the back of his jeans, realising to himself. that his baton was at home as he did so. Dennis and the Doc convinced the The driver was kicking the headlights of ginger-haired man to get back into his car the Nigerian’s car when Piotr reached him. and reverse it. Piotr and the Nigerian Piotr stood behind him and said, ‘Hey, inspected his car. There were some boot come on. Leave the car alone. The police marks on the bonnet but nothing was are coming, they’ll sort this all out. There’s damaged. ‘You got lucky,’ Piotr said. He no need for this.’ got a bucket and sponge and cleaned up ‘Piss off chief,’ said the man, kicking the mud and boot polish on the paintwork. the car again, this time aiming at the wing He asked the Nigerian to move his car and mirror. He lost his balance and almost fell to wait in it for the police. Before the over, but Piotr caught him, putting his arms Nigerian did, he said, ‘Why are you under his. He pretended to stumble as he working with these people, eh? Helping did so, making sure that he took the man a them steal people’s things from their cars. few steps away from the car. You should be ashamed of yourself.’ ‘Woah, we almost both went over Piotr didn’t say anything. He there,’ said Piotr, twisting the man further memorised the Nigerian’s number plate. away from the car as he let go of him. Piotr He had already banked the other car’s put his hands on the man’s shoulders. ‘Are registration number. you OK? Maybe it’s time to stop. This isn’t As the Nigerian parked near the cabin, going to make him move you know.’ the ginger-haired man fired up his engine ‘Get out of the way,’ said the ginger- and sped out of the car wash, barely haired driver. He tried to more past Piotr, stopping to see if there was any incoming who mirrored his steps, keeping his arms traffic on the road. out in front of him, palms facing outwards. The Nigerian got out of his car. ‘Hey. ‘Seriously, there’s no point,’ said Piotr, Why did you let him go? He needs to be looking him straight in the eye. ‘The police charged for attempted assault.’ will be here soon.’ ‘I’ve got his number plate,’ said Piotr. Dennis and the Doc were now by the ‘We’ll tell the police. They can track him.’ ginger-haired driver’s Honda. ‘Please,’ said When the police arrived, they asked the Doc. ‘We don’t want any trouble here.’ the Doc to shut the car wash. One officer Ignoring him, the man tried to side step began questioning the Nigerian. As he Piotr again. ‘Out of my way chief,’ he said. listened, he nodded and wrote quickly in Piotr blocked his path and took a short step his notepad. The Nigerian was shouting a into his personal space, while lot and motioning towards the cabin. simultaneously pushing him in the The other officer spoke to the Doc, shoulders. As he did so, he dropped his Piotr, Dennis and Andrzej. He took notes weight into his back leg. The ginger haired as well. Piotr told him the ginger-haired

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man’s registration number. It was warm and muggy inside, but ‘Good memory,’ said the policeman. He Piotr welcomed the heat. The sweat paused. ‘Don't I know you from dripped down his face onto the garage somewhere?’ floor. Piotr dropped his bottom lip. ‘Me? I When his breathing slowed down he don’t think so.’ performed four sets of 20 burpees with a ‘You ever been in trouble with us minute’s break between each one. He before?’ rested again, waiting for his heartbeat to ‘No. Never.’ slow down before doing some pull-ups, ‘Funny. You look familiar.’ The officer using a portable metal bar that he attached shook his head and looked down at his to the frame of the door. He then went notepad. ‘Never mind,’ he said. through a tul, thinking about what the When he finished questioning them, he police officer had said to him. went back to the police car and spoke to When he was done, he sat down on a the other officer who had finished with the large wooden toolbox that his Uncle had Nigerian. Piotr said to the Doc, ‘Do you constructed and drank some water. want us to deliver those leaflets? I don’t He got up to leave after a minute, mind taking them now. Who knows when knocking the tool bench with his leg. One they’re going to let us open up again.’ of the drawers opened slightly as it lent ‘Alright. You might as well,’ said the forward. Doc. Inside it were some screwdrivers, a Piotr and Dennis walked together. ‘You hammer, two rusty pliers and hundreds of dealt with those two fruitcakes pretty nails. He picked up one of the pliers and handily,’ said Dennis. ‘Where did you learn held them in his hand. His Uncle had used to push someone like that?’ a similar looking one to fix a pipe in his ‘I got lucky,’ said Piotr. ‘Anyway, I grew family’s bathroom at home. up with two younger brothers who fought He and his Aunt used to visit them all the time. I’m used to being the almost every year in Radom when he had peacemaker.’ been younger. They would spend two weeks together every time, visiting the countryside, walking aimlessly around town, eating ice cream in the park, having When Piotr got home he got changed lavish home-made meals, and staying up into an old T-shirt and some tracksuit late into the evenings while the adults bottoms, grabbed a large bottle of water would drink vodka and sing and laugh. His and went to train in the garage. Uncle once took him to the swimming pool. He stretched his chest and shoulders That was where Piotr had first seen his for a minute or two by rotating his arms long thick scar that stretched in an L-shape backwards and forwards and leaning his from the bottom of his neck to the middle of torso into the gap of the open garage door his back. with his hands on either side of the Piotr had once asked him how he had doorframe for support. Then he got to work got it. on the punch bag. ‘I had an accident at work,’ he had He threw some knifehand strikes and said. elbows before moving to kicks and knee ‘How did it happen?’ strikes, building up the pace and getting ‘I got a long nail stuck in it. Not very into a rhythm. The dull thuds of his strikes nice.’ made the bag swing as he pounded out a ‘Do you like working as a builder?’ Piotr familiar warrior’s beat. He hit the bag until had said. his lungs burned and he could no longer ‘Sometimes. It means I can give your maintain a high speed. Auntie money to buy food and that we can

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go on holidays to come and visit you.’ tomorrow.’ ‘Maybe I could come to England and ‘Yes, that’s probably a good idea.’ build with you.’ She left half her meal and said she was ‘You could. But it’s hard work,’ he had tired and wanted to go to bed. Piotr led her said. ‘You’d be better off studying hard and upstairs. Her breathing was shallow when getting some qualifications. You could they got to her bedroom. become a lawyer. Or a doctor. Then you ‘Give me a few minutes,’ she said. ‘I’ll won’t be getting scars like mine. You’ll be get changed and then you can bring me stitching them up instead.’ some more water.’ Look at me now Uncle, he thought to Downstairs, Piotr checked the leaflets himself. Not much of a doctor am I? that came with her pills. They all said that When he got back inside his Aunt was they could cause drowsiness. He busy in the kitchen. wondered if that was all it was. ‘Dinner is about ready,’ she said. ‘I’ve made gołąbki.’ Piotr went upstairs and changed his T- shirt for a fresh one. He washed his face and hands before coming downstairs and sitting at the table. ‘How was work dear?’ his Aunt said, spooning a huge ladle full of tomato sauce over his cabbage rolls. ‘Eventful.’ ‘Why do say that?’ He told her about the Nigerian. ‘Maybe someone is trying to tell you that you need to get yourself a better job,’ she said. ‘Away from so many crazy people, if nothing else.’ She put the ladle down on the table and pressed her fingers to her temples. Piotr stood up and put his arm over her. ‘Are you OK Auntie?’ ‘I feel a little dizzy.’ Piotr led her to the sofa and sat her down. ‘Here, stay there, let me get you a glass of water.’ After she drank it, he said, ‘Do you want to eat?’ ‘I’m not hungry, but I suppose I should,’ she said. ‘To keep my strength up.’ She The Dojang is now available in both got up and Piotr held her by the arm paperback and e-book formats on towards the table. He poured some sauce Amazon. over her food and then brought her another glass of water. He ate slowly, looking at his Aunt all the time. ‘Have you felt like that before?’ he said. ‘Not really,’ she said. ‘Is it a side effect of the drugs?’ ‘I don’t know. I might check.’ ‘Maybe you should call your consultant

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AnAn InterviewInterview withwith SabumnimSabumnim ColinColin WeeWee

By Mike Swope

Who Is Colin Wee? What is IAOMAS?

“Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

“We are all about instructors doing the best for their students. We want to promote your ideals. We want to reward great behaviour. And we want people to know the benefits of honest and real martial arts training.” ~ IAOMAS Web Site

I have known Mr. Colin Wee for several years. We met on Facebook, as I have many other like-minded martial artists. We have exchanged messages, funny stories, personal experiences, personal pain, and ideas about the martial arts. He has published articles in this very magazine. We share many friends on Facebook. Colin, however, is a strange duck. He walks, kicks and strikes like a duck, but he quacks askew. Just a little different. His point of view just a little to the left of what average folks may consider center. His view is sometimes pointed, however, like a scalpel.

I believe that Colin's exceptional views eventually lead to his selection in 2016 as Instructor of the Year for American Karate and Tae Kwon Do Organization Colin Wee enjoys teaching and training in all types of locations, (AKATO) based in Dallas, including his home garage, gymnasiums, commercial martial arts Texas. Nevermind that he has schools, and the great outdoors – wherever his path leads. not been an active member of

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that organization – in the sense that he China, Bhutan and North Korea. He also cannot physically attend their classes or founded Bill Wee Agencies, an archery events – for more than two decades. He equipment supplier, in Singapore in 1965 currently resides in Australia, thousands of and operated the business until his miles from the U.S. Nonetheless, he has untimely passing in August 2015. remained in contact with the organization's leading instructors, including legendary Grandmaster Keith Yates, and often visits Colin, thanks for agreeing to this AKATO members when he is in the States. interview. On your Joong Do Kwan web site (JoongDoKwan.com), you provide Colin teaches out of his 2-car garage in some biographical information, and call Perth. He has turned it – with his wife's yourself Chung Sah Nim. You report permission, of course! – into a dojang, with that you earned your first black belt in mats on the floors, a variety of bags, and a “an eclectic Chinese/Korean system out handful of dedicated students. He teaches of Southeast Asia” in 1987. Can you tell a traditional style of Taekwondo. He calls us more about this system and what his facility the Joong Do Kwan, or JDK for region/part of Southeast Asia? What short. This means “school of the middle made that system eclectic? How does it way.” He also leads the International differ from and how is it similar to what Alliance of Martial Arts Schools, or you teach today? What similarities does IAOMAS, an organization dedicated to the it share? What is Joong Do Kwan? benefit of all who join. Of course, all organizations say they benefit their There is sometimes a burning desire to members. IAOMAS, however, is free to add more to a school in an attempt to do join, collects no dues and sells no products better by your students. It might begin at (other than its benefits, of course, which the start of your journey as you push are free). yourself physically. Then you practice to hone your mind. Then you take on Colin's father, Bill Wee, was an exceptional challenges to test yourself. And then years and accomplished man himself. I learned later you might arrive at a syllabus which that Colin's father is the Father of Archery seems woefully inadequate. A syllabus in Singapore as I prepared the final handful which does not reflect the quality you've of questions for Colin. Which of course achieved. And your mind goes into brought on a few more questions. Bill Wee overdrive to try and show the world how was the top male archer in Singapore for much better you can make it. Well, I'm over many, many years. He was active in that. international archery since 1959, founding the Sydney University Archery Club (1959), Joong Do Kwan, my school, in fact was received the Sydney and New South named 'The School of the Middle Way' in a Wales medals for winning performances, bid to remind us that we can tap from the founded the Archery Club of Singapore past as much as we can tap from modern (1964), represented Singapore and placed innovations. The middle way is also a nice in the top 10 of the Games of the Newly way to reflect the culture of my school, a Emerging Forces of Cambodia (1966), platform where I am not necessarily top of formed the Archery Association of a hierarchy - merely one of the influences Singapore) (1967) and acted as its in a student's progress. While we practice president for most of the period through in a small garage dojang, we do court a 2002, served as the Honorary Treasurer of fairly large network of local and the Asian Archery Federation for many international martial artists. I do this years, and was a respected senior coach because of the organisations I represent, and mentor to Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, my preserving and promoting the lineage

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Colin Wee as a black belt, circa 1987. Can you pick Colin out of the group? I've inherited, and the obligation I feel to The eclectic system I got my first black belt share the best of mudo or budo, the in is called Ninjado, a truly cringe-worthy Warrior's path, with everyone. name perfect for Singapore in the 1980s. It consisted of Taekwondo kicks, basic The adoption of Chung Sah Nim or the Hapkido locks and throws, Chinese 'Chief Instructor' title in my email signature, patterns, a mixed bag of Chinese/ a Tang Soo Do uniform, and the Philippino weapon patterns, and some establishment of Joong Do Kwan's name neigong training. In truth, I'm not totally was to celebrate the Korean heritage of embarassed - the time spent in Ninjado Traditional Taekwondo. The rank stripes, was appropriate for me, and as I revisit the the titles, the patches, are all trappings that training with the insight I now have, I am were critical insofar as we had to have able to benefit from my master's tactical them in order to leave them behind. Our knowledge in ways we hadn't explored core practice is and always has been - the back then. struggle between two hara. Hara in Japanese meaning your structural essence or physiological energy. In this Fast forward only four years to 1991. understanding of JDK, we definitely see You joined the American Karate and methodological differences in my early Taekwondo Organization (AKATO) in training in what I call that 'eclectic system,' Dallas, Texas in the United States. That to my training in the US in Traditional is a long way from Southeast Asia. Taekwondo and Aikido, and to how I unfold What took you to Dallas? The Moo Duk skill progression now. Kwan, I believe, had a large presence in Texas at this time, and still do, if I am not mistaken. Which organizations did

Totally Tae Kwon Do - 41 you consider, if any, before joining the rest is history. What I loved about SMU AKATO? What dissuaded you from Martial Arts Club was the warm welcome I joining them? What persuaded you to received and the quality and commitment join AKATO? of all their black belts. In addition, I don't want to boast, but they had a policy of I went to Dallas for college. If you have to black belts train for free. So I plugged into know, I wouldn't have qualified for their generosity and started to forge myself university in Singapore because I couldn't into the best practitioner I could be. I did pass the educational prerequisites for a think to look beyond AKaTo, but when you second language. Simply stating it - I had a have a line up of a dozen or more multi- really bad attitude towards studying style black belts, in regular weekly classes, mandarin because of many years of all of whom have 20 to 30 years or more of mistreatment and corporal punishment at practice, how much better could it get? the hands of a very abusive primary school teacher. I quickly became inured to the Both my primary teachers were teaching punishment, I developed a strength of will me their Taekwondo, their Aikido, and their but unfortunately also a resistance to Karate. But they mentored me in other studying under him. Eventually you could ways, and they have continued to guide say there were 'ancillary' benefits as I me to become a better person over the gravitated towards a contact sport. But no, twenty plus years I've left college. It is it wasn't the most positive way to unsurprising how much loyalty I feel to encourage a child. them, to Grandmaster Keith Yates, and to AKaTO even now. For your timeline, I started martial arts in 1983, and when I got to Dallas in 1991, had already 8 years of training. There was Colin, it would certainly seem that you no real grand plan. I was exercising in the have made the most of your training gym early on, saw a flyer that stated there experiences from the very start. Your were martial arts classes in American early training obviously kept your Karate, contacted the teacher in charge, interest, as you studied it for eight showed him I wasn't a rabble-rouser, and years. What triggered your interest in

Colin meets up with his “primary teachers” Mr. Proctor and Mr. Robbins whenever he visits Dallas. (Left): Colin is updated on Mr Robbins new syllabus in 2013. (Right): Colin shows Mr Proctor in 2006 that he has Grandmaster Yates forms book on Kindle - an invaluable resource anywhere in the world. 42 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

the martial arts as a boy? What kept surface when I was a child, but martial arts your interest during this period? Is brought it out in a big way. I would practice Ninjado pronounced Nin-jahdoe or Ninja with other martial art students in school, -doe (please forgive my poor share information about what we've phonetics!)? learned in training, and swap martial art books we've purchased. After school I'd be I was a fat kid. I was soft. I was a mummy's practicing techniques for an hour every boy. Not that any of these are bad in day, and then incorporating weight training themselves, and certainly nowadays you with the dumbells I had. Not sure I needed could thrive regardless of your BMI. But to do anything to keep up my interest. I Asia in the late 70s and 80s was an was practising every day and I simply unforgiving place. There were taunts and couldn't get enough of it. snide remarks. Exclusion from How is Ninjado games. Worse, pronounced? Are we being the last to be still dragging that chosen by the team one out? Here's a tip captain, stuck in with Asian 'defence,' and then languages, without having to be on the knowing accents or side where you had the tonal inflection, to take your shirt off! each word should have equal Martial arts, or what emphasis. It's was represented on dissimilar to English. TV as martial arts, was a very welcome outlet. Whether it How did you was the wuxia decide to make g e n r e , G r e e n Texas your new Hornet, or The Man home when you from U.N.C.L.E., came to the U.S.? they were all a How did you departure from a choose your reality where you college? What did wore your discipline you study? Did you a few belt notches complete the too wide. I guess requirements for you can say I grew your degree? How tired of being tired. has this study Colin, 15, demonstrates some martial artsy stuff in So I eventually front of his school. Colin admits, “I didn't realise that affected your started my own no one really was that entertained except for the guys martial arts, if at portion control diet at who were doing the demo with me.” all? the age of 11years old, and loss a significant amount of weight before hitting Cox School of business in Dallas, Texas, high school. Then I got offered the came highly recommended by my brother- opportunity to start martial arts training, in-law, ticked the right boxes for what I was took it, and never looked back. looking for in a school, and the plus was I had family close by for support and help. I Throughout life, I never had a problem with could do a lot of research into other commitment. The trait had as yet to institutions but the reality was I really didn't

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know what I didn't know. Eventually, Cox that I was wearing an unadorned belt, School of Business turned out to be an expressed concern, and asked if anyone excellent choice for me on so many levels. was mentoring me whilst I was not in Yes, I was hungry to work hard, enjoyed Dallas. the challenges and eventually completed my basic business degree in Organisation When I return, I feel like I'm coming back to Behaviour with honors, specialising in e- family. Each of them make time to see me commerce. How did this affect my martial socially. Or they'd organise gatherings with arts, if any? Well, it put me on a path to other peers and/or with Grandmaster work with some really interesting online Yates. And they would talk to me about and e-commerce projects that required me issues that are important to them, to take the lead in situations and teams important to their practice, and perhaps with very little rules or parameters important to their legacy. Of course, the established. I became very used to getting best thing about being back in Dallas is for creative at all levels, from strategisation to me to train with them again and for them to operations to information systems. This give me feedback. I have of course grown became the norm for me and by extension as a martial artist, so the feedback is not influenced the way I saw martial arts. The because I'm lacking but it informs me of structure and the rules are always there, how they are developing as practitioners but you get used to flying between the too. spaces and making the entire puzzle work for you rather than against you. Some of their progress is conceptual - and I'm able to take that to directly improve tactical skills. Or to make throws and You mentioned “primary teachers” in takedowns easier. But over and over, I AKATO earlier in this interview, and return to Dallas and find myself respecting how they have continued to mentor you and admiring these gentlemen more over over the past 20+ years. These teachers the years. The path of budo affects us all, sound like outstanding role models. and they have been on it far longer than I You seem to have been fortunate with have. They make me proud of the training your relationships with them. I know I, I've received from them. They make me for one, would have appreciated treasure values, the Tenets, and Nijukun. mentors such as these. Who do you And they remind me how important it is to consider to be your primary teachers, be grounded in reality. and how have they continued to mentor and help you mature in the martial arts? Take for example taxi rides. Mr. Proctor is not a rich man in a financial sense, but he My primary teachers are Mr. Bryan says taxi drivers should get a good tip Robbins and Mr. Michael Proctor. Mr. because it's hard to make a living driving Robbins was my Taekwondo teacher, and people around. So now whenever I'm in a Mr. Proctor was my Karate teacher. Taxi or Uber, I make sure to drop a tip for the driver - and I think about my teacher I remember the first time back to Dallas in whenever I do so. It's the little things. 2006 after many years of not being there – Mr. Robbins held a special class to catch me up on all of the things I'd missed whilst Colin, I know sometimes that students I had been away. Everyone was present, ask questions and seek guidance for but he was teaching solely for me to which their instructors or teachers do understand where he had taken his school. not have answers and/or cannot provide Then in a separate session at Mr. Proctor's helpful direction or insights. I suspect class, he walked over to me, concerned this has happened to you. Can you

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recall an instance in your personal Many know of Grandmaster Keith Yates experience after asking for direction or through his books. Many, however, may insight? Can you describe the not be familiar with Grandmaster Yates. experience? How did you proceed or Do you recall your first meeting with progress after the event? Have you Grandmaster Yates? How would you been on the receiving end as a student describe your experiences with him? asked you a question for which you did Which of his books do you feel are his not have a ready answer? How did you best, and how might those books proceed or approach that instance? benefit the average student of Taekwondo? The questions I ask myself these days focus on trying to understand the expert Grandmaster Yates came to my weekly behind the patterns, as opposed to trying practice sessions maybe once or twice to decipher the patterns. Sometimes some during the years I was in Dallas. While I of things just come course saw him together and hey several times at presto, an other events, application that first time he coalesces to led class, he m a t c h t h e mentioned how t e c h n i q u e much he liked sequence. More the way I formed often than not my knife hand however, it takes b l o c k . insight upon Essentially insight, constant turning the blade exploration, and of the hand out non-stop testing so that that to ensure that the would be the concepts fit AND first thing that work for us. In connects with this way we are the opponent. asking many many questions, The professional most of which relationship we don't get readily have developed answered. And Colin receives A-KaTo Instructor of the Year in 2016 . He had over the last when we do been invited back for their 40th Anniversary Celebration in d e c a d e March, held in Dallas. The highly unexpected award for happen on the Instructor of the Year was an emotional moment for Colin in his however, has answer from 33+ year martial art career. “Grandmaster Keith Yates is one of t a k e n m y either our the most inspiring gentlemen I know,” Colin notes. understanding of research, or the man to a working with other instructors, we can then new level. He has been supportive of my use this knowledge to retrospectively look training, my research, and the resource at all those earlier questions. videos I share online. Socially when we meet, he has been inclusive and has As for being an all-knowledgeable welcomed me as a senior practitioner - in resource ... well, we can only teach to the fact making me feel welcomed as member best of our abilities. of his martial family.

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As you have intimated, Grandmaster Yates well as martial arts blood-and-guts has an extensive line of books he has legend Allen Steen, founder of AKATO, authored. Of the several I own, I might say as well. Have you likewise met such 'American Karate and Tae Kwon Do' might legends as a member of AKATO and/or be a good one to own. It's basically an intro trained with them? Can you tell us book that covers general topics of interest about your experiences when you met to a beginner in the martial arts. However, them? Grandmaster Yates does address issues which help you understand his values like At the AKaTo Banquet in 2016, these Martial Arts and Religion, '"Master" luminaries (except for GM Jhoon Rhee) Rankings and Titles," and differences were sitting at Table 1, and I was placed between 'American' and 'Olympic' Tae on Table 2. I think GM Allen Steen did Kwon Do. share a few words but whatever he did say, he is ultimately my grandmaster's And by 'values,' this would be what is the senior. All of them are. And therefore, until most defining attribute of Grandmaster I get the opportunity to know them better, I Yates and AKaTo. Once a few years ago, I view them through a lens influenced by came into contact with an international how I view Grandmaster Yates. As for certificate mill, and was gobsmacked by training with them, I don't feel I particularly the promotions, certificates, the fancy need to. I've got my own teachers. And, titling, the flashy red belts, and martial art might I say, my teachers are doing a fairly resumes of practitioners younger than me good job. threatening to exceed an A4 sheet of paper. When I go back to Dallas, I see none of this. Most of Grandmaster Yates' You call your Taekwondo “traditional.” black belts train non-commercially in halls, Traditional is a difficult definition in at their local 'Y', with small groups of most circles, yet you explicitly choose students, and have been doing so for to use it to describe the art that you absolute years. When I return, my teachers practice. You also list that one of your want to catch me up on the things I've teachers taught Karate. What are the missed, talk to me of their martial family, differences, in your opinion, between and they want to see pictures of my Karate and Taekwondo in general? children. Because I'm not familiar with the What in your experience defines parking anymore, I've had a fist full of “traditional Taekwondo” as you dollars shoved in my hand so I can pay for describe your art? Why do you call your parking. Because I come back so art Taekwondo, not Karate? infrequently, I've had autographed books, magazines, and DVDs gifted to me. My lineage was brought out of Korea in the Because I tell them my muscles ache as 1950s by GM Jhoon Rhee, settled in the I've gotten older, they sponsor me to come Southwest USA, and was practiced in with them to their yoga session. close proximity to its Karate brothers way before the ITF and WTF were formed. I am not sure I can praise Grandmaster When I happened on it, it was mostly Yates - nor the people he has chosen to called American Karate, but the term surround himself with, enough. Traditional Taekwondo is fairly accurate given the forms as we have received them have not really changed much since. I Grandmaster Keith Yates has trained continue the practice of the forms I've with martial arts legends Skipper learned, but I do run a rather progressive Mullins and Jhoon Rhee, and has been little dojang. This means I am pushing the photographed with many of them, as boundaries of skills and applications of my

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system. I do so by applying skills I've students in fundamental combative skills. learned, research into precursors of my As hard styles go, much of this is a martial system, cross training with other prescriptive approach to dynamic martial stylists, and continually testing the situations. We engage an opponent and technique sequences of our patterns. funnel this attrition towards a handful of Tradition to me is not some dusty form in solutions that we have drilled over and need of a revamp - it is a living breathing over again. system that adapts to the environment at large. When this approach faces off a modern Taekwondo practitioner, we often see an What is the difference between Taekwondo opponent preferring to engage at the mid and Karate? to long range Which Karate? kicking distances. Whose Karate? Exploratory kicks A n d w h a t would come from Taekwondo are s n a p p y you talking about? roundhouse kicks You talking about to the outside of a little Samurai the body, whilst program? If so, it's front kicks or side just some labelling kicks attempt to on a certificate or reach the core. differences in And then there m a r k e t i n g are those sneaky slogans. If you hook kicks that go want to talk in head high or the general terms, inside S kicks most Taekwondo which go between s c h o o l s the guard. preference kicks over punches. For Of the Karate Sport or Shotokan guys we've faced, Karate, they most of them use gravitate towards the thigh kick a stylistic kumite similar to Muay which requires When Colin returned for the 40th anniversary of AkaTo in Thai fighters to 2016, he participated in a closed door training session for them to display out-of-towners, led by Grandmaster Keith Yates and Colin's chop at our base. their 'pull back Instructor, Sensei Mike Proctor. “I think this session we And then strong hand', or their were playing around with gap closing skills, and perhaps an body punches, irimi and eventual takedown that draws the head backward s t a n c e s , o r and then toward the floor,” Colin notes. It was all smiles in jabs to head or identifiable this photo, but before - I made sure to apply a huge amount spinning back fists f u n d a m e n t a l of pain onto this young man, from the grabbing of skinfold, to head. Those applying pressure onto his neck, finger strikes, and then strikes. immobilising him on the floor. I wanted to share my who do Shotokan 'traditional' take on the skills he was already practicing. And and variants also In my school, then I insisted that he apply it back on me. I was very go for the mid impressed with his attitude, his enthusiasm, and his ability.” Taekwondo to me range reverse is a hard style snap punch - program that communicates martial which are deceptive as they do generate a content using basic techniques, patterns good body blow. and free sparring. At higher levels, the patterns create opportunities to drill

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I think the more these other practitioners kodak moments, and when I brought that engage in their style-only type up against a true master, things just didn't competitions, the less fun it is fighting as go the way I thought they would. I didn't they become stylistically predictable. This know that practitioner very well that first is in no way disrespecting their art or their time, but in subsequent years he became effort in any way. Nor their abilities. I just one of my main instructors, and gave me feel the more restrictive the style is, the the strength so I can wear my black belt less growth a practitioner enjoys in later proudly. As our relationship has evolved he years. has also started sharing more of his values and ideals. This I think is as valuable as Why do I call my art Taekwondo? There is the tactics I've learned from him. cultural significance to the progress our system made from China, to Japan, to As for this particular technique - it's simply Korea, and then the US. Not to call it a lunging punch. But rather than taking a Taekwondo would be telling an incomplete step like you were walking, you drive the story. Identifying it as a Korean art does move like you were making one sprint at a not detract from its predecessors nor all time. This for me was how I immediately that its source material can be. And it is understood where my mistake was - that just right I acknowledge and honour the the analogy I used of 'stepping', essentially difficulties and challenges the Korean picking up your leg and swinging it forward people have experienced throughout was incorrect. It seems like the same history. motion, but once you change that one little mental instruction, the tactic gains combative value. In a recent interview, you describe your training at AKATO among a variety of Would this technique be traditional? Very martial arts and artists. One specific much so. :-) experience you share deals with crossing the distance to an opponent. Your describe that your instructor In that same interview, you indicate that magically closed this distance for a you initially thought patterns practice punch more suited for a mid to long was ridiculous, yet the other AKATO range kick, but you were never black belts outmaneuvered you, despite instructed how to perform that closing your peak physical condition (having technique. So you went home one day, just exited the Army prior to moving to went to your backyard, and worked at the States). So you plunged yourself doing the same until you figured out into the practice of patterns. Can you how to generate the acceleration, how tell us about that experience of focusing to employ the proper body dynamics. on patterns, which patterns, and the You say that the technique was so good benefits you derived from them? How that you had to refrain from using it has your approach or use of patterns because it couldn't be stopped. Which changed over time? What do you instructor so inspired you? Can you therefore teach today concerning describe and instruct us on this patterns? technique here so that we may work on it as well? Would you describe this I was a first degree belt belt, with a mind technique as traditional? fixated on power, speed and flexibility. That's all that I knew because had been my That was a distinct event and a powerful entire diet up to that point. Like Icarus, I memory just because it shook me up. Here was self-absorbed and arrogant. Then I I thought it was all about snappy kicks and came into contact with the black belts at

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AKaTo. That was an early eye opening of martial arts. That is not true. Patterns moment and got me thinking that I had to are only a syllabus. What you do with them change my approach to the martial arts. as an instructor determines how much you Maybe I was wrong? Maybe I'm lacking and your students grow. If you rely on pure something? Maybe I'm not training repetition of forms, you're going to be an correctly? I promptly decided I should give extremely limited instructor, and their way a go. So, yeah, I ignored my practitioner. Instead, seek to understand initial dismissal of traditional forms and what the expert who created the forms plunged into learning them like they did. wished to remember and transmit to those Which patterns? I learned them all! While who practice them. the sequences were very different, I learned them quickly. Understanding the traditional forms, however, took longer than Do you feel the Ch'ang Hon patterns are I expected. derived from Karate patterns or do they contain other elements, techniques, How has my approach to patterns changed surprises or wisdom? over time? Simply this - the pattern doesn't teach you. The pattern is an opportunity for I understand what you're asking, and the your teacher to transmit knowledge gained most straightforward answer I can offer is - from experience. Forms are also a tool for the Ch'ang Hon patterns might as well be your personal skill set. For many years I Shotokan Karate patterns. thought patterns were the be all and end all

Colin attended AKaTo's 40th Anniversary Banquet Dinner, 2016, where he was named Instructor of the Year. From left, Colin's old training partner, Jon Alster; Colin's instructor Mr. Bryan Robbins; another old sparring buddy Tim Pugliese, and Colin himself. Colin led a training session during the 40th Anniversary celebration, and Mr. Robbins was really interested to know how the session went. Colin told him, “I bombed out spectacularly, but that's alright because I put the blame totally on you.” Fortunately, Colin also gave Mr. Robbins a bottle of booze so that he could enjoy a few drinks while wondering exactly how badly Colin had represented him. Totally Tae Kwon Do - 49

Of course however, simple answers don't listed include Iain Abernathy, Stuart do a great job unfolding a good story. Anslow, Bruce Clayton, Dan Djurdjevic, Chang Hon patterns aren't Karate patterns Onaga Yoshimitsu, Taira Masaji, Tony because they were created by Korean Tan Suan Hee, Motobu Choki, Michael practitioners and their lineage is straight Proctor, Bryan Robbins, Tim White, from the heart of Korean culture. They may Kelly Worden and Keith Yates. have once been derivative of Shotokan, but I've never thought that practising them It's easy to look at an industry expert and would lock me into a Shotokan say how great he looks. How slick is his methodology. In fact, knowing there's a production. How lovely is his tatami. linking allowed me to see past Japanese Karate to its inevitable ties to Okinawan Can I speak to you of other folks who have Karate, and Chinese Wushu. inspired me to become better as an instructor? Who are they? My students. In the previous question you asked how I Not just the brightest or most talented - but now use the patterns. In this question you all of them. My students are the driving want to know if the patterns contain force in me asking - how do I make them additional surprises. Here's a glimpse of a tougher opponents? How do I solve the progression of my thinking from just last problem of performing under fight and flight month - which I declared 'Yulgok' month. conditions? How do take the least number Meaning, we would go through Yulgok and of techniques to create the most amount of train its applications through the course of utility? How do I make them understand the entire month. Before we started, I went combative concepts? What techniques do through the videos from the last 2 years, they naturally gravitate to - and why? and I decided to focus on several applications for our senior belts. During the Looking at an expert and following him is session, I would share and we would easy. For me I could probably mimic a practice applications from the pattern. good amount of stuff anyone shows me. During our practice, I would fine tune the But to make a skill my own, I need it to fit applications or finesse our skills, and then within the paradigm of our system. If it link what we were doing to other doesn't fit, its value diminishes greatly. It's applications from other patterns. And every not like there's no value ... it's just that it now and then I would apply the technique doesn't make the whole bigger than the differently to stretch the student into sum of its parts. understanding various tactics befitting the situation they are in. When I say I would stretch the technique - most of the time I You have had an interesting point of might never have used the technique in view on many topics which differ from that particular way before. I apply the common public opinion. I appreciate technique based on martial concepts, my that you have often revealed a two- experience, and the goals at hand. In that dimensional idea to be exactly that, flat way, yes, I would say the patterns come up and narrow. For example, I say that your with surprises all the time. viewpoint is a little left of center. When one stands in a different place, however – such as left of center – and looks back In the recent interview mentioned to center, the perspective, scenery and above, you provide a list of folks who relationships – and thus our have inspired you over the years, I understanding of the original topic – presume. Can you select a few of these magically change forever. I appreciated influences and describe what you have your article in the October 2017 issue of been able to learn from them. Those Totally Tae Kwon Do, in which you

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discuss that martial arts teaches the block enough to be real, knowing what techniques, some obviously lethal, I'm good at and what I need work on. What without considering the legal and moral has occurred to me is that I have a gift of responsibilities due to the nature of being able to see a situation, and then to training and common safety equipment. simply state what I believe to be true. Is that a fair summarization? In that article for Totally Tae Kwon Do I Ironically my first thought is to digress from wanted to talk holistically about self- the question ... control, the difficulty of self O f t e n , a defence, and p e r s o n ' s appropriate use worldview is of force. We influenced by cannot fake e a r l y o r ourselves to powerful life think we can experiences. "practice lethal My worldview martial arts with owes a lot to impunity." We the generosity, s h o u l d n ' t the welcome, dismiss this a n d t h e discussion with nurturing I simple one encountered liners like when I trained “better to be with AKATO. judged by 12 My story seems than carried by polar opposite 6.” And we owe to the many it t o ou r instances of students to unfavourable h a v e s e l f experiences so defence tactics prevalent in this that are both industry. There, morally and I found myself legally sound. week-to-week Niaal Holder, Colin's student, faces a narrow corridor of opponents determined to not let him pass during an unconventional but s t a n d i n g symbolic black belt testing. “The way in martial arts is often a m o n g s t a analogous to these physical analogies,” Colin Wee writes. In this Colin, I am dozen or more case, Niaal must overcome an impossible challenge, and going glad that your beyond it allows the individual to reflect on this success. He could black belts from of course choose not to do it. At which time the grading would be experience various styles. cancelled, he would most likely quit the school, and discover that with AKATO And there we all no one really cares. Of course the instructor bears each student's was a great burden in his own way. But after all, this journey is a personal one - practised hard and you can choose to see the positive or you can dwell on the influence in but maintained a negative. It is up to you. Like other events on the path, it's hard to your martial collegiate, really capture the essence of what an individual takes away on career. As you respectful, and their own subjective journey.” note, it is congenial training environment. counter to the experience of many others who try to train with martial So while I seem to differ from "common artists from other disciplines, including public opinion," I'm no rebel. I don't have a my own. I am curious how that actually chip on my shoulder. And I've been around worked at AKATO with so many black

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belts from several disciplines. Can you organization? What is your current role explain how and why these black belt with IAOMAS? classes were successful? For example, how were classes organized? What was In the early days of my starting my school the curriculum? Did everyone practice here in Perth, I started to reach out to other the same things during these black belt instructors on the internet to understand classes although they were from their research and their approach to martial various arts? How might one duplicate arts. I was working on my own syllabus, this experience? and had many loose ends that needed tying together. I am not entirely sure how it I don't want to over-generalise, but many of happened but I met Stuart Anslow, now the instructors at AKaTo train small groups one of my good friends and who's a fairly out of hired premises. Most are traditional well-known Taekwondo author and martial artists who naturally respect the personality. Stuart was talking to me of ranking system, but then they also have IAOMAS and his idea of networking high dan-level members who are worthy of amongst martial artists. Frankly, I couldn't respect. Another great equaliser I find is see the logic. Why on earth would I want to that everyone spars each other - hard and expose myself to egomaniacs, McDojo often. This kind of shared intensity bonds owners, and other toxic martial art types? people together in ways other But fortunately for me, I tried to keep an organisations can't do. Where I trained, it open mind, and after Stuart showed me was called the SMU Martial Arts Club, with one of the earlier events he had organised, a primary syllabus consisting of Chang I tried to do the same here in Perth. As it Hon forms. However, since there were happened, the end of 2003 found me in the many other stylists there, as we broke up UK, and training with Stuart's renowned to work on our own forms, they would do Rayners Lane Taekwon-do Academy. the same but on their forms. Might not When I say 'training with,' in reality Stuart have been the most efficient or the most asked me to lead his class. Or should I say tightly orchestrated of groups, but it Stuart Anslow - a highly respected seemed to instructor - work and the allowed a total sharing of skills stranger from h e l p e d the opposite everyone grow. side of the world to lead a t r a i n i n g Y o u a r e session on his involved with behalf. This I A O M A S was a huge (International lesson in trust, Alliance of and I am Martial Arts happy to say I S c h o o l s ) . have learned Please tell us many more a b o u t lessons from IAOMAS. How Stuart and did it get its from his vision start? What is of IAOMAS. your history This was how I w i t h t h e started with Colin with Stuart Anslow and two of his black belts at Rayners Lane I A O M A S , Taekwon-do Academy, in the UK, in 2003 52 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

An early IAOMAS event in October 2004 where Colin invited Debbie Clarke from Southern Cross Bujutsu to his school - during a time when he had loads of newbies. Colin invited Debbie so she could promote her involvement with the Women in Martial Arts group. Colin laments that Facebook at that time was not the giant it is today or they would have been able to jointly market it more successfully. simply beginning with an understanding of weeks of free training for travelling what friendship meant in the martial arts. students.

IAOMAS started with three practitioners - Several years after, with the activity on the Stuart Anslow in the UK, Dave Melton in forum mostly killed by social media, I the US, and Tim Posynick in Canada. volunteered to take stewardship of There was a huge uptake in those early IAOMAS. Honestly speaking, I did let the days - people were coming on board, ball drop several times over the last sticking the IAOMAS logo on their decade. In 2013 however, I websites, and we had volunteers create reconceptualised IAOMAS as a networking and manage HTML web pages with lists organisation and organised the first ever and lists of martial art schools. In the first IAOMAS Martial Arts Conference for 2014 one or two years we had 600 over schools here in Perth. During the ramp up phase, I worldwide. From the excitement came hosted and facilitated many joint training cross training events between different events between the schools, and continued schools, and a huge amount of interaction to drum up networking online. It was on the IAOMAS forum. Mostly however, I'd slightly different orchestrating it with a say instructors would benefit from the more regional presence - I discovered I IAOMAS concept. We would seek out had to deal with many more interpersonal other instructors we'd have communicated agendas, and politics than if I were with online. We might hang out for coffees organising a pure online event. However, I and beers, or even train when we travel to persevered, and I believed I've done a new schools. Few students however took really good job developing a strong up the privilege of IAOMAS concept of two network for myself and IAOMAS here in Western Australia.

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My current role in IAOMAS? I am trying to them from my garage, to keep numbers hand over the reigns of Coordinator to low and the setting intimate, I would get a another person who is interested to lead few of them to volunteer as instructors, and the expansion of IAOMAS. I would have I would organise lunch afterward. It has liked for this role to have gone to another quickly become one of the best training country and for myself to be retained as a events in Perth. Can you imagine a dozen behind-the-scenes Chairman so there's heads of schools coming together and always someone there to steer the ship. training? Even if they weren't instructing, But ... like anything, it's hard to get the right just having any one of them as your volunteer. training partner would be an amazing opportunity. So yeah, they come from far and wide, to share amongst themselves. Colin, if I am They can talk not mistaken, I about anything believe you they care about - have hosted it doesn't even s e v e r a l need to be a professional physical lesson. development One of the seminars in modules from P e r t h , the last session Australia. Can we had saw you explain T e r e n c e how these Bridgeman, a came about, Savate veteran, what they are, roll out his how they relate collection of to IAOMAS and daggers. He its members, talked about and the impact their history and they have had their make, and for IAOMAS, then led us attendees, & t h r o u g h etc.? European knife s p a r r i n g I a m a n concepts. How instructor who amazing is that has 4-6 students Colin in mid-takedown with Damien Merrin, a really nice, breadth of and who trains in independent, and fairly successful Taekwondo instructor at a exposure? I'm joint seminar with Taekwondo Kidokwan in April 2017. Colin's a garage. And early aiki training is clearly evident (notice the finger pointing still blown away. my secret skill is downward). Colin's bottom hand, however, shows the departure And I organise to extend my from where he started, and Mr. Merrin's head position also this! shows tactical development from hard style training. h a n d i n friendship, to draw a network of diverse instructors What does it mean to become a member together, and to help them enjoy the of IAOMAS? benefits of all of our expertise. Last year, I thought that instead of another IAOMAS It takes a great deal of courage for school conference, I would organise a Continuing owners to get out of their comfort zone, Professional Development series for high believe in an external organisation, and to level instructors here in Perth. I would host take initiative in contacting us. I hope they

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Colin leads a freebie seminar in Perth titled “Smash with Your Foot” in February 2012. see from our social media presence, the the same interests as you. website, and the interactions online that we are social networking group first and The big thing I think about IAOMAS is that foremost, and that we have no intention of the organisation is about 'values' applying top down controls of any kind on leadership. We care about solid individuals their school, their method of teaching, or who will benefit from networking with other any part of their operations. solid individuals. We believe that courtesy, humility, friendship, and caring are great Next, while we always send out an open traits that will help you and your students invitation, we are very careful who we let grow. I myself see it in others who are into the organisation. Frankly, I'd not have linked with me, but my personal experience IAOMAS become a certificate mill nor provides enough of a compelling belief that would I want those species of martial every new person you meet on your path artists who subscribe to certificate mills on can help you improve some aspect of board our group. If you come to us with a yourself. If only you are open to the resume the length of my arm, are too experience and from learning from it. young for all those accolades, there is a high chance we will push back on admission. If on the other hand, you are Let's pretend I am a school owner and sincerely looking forward to networking member of IAOMAS. How can I best with our group, have an open mind and an leverage that membership? How might I open door policy - we will warmly welcome use my association with IAOMAS to you to our group, will help you promote network with other instructors in my yourself on social media, support student region? Where might someone like this training and incentivisation initiatives, and start and move forward? link you with other practitioners who have

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In the early days of IAOMAS, I was told by up with new people and make new friends. Stuart just go meet up with new schools, If they practice martial arts, that's a plus - tell them what IAOMAS is all about, and and I'll share with them what IAOMAS is, maybe invite them to a joint training or and what we do. And if they look like group conference. It does take some they're not absolute idiots and might make getting used to - trying to get up the a good potential member, I invite them courage, then make your pitch, expect to along. I also then extend myself to help be rejected (or not), and then expend more them market themselves, network with effort organising what needs to be a fun other people, and promote the activities and casual event where you give it your all they're doing. In short I am ready to help so people get to know you. This approach them with their own organisational needs, works but it only works because potential as I can. (and real) members of IAOMAS have an open heart, and are ready to give you the Every now and then I put on my uniform benefit of the doubt. It doesn't do anything and also show them that I can play nice to allay their misgivings about your agenda with others. That even if I stand for values nor help stop them being wary that you're and Tenets, I am not too full of myself. And going to steal their students or denounce I will give people the benefit of the doubt. their style. I have not met you in person, correct? But Nowadays, I take a much cooler approach you carry yourself well online, and on the to IAOMAS. And perhaps I can do that videos I have seen. I anticipate when I because I am one of the more connected meet you in real life, I'm going to like you instructors here in Western Australia. So as much as I do over FaceBook or email. here's what I do - I don't try to do anything That's all we need, really. For you to just much. I'm just myself, and I just try to meet extend yourself. If anything was the secret

Guest instructor Colin Wee teaches a takedown and follow up elbow lock or strike at Kidokwan Perth with a fellow black belt. 56 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

Colin launched the IAOMAS Masters Event at our second continuing professional development session in July 2017. Nenad leads this particular slot, and in the background is Debbie Clarke (wearing glasses - whom Colin first invited to my dojang in 2004). On her right is Master Robert Ho, who brought Taekwondo to Western Australia, and on her left is Senior Master Peter Wong who leads Taekwondo Kidokwan (with whom Colin is affiliated). Sifu Gawain Siu in the red jacked founded Free Form Fighting, an amateur full contact event, which Colin judges. of IAOMAS, this would be it. another person who is as passionate as you, and who is looking for like-minded In regular events, IAOMAS seminars would practitioners. In this world of MMA, of egos, be held in someone's training hall, and will and of being assailed by a barrage of involve no fees except maybe a 'gold coin' marketing nonsense, people want to find donation. 'Gold coin' donation meaning a those individuals who like you, or like me, small token sum to cover rent. It may have dedicated themselves to their art, and feature three guest instructors in half a who are looking to just enjoy the company morning, who lead a 40 minute session for of others who do the same. all other stylists who participate. I try to coordinate events using a theme or some logical sequence but it isn't necessary. You make it sound so easy, Colin! I can Make sure the organiser welcomes and appreciate that there is a measure of thanks everyone whilst sharing the goals of courage required to meet new people, the event and the importance of sharing. especially when they are likely to ask Get a group photo and post some feel themselves what you are selling and are good message on FaceBook. It's that certain they won't and don't want it. simple. What are your plans for IAOMAS for the near future? Can any of the members IAOMAS, however, is not in the business propose ideas for the organization? of conferences or seminars. It is as much a coffee or whisky event sitting down with I guess some skill at selling an idea may

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Colin and Stuart (Anslow) always have fun when they meet up! Here they recreate a well known photo of General Choi and Kim Jong-Il work in your favour. But given I'm not really Frankly, you can't pay for this kind of event. selling anything for money, it's not sales The informality itself puts people at ease, nor am I a salesman in the classic sense. If and the discussion amongst peers is at a I feel resistance and a misalignment from level that is rarely seen on instructional whomever I'm meeting, I am happy just to DVDs or YouTube or even at most talk about the organisation in general terms commercial training events. And it was and let the invite pass. Literally I chose not held in my little garage. to close those who aren't the right fit for IAOMAS. If they respond to what you are sharing, then go ahead and invite them Obviously, not everyone will be along, or work out something that is receptive to IAOMAS as you have noted. mutually beneficial. Generally, how do such initial meetings go? Can you describe their responses, A recent IAOMAS session? Last year, I your response to theirs, etc.? Do you launched the IAOMAS Master's event - have any advice to circumvent their something I felt was needed for continuing ego? professional development amongst senior instructors. Three would volunteer and lead My guess is that the two main types of a joint training class, and participants get instructors who don't want any part of the chance to practice with high-level, open IAOMAS - those who have ego problems style instructors.in a collegiate and intimate and those who are making some money setting. How did I pull it together? I simply through their practice. Those with ego sent an email telling everyone about it, problems are more or less easy to spot, requested for some volunteers, they all and it's relatively easy for me not to invite showed up, enjoyed the session, and them to future events. Those who are devoured the lunch that I provided. trying to make money may not like it that

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they need to open their list available on the doors to cross training Internet? What is the events or travelling best procedure for guests. Or perhaps the instructors to join transparency which IAOMAS? What are happens when other the organization's high level instructors expectations of visit. m e m b e r s ? C a n members propose Do I have a way to ideas for the circumvent ego? No. organization? But I do have some advice for those who We have very credible are trying to deal people in the nonsense in the world organisation, but we of martial arts. aren't using their credentials to sell the People get bent out of network. In the early shape with 9 year old days one of the black belts, or XMA mandates was to pattern competitions, or ensure very little self- whatever strip mall a g g r a n d i s e m e n t marketing that they feel occurred through our diminishes their own activities. It was such a practice. For me, what I priority that I had to do is what I do. If push really hard to use someone thinks what I Evidence of Colin's unconventional but effective the 'Coordinator' title viewpoint: Hook kick to the groin at Kidokwan do is akin to what their Perth in 2014. when I needed to child does, so be it. Lots administer to this of people see things group. I guess if a superficially, and will new instructor or never understand the member comes depth of my practice walking in, is invited until they walk the to sit down with a same path as I have - small and casual which is highly unlikely. group, then discovers So what they think will that our members do not keep me from the indeed carry some path. I will share the clout, this might go best of my practice with much further than if whomever has an open you see a bunch of heart and whomever young guns with wants to taste from the resumes as long as same fountain of your arm fronting a knowledge I drink from. website for super senior practitioners.

I understand that you Instructors interested h a v e s e v e r a l Colin poses with Ron Jenson, fellow member of in IAOMAS can log international leaders the private Study of Taekwondo Facebook Group, onto FaceBook and in IAOMAS. Is there a who flew to Dallas to be his demo partner in 2016. search for IAOMAS

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Free for All - and start a conversation with Colin, until recently, I did not know that any one of us. There's no point joining if your father was the Father of Archery in you don't get to know who's involved, or Singapore. I have tried to find more what we do, or anything about the network. information about him online, but it In the end, membership is what you make seems very scarce, although he of it. In other words, how much you get out founded Bill Wee Agencies in 1965. of it is how much you put into it. Like Could you share more about him for anything else. readers? Do you feel your father has influenced your martial arts in any way? I generally run most of my organisations If so, how? like democracies until I need to get something done. So if someone wants to I started martial arts at 13 years old, but a step up, do it right, and get something lifetime before that I was an archer with the done, I'd love that and would welcome Archery Club of Singapore. My father was them with open arms. Constructive an avid archer, and as club President, criticism is welcomed too. But if someone President of the Association, National just wants to put in their two cents, or throw Champion, and National Team Coach he an idea into the fray, or push their own spent many many hours at the archery agenda - I'll take it on board ... up to a ground. I was not as committed, but there's point. In a volunteer organisation my focus only so much distraction an open field can has to be extremely clear, and I've got to afford til you return to that bow and fire it a be as efficient as possible or nothing gets few more times. Eventually, I would have done. But yeah, propose all you want. I'm fired many more arrows than the other all ears! adults, and that would eventually find me becoming the youngest archer to have

A very young Colin Wee with his father, Bill Wee.

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Colin (center) competes at one of his first archery competitions at Gloucester Barracks in Singapore, 1983. qualified and to represent Singapore on the Maybe it was that I started archery early, or National Team. that I grew up during what many archers nowadays called 'The Golden Era' of As a competitor, my dad was one of the archery in Singapore, but I found that I had most consistent and mentally resilient a highly developed intuitive coaching archers. He practiced intelligently, with ability. I could look at physical phenomena, dedication, and brought this winning 'see' what was happening using my own mindset to many competitions, dominating kinesthetic understanding, interpret those the local scene for absolute years. As the signals, and then offer explanation and President of the club and association, he solutions to the archer. I got so good at this led with authority and with passion, and that there were times I swear I was earned the respect of both local archers plugged into the thought processes archers and international players. As National experienced as they stood in front of me. Coach, and as my coach, he was a force to be reckoned with; he was clear on what he As a father, I'm not sure my dad always wanted to see from his archers (dedication understood me. But I would be remiss if I and clean form), he was clear about what didn't say that he was generous with me, he didn't like (smoking and poor many times gave me the benefit of the equipment), and he had simple maxims doubt, and despite being an authoritarian, that helped archers understand his he was always just an advocate of hard philosophy when shooting. As a young work and dedication - everything I myself coach, I didn't always agree with what he now respect and admire. Eventually I think said, however, on principle I would always he grew to understand me and my situation follow to the best of my ability and would - much more than I had given him credit for never contradict what he said. earlier, and I really appreciated his

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patience and tolerance - in fact, his entire demeanour - in later years.

Everything I learned in archery, and I also hope my father's blessing, continues to accompany me as a martial artist.

It is free to join the International Alliance of Martial Arts Schools. Please visit the IAOMAS web site at IAOMAS.com or contact Mr. Wee for more information by email at [email protected] or by phone at (Office) +61 (8) 6461 4212 or (Mobile) +61 41 881 1371.

Mike Swope is General Secretary of the World Chun Kuhn Taekwondo Federation ( h t t p : / / www.worldchunkuhntkd.com/) and President of the Kansas Chun Kuhn Taekwondo Association (http:// www.kansaschunkuhntkd.com). In 2015, Master Swope helped prepare Supreme Master Kim Bok- Man's latest book, Taekwon-Do: Origins of the Art: Bok Man Kim's Historic Photospective (1955-2015), for publication. He is currently working on Supreme Master Kim's Chun Kuhn Taekwondo (Vol 2) and the Introduction to Chun Kuhn Taekwondo, the first in a series of curriculum guides for Chun Kuhn Taekwondo. Master Swope lives in Mulvane, Kansas, USA.

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CurriculumCurriculum MagnaMagna

By Grandmaster Doug Cook,

One great benefit, among others, of being affiliated with a legitimate national or international martial arts organization, is the ability to take advantage of a comprehensive, authentic, standardized curriculum, if offered. This feature assures the student who may change locations, travel on business or move on to university, the ability to continue their training in an orderly manner with confidence and continuity. Moreover, curricula present a clear, concise path to advancement, especially if presented in written form, while providing instructors with effective teaching routines.

Given the identity crisis in taekwondo today, mature practitioner, may have been it can prove difficult, if not disheartening, to influenced in their formative years, by a immigrate to a school whose culture, marked traditional, militaristic style of customs and training methods differ taekwondo overseen by Korean masters, dramatically from those a student is whereas others, having focused primarily innately familiar with. Is sport sparring on competition, may follow a syllabus highlighted, or self-defense? Is intended to nurture speed, footwork, and a participation in tournaments required, or limited amount of techniques certain to does the school promote a traditional score in the ring. Neither path is right or approach to the transmission of skill wrong, simply different, though training through an emphasis on forms? And, procedures for each are mutually exclusive speaking of forms, which are practiced? if approached accurately. Nevertheless, Palgwe, Taegeuk, Ch’ang Hon, Chil Sung taking a student from one upbringing and or the Pyung Ahn set, to name a few. Is attempting to insert them, sometimes decorum relaxed allowing for tee-shirts unknowingly, into the other, can prove as during summer sessions, the elimination of frustrating as trying to fit a square peg in a Korean terminology, and the ubiquitous round hole, ultimately resulting in the bow of respect? Or, are the deep termination of training. Aware that a school philosophical underpinnings of taekwondo exists elsewhere that mirrors a familiar along with meditation and martial culture in training experience can benefit both the general, accentuated? student and school owner who may inherit students either visiting or relocating to their Having welcomed students of all ranks and area. backgrounds to our organization, I can personally attest to the fact that not every Adhering to a curriculum common to a dojang, and thus curriculum, is created given organization, does not, as some equal. And, that is understandable given would claim, remove individuality or the pedigree of various head instructors innovation from a school. Most dojangs and school owners. Some, likely the more use a standardized syllabus as a departure

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point from which to add complimentary skill school website in an effort to avoid sets. For instance, a taekwondo, Korean- confusion and misinterpretation. The based dojang may add components of student is expected to print out and include hapkido or kumdo. Furthermore, schools, this vital information in a journal they are more than not, retain their independence required to maintain throughout their and brand while under the umbrella of the training. parent association, profiting from membership by frequently attending group Likewise, our national organization, The seminars, tournaments and testings. United States Taekwondo Association, Having the opportunity to network with a established in 1980, now features a collegium of fellow instructors while standardized curriculum drawing directly offering students an environment for social on the teachings of Moo Duk Kwan interaction, removes provincial boundaries, Taekwondo-trained, martial arts pioneer, instead promoting a healthy worldview of the late Grandmaster Richard Chun, and the martial arts. his senior masters. USTA dojangs throughout America, are now offered this Additionally, a taekwondo curriculum is curriculum at no additional cost beyond only as good as its content and the their annual school membership and proficiency of the instructors who execute it. instructor certification fees. This program Are its roots firmly planted in Korean provides a specific roadmap for training in: martial arts doctrine? Does it escalate in complexity, echoing the emerging skills of  Basic Technique (strikes, blocks, the student? Does it consist of measurable, stances and kicks) attainable goals? Can a student who  Color & Traditional Black Belt immerses themselves in training, Poomsae frequently attends class and retains  One/Three Step-Sparring knowledge well, potentially advance within  Self-Defense Drills a predetermined time span? And, at the  Breaking Skills completion of the current set of requirements, is legitimate worldwide, A sequence of photos are included here to accreditation of rank offered. illustrate a sample of the il su sik daeryun and ho sin sool techniques contained Our school, the Chosun Taekwondo within the current USTA curriculum. Academy, observes a stringent curriculum composed of a repeating template that In the martial world of modern taekwondo, increases in complexity throughout the where acrobatics often trump purpose and various belt levels. For instance, promotion sport expediency tends to erase excellence from one rank to the next is predicated on in self-defense, it is frequently asked: why proficiency in an escalating series of basics embrace apparently-artificial elements (kibon), one/three-step sparring (il/sam su such as, poomsae, il su sik and sam su sik daeryun), self-defense (ho sin sool), sik? In his truly remarkable 896-page forms (poomsae), sparring (kyorugi) and reserve of knowledge, Taekwondo History, breaking skills (kyukpa). Students are also Grandmaster He-young Kimm documents expected to learn Korean terminology and the early curricula and promotion the philosophy associated with their forms. requirements practiced by the primordial There is nothing haphazard about the Kwans, or institutes. All featured forms, program; every student knows exactly what one/three step-sparring, and breaking. is expected of them in order to achieve Was this fact based purely on the influence advancement. All requirements, color belt of Japanese karate-do that permeated the through to 6th dan black belt, are available tang soo do of the time? Possibly. Most in a password-protected format on our historians agree similar drills, branded ipon

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kumite in Japan, Il Su Sik Daeryun were created in part by Gigo * Note: This one-step sparring Funakoshi (please sequence was first debuted by e x c u s e m y Grandmaster Richard Chun at Westernization of the famed-Richard Chun Asian names. I Taekwondo Center in New York tend to use the City during a Special Black Belt given name before Class in 2002. the surname of individuals for convenience in reading), third son of Shotokan karate - d o f o u n d e r 1) Step back with left leg into back Gichen Funakoshi, stance while countering punch with in the 1930s. But, it knife hand middle block. is more likely that this form of ritualized training was viewed as a window into the art of self-defense where skills were t r a d i t i o n a l l y cultivated slowly, through repetition, performance without excessive verbal explanation, flawless example, and strict, controlled 2) Immediately deflect strike with left 3) Continue with right hand jab. discipline. It hand downward palm heel block. certainly was highlighted in Moo Duk Kwan Tang Soo Do under Grandmaster Hwang Kee, and later, in Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo championed by Grandmaster Chong Soo Hong. On the very first page of his captivating a u to b io gra ph y, Taekwondo - Spirit and 4) Complete with front leg side kick to 5) Followed by turning back kick. the solar plexus. Totally Tae Kwon Do - 67

Ho Sin Sool Practice: Beyond Self-Defense published by YMAA of Boston, Grandmaster Richard Chun describes a training environment, familiar to many in the infancy of taekwondo, where masters would silently demonstrate a skill, expecting the student to mimic their actions uncontested.

Either way, both the Chosun Taekwondo Academy and United States Taekwondo Association curricula spotlight basics, forms, one/three-step sparring, self- defense, breaking and point-sparring, which, taken as a whole, reflect authenticity in action; a quality sorely lacking in most systems of modern taekwondo.

Martial artists worthy of the title, realize that, in a real- world altercation, the response to a threat is likely to become frustratingly fluid; stances will change, kicks 1) Defense against same side grab. and strikes are certain to vary in height and distance in reply to chaotic aggression. Then, there is the fight- or-flight, startle- flinch reactions to consider and overcome. But, in order to secure the ability to instinctual counterattack w i t h a n y 2) Release right hand, securing 3) Step up with left leg into horse stance, confidence or attacker’s wrist with both hands. ducking under opponent’s right arm. accuracy, there must be a point of departure from which to start. Forms, one/three- step sparring, self -defense drills, serve this purpose.

In conclusion, a major component of taekwondo is the setting of measurable goals and then, working 4) Step back with right leg, twisting arm 5) Complete with right palm heel strike diligently to attain and forcing opponent to ground. to elbow. 68 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

them. Goals organize energy. And, a sturdy curriculum vectors that energy in a positive, consolidated direction. Yes, in celestial mechanics, order sometimes stems from chaos. But taekwondo is not cosmology. Having a blueprint in hand, executed with vigor and precision, is certain to forge a foundation for well-articulated, taekwondo skills.

Grandmaster Doug Cook, 7th dan black belt, is owner of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in Warwick, New York, a senior student of the late Grandmaster Richard Chun, and president/CEO of the United States Taekwondo Association established in 1980. He has authored four best-selling books entitled: Taekwondo…Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, Traditional Taekwondo - Core Techniques, History and Philosophy, Taekwondo–A Path to Excellence, and Taekwondo Black Belt Poomsae: Original Koryo and Koryo. Grandmaster Cook has been writing for Totally TaeKwonDo since 2009, and can be reached for seminars, Korea training tours, workshops or questions regarding USTA membership at www.chosuntkd.com, on Facebook, or through email at [email protected].

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TaekwonTaekwon--DoDo EtiquetteEtiquette GuidelinesGuidelines

By Grandmaster Earl Weiss

I was one of the members called upon by President Tran Quan to formulate etiquette guidelines. As far as I know this project along with formulating a curriculum that focused on the “Do” was never finalized due to his untimely death.

It was an interesting exercise since it involved communications across the globe trying to accommodate various cultural differences. Below is a distillation of the program I use for my students and I offer it here as a template for anyone who chooses to do so to use such portions as they deem appropriate.

I. General Principles A. Courtesy - Being polite and having good manners. B. Showing respect: 1. Seniors are given precedence at all times. 2. Seniors accept the gestures of respect from their juniors with humility.

II. Bowing A. As a sign of respect: 1. When entering the Gym - Showing respect for your art and your training area. a. Enter through the doorway a few feet.

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b. Face the flag - Come to attention and bow. c. Quickly leave the doorway area. d. If Class has started: (i.) Enter gym, bow, and stand on side until instructor signals it is OK to join class. e. If you need to leave when class is in session: (i.) If prior arrangements have been made simply bow and leave quietly. (iii.) Raise hand, Bow, and request permission to leave. (iv.) In an emergency leave as quickly and safely as possible.

2. When leaving the Gym: - Reverse the process for Entering.

3. Juniors bow to their seniors when they meet. (Unless the senior indicates that they prefers to shake hands.) a. Bowing is always initiated by the junior. b. Senior bows in return. 4. A junior must bow to his senior before speaking to them. (During Class)

B. For other purposes: 1. Before beginning practice involving 2 or more people, those involved bow to each other. 2. A way of communicating: a. ‘Thank You’ b. ‘I understand’

III. Saying ‘Taekwon’: A. When bowing to show that you are representing the physical side of the art. B. Only done while bowing to a person. (Not to an inanimate object such as the flag.) C. Not done for abow which is done as part of practice involving 2 or more people.

IV. Class Procedure. A. If the scheduled teacher is absent or delayed the highest ranking student on the floor should start the class on time.

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B. No one shall teach without the Instructor’s permission. (Exception for item IV. A. Above.) C. Students shall come to attention and raise their hand before asking a question. 1. If the student is seated they must first stand at attention. 2. Once recognized the student shall bow and then ask the question. 3. After receiving the answer the student may ask a follow up question. 4. Once the question is answered the student bows before returning to their prior position. D. Upon the first appearance of the head instructor if class has not begun: 1. The highest ranking person on the floor calls group to attention. 2. If that person is preoccupied then whomever is available must call the group to attention. 3. Once everyone is at attention the highest rank instructs them to bow. 4. This is not repeated if the head instructor leaves the area for a few moments and returns. E. Adjusting Uniform or attending to one’s person. 1. Do not face or turn your back to Seniors. 2. If in line turn 90 degree’s to the left and perform the adjustment. F. Do not turn your back to the instructor. 1. If leaving or moving to another area of the floor withdraw a reasonable distance before turning. 2. Practical considerations govern. (Inability to keep track of Seniors / Instructors while competing etc.)

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VI. Shaking Hands. A. Use two hands when shaking hands. B. While leaning forward slightly from the waist (as for a bow), the right hand is extended to shake the other person=s hand. The left hand is placed under the right elbow with the palm turned down so that it is supporting the right arm. (Note: much discussion vis a vis palm up or down)

VI. Giving and Receiving A. Always use both hands when giving or accepting any object, even if it is a business card. B. At events when awards are being presented; 1. The presentations should generally be made starting with the award to the most junior person and working up to the most senior. 2. If there is a special senior guest, they should be introduced at the end of the presentations, and time must be reserved so they can address those present immediately after the introduction.

VII. Seating Arrangements & Table Protocol A (Unless the Senior requests otherwise) At all official events, always seat the highest-ranking individual at the head of the table, with his companion or guest next to them. B Seat everyone else and their companions or guests either side of the highest-ranked, according to rank, from highest to lowest. C. Regardless of his rank, the host of an event must be seated next to the highest-ranked individual in attendance. D. If the highest-ranked Senior leaves the table, everyone must rise to

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show respect. They also rise when the Senior returns to the table and sit down only after he is seated. E. The host of the meal should make arrangements with the wait staff for the menu to be presented first to the highest-ranking individual present first, followed by the others in order of rank. F. Juniors will wait until their seniors have started to eat before they begin.1 G. NOTE: D,E,& F may be extremely impractical and is often modified so that the most Senior orders first followed by others in whatever fashion is practical, and once the most Senior has begun to eat all others may begin.

VIII. Toasts A. Lean slightly forward from the waist (as when bowing), holding the glass in the right hand, while the left hand supports the right arm (as for shaking hands). B. A junior will be careful to keep the rim of his glass lower than the rim of any Senior’s glass.2

IX. Entertainment A. It is considered good etiquette to pay for the meal or entertainment of an instructor. B. Instructors must take care not to impose an undue financial hardship.

X. Vehicle Procedures A. The highest-ranked individual enters the vehicle first, followed by the others in order of rank. B. If there is a professional chauffeur: 1. The individual with the highest rank sits on the right side in the back seat (behind the front passenger seat). 2. The host or the interpreter sits in the front passenger seat. C. If there is no professional chauffeur: 1. The individual with the highest rank sits in the front passenger seat. 2. The others sit in the back seat, with the highest-ranked sitting behind the front passenger seat and the others to his left in order of rank. (The rank of the driver is not taken into consideration.) D. The chauffeur disembarks first and opens the door for the highest-ranking individual. The other passengers leave the vehicle in order of rank.

1 Frequently during fairly large dinners at restaurants following USTF events there is an announcement that this rule is suspended since we can never be sure in what order people will be served and we do not want food to get cold. Sometimes, as the most Senior person present I am mindful of this and eat a cracker or appetizer promptly.

2 At a crowded pub one evening after an instructor course since there were no seats available I was standing and speaking to General Choi who was seated. He then raised his glass to me for a toast and since I was standing the rim of my glass inadvertently touched above his. I apologized saying I knew better. He responded by patting me on the shoulder saying “that’s OK”. I respected him more for that response.

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XI. Escort procedures. A. Juniors follow Senior in order of Rank. B. A Junior may walk next to the Senior to converse with them and assist and direct them. C. A Junior may walk in front of the Senior to Lead the way when the Senior is not familiar with where they are going.3

Other procedures may apply depending on your class routines. One example might be that if everyone sits or kneels for meditation before or after class the Senior is never lower than juniors so that while going down each goes down in order of rank from Junior to Senior and when rising each rises in order from Senior to Junior. Practical considerations may apply. I recall one specific circumstance where Sr. GM Sereff was teaching and over 100 Black Belts were seated and began to rise in order and he said “Just get up this will take too long.”

The photo’s in this article are courtesy of Grandmaster Doug Cook, Master Shane Fitzgibbon, Ørjan Nilsen and Stuart Anslow (and their students/Master)

3 I hosted General Choi for an IIC and while escorting him through the building where the course would take place I was mindful to follow proper etiquette and walk behind him until he said “You lead the way” . Of course, since he was not familiar with the building this made perfect sense. When we arrived at the doorway to the room where the course would take place I opened the door for him and let him proceed figuring that he had done this a few times and with all the people lined up he could figure out where the head of the room was.

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BookBook ReviewReview Ch’angCh’ang HonHon TaekwonTaekwon--DoDo Hosinsul:Hosinsul: SelfSelf DefenceDefence TechniquesTechniques FromFrom Ch’angCh’ang HonHon (ITF)(ITF) TaekwonTaekwon--DoDo

By Ørjan Nilsen

These days Taekwon-Do is known more as a martial sport and recreational activity, rather than as a form of self defence, but at its very core Taekwondo is a form of self defence, something that you will undoubtfully notice when reading through older textbooks dealing with the martial art. All of them will probably have at least a few pages if not a whole chapter devoted to self defence techniques.

For Ch’ang Hon Taekwon-Doin (the in- that I was in for a treat, and I ordered it ending referring to people, as in people right away. who practise Taekwon-Do) many look toward the Encyclopedias written by After reading through the book, I can tell GM Choi Hong Hi as a you that I was not dissapointed in any way, reference work regarding and since Taekwon-Do/ their chosen field of study. Taekwondo as a To those who have not yet martial art with a self read them, they can look defence focus is more at Volume 5 to see what or less rare these days, Gm Choi wrote about self I thought I should write a defence and Taekwon- review for the book, Do. While the Kukki- hoping that more people Taekwondoin have had will get a copy and gain several publications more self defence devoted to self knowledge in relation to defense being their Taekwon-Do studies published in the past, that way. If you ask a new this book by Stuart beginner and especially one Anslow is, as far as in his or hers teens and older I know, the first and why they started Taekwon-Do o n l y o n e I am sure that Self Defence will exclusvely written be high if not on the very top of from a Ch’ang Hon that list of reasons for starting. Taekwon-Do perspective. While I So investing in a book pertaining practise and study Kukki-Taekwondo, I t o Self Defence is just that for an have long since concluded that our two instructor; an investment. As I am sure the branches of Takewondo has far more in readers will notice by now, I am all for the common than differences, so when I saw book, and I think you should get one. If you on Facebook that Stuart Anslow had want to know more however, please keep published a new Self Defence book I knew reading. Totally Tae Kwon Do - 77

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The content:  Defences against grabs When buying a book, one of the things I  Defences against Chokes and consider is: Does this book bring strangles something new to the table? This being the  Defences against other attacks first (as far as I know) self defence book  Advanced Hosinsul from a Ch’ang Hon Taekwon-Do perspective it does, and if it is not the first As you can see from the contents list book, it at least brings something new to alone, the book is fairly comprehensive my library. The book is divided into 8 and it clocks out at 245 pages. There are chapters, each chapter containing many things I like about this book. Stuart numerous sub sections. The Chapters deal writes in an easy to understand way. I am with: not a native English speaker, but my  The practice of Hosinsul school English had no problem  Before we begin understanding the information within the  Defences against hand strikes book. Sometimes when I read a book, the  Defences against kicks author seems to be more preoccupied with

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using all of his vocabulary instead of realistic attacks, and therefore has a lot to getting the message across, Stuart delivers do with hosinsul, this is not a patterns the message he wants to give, loud and application book. The author does draw clear. The illustrations are in black and from the patterns often, either directly, as a white, but they are of a decent size and variance of something from the patterns, or they are very clear. Sometimes I wished just part of a sequence or move from a that another angle was provided, but in all pattern. This makes it relatively easy for a of the defences within the book I can count Ch’ang Hon student to pick up the on one hand how many times I wanted defences, since they will allready have that, so overall an excellent job. been exposed to the movements for the defences within the patterns they practise. Another thing worth noting is that he He does draw on defences that are not includes a lot of relevant theory at the start directly lifted from the patterns too. For of the book. Things such as the difference instance his hair grab defence number 2 between Hosinsul training and one steps on page 169 was taught to me by my own for instance is often totally overlooked, but teacher 18 years ago in the very first so so so important. The Fence-concept is training session I attended. After years of covered, and if you do not know what The secret Ki-exersises I am now imune to hair Fence is and how to use it already you grabs, so I do not personally need them (I should definitly buy this book. The term am almost completly bald), but it was fun to and concept comes from Geoff Thompson, see it again. That defence was published in and he does have a short book on it my teacher’s early books, and it also is available, but here it is presented in a present in GM Choi Hong Hi’s 1965 book if Taekwon-Do context. Stuart Anslow also I am not mistaken. That defence and many covers the difference between pattern more are what you might call typical applications and self defence, elements of Taekwon-Do defences, it is just that these succcessful hosinsul, thoughts on free days when Hosinsul is a fading part of sparring and so much more. He even Taekwon-Do they are no longer typical. delves into principle based self defense The defences in this book are against when he writes that eventhough he has realistic attacks, and the defences divided up the defences the way the themselves are realistic. Stuart has a chapters indicate, that many of the sound grasp on what works and what defences can be used against a multitude doesn’t, and it shows in the book. All in all of attacks. He gives the example of a two you get a great theory section at the start, handed front choke defence can be used some great thoughts on sparring to drill exactly the same against two handed them live, and of course the defences shoulder grabs or double lapel grabs. This themselves. is likewise an often overlooked yet important point to grasp. Log jam is one This book is marketed for Ch’ang Hon possible effect that you can suffer if you Taekwon-Do students and instructors, but I know too many defences. Using Stuart’s will recommend it to each and everyone logic, you can pick and choose a few that who study Taekwon-Do/ Taekwondo/ Tae work well for you, and apply them against a Kwon Do in all its forms as long as the multitude of attacks instead of cramming student is interested in self defence. I am your mind with one defence against one sure a Karate stylist (all styles really) could specific attack. also gain a lot from this book. While they practise different patterns (as do I since I The author of the book has written two am a Kukki-Taekwondoin) the movements books on pattern applications in the past, and overall strategy behind our arts are and while pattern applications (that are any very similar. good at least) are defences against

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TheThe BattleBattle

By Scott Miller

Happiness in the midst of chaos. That’s generally the one species of happiness we get to enjoy. Problems and challenges will continue to dog and confront us throughout every moment of personal triumph. Even during a great moment like our child’s first time riding a bicycle, difficulties will intrude at the periphery of the mind and nag us, so many worries wanting to be fed our attention.

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Ironically, just like children, worries can time to time. thrive only if you give them attention. We usually do. As a result, our joy is To progress in the martial arts, what is diminished and our calm is dented. When initially required is the discipline to attend that happens, our happiness goes down class every day that it is possible to attend, and we miss out on the best experience to listen carefully to one’s master, to focus that we can have in this finite existence we on forms and constantly refine technique. call life. That is one form of discipline, and it involves the body and the mind in at least For everyone, but especially martial artists, equal measure. Proceeding towards an that’s something to think about. orange belt, however, I glimpse a different kind of discipline in view. I now possess If you have a battle on your hands, you’re the foundational discipline required to alive. You have a chance to live, to strive, gradually improve technique and stay fit. to improve. It’s an eternal reason to be That’s firmly in place. But I see that there is cheerful. Within the parameters of modest, a higher level of discipline yet to attain. It gradual improvement the world has always involves the state of mind needed to been and remains a place rife with conflict, remain untroubled in a world full of trouble. even if conflict has largely shifted from the A martial artist who can react to an attack battlefield to financial markets and with perfect calm is also an individual courtrooms. To feel and know true, whose composure can deftly deal with the constant happiness when surrounded by many challenges and aggressors that strife is an ability produced by mental and confront us in life outside of the dojang. physical discipline. Discipline is the key. It The overlap that exists between martial makes you more a producer of positive artistry and living artfully could not be more output than a receptor of whatever clear. negativity may be going on in the world. This is why my master is always saying I still have serious trouble with this from that black belts must be happy. To the

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uninitiated it may sound like an injunction, barren rock, with the quotation: “The a requirement foisted unreasonably upon pursuit of excellence, in the face of us that dictates that no circumstances adversity, is invariably matched by the however adverse should affect our mood. It glory of the result.” I’m not sure who wrote isn’t that. It is rather that a permanent state that, but it’s a fair bet that he or she could of quietude, peace and internal calm is an have been a martial artist. external reflection of interior good order and discipline that allows carefully Resiliency has become a popular concept cultivated perspective to create a degree of in child education. It seems to be the new, resiliency that, in turn, permits happiness hot idea, just as total quality management to flourish irrespective of events. As a was in business circles some years ago. child, I was once given a photograph of an Teachers seem to have a few good notions flower growing from roots set down deep in about resiliency, that it is both necessary

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and helpful for a young developing mind. of discipline and takes us closer to the ever The focus is surely right. But there often -receding goal of ongoing happiness and doesn’t appear to be a methodology untroubled calm is both possible and real. accompanying that focus that can be Martial arts and discipline are the gateway instrumental in the cultivation of real to that experience of life. resiliency as our children grow up to face problems in a complex, technological Chaos was the original Greek goddess that world. That’s where the martial arts come preceded all other gods and goddesses. in. Irrespective of age, the progress sought She occupied the space between heaven and expected of martial arts students is and earth. As we struggle for greater that they win the internal battle for self- discipline, that is the place we inhabit. Just command. Improved technique is merely as everything else in the universe came the outward manifestation of that inner from Chaos, all that we hope to be and victory. When we do that, as martial artists, achieve comes from our battle with both we set an example for the younger persons negativity without and our own lack of in our lives to follow. We embody and discipline within. To fight that battle epitomize resiliency rather than just talk cheerfully makes it a battle already half- about it. When we set an example others won. So, when problems surround you, can learn from our example. If you have a greet them with a smile. Those difficulties child, you know how important that is. are your friends on the journey to becoming a better you, as long as you Perfection in the martial arts always receive them gracefully – ready to fight, recedes in the distance, but is a goal willing to learn and full of self-command. towards which we strive tirelessly. Perfect happiness may also be placed in the same That’s indomitable will. Its fount is category. There is no such thing in life as discipline, and it leads to integrity and calm constant happiness without variation. If that within. When your problems become experience exists, it is for some other blessings, you’re ready to be happy. world. However, a constant, ever- Readiness is all that’s required. improving effort that builds a high degree

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AskAsk TheThe Grandmaster?Grandmaster?

Courtesy of Media Insight

In this series of questions and answers first published on his facebook page in association with his book & DVD-Rom – This is Taekwon-Do, FGMR answers questions put to him by members of the Taekwon-Do community. If you have any technical Taekwon-Do question, then don’t miss out on this great opportunity to ask one of the greatest pioneers of the art - visit www.facebook.com/ThisIsTKD

General Choi Hong Hi, the founder of Taekwon-Do, once described Rhee Ki Ha as his ‘best ever student’ and for over 50 years FGMR has being pivotal in the development of the art throughout the world. He started his Taekwon-Do training as a soldier serving in the South Korean army in the late 1950s. He became the first professional full time Taekwon-Do instructor when he taught at RAF Changi in Singapore in 1964. Singapore was one of the 9 original founding member countries of the ITF when it was formed in 1966 and his silhouette is to this day on every ITF instructor’s plaque. He brought Taekwon-Do to the UK in 1967 and he also introduced Taekwon-Do to the Republic of Ireland in 1972. He was a member of General Choi’s international demonstration teams throughout the 1970s where he was famed for his incredible strength, conditioning and destruction. And, On the 2nd of July, 1997, at the ITF World Congress in St Petersburg Russia, General Choi made Taekwon-Do history when he promoted Rhee Ki Ha to 9th Degree. He therefore become Taekwon-Do’s first Grand Master, Rhee Ki Ha.

First Grand Master Rhee Ki Ha has spent a lifetime in love with Taekwon-Do. A love that remains as strong today as it did when he first put on a dobok and stepped into the dojang. In this project, he teaches Taekwon-Do as he knows best – not as a means of differentiating what he does from others, but in the spirit of sharing knowledge and experience built up from a lifetime of loving Taekwon-Do. He believes in ONE TAEKWON -DO FOR ALL, and is happy to share his knowledge and experience with all Taekwon-Do practitioners regardless of their affiliation or background.

Question: “Dear FGMR. The patterns in the Chang Hon system are named the way they are due to reasons relating to Korean history. My question is... Are there any links to the way the patterns were designed to follow along with the pattern name history/pattern

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interpretation. I.e. Do the movements of Do-San relate to the life of Ahn Chang Ho. So on ” - Anthony Hayward

Answer: "As we know, our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi used Korean philosophy and those he held in high regard to name our patterns after. As far as I am aware the techniques in the patterns themselves were not created or put together to follow along with the pattern interpretation or its history.

However the ready postures as previously discussed [Ed: in a previous issue] and also movement one of Ul Ji tul as discussed do represent whom the pattern is named after or its meaning"

Photo of FGMR performing L stance, knifehand guarding block whilst in 35 Infantry Division, Korea, 1960.

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Question: “Sir, the ready posture for Tong-Il, I've been told left in front, right in front and that it makes no difference, please could you clarify and if possible explain why? Thank you" - Leigh Pember

Answer: "Our Founder, General Choi Hong Hi explained the formation of Tong Il tul’s ready posture (parallel stance with an overlapped back hand) as follows:

Previously when performing overlapped back hand at colour belt and black belt level, we convey our humility and modesty by covering our right hand (as the larger majority of the population are right handed, the right hand will be stronger and more conditioned), thus in keeping with our oath in trying to build a more peaceful world. However when we come to Master level, he gives us the privilege of using whichever hand the individual is most comfortable with on top. This should not be confused with the practitioner thinking that they no longer need to show modesty and humility at this stage, as we must all strive to live by our oath and tenets regardless of our grade. Therefore in answer to your question, the practitioner may place whichever hand he or she is most comfortable with on top when performing Tong Il tul.”

To learn more from FGMR, grab a copy of his book & DVD-ROM via amazon.com or amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/095703671X http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/095703671X

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90 - Totally Tae Kwon Do Part 14G TheThe ‘Decades’‘Decades’ ofof

TaeTae KwonKwon DoDo

Whilst many students today hear the stories of many of the Grandmasters and Masters of our art, their days in Korea as well as around the world, what was it like for the new student, first starting their journey in Taekwon-Do? Not a legendary pioneer, just the average beginner and mores so, what were the classes and attitudes like 20, 30 or even 40 years ago, compared to today and how did attitudes differ around the world? Just how good and how hard were ‘the good old days’?

In this series, especially for Totally Tae Kwon Do magazine, we look at the grass roots practitioners, what their schools and the training was really like when they started, in order that those who started more recently get an accurate view of how it was back then - Welcome to ‘Decades of Tae kwon Do’ - This month look at UK Tae Kwon Do and how it was (for some) in the 2000’s, in part 14 of this current series.

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Part 7

RaynersRayners LaneLane TaekwonTaekwon--DoDo AcademyAcademy && thethe NaughtiesNaughties

By Stuart Anslow

As 2007 begun, we had moved into our new dojang which was just down the road from our old dojang (which would soon be demolished and turned into flats). On the plus side it was twice the size of the old dojang and of course, twice the price, but, as we were relocated, we got first dips on the storage space which allowed us to move our masses of equipment (mats, pads, kick shields, breaking holders and a whole lot more) but unfortunately, we were not allowed to put our kick bags up on the walls of the new hall.

It wasn't the same, but times change and allowed to go ahead, providing none of the we moved forwards with it. Luckily, it was attendee's wore their 'official' uniforms! On still on the 'Rayners Lane Estate' so we the day, the only two people in doboks was could retain our Academy name myself and my assistant Colin and all that it entailed and Avis. Still, the seminar went though we were no long on well, as the host wanted the actual road 'Rayners me to cover a pattern or Lane', we were only two, from beginning to 200 metres away. end and all the applications January came and associated with it, went as students which we did as we got back into the spent 4 hours just swing of things on Do-San tul! following Christmas and the new year March came along but come February I and as well as our was scheduled to usual Kup grading, teach a seminar for an we also attended the instructor of a very large South East Opens Taekwon-Do organisation tournament, held by (Now based on my 'Hae Sul book. Master) Chris Snow. It featured However, it almost didnt happen as I some of our 'old guard' and saw black know the instructor had to jump through belts Mr Gautam, Mr Avis, Mr Sultan, as hoops just to be allowed to hold in, as well as myself (Yes, fully retiring was hard seniors in his organisation didn't really to do still). As well as some excellent Kup want it to go ahead, as I personally, wasn't grade results, I was beaten in Senior Black a member. In the end, another senior Belt patterns by Mr Snow. I had performed stepped in and backed his request up and Ul-Ji and Mr Snow did a great rendition of a compromise was reached and it was Moon-Moo, which perfectly suited his leggy

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Teaching at the seminar in 2007. Mr Avis is in the full dobok, I can be in seen in the dobok bottoms with the tracksuit top. Notice there were no other doboks, despite multiple black belts attending! flexibility.

Following the patterns I participated in the first ever Veterans division that the LTSI ran at their event, it was a black belt division (obviously) but 'Open Weight' and I found that though my own weight had remained relatively stable as I grew older, for others it seems old means heavier and I found that most opponents had between 20 and 40 KG's on me, meaning I really didn't want to catch a solid blow from any of them. Anyway, I seemed to of did okay, as you can see from part of the report by my student, Kate Barry: "Next was the Veterans Black Belts Sparring, the sparing was rougher than expected but after the first few fights Mr Anslow was up, but then sat down again as his first opponent failed to materialise. The next round came and Mr Anslow finally got a chance to fight. He showed great skill fighting a tough opponent from the LTSI (Mr Moore), pitting his kicking skills against Mr Moores great hand skills (both could kick/punch also). As the bell went, Mr Anslow was declared the winner. After seeing the other semi-finalist dispatch Taking gold in both my first and the events first Veteran Black Belt Sparring division Totally Tae Kwon Do - 93

In 2nd and 4th place in the children sparring division are Umar and Charlotte, both students of the Academy . Umar would go on to take his black belt in 2013, becoming one of our early ‘junior black belts’

an equally good fighter the final was on. The final was a close bout with both opponents showing good techniques, which were clean and controlled. Despite this being the Veterans division, Mr Anslow pulled off many good techniques throughout his bouts, such as difficult jump reverse turning kicks which are usually the territory of the younger guys.. showing everyone age isn't an obstacle for good Taekwon-do. The bell went on the final round and everyone waited on the result which was undoubtedly a close decision. Mr Anslows hand was raised and he was declared the winner of the LTSI first ever veterans division.".

In the normal (younger guys) black belt sparring division, Mr Gautam, Mr Avis and Mr Sultan were all in the same category and despite not winning the gold, fought some hard round to gain the silver and both bronze positions.

Holding aloft the ‘Overall’ trophy for Best Reading back the report for this article, it seems I School at the South East Opens 2007 94 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

Students display their spoils following a successful foray into the South East Opens 2007b - Well, those that remembered to bring them to class the next day, that is! had a good day in the Destruction sections too, winning both the 'Multi-Break' section (where you had to break with back kick, side kick, turning kick and Reverse knife hand) and the 360 Flying Back Piercing kick.

The students had also done well too. The 'King of the Ring' event was one by Rayners Lane red belt Prez Fedrowski which kept the mantle going for the Academy, having won every 'King of the Ring' title since the division started a few years back (I had defiantly retired from that, on a high I may add as I retired from it undefeated). The culmination of our efforts that day, saw us win the 'Overall' title and gain, what was then called 'The County Cup'.

In April, Mr Snow held his (first I think) Teaching patterns applications at the ‘Training Day’, 2007 Totally Tae Kwon Do - 95

'Training Day', which saw 6 hours of location. However, this year we decided to Taekwon-Do squad type training. The first run it in our new dojang as it was just about 2 with various large enough and even instructors, covering though it was still packed, things like step sparring, it turned into one of the self defence, breaking, greatest events we ever pad work etc., then I ran, as it was populated was schedule to teach a with loads of black belts 2 hour applications and their students, we seminar and finally, I gained sponsorship for believe Master Sahota the trophies, meaning taught a 2 hour technical they were awesome to seminar. Master Snow win and overall it was a has continues these great day, as you can fantastic sessions every see if you watch the year since. video. It was be the last event Dev Patel (of Since the early 2000's Slumdog fame) would we had run our small compete at and it would friendly tournament we also be the last time I called 'Taekwon-Do would compete at my Explosion', but in 2005 own events, as I simply the hall we hired was found organising, hosting over-flowing and we and competing a As well as great trophies for out ‘Taekwon- didnt run one in 2006 as Do Explosion’ event, we also had t-shirts complete whirlwind, we could find a made up for all the children entered (free), which seemed to reasonable sized scramble my mind that

Myself sparring at Taekwon-Do Explosion 2007 96 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

day. We also made an much better payout for awesome video from it, them than a regular which is well worth booking), sometimes I watching (see link at would turn up and have the end). The day was to wait outside for an a true day of Taekwon- hour or so, just to tell Do unity and saw many students that we many students go couldn't run classes home extremely happy that day. In the end, we with their spoils. relocated that class to a hall in Pinner, where In July, three of our it has been running students (Colin Avis, successfully ever Lyndsey Reynolds and since. junior Abigail Maunders) travelled to In August, my good the London Opens friend and fellow event, to see if it was IAOMAS founder the same as it was Sabumnim Dave when we entered in Melton came to stay in 2004 (all patterns had Now a black belt, then a blue belt, Kate Barry in the UK and took some to be very bouncy sine one of the ‘Special Technique’ divisions at of my classes as a wave type) and they Taekwon-Do Explosion 2007 guest instructor. I hadn't came back with 2 seen him since I visited gold's, a silver and 2 bronzes between his home and school in 2005, so we had a them, which was great. great time.

During the first six months in our new In October were were back at (Master) dojang, issues with the management Snows LTSI Invitational event where, like plagued our Saturday class, whereby we earlier in the year, we did well, taking 9 would get very short notice (a week, golds, 5 silvers and 5 bronzes, as well as sometimes even a day or two) that we the 'Overall' title, which was a great couldn't use the hall as they were using it achievement and unfortunately would be for private, 1 off bookings (meaning a something we wouldn't be able to do again

A few of the older students, following a visit from Sabumnim Dave Melton in 2007 Totally Tae Kwon Do - 97

for another decade, as the 'old guard' would rarely come en- mass to these events again, as they grew older and life, family and babies took over a bit for some of them. (We won it again in 2017 btw).

At this event in the senior black belt patterns, myself and Mr Snow switch places as I managed the gold and he managed the silver. However, Mr Snow was able to reap revenge in the Veteran Black Belt Sparring divsion, which ended with a 'round- robin' final, where, though I did well in my other fights, I lost Mr Snow!

Amongst the black belt golds that day, Mr Avis won one in 1st & 2nd degree patterns and Mr Gautam won 2, one in sparring (where he fought Mr Avis in the final) and the other in destruction, which was a multi-break event again.

We commissioned Rayners Lane Academy red belt (and class joker) Jonathan to write a report of the event for the web site and he did it in a style not seen before or since and it is well worth a read, as though he wrote it 'tongue in cheek', at the time I recall Mr Snow didn't see it that way and it annoyed him until I explained it was meant to be funny (see Winning the 2nd ‘Overall’ title of link at the end to read it). 2007

Fighting Mr Snow at the LTSI Invitational tournament - that’s me with the flying back piercing kick btw 98 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

Students following the LTSI Invitational event in 2007 - this time most remembered to bring them into class

The final tournament of the year was the event, this time it was a house party, 'White Tigers Taekwon-Do' tournament, a graciously offered and held at one of our smallish, but friendly tournament in older students residences. All in all, a good Northamptonshire. We took a small mix of end to the year. students, from yellow to black belt and won 7 golds, 3 silvers and bronze... but what This article has sort of turned into a was interesting is that then red belt 'history' of Rayners Lane Taekwon-do Lyndesy Reynolds had no opponents, so Academy and one of the things I haven't competed and won the black belt division. touched on much is the training and how its changed over the years and that is In amongst all that, we did not only a club because it really hasn't that much. In 2007 camping trip, but also a canal boat trip, students were pretty much doing the same where we hired the biggest longboat we as they were in 1999 when we started (and could (12 berth) and tried (to varying in 2018, also the same), the standards I degree's of success) to navigate it along a feel are very important to maintain and so UK canal - it was a fun time! is that 'no compromise' approach. On the business side of things we haven't The year came to a close with our final changed much either, I recall that when I classes of the year and Christmas party went full time in 2005, I got 5000 leaflets

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Phil, Lyndsey and Marek having a fun at the White Tiger tournament - the two on the left would go on to become black belts (and one an author himself) printed up in preparation... and I still have early it was more like 70/30 in favour of them in my garage today! The only adults and older teens (16+). advertising we have ever done was those posters on about 15 blocks of local flats The syllabus we follow is basically the (which you`ll recall were promptly ripped same as when the Academy started, the down the same day by students of the local only real exceptions being that now we GKR karate club) and the web sites and have a term for the sparring that allows even when I went full time this didn't takedowns, sweeps and throws (as well a change as I have always valued the punches and kicks), as I had to explain students that take the time to research and each time when padding up, what type of seek us out, as opposed to us seeking sparring we were doing and what was them out, this is why we have so many allowed or not, now I just say 'Traditional long term (over a decade or more) Sparring' and students know exactly what students. that entails. They also wear grappling type hand pads for it. Of course we also have Whilst the Academy numbers have gone 'choke sparring' and competition sparring up and down over the years (lowest in the (points and continuous), plus some with recession a few years back), the weapons (but on one attacker has a percentage ratio of students has never weapon of course). changed. Whilst many clubs run with 90% kids and few adults, ours has somehow Hard work and sweat is expected at the managed to retain a healthy 50/50 ratio of Academy, as is the odd hard shot, winding, older and younger students, although in its blood etc. though we try to avoid those too

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Students having fun ( this was actually a massive sparring bout) at the last class of 2007, in our new dojang often. Both patterns applications and base on their opponents ability, not gender, hosinsul play important roles at the just a couple of lessons ago, one of our Academy, but we still do the more senior kup grades (Helen) received a traditional types of training such as 'Step decent wack around the head by Mr Sparring' (three, two, one and foot Gautam, one of our black belts, with a varieties) and all students (yellow belt and reverse turning kick. Headaches from kicks above) have to perform breaking are not just reserved for the males! Female techniques at every grading, as well as students also have the option to perform learning terminology. I mention this as I knuckle press ups if they wish to and break read recently how asking students (of any the same boards as the male students. age) to learn terminology is bad and puts them off training at a club, but I have never Unlike a lot of schools, we haven't graded found that to be the case, maybe there has many to black belt, I think its about 17 over been one or two over the years, but in the the years, some to 2nd and 3rd degree grand scheme of excuses to quit, having to also, with both 3rd degrees taking those learn a few Korean terms and a miniscule gradings under Grandmaster Kim Bok Man bit of Korean history doesn't feature highly or Master Willie Lim (Now Grandmaster at all. Lim). Of those, a few have trained since childhood (5/6 years old) and got to the All students are treated equally at the Dan grading at aged 15, so if/when they Academy and that includes contact levels pass, they have to wear a 'Junior Black in sparring, which senior students would Belt' , which we use for students under 16

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and then, when they turn 16, they have to do all the stuff an adult would have done at their grading (including the breaking and harder contact sparring and others bits and bobs), to get rid of the white stripe. Should anyone pass it at a younger age, they would have to regrade later.

In the wider world of UK Taekwon-Do, things hadn't really changed that much since the passing of General Choi in 2002. Organisations still claimed they were the best and others were 'imitators' and students argued about it all on the newly formed Facebook (which became fully public in 2006) and its 'groups' as well as on Martial Arts forums which were slowly dying off due to the invention of social media. Most arguments centred around who was the 'True' ITF (an argument which still continues to this very day, usually by very small minded and mostly ignorant people). Many of these groups were still pushing the (later) 'sine-wave' as a massive bouncing motion and it wouldn't be until years later that others would change the initial down drop to a smaller 'relax' motion. In fact to differentiate it from the original sine wave, old ITF Masters such as CK Choi called the older sine wave, simply 'Natural Motion'.

One thing organisations did learn in the mid 2000's was that as students (and instructors with their students) seemed to switch associations at whim, their competition numbers dwindled, so opening up the doors to non-association members brought in extra revenue, even if these outside entries often didn't get a fair crack of the whip, as many seemed open to take the money, but not so much in being 'open minded' to other ways of Taekwon-Do or giving out their top spoils to outsiders!

Video links & Extra Reading (if you're interested) Please note that the videos of not of high quality, as they were mostly filmed on old VHS camcorders, then digitized to tape.

2007

- Applications Seminar Report www.raynerslanetkd.com/Photos/NottsHaeSulSeminar/ REPORTS_HaeSulSeminar01.html

- South East Opens 2007 Report: www.raynerslanetkd.com/Photos/SEOpens2007/REPORTS_SEOpens2007.html

- Taekwon-Do Explosion 2007  Report & Photos: www.raynerslanetkd.com/Photos/TKD_Expo_2007/ COMP_RESULTS_TKDexpo07_Report.html

 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6kfRsBGtlo

- LTSI Invitational's 'fun' Report www.raynerslanetkd.com/Photos/Inv2007/REPORTS_LTSI_Invit2007.html

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FromFrom SenseiSensei toto SabumSabum -- TheThe originaloriginal meaningmeaning ofof thethe WordWord ‘Sensei’‘Sensei’

By David Stainko Prof. of kinesiology - Master 7th Dan - Mixed Martial Scientists

In various martial arts there are different names for the titles of some master ranks In the following text I am going to mention and explain some of the most popular ones. One of the most common and famous sensei is now used as a title for teachers words in the martial arts that indicates a but also for doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, specific title is certainly the word sensei. engineers, journalists as well as for many The word for the title other learned and sensei is commonly r e s p e c t e d translated as a professions. The teacher, although word, as well as the the word literally title - sensei, is often would have another associated with Zen meaning - a person philosophy. In Zen who was born Buddhism it is before, ie. a person assumed that a who was spiritually person who knows born before others, life and has a lot of or rather, a person life experience, has who knows life (one a feeling as if who has gone reborn. before). The Japanese word The word sen-sei, sensei is composed comes from the of two words; Sen - Indian word sen-an before and sei – life. (sen ani), which was used as a name for The word sensei is a the leader (the newer word, and it person who was began to be used in acting as a leader or Japan at the as a warrior leader) beginning of 1960 of the Indian caste (word is generally of noblemen known and accepted ), first in martial arts warriors - kshatriyas. (about 1945-1950 in ju-jutsu, judo, aikido, karate) and later in1968 (first time Their main feature was the ability to lead, included in the Japanese dictionary) the ie. to be the leader of other members of word began to be used as a term of that noble warrior caste. They were respect, and then indicating the title for a expected to show great courage, stamina, variety of learned men. Thus the name of sense of justice, generosity, good Totally Tae Kwon Do - 103

diplomacy, as well as a desire to protect the weaker, either of injustice or death. Persons who bore such a title had to be ready, if necessary, to sacrifice their lives in defense of their subordinates. They were expected to show exceptional loyalty to their subordinates, too.

The caste of kshatriyas was slowly gone in the Middle Ages, and it was replaced by the Rajput caste. The Japanese name for the warrior kshatriya caste was Setsuri, and acceptance of some of their principles in Japan later resulted in the phenomenon of the famous warriors - Samurai.

The word sen-an spread over India to China, and from China it was gradually transferred to Korea and Japan. Also the word gradually began to change (different pronunciation and titles), and as the word altered itself, so its meaning did the same .

The word sen-an in China gradually changed into the word senfan (sienfan), and also its meaning slowly changed, and from the title of the wartime leader, it became the title for a person who is skilled in martial arts and teaches others in one of them.

In China itself, in martial arts, there were other names for people who taught others. The most common name for such people was Sifu (Cantonese) or Shifu (Mandarin Chinese) . The meaning of the word would be, an old man who has a great knowledge and experience in martial arts, and teaches us like a father.

In India, the spiritual leader, according to Sanskrit writings, is called - Guru (Goru), while in Japan the name of the spiritual leader (senior teacher of Zen Buddhism) is Roshi.

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Also, the Japanese sometimes use the title The title that is closest in meaning to the Sosai, which is used as a name for the words sen-an is the one which is used in presidents of some large companies, Korea for the masters of martial arts - Tae ambassadors, and directors - generals of kwon do, and its name is suseung-nim. It is certain large organizations, and even of given to a great master. The more martial ones (for example - Sosai Oyama). commonly known title is sonseang-nim and There is also a title in martial arts Sempai, it means the person who is a general which is awarded to the older and more master (war leader) and a great experienced students, who is also an connoisseur of martial arts. assistant teacher. There is also the title O'Sensei, used out of In China, there is a martial arts title Shi, respect for a particularly great teacher and usually connected to the masters of martial master of martial arts like the creator of arts from the Shaolin Temple, which Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. indicates not only the great master of martial arts, but also a teacher of Zen The word, the title O'Sensei, is usually philosophy. The very title of Shi has its translated as - a great teacher. stronghold in the name of the province ie. the name of the forest - Shao shi, where A similar word in the martial arts is the title the Shaolin Temple is situated. The Soke, which is given out of respect for the Chinese sometimes use the title of Shihan person ie.the master who is the founder of for a master who has attained the highest a particular martial style. level of learning (as well as in martial arts as in Zen philosophy). It is often used in The meaning of the title of sensei, was Japan, too. best described by a Japanese martial artist Shigeru Egami (1912 -1981) in his famous

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dictum: "Not every Sensei is a master and not every master is Sensei."

Master Egami was a famous master of Shotokan style and the pioneer of Shotokai style.

This saying became more recognized and popular when it was repeated in the book "The Book of Ki," by the famous Japanese master of martial arts (ju-jutsu, judo, aikido) Koichi Tohei (1920-2011).

Nowadays there are lots of those who present themselves as sensei, as well as those who would like to be one. Also, there are those people who are called sensei by others (sometimes out of respect for those persons, although mostly takes on the role of the leaders so that all not knowing the meaning of the title the other martial artists (regardless of their sensei). level of mastery) should listen and respect him. The title sensei requires the master's hard and lengthy work, good knowledge of However, none of the previously martial arts, as well as a certain correct mentioned titles in martial arts, literally way of transferring his life experience to his means a teacher, the term is most often disciples. The title sensei is not acquired used as translation of specific titles. Sensei with the Dan rank. - the leader and the person who guides us through life, because he knows it well and All that use the title of sensei should know also has a lot of life experience, Sifu that the true sensei does not seek and (Shifu) - an old man with extensive recruit his students - even their followers, knowledge and experience that teaches us but they themselves find him. as a father, Sonseang - nim – a general master, a wartime leader, Guru - the In adition, when the connoisseur of martial person who takes us on the spiritual path . arts enters any hall (dojo) in which Eastern To translate the name of these titles, with martial arts are practised, he bows the word - teacher, is very simplified and showing honour and respect to sensei distorted, and at least incomplete as the (sifu) as well as to a certain martial art. meaning of certain title. Such a bow in the martial arts is best known under the Japanese title - sensei ni Today many martial arts (skills) apply the rei (Greeting to the teacher) name and title - coach or instructor. The title - Master or Grand Master is often Sometimes at the same time in the hall used, too. (dojo) there are more highly ranked and recognized masters of certain or different Some of the masters use even two titles, martial arts, exercising together but, then such as sifu shi or Master Sensei, although only one of them is sensei, although there there are no real reasons for it. It would be can even be more sensei or sifu masters in the same case with a person who has the hall. He then leads their exercise and obtained different degrees in a few 106 - Totally Tae Kwon Do

different martial styles - the dan ranks; other martial arts, it is placed before the when introducing himself he gives the name of the master, which is according to highest rank (for example, a person who the rules of writing titles more correct. has gained the title 3rd dan judo, 4th dan aikido and 5th dan karate, presents himself In some martial arts like Muay thai or as a master of 5th dan) . Brazilian jiu jitsu, the titles of masters are not used, although these skills emerged on Some practitioners think they will the basis of skills that use the titles such as automatically become sensei when they shifu and sensei. get some master rank, such as 3rd dan, but it is not so. Also, there are many All in all, it can be said that the word and coachs (instructors) who have the title sensei in martial arts, can not be characteristic of a good sensei, as there translated simply as a teacher, because are those masters who present themselves the title sensei, has a much broader as the sensei, but they do not have the meaning. necessary qualities, nor the quality of such a large and demanding title like - sensei . [Editors note: In ITF/Ch’ang Hon schools of Taekwon-Do we are taught that 'Sahyun' There are masters of different martial arts, means 'Master' and 'Saseung' means that consider that the term sensei should Grandmaster, but these are not literal be used for a person who is a guardian translations. In actuality, 'Sahyum' (Master) actually translates to 'Wise & benevolent and admirer of tradition martial skills. teacher' or 'Soul of the system' with It is interesting that in the arts of aikido 'Saseung' (Grandmaster) meaning '4 star' (Sa and jiu jitsu the title sensei is placed after = 4 or 4th), which is the equal of 'Sage, a saint the name of the master, while in karate, or similar persion highly valued', another judo, nin jutsu like all the other titles in translation is 'voice of the sytem'.]

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Totally Tae Kwon Do - 111 “He Who Knows Others Is Wise. He Who Knows Himself Is Enlightened.” -Tao Te Ching

“To boldly go where no man has gone before”

Grandmaster Pedro Florindo 13/1/18 IssueIssue 109:109: 1st1st MarchMarch 20182018

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