United States
News:
Annual Teuk Gong Team Pool Party:
Fraternity and Balance . . .
August of 2007 found the special forces of the West Coast Hwa Rang
Do Academy in Tustin, CA on a sunny Sunday afternoon, the guests of
Do Joo Nim and Sa Mo Nim at their home just a few miles from World
Hwa Rang Do Headquarters. As hard as we work on the mats and discipline
ourselves in our daily lives, we also understand the theory of um-yang
which is our founding principle – everything and everyone must
strive for balance and harmony. So we take the opportunity to play
hard, too.
As usual, the junior students took the lead in daredevil antics off
the diving board, delighting all of us with gravity defying (and maybe
a little foolhardy!) stunts that were mostly successful. Some of the
older students, remembering their youth, also took to the air, with
loud and painful results as they failed to get full rotations on their
front flips!
After toasting a summer of accomplishments, from the new Tae Soo
Do black belts, to the World Hwa Rang Do Championships and Black Sash
Conference, the West Coast Teuk Gong Team took the opportunity to
enjoy each other’s company, as well as Do Joo Nim’s great
barbeque, Jacuzzi and pool. As we ate, drank and were merry, some
of the “gamers” retired to play pool, air hockey and video
games.
It was a wonderful southern California afternoon, spent in the company
of brethren and shared purpose. Balance in life, between work and
play, hard and soft, discipline and leisure is necessary for fulfillment.
It is a goal to be constantly striven for, appreciated, and attained.
Hwarang!
Reynaldo Macias
Press Secretary/KCC Chief Editor
Phoenix Seminar:
Chief Master Taejoon Lee Conducts Special Gotoogi Seminar in Phoenix
While Chief Master Taejoon Lee was attending Jokyo Simon Lee’s
wedding in Phoenix, he took some time to train the students of Master
Tim Elliott’s Academy on the finer points of Gotoogi. A Hwarang
never leaves home without his Dobok as he/she must always be prepared
to train anywhere, anytime. This was that moment. It was a great time
shared by all who attended as we rolled for over 2 hours, learning
and practicing the many applications and combinations of Gotoogi.
After the mini-seminar, Master Elliott and his students treated Chief
Master Lee to a wonderful Korean Dinner at their favorite little spot.
We look forward to the growth of the Gotoogi Program at the Phoenix
Academy and the opportunity to compete against them at the next World
Hwa Rang Do Championships.
