United States
News:
Florida:
A Hwarang Black Sash Goes on a Fox Hunt, Reminiscing the
Ancient Hwarang’s Incredible Equestrian Skills
Perhaps you've never gone fox hunting, so you may
like to hear a brief description. On February 16, 2008 I went up to
my sister's farm in South Carolina, where she belongs to the Hunt
Club.
We got up early to feed and tack the horses, then
we dressed in jodphurs and boots, helmets, gloves, and hunt coats,
with hand warmers in our gloves and boots, since it was about 35 degrees
out. I’ve grown accustomed again to Florida; it was chilly!
Only the men are allowed to wear the red coats, which they call "pink"
after the original tailor of hunt coats, Mr. Pink. Women wear dark
blue or black coats. We left my sister's house at 6:45 a.m., rode
for 45 minutes to the meeting place. Some people trailer their horses,
depending on where they live. Members of the Hunt live as far as two
hours away from Hunt Country. When we arrived we came into a big field
of horses, riders, trailers, and about 25 foxhounds, all different
colors. When you arrive they offer you a 'stirrup cup' of either port
or sherry, and ginger snaps. Port tastes marvelous on a cold, misty
morning on horseback!
There were about ten riders in the “first field”,
they who follow the hounds and ride like crazed people, and do all
the jumps while going at a full gallop. There were 20 riders in the
second field, including us. We take it a bit slower, and jumping is
optional. This time we rode for four hours. I did have five “views”
of foxes. Mostly fox hunting is a marvelous trail ride in the woods,
in the morning, and people are very quiet. You can hear the hounds
baying, and the Master of Hounds calling them, the whippers-in cracking
their whips to get the hounds' attention, and the Huntsman blowing
signals on his horn.
The fox is seldom caught; not for nothing do we say “crafty
as a fox”! You can almost hear the fox laughing at the hounds.
The horse I borrowed this year is at least 17.5 hands, maybe more
meaning his back is six inches above my head. I had to reach my leg
up as high as I could to mount; this was more difficult three hours
later when I was stiff from the ride! Good thing I have strong legs
and stretch a lot. We galloped and trotted about half the ride. On
such a large horse this meant I had a lot of exercise, and it was
good to attend the Hunt Breakfast afterward.
I look forward to the day we can include horses again in our Hwa Rang
Do training; more riding can only mean better times ahead.
Sabum Diane Spoehr
Hwa Rang Do Academy Jacksonville, Florida
Instructor Diane Spoehr Writes
for Home Educators Resource Directory
Instructor Spoehr was invited by the Home Educators
Resource Directory, an on-line resource for people who home school
children, to write a year-long series of twelve articles on child-development.
The subjects for these articles are based upon the core values taught
in the Hwa Rang Do Meng Sae. The first in the series appeared on-line
in December 2007. The series can be found in the current and archived
on-line directories posted at www.homeEDdirectory.com.
The articles are also posted on the website of the
Hwa Rang Do School of Jacksonville, www.hwarangdofl.com
Here is a sample article:
The Secret of Praising Your Way to Self-Discipline
in Your Children
“I don’t want to. I’ll do it later.”
Ahh, yes, these are the words every parent loves
to hear when they’ve asked their child to complete a task, “Now,
please.”
So how do you get an 8 year old to want to clean
her room now? How do you persuade a ten year old to put his baseball
glove where it belongs, and not directly in your path to the front
door?
Wouldn’t you love to have your child put away
his clothes without having to discuss it every day? Would it not be
a relief to come home to a tidy bedroom, so your daughter could find
her dance tights without a search through the entire closet? You know
the dog would like to be fed on time, and the guinea pig would feel
better in a freshly cleaned nest. But does your child know and care
about that? Well, certainly he does. It’s just that there are
so many other things to do first; Pokeman, GameBoy, FurReal Friends
to be named…
Disciplining a child is almost universally difficult
for parents, but there is a far better solution out there: teaching
a child to be self-disciplined is the real goal, and it is the ultimate
answer to so many common situations.
We all know adults who make excuses and moan about
neglected work. It takes no little effort to do all that is required
to manage a family, and it takes a great deal of energy and dedication
to carry kids to soccer, football, dance class, martial arts class,
church school, Brownies, Cub Scouts, not to mention going to school!
That’s only to get the children around; the parents still have
to go to work, the grocery store, drugstore, bank, post office…it
is tiring just thinking about the chores a parent has each day. The
majority of people do it all, with few missed appointments or lost
items. Most parents have the self-discipline to set the goals that
are needed and follow through to accomplish those goals.
So how is it that with these great examples to look
upon each day most kids don’t clean their rooms, feed the cat,
walk the dog, and finish every assignment on time or even early? Ah,
well now, that’s a good question.
Just as we parents set out goals and make our lists,
we must teach the children to do the same thing. Just as we learned
that life is smoother when we do what needs to be done, our kids need
to learn their world flows easier when they do their chores and take
responsibility for themselves. There is a truth that with privilege
comes responsibility. However that truth can be reversed and used
to teach; with each responsibility that is accepted, there should
be an accompanying privilege.
This does not mean each action needs a reward; you
need not pay your child every time he cleans his room or makes his
bed. Money is great, candy is dandy, but life does not work that way.
Reflect on your own rewards for driving everyone to their activities;
the sense of accomplishment, the joy of watching the dance rehearsal
or the ball game, the smiles on the children’s faces when they
learn to pump their legs and make the swing work by themselves. These
rewards cannot be bought, nor be given to you. You must earn these
things by action, and your child earns rewards the same way.
The challenge that parents face is helping their
children appreciate the rewards that life naturally provides. A child
can be taught to complete a task, but it is even more important to
teach her to have pride in her own work. When they are very young,
children are proud of their crayon pictures, and they run to you to
have you admire what they’ve made. As they grow they don’t
always come running to show you everything, but they still have pride
in their work. You need to keep that admiration for their work, and
expand it to include clean floors, beds that are made, and clothes
that are hung up. The problem is that kids make beds crooked, clothes
are falling partially off the hangers, and the closet door is not
quite able to be closed since there’s a sock stuck in the corner
of the door. At that point you need to follow the rule our Moms taught
us: “Think twice before you speak.”
“That’s great, Timmy, but next time pick that sock up.”
“Oh gee, what’s the point? All Mom ever
sees is the stupid sock, and I miss something every time.”
Far better to continue to observe and comment on
the positive, on what the child has done rather than what they’ve
missed. The missed details of a job stand out only because the majority
of the work is correct; ponder on those things.
“That’s great, Timmy. Take a minute to
admire your work; it makes a difference in here.”
“Cool. I can do this by myself. Oh, I better
get that sock out of there.”
Yes, this is reality; yes, this will happen in your
house, too.
If you are trying to learn how to praise children,
remember that they are just young human beings. They will enjoy praise
just as you do, if you bring it into their age-appropriate language.
So when you receive praise at work, or from a family member, or from
a friend, take a moment to consider how that praise was given. Avoid
praise that contains hidden criticism, as the sock comment above.
Be sure that what you commend actually deserves your
notice. Children are very aware of truth, and they disdain false praise.
If you tell them they did well when they did not, kids will just figure
you are too stupid to tell the difference. Reward a poor job, and
that’s what you will get in the future.
Build self-discipline in children by honest appreciation
for tasks completed properly, and in order to gain that approval that
matters most, i.e., yours, the children will come to do their tasks
before they are told.
Diane Spoehr is a 3rd Dan Degree Black Sash in the
ancient Korean Martial and Healing Art of Hwa Rang Do®, with 10
years of experience teaching children and adults of all ages. She
has taught many children and their parents how to develop self-discipline,
demonstrate courtesy, and achieve their goals. Diane Spoehr is the
Head Instructor and Owner of the Hwa Rang Do School of Jacksonville,
located in Mandarin and Julington Creek.
Website:www.hwarangdofl.com
Email: hrdjax@bellsouth.net
About Instructor Diane
Spoehr:
Instructor Diane Spoehr began training in the Ancient
Korean Martial and Healing Art of Hwa Rang Do® in June, 1995 at
the Hwa Rang Do Academy of Madison, WI, where she began assisting
and teaching classes. Instructor Spoehr has also been educated in
the traditional Way of the martial arts, as well as its physical techniques,
by the founder of Hwa Rang Do, Dr. Joo Bang Lee, and his eldest son,
Chief Master Taejoon Lee. She has taught in local business and school
seminars, worked with law enforcement personnel, and conducted self-defense
seminars for corporate and private groups.
Instructor Spoehr holds a Bachelor of Science degree
from Michigan State University, and two Associate of Science degrees.
She received her 1st Degree Black Sash in Hwa Rang Do in 1999 and
currently holds a 3rd Degree Black Sash, one of a handful of women
to hold this rank in Hwa Rang Do. She is the owner and Instructor
of the Hwa Rang Do Academy Jacksonville, Florida located in Mandarin
and Julington Creek, Florida. www.hwarangdofl.com
International
News
Sulsa
Training Camp
On February 2, 2008 the Italian Hwa Rang Do Sulsa
Team trained for 24 hours straight in the snow without eating or drinking.
They studied methods of meditation, forms, self defense and offensive
tactics as well as weapon training with the baton and knife.
After the Sulsa training, the Italian HRD/TSD instructors
trained for another half hour in the freezing snow only wearing their
doboks, without shoes or any kind of protection against the extreme
cold weather. The instructors' feet were covered with bruises and
blood during the extreme training, but no one stopped or complained
and continued to follow Instructor Mattiucci’s instructions.
The temperature was so cold that the skin was not able to re-hydrate
itself and became very fragile. Only one thing on their minds, only
one shout, "Hwa Rang Do!" - no pains, no doubts were in
their minds!!!
Demonstration at Rieti, Italy
On February 16, 2008 a small Tae Soo Do / Hwa Rang
Do demo team participated in a martial arts expo which hosted many
other groups. The event was held in Rieti, which is located in the
central part of Italy. This was the first demonstration by Ins. Mattiucci
since his recovery from his knee surgery.
