United States
News:
West Coast:
TGT Annual Pool Party
In the beginning of September, we held our annual Labor Day Pool
Party and BBQ at Dojoonim's house in Tustin. The weather was beautiful--nice
and warm without a cloud in the sky.
Master Lee brought some huge prawns and clams as big as your fist.
I'm not sure how, but he actually ended up cooking the food for lunch.
I think I can quote him, "I never cook! Why am I grilling?"
We also had corn on the cob roasted on the grill and a ton of side
dishes brought by TGT members.
After we had our fill, an impromptu diving competition broke out
with Master Lee instructing us how to improve our front and back flips
and jump side kicks into the water.
After we tired ourselves out by swimming, hottubbing, and talking
all afternoon, Samonim came to the rescue with a dinner of ribs, chicken,
kimchi, rice, and Korean pancakes.
With newfound energy, the merrymaking and philosophical discussions
led by Master Lee continued well into the evening.
Midwest:
Chief Master Taejoon Lee’s Madison, WI Seminar
This year’s seminars marks 19 years Chief Master Lee has traveled
to Madison to spread Hwa Rang Do throughout the Midwest. And as a
testament to the incredible depth and breadth of this martial art,
the seminars still featured many topics previously unseen, not only
to Madison, but to the world.
Special Instructors’ Session on Friday with Chief Master Taejoon
Lee
Saturday morning began with a kids session, and those children who
were able to attend this rare opportunity were treated to a session
packed with training, drills, games, and of course, advice and encouragement
on topics such as trying your best and listening to your parents.
After the kid’s session finished, the adults began filing in
to begin the weapons sessions. However, it became quickly apparent
that the turnout was so high that we would be unable to fit it in
the dojang!
Children’s Class with Grandmaster Taejoon Lee
Instead, we headed out to the parking lot to enjoy a beautiful fall
day of outdoor training. Chief Master Lee began by demonstrating how
the skills we have acquired through practice of our Tae Soo Ssang
Jyel Bong Hyung and Jang Bong Hyung can be applied directly to our
weapons fighting. Then the instructors and senior students armored
up to give the students a chance to actually strike with their weapons.
Obviously, this was a new and exciting opportunity for many, but beyond
that, Chief Master Lee explained how sparring competition with stick
weapons such as long staff is a truly unique experience offered only
by Hwa Rang Do. While some other martial arts offer sparring sword
vs. sword at their tournaments, Hwa Rang Do will be offering stick
vs. stick divisions as well. Not surprisingly, many students immediately
began making plans to train even harder in anticipation of competing
in this new event in future tournaments!
Weapon Fighting Session with Ssangjyelbong (nunchuku) and Jangbong
(long staff)
Following this, the students headed back inside for some sparring
takedown applications. In our advanced sparring rules, a good takedown
and follow-up can be worth up to 4 points of the 5 needed for a win,
so a good understanding is an important part of our sparring training.
Again, we saw how many of the concepts covered throughout the advanced
Tae Soo Do and Hwa Rang Do techniques can be applied to our sparring
as well. In fact, this understanding of what it means to really apply
yourself became one of the integral concepts to the weekend.
Quick Submissions Session from takedown to finish
Chief Master Lee’s point was captured by the question: “Why
be strong?”
It was easy to relate to his examples of the people we see who use
their strength and influence everyday to exert power over other people,
but his answer to the question was simple: “We are strong to
help the weak.” And of course we know this has always been the
purpose of Hwa Rang Do, as it continues to help people achieve their
full potential so that they may serve as positive role models and
leaders, not only to better their community, but also the world. So
with that message ringing clear in our heads, we finished our training
and headed down the road for a chance to bond with our Hwarang brothers
and sisters over dinner.
Even during lunch the students and family members gather to listen
to Grandmaster Taejoon Lee’s
Philosophy on Living the Warrior’s Path.
Sunday morning began with grappling, as Chief Master Lee demonstrated
how our takedowns can flow right into submissions. In fact, the true
completeness of our martial art became apparent as we saw how smoothly
the takedowns we had learned in our sparring applications could be
applied to our grappling applications as well. After we had a chance
to practice the takedown and initial lockup in the first session,
the next session taught us how to follow with a series of lockups
to keep our opponent on the defensive. These combinations are invaluable
as we continue to push our grappling to more advanced levels, and
integrate it more and more into our everyday training.
Continued on with more submissions and counters
The final sessions of the seminars focused on our sword vs. sword
applications, both with long sword and double short swords –
ssang-gum. Again, attendance was so high that students were overflowing
off of the mat! Chief Master Lee taught both strikes and blocks, but
emphasized the importance of combinations and a good offense. He also
demonstrated how our unique rules, including the double short sword
and/or strikes to the legs, allow for very dynamic and aggressive
combinations. By the end of the day, students were putting together
attacks of 3-5 techniques, including spinning leg strikes and double
body strikes!
Mugidaeryun (weapon fighting) with Jukdo (long bamboo sword) and Ssang-gum
(twin swords)
So as we closed another great year of seminars here in Madison,
we all left with new techniques, new understanding, and fresh inspiration
to bring home to our training as well as our lives. Those familiar
with Chief Master Lee's new film “Hyung: K-Town Chronicles”
will be familiar with the quote: “A sharp blade dulls quickly.
A dull blade is useless. I refuse to be useless.” Well, as those
of us who attended the seminars leave with sharp blades, and vow to
keep them that way, we are already anticipating Chief Master Lee's
return next year!
Hwarang forever!
East Coast:
Jacksonville, Florida - Food and Fun in the Sun, Hwarang
Style
The evening of Friday, Sept. 12, 2008 the children of the Hwa Rang
Do School of Jacksonville took over the playground at Alpine Groves
Park during our 2nd Annual Hwa Rang Do Family picnic. As evidenced
by the screams and multiple attempts to include “Mr. Instructor
Spoehr” this was definitely a great time.
Play was momentarily put on pause as “Mr. Instructor Sid”
(Jokyo Nim Hwarang and father of the Spoehr clan) and “Mrs.
Instructor Spoehr” finished grilling the first batch of hamburgers
and hotdogs. The feast was on. SaBumNim Bret Spoehr, recently graduated
from college, was not to be outdone in the food category and dominated
the feeding frenzy by virtue of sheer size while also debating the
merits and faults of rock and water Pokemon with his younger students.
Sunset brought an end to the festivities as the families of Hwarangdo
School of Jacksonville picked up, hugged and/or bowed out, and went
home full of food and family bonding.
International
News
Europe:
Italian Instructors Meeting 2008
On September 6 & 7, 2008, in Fiano, Romano (Rome), we held the
Annual Italian Hwa Rang Do / Tae Soo Do Instructor’s Meeting.
There was much to discuss, especially after the lengthy 12 hour special
meeting with Chief Master Taejoon Lee after this year’s Italian
Summer Events.
These are the topics we discussed during the two day intensive meeting:
• The new directives of Chief Master Lee for the standardization
of class instruction, management of the tournament, and judging/refereeing.
• Review and standardization of the entire Tae Soo Do syllabus.
• Review and standardization of Hwa Rang Do color sash techniques.
• Review and discuss the business plan for 2008/2009.
Everyone worked very hard with almost no sleep. The main target was:
"working in the same way wherever in Italy!" We look forward
to seeing Chief Master Taejoon Lee in 2009 so we can share with him
all of our improvements.
Czech Republic –
A New Hwarang is Born!
The big event has happened – our Hwarang brother Pavel and
his wife are going to have a baby. We have to celebrate this as it
is customary in our country, “notice for the year“with
him! We came from all parts of our republic to Usti and Labem city,
where our friend lives. We spent a night full of joy, talking and
eating and drinking as well, the Hwarang Way!
All of us are looking forward to the day, when their baby comes into
the world and starts training to become a Hwarang Warrior.
