We also had students testing for ranks ranging from yellow belt to red belt.

We are very proud of the hard work and proper attitudes of our students! We are also pleased to have the support of a number of black belts who helped conduct the test.

GM Park started off with the Kibon poomsae-we only did 1 to 3 as he really wanted to get into the Taeguek series. Some schools do not teach these so that was all new material for them. It was a good starting point for GM Park to begin his discussion of the stance as a foundation for transmittal of power. He demonstrated that if your front stance is too wide, the power of the technique is not moving forward as it should. Our stances are standardized according to an individual’s size. He demonstrated how one’s foot length naturally dictates the length of one’s stance: feet together (moa seogi) moves into natural stance (naranhi seogi) and then into horse stance (joo chum seogi). From moa seogi, placing a foot at the toe of the other foot creates tiger stance (beom seogi), moving one more foot length creates walking stance (ahp seogi), one more foot length with a shift in weight and a pivot of the back foot creates back stance (dwi seogi), (a pivot of the front foot too creates joo chum seogi), one more foot length forward and a front pivot of the back leg creates front stance (ahp kubi).

Once we got into the Taeguek series, GM Park changed the format which he has utilized in past seminars. In the past, we’d perform the poomsae, and afterward he’d mention a few points on techniques he’d seen performed incorrectly and then we’d move onto the next poomsae. This time however, after he pointed out corrections, he had us perform the poomsae again which for me helped reinforce the critique. I think it is great that even though GM Park has done seminars for many many years, he’s still working on changing his presentation.

Some of the items GM Park mentioned as being important (besides the aforementioned stance discussion) were that there has to be proper focus of either the block or the strike-it can’t be too high or low or off-center. Each technique has a standardized manner of being performed. You have to visualize what you are hitting with your attack or protecting with your block.

Another important concept is that your attacks should be striking at a 90 degree angle for maximum impact. So this may mean you have to alter your stance depending on whether the target is higher or lower.

One’s body should be turned 45 degrees beyond center when performing a block-this means if your block is ineffective, your trunk is still a few inches further from the attack. If your trunk is square and your block in ineffective, you can get hurt. However, when attacking with a punch for instance, your shoulders should be square.

Hand techniques are done with a twist and snap. Punches are not just flat jabs-to perform a proper punch the fist must travel straight to the target but the arm twists in a corkscrew motion which adds additional power. Similarly, blocks are not flat but they too must be performed with a twisting motion. All speed techniques must be done with a snap which means the arm must be totally relaxed until impact.

Grand Master Park took the black belts through Pyungwon. He pointed out important aspects of each poomsae after we had performed it for him and he made corrections. For example, on the first (right hand) palm heel strike in Keumgang, he said black belts do not need to retract that hand to the hip before striking. He pointed out that it made no sense to block someone’s attempted choke and then retract the strike before performing it. His explanations always make perfect sense.

Another technique that he touched on were the parries in Taebaek should be performed confidently and quickly. They are not blocks or grabs, you are slapping away a strike. They are not tension-motions.

In Pyungwon, he wanted us to be sure that the upward elbow strikes were centered, not moving straight from our shoulders.

After the seminar, Grand Master Park presented participation certificates to the attendees and some photos were taken.

One of the neatest things about the event was that one of Grand Master Park’s American students from 1965 was present. This gentleman contacted me via Facebook and said he trained with Grand Master Park in Seoul for several years. He was at my school when Grand Master Park and I arrived and he had some black and white photos of his group with Grand Master Park in Seoul. Grand Master Park at first didn’t recognize him but as he looked at each face in the photos, he started remembering and then had total recall of the gentleman. This gentleman came from New Jersey to Detroit just to say hello to his teacher and to reconnect. It was very heartwarming for me and just serves to remind me how many people we touch through our training. Certainly Grand Master Park has touched a number of folks given his important position in Taekwondo as well as his genuine humanity.

Keep up the good work!

Please see Mr. Miles if you are interested in testing.

“Discipline,” he said, “was the cornerstone attribute for accomplishing all that we wish to, as it prevented us from falling out of focus with our goals and mission. If one has the discipline to brush their teeth daily, dentures are not in their future. But a lax attitude towards such a simple and seemingly small task can lead to huge health risks later in life.”

As a college student in Michigan during the middle of winter it can be challenging to train. There were many days when I felt too tired, too sad or too lazy to make the sixty-minute drive to Canton to train with Sifu. Throw in a nice snowfall with a grueling day of classes and running home to a warm bed seemed so much more appealing.

I confess there were days where that’s exactly what happened.

However, there was many more days where I remembered Sifu’s lesson, got in my car and drove to our training sessions. Sometimes ready, sometimes not. Invariably I would leave such sessions feeling invigorated, having learned new skills and often putting in one or two more hours of shadowboxing or karenza at home.

In the years since, I have followed Sifu’s advice and have accomplished many good and worthwhile goals. I can also look back and clearly see the things I missed out on and the things I regret. It is crystal clear that the lesson was not always applied to my life.

It is easy to lament about what could have been had I only done this or that. But it is far more rewarding to put forth the efforts, no matter how big or small each day and look back not only with a profound sense of accomplishment but also with a goal fully realized.

Looking back at what might have been, what could have, or what should have been is painful and it never goes away. Looking daily in the mirror knowing that I did all I could do, suffered the pains of discipline when my have wanted to slack off is ultimately more rewarding.

We are once again honored to host Grand Master Park, Hae Man at Martial Arts Unlimited.

If you have not had the opportunity to learn from GM Park, you should take this opportunity. As background, GM Park is a 9th dan, the highest rank in Taekwondo. He is the former Instructor at the Kukkiwon Academy where he trained instructors who were sent all over the world to teach Taekwondo. He is the former instructor for the Korean Presidential Security Forces which are like the US. Secret Service. He was also the Chairman of the Korea Taekwondo Association’s Poomsae Committee responsible for the creation of the Poomsae we practice.

He will be presenting his seminar on Monday, March 29, 2010 from 6-9pm. The cost is $40 cash payable at the door. This seminar is for all ages and ranks.

We hope to have some very special guests such as Grand Master Ronald Rose, his wife Senior Master Christine Rose, USA National Team member Master Ronald Southwick, and other dignitaries.

Reserve your spot as soon as possible!