MichiganTKD said:
Rudester,
I never said I didn't accept other styles. I said Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Kuk Sool, and others are separate entities and should be treated as such. If you want to practice a Korean style other than Tae Kwon Do, have at it.
This post is not intended to defend myself or NKMAA. My post is simply to point out that Michigan TKD spouts off about things he knows nothing of (even in his own art) in order to push his point of view. To unsuspecting readers, he might come off as someone who knows something about Korean martial arts, but from reading the articles on this forum it appears that he is simply a small minded man who promotes discord among Korean martial artists. Unfortunately, he does so without finding facts and with a venom that reminds me of racism.
I use the following quote taken from World TKD HQ web site to support my statement (something Michigan TKD should try sometimes before he spout off his venom).
Snip "Taekwondo originated from the period of Three Kingdoms-Koguryo, Baekje and Shilla- about 2,000 years ago. It has been positioned in Korean traditional culture as a sport a martial art with its title changing from Soobak to Taekkyon, Kwonbop and Taekwondo." End snip.
As you can see by WTKDs own literature, TKD began its life from a variety of the same Kwans that used Korean martial art techniques far beyond what is in its curriculum today. Back then it was not a sport... it was simply an art used to defend the nation. Much of what Michigan TKD wants to keep separate ALWAYS WAS part of TKD.
Snip "Taekwondo was practiced under the name of Karate in the 1930s but had its real title restored in 1945. Since then, however, various schools (Kwans) derived from Taekwondo began making their appearance. Chaos resulting from the split became so serious that many sports leaders in Korea were determined to merge those taekwondo schools into one and formed the Korea Taekwondo Association(KTA) under the presidency of Dr. Un Yong Kim in 1971." End snip
From the above, we can see that the founding force behind Kukkiwon was made up of sports leaders. Nothing wrong with that, but let us not forget the reason why and by whom Kukkiwon was built.
MichiganTKD said:
However, the reason in Korea why the Kukkiwon is separate from the Kidohae (or whatever it's called) is simple: Tae Kwon Do is the Korean national art and sport, separate from all the others. If TKD and the other arts were meant to be united and mixed, there would be one building, authorized by the Korean government, with the blessing of the Instructors. There is not.
You seem to allude that Kukkiwon was built by the Korean Government in order to unite Korean martial arts. In fact, it was built because of one man's vision to promote Tae Kwon Do as an Olympic sport (and thereby raking in millions of won for which he was recently taken to task for).
It was General Choi Hong-hi 's Tae Kwon Do that was formed to unite (some) Korean martial artists. The builders of Kukkiwon never had this in mind from day one. Their interest was mainly SPORT, and that is why the Kukkiwon resembles a sports arena (as is easily seen by anyone who has ever visited the place). Again, nothing wrong with that, but let us keep it in mind when we think about reasons why things were done.
Snip "The Kukkiwon had many difficulties because of the lack of the building for its headquarters. Strongly feeling the need for such a building, Dr. Un Yong Kim president of the Kukkiwon, constructed a reinforced concrete bilding for its headquarters in Yuksam-dong in Seoul using his own resources." End snip
MichiganTKD said:
Now as for calling me arrogant. I am not. I am opinionated.
Just because YOU say you are not arrogant, does this make it so
MichiganTKD said:
I am not one to stand by and blindly agree that all Korean arts should be unified and exist in harmony. They should not and probably will not. They are different and should remain separate.
You appear arrogant, because the above statement is in obvious direct opposition of the founder of Tae Kwon Do. Yes, there are many techniques in Korean martial arts, and none of the arts have them all; however, they ARE Korean martial arts (many would even disagree with that).
What really bothers me is your next line which indicates that in your opinion (and I write this whole thing to show that your opinions are something else) Korean martial artists should NOT live in harmony. Yes, they are different; however, just as we have many techniques in Korean martial arts, we have many races on this planet. Are you telling us that we should not get along just because we are different?????
MichiganTKD said:
Also, I also don't claim to have taught 10,000 people worldwide. I don't teach every Tom, Dick, and Harry who pays $300 to attend my seminar and takes what they learned and does who knows what with it. I'm a little more selective in who I teach.
I taught many thousands of Korean style martial artists because they ASK me to share what I have learned over more than fifty years of practicing Korean martial arts.
As far as fees, once again, you have NO IDEA what you are talking about. Those who have hosted my seminars know that I charge a mere $45.00 per person (what promoters charge is their business, as they need to recoup their expenses). NKMAA is a Government registered non profit entity, and that is why my services cost so little when compared to the fees others charge.
As far as being selective in who you teach. Perhaps you are selective in who you teach because there are no thousands who ASKS you to
I am curious on how you seperate the beginners that come to your school. You have some sort of built in radar that tells you which ones to "select"? I say BULL to that. You and anyone else who runs a school will accept beginners, because there is just no way to choose who will turn out good or bad. FWIW, there are scores of people whom I refuse to teach, and you would rank among the top of those.
MichiganTKD said:
Kwan Jang is a highly honorable title, not taken lightly. Someone who drops the term Kwang Jang as a self reference when talking to others debases the title and strikes me as someone who has not truly earned it. I do not refer to myself as Master Instructor or Sabumnim unless someone asks me my official title in Tae Kwon Do. Otherwise I am a Tae Kwon Do Instructor. I certainly never consistantly refer to myself in postings that way.
The title Kwan jang is nothing special... it merely serves to indicate that I inherited a kwan and run it (just like Westerners call the head of a corporation a CEO). In Korea the use of titles does not make anyone better or worse, it simply indicates the position in life of the person has attained. It is non Koreans who have elevated titles to mean more than that. If you don't understand the use of Korean titles, that is too bad for you. Perhaps it will give folks a "heads up on the extent of your knowledge" when they read your stuff.
I never use "Nim" behind the title kwanjang as THAT is the part that makes the title honorific (and therefore is only used at the discretion of those who addresses a person). Again, your lack of knowledge on common use of Korean titles is an indication of your lack of experience with things pertaining to respect.
Your signature "Michigan TKD" does not mean to me that you represent all TKD practitioners in the good State of Michigan. I know better, and no one needs to waste time on the forum to explain that to me
Gaining wisdom is usually a result of having an open mind and many, many years of experience. You apparently have neither, and it is about time that the readers of this forum know that your opinions are perhaps best kept to yourself until you get some more experience in manners and knowledge.
Do yourself and the rest of us a favour... ask some pertinent questions and learn something instead of offering worthless opinions.
