JTMS in this month's Art Of the Warrior. [Archive]

Out-to-Lunch

28-Jun-2007, 05:11 PM

This muck of the interview has been posted in "Sim's Corner" on the AOTW website How long have you studied martial arts?
I have been studying fighting skills science I was 4 years old and I am now 52 years old, so for a total of 48 years.

Who would you consider your most influential instructor, and why?
I would have to say that it was Reverend Master Park; he taught me skills that I might not have learned otherwise. When I met Reverend Master Park he was an accomplished acupuncturist, concert pianist, and very well educated. He was also familiar with some 10,0000 Chinese characters which was especially helpful in the translation of old Korean characters from aged texts from which he supplemented my training. He would often express to me how he wanted to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western medicine. This desire led him to join the U.S. military and become a physical therapist to try and better understand western medicine, which he also used to facilitate my martial training. He taught me many unique things, among which, was how to look at and study Kuk Sool and martial arts in general and how I should prepare myself to learn from Grandmaster Suh. Training would start every morning at 5 o’clock with ki training and meditation after which he would pick me up from my apartment and we would drive up to Mt. Baldy which was 10,000 feet above sea level and was ice capped until August (I hated the cold and snow). I had to disrobe and train in the cold and snow each day along with getting into a water fall which was fed from the snow cap on top of the mountain and if that was not bad enough I then had to sit in a stream of the same cold water and try to still my mind. Some mornings he would have me take my sword and practice cutting the sun from the earth at sun rise. This was a drill where you watch the sun rise from behind the mountains, it would rise slowly at first and then all of a sudden it was in the sky, in its full glory. I had to draw my sword from a kneeling position so that it would pass between the earth and sun and at the very instant or moment the sun suddenly rose into the sky I would cut ; if you blinked or did not pay careful attention you missed the opportunity. On nights when there was a full moon we would drive up to the mountains to a stream where I had to take my sword and try and cut my reflection in the water of the stream as I jumped across it. The cut had to be made in such a manner that you did not see the reflection of the sword in the water. If you saw your sword it was cutting back at you. The time I spent training and learning from reverend Master Park enabled me to excel as a martial artist and to learn from grandmaster Suh those things that others heard but did not really hear. Reverend Master Joon Sung Park a 7 th Degree Black Belt in the art of Kuk Sool, not only taught me how to look at and study the martial arts, he also taught me that I should never compare my self to anyone for I would always be able to find those that were lesser and those that were greater than I and that this would create a conflict within myself. My development as a martial artist was not in relationship to others but in relationship to me and it would be far harder to conquer myself than it would be to conquer others. I never had any expectations about how Grandmaster Suh or how anyone else would treat me. I consider Reverend Master Park to be very influential in my training he often reminded me that Grandmaster Suh was my teacher. Reverend Master Park was the most humble and forgiving person I have ever known. When Master Jay Lee and I lived and trained under his tutelage in Upland, California there was nothing that he wouldn’t do to assist us in our stay there, or in our learning, and in Kuk Sool training. We became a part of his family. A few yeas afterwards Reverend Master Park went to Germany to do missionary work, following his life’s work. In 2003, after a second bout with cancer, while in Germany, he was attacked by a gang of German youths who beat him very badly, while lying in his hospital bed he called his son’s and asked them to forgive his attackers and not to hold any malice in their hearts. Even though he knew that he was terminal, he made the decision to remain in a foreign country without his family by his side and do as much as he could before he departed this world. I attended his funeral in September 2003 and was invited by his family to sit with them and receive visitors as they paid their respects to Reverend Master Park. There was many people from every where and all walks of life came to pay their respect, it showed how he was admired and respected by so many and the influence he had upon the lives. In life, he has shown me how I should try and live my life and in his death he has shown me how not to fear death but to embrace it and to die well.

What do you think is the biggest misconception of martial arts and what is your solution to correct this misconception?
One misconception is to believe that the west has nothing to contribute or add to the science of fighting and that there are things about the martial arts that cannot be explained. The same laws of physics that govern the movement of objects are the same laws that govern human movement. The answer is right in front of us, we only need to take the time and study the various sciences and apply them to the martial art.

GM Seo, In Sun and GM Suh, In Hyuk often tell different accounts on the histoy of kuk sool, what do you gather is the reason for these different accounts?
This is a situation best left alone between two brothers that I know and respect. For me to make a comment would only add fuel to an already raging fire. At the end of the day after all is said and done they are still brothers. But if a reader would like to investigate or research articles I suggest reading Dr. Kimm, HeYoung works, Dr. Lee, Joo Bang web sight www.hwarangdo.net/founder/bio.php and Grandmaster Seo, In Sun web site www.kidohae.com/news and read Interviews with GM Seo. You should also take a look at www.allmartialarts.com/KIXCO/History/history/map.htm The Lineage of The Korean Martial Arts. This is just to name a few sources where one can start to become better informed.

What do you contribute to the lack of African Americans or people of African descent in high ranking positions within the Association (WKSA)?
There are many reasons why we don’t see more people of African descent in high ranking position within the WKSA. First there are not a large number of black people training in Kuk Sool within the WKSA. As you know I was the first person of African descent to be promoted to master level, (Master Larry White of Fairfield California was the second and just recently Master Daniel Jolly was the third person of African descent to be promoted to master level within WKSA). I was the first of African descent to grace the cover of Tae Kwon Do Times. I taught at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York for 10 years and trained the first nonAsian female master in Kuk Sool, Master Cheryl Cherowitz. Many want me to advertise the fact that I was the first master in Kuk Sool of African descent; I felt that this would detract from the fact I had actual martial skill. I would like to think that I made master because of my skill level and not because of the color of my skin implying I was a token of African decent.

What is your current view on working with other Grand Masters, Masters, Medical professionals, associations, etc. worldwide?
Before I became a Kuk Sool member I trained and learned from martial artists from other countries and also learned different styles here in the United States in the college atmosphere of my home town, Tuskegee, Alabama. People from all over the world came to study at the university and became a very fertile ground for martial art training. Once I became a member of the WKSA, I was not suppose to associate with other martial artists from other systems but these were my teachers and friends so I always remained in contact with them throughout my career or until their death. Out of respect for my instructors Grandmaster Suh I did not train with them or teach them any of the Kuk Sool syllabus and it was also an unwritten association rule at the time not to train outside of the system of Kuk Sool. I did continue my association with medical and fitness professionals; cardiac surgeon; Rocco Lafaro, Bob Gajda M.S., R.K.T. Mr Bill Busby, and Richard Zuruba. My associations with these men have given me a better understanding of martial skills has changed the way I look at martial skills.

What problems do you see with the current curriculum of Kuk Sool and how will the United Martial Science Federation’s (UMSF) differ and why?
There is too much information for the student to learn or assimilate at each belt rank, but very little information on how to do it correctly and why. Normally you are shown how to do something a few times and then left on your own to develop it. For example let’s take the punch, often times I have seen instructors very quickly try and teach a student how to make a fist by having that student watch the instructor make a fist and then have the student try to recreate what they have just seen. The same is done with the execution of a punch. The UMSF conducts instructor workshops every three months where they are taught how to develop and teach various martial skills, including what type of injuries that might occur in carrying out these techniques if done incorrectly, proper body alignment, the proper trajectory that the appendage should travel when executing these various techniques.

Why do you feel that teaching martial arts from a western science perspective is the best approach or way to study martial arts?
Western students will not just do something just because someone has told them to do it. They need rational explanations to its benefit; practice does not make something right. For example, we see black belts who execute a front kick by tip toeing on their support leg, raising their center of gravity higher, thereby making their body more unstable, and leaning their upper body backwards dividing their forces in two directions as they execute the front kick. Only perfect practice make perfect. Science is used to explain to the student how the technique works and the different principles involved in its execution. If the student fully understood what is expected of him/her they will put forth a better effort into their training of their various skills.

What changes have you seen occur during your time with the WKSA?
The original master’s who came to this country with Grandmaster Suh to help him are no longer in the association, every 15 or 20 years or so there is a large group of masters and instructors leaving the association for what ever reason. Because of this, there is an ever increasing number of Kuk Sool styles developing or their own associations both here in the United States and in Korea. The U.S. courts have rules that the word Kuk Sool is a generic term and can not be trademarked; this is why we see the word Won added to Kuk Sool to represent the style. It has gone from training as a way of life to an after work fitness class. Black belts and masters around the world are becoming younger and younger with each passing year disproportionately to their rank and time, especially the American and European masters.

In the March 1998 issue of Black Belt Magazine GM Suh promissed new techniques and forms (hyungs) ...Did this ever happen to your knowledge?
When I left WKSA in 2005 there was three new sets of techniques at the fourth degree black belt level starting to be taught. A lot of students have a codependent relationship with their teacher and can’t think outside of the box. If they would train how Kuk Sa Nim had advised them to, they would make many amazing discoveries about martial arts and Kuk Sool in particular. If they would also combine or supplement their training with reading books on physics, medicine, and biomechanics they would soon realize a whole new side to Kuk Sool. There are only 15 basic techniques as there are three major joints in the arm and they only have 15 movements. If they could grasp this idea they would understand the entire system of Kuk Sool.

How do you feel that the organization (WKSA) has treated you throughout your 30 plus years of dedication?
Within any group you will have the good, bad, and the ugly and I have seen all three but for the most part I felt like I was treated ok. The students of Kuk Sool treated me fine. My problem came from the upper ranks and you always have professional jealousy. My teacher Reverend, Master Joon Sung Park a 7 th Degree Black Belt in the art of Kuk Sool, taught me how to look at and study the martial arts, he also taught me that I should never compare my self to anyone for I would always be able to find those lesser and greater and that this would create a conflict within myself. My development as a martial artist was not in relationship to others but in relationship to me and it would be far harder to conquer myself than it would be to conquer others. I never had any expectations about how Kuk Sa Nim or anyone else would treat me. If you have expectations of another you will most likely be disappointed. But for the most part I had a great time while I was a member of the WKSA and student of grandmaster Suh. It afforded me the opportunity to travel, teach, train, learn and ask grandmaster Suh questions about various movements, techniques and at the same time learn from all of the students I came in contact with.

Your 48 plus years in the martial arts gives you a unique perspective on the martial art. In you opinion how well do you think the martial arts are being taught today?
I think that Kuk Sool is being taught ok. Each instructor tends to teach the way that he/she trains and their level of understanding of Kuk Sool at that point and time in their career. A black belt ki bon soo should not look like what he/she first learned. As one advances up the black belt rank so should his understanding of techniques, posture, impact, breath control just to name a few therefore his/her techniques should change also. Instructors must begin to reexamine their roles as teachers of Kuk Sool. The word Kuk Sool, its association or its flag will never come down off the wall of the school and teach you or your students anything. Students do not join schools because of its founder or the name of the style on the front of the school. They sign up because they believe and trust that the instructor will guide them in the right direction. There is never a student who can’t learn, just teachers who can’t teach. Students only learn those things that there is a felt need to learn; therefore it is the instructor’s responsibility to create that felt need for learning within each and every student that enters his/her school. They must lead by their example. In the martial art world, if you are going to talk the talk, then you must also be able to walk the walk. Not, just do as I say.

How instrumental do you think your involvement with the WKSA has been to its growth worldwide?
I do not know, that is a very hard thing to quantify; only time and history can make that call. In the meantime I will just have to let the work that I have done for the association (WKSA) and the students that I have helped along their individual paths speak for me?

What advice do you have for today’s Martial Arts instructors and students?
Find an instructor who is willing and able to teach you, and an organization that you agree with the policies and principles behind and that will support you. Learn to understand the purpose behind traditional martial arts training, apply western science to clearly understand what you are doing, why and what can be improved upon. Lastly... have an open mind.

It seems like the article in the magazine had a bit more in it though ;)
--josh