I entered Tae Soo Do having lived in the United States for the large majority of my life. I had a high school education and insight that went little beyond my desire to be “cool” and earn money. In my mind, Tae Soo Do was an asset in my quest to do both. I felt that having a background in Martial Art created an aura of coolness, and hope that I would find a way to exploit my skills in order to make money. At eighteen, I felt I was on the right track to becoming a warrior, by society’s standards anyway.

The fall following the summer that I entered the Tae Soo Do program, my foundations in life were destroyed. At the time I held a 3.8 GPA at school; I worked a steady job, and occasionally partied with friends. Parties included drinking, smoking, and trying to find girls. That fall however, I took the first big step in my life. I moved about five minutes from home, and found an apartment in the heart of Westwood. I chose Westwood because at the time I was on the fast track to UCLA, I figured why not live there and get to know people. My roommate was a close friend that I had known throughout high school and before that. He and I had many of the same experiences, and our lives had taken similar paths. Our move-in day was an exciting one. The first items we moved into our new “home” were a pipe and eighteen case of beer. That night of the partying dictated the attitude and the mood for the following nine months. He and I were determined to party continuously, leaving all responsibilities and future life goals behind us as we did. Within a week, it was known that if people wanted to have “a good time,” our home was opened to them. For weeks at a time I didn’t attend school, I called in to work sick numerous times. Eventually, I gave up on working and decided to pay for everything by credit card. Our parties became harder, and eventually more dangerous. Soon, I not only smoked marijuana and drank alcohol on a regular basis, but other drugs made their way into my home. My situation was spiraling down faster than I could stop it, but I was rarely sober enough to notice.

The irony of the situation is that at the time I believed I was in complete control of my surroundings. I felt that it was not I who was at fault, but my parents. I felt that at 19, my parent’s no longer had a right to tell me what to do. I rebelled, but more than a conscious awareness of rebellion, I believed that I was right, and that those who said otherwise were fools. Within six months, my grades had dropped considerably, my savings were used up, and I was in debt for a few thousand dollars. Some mornings in the shower, I asked myself what I was doing (an alcoholics “moment of clarity”). But before I ever answered that question I was already high.

In some ways Tae Soo Do was my saving grace. Although I pretty much gave up everything else, I attended Tae Soo Do classes on a fairly regular basis. I improved very little during those months, and I remained a yellow belt for over six months because I knew I was unable to pay for the remaining portion of the program, and also because I simply had not learned the material. Those that started after me continuously improved while I remained stagnant. Nevertheless, I maintained a fairly steady attendance, and figured that if I kept one good aspect of my life going, Tae Soo Do was “easy” enough.

Around April of 2002, my life was a disaster zone, and even I could do little to hide from that fact any longer. I had used my credit card to its limits, had little cash, and school was an afterthought. I sold marijuana in an effort to be able to maintain my habit, but I was so low on cash that I would go to my parent’s for dinner every night. I dreaded dinner with my parents because I could see how much my actions were hurting them, and we constantly fought. Slowly, my morning showers became longer, and it was more and more difficult for me to suppress my feelings of guilt. I no longer found joy in anything I did. I lived a listless and boring life, surrounded by pseudo friends and others who lived like me.

My ambitions had crumbled away, and I was left with an array of problems that were destined to haunt me. Gradually, I began to isolate myself from the group of people that I had once considered to be my friends. This alone was easier said than done because my roommate did not share my appetite for change, and those I desperately wanted to get away from literally resided in my house more often than I did. I was lucky enough to meet a woman who would become a backbone for my rebuilding. She and I were able to connect on an intimate level I had not felt for over a year, and with her support, she reminded me of what was important in my life. I turned in the direction of Tae Soo Do to help guide me. The year I had spent in the dojang had some impact, and some of the very basic concepts of the art were starting to gain momentum within me. Sobriety brought a revitalization of my soul, and I was ready to fulfill some of the promises I had made to myself regarding Tae Soo Do.

About this time, when my motivation was high, and I felt that I was making the first right decision in over a year, Master Lee introduced the Tae Jun Sa program. Again, on a coincidental whim I took a glimpse at the flyer posted in the locker room, and decided that Tae Jun Sa could help further motivate me to push myself toward self-empowerment. After speaking with Master Lee however, I became immediately aware that should I prepare for this journey, there would be no heading back. As he put it, “Commitment is like taking a step off a cliff…” and I went home that night eager and motivated to begin this journey. At the time, I was somewhat aware that what I was doing was potentially life changing, and never before had I made a commitment of this nature. I was not sure of the intricacies of what I was doing, nor was I prepared to handle true “commitment.” I was made aware of the expectations, and I was headstrong and capable. I took on this commitment to prove to myself that I could be whatever I wanted, and that dedication was more than just a word on the tip of my tongue.

Immediately my demeanor changed. I looked to mend the broken relationship with my parents, and to find a solution for my financial problems. I apologized to my parents and confessed my actions of the past year. I began to look back on the year and take lessons from every day I spent failing. My parents helped pay some of my debt, and I got a job to cover the rest of the payments. I worked 40 hour weeks for the first time in my life, in a job I hated, doing work that bored me, and I realized that if I don’t get back to school and make something of my education and the opportunities I have been given, the rest of my life could be meaningless.

I had done poorly in every class I had taken for the past year, but luckily, I had taken so few classes that my GPA had not been completely destroyed. I was accepted into UC Santa Barbara, but rejected from UCLA, a blow that devastated me for a time. For a time I felt that I somehow deserved UCLA, because I had worked so hard the year before, I had cleaned up my act, and I had so much at stake in Los Angeles. I felt spurned that UCLA did not share my point of view, and I could not understand that it was not that they rejected me, but I who forced the rejection 9 months before. Slowly however, I came to terms with the fact that I was rejected because I had failed right at the end. I began to look to Santa Barbara with the renewed hope that regardless of where I was to be, I was going to make sure I realized my goals.

School became my first priority, and for the first time in my life, I appreciated the value of knowledge. Going to class was no longer a chore, but a privilege. Reading and homework fascinated me. I found the beauty in understanding, and with that, I began to realize just how little I really knew. The “all-knowing” wisdom I once thought I had, had been a joke, and I was ashamed of some of the thoughts I once had. Knowledge became a passion. I found it to go hand in hand with my Tae Soo Do education, because the more I learned about the history of Tae Soo Do, the Hwa Rang, and the philosophies of the Hwa Rang warriors, the more I realized the importance of education.

UC Santa Barbara has a reputation for being a party-school. The irony of my situation is that since I have been in Santa Barbara, partying has not been a priority for me. I no longer find any significant enjoyment in getting completely drunk for the sake of being drunk. I no longer find it necessary to surround myself with people only so I can feel popular and loved. I see past such falsities. Instead, I enjoy being with my closest friends, or finding people that spark my interests. That is not to say I no longer party. But, I have found that in life, it is the balance that is necessary. My priorities guide my actions, whereas in the past, my actions often distracted me from my priorities.

For me, maintaining a distinct set of goals can be difficult. Often, I am still tempted to relax and do what others around me do. I am tempted to smoke, to drink excessively, and party. It is the nights when I have the least desire to follow through on my commitments when I sit back and flip through the archives of the Hwa Rang Do websites. The sites help me to regain my focus, help me to realize why I do what I do, and for what reasons. I think to myself; since my introduction to Tae Soo Do, my life has moved forward in positive directions. I am a better, more genuine person to those around me, and I am destined for great things. But, I must follow through on my commitments, regardless of intensity or difficulty. I have set high standards and goals for myself, not for any reason but because I now believe that I am not only capable of greatness, but that with my greatness I can make those around me great as well. Master Lee has said on numerous occasions that self-improvement for the sake of the self is almost worthless, but to strengthen yourself for the sake of those around you can be special. I have intentions of attending a prestigious law school; I have intentions of traveling the world; and of enriching my soul. My education is a partial gateway to these dreams; my continuation in Hwa Rang Do is the other part to that gateway to these dreams; my continuation in Hwa Rang Do is the other part to that gateway. The few years I have spent in the Tae Soo Do have helped me gain a richer understanding of myself, and that has awakened me to the fact that I am child with little knowledge and far less wisdom.

My goals in Hwa Rang Do are simple and at the same time far reaching. It is my ultimate goal to be a true master of the art: to understand and appreciate what I can from what is being taught, and to fully develop my ki and harmonize the powers of Um-yang. The physical aspects of the art, techniques and physical capabilities of the Hwa Rang are beautiful, but I believe that without a mental comprehension of the art one cannot be a true warrior, a “flowering man.” The physical aspects of the art strengthen and discipline the mind as well as the body. To push oneself to the point of physical exhaustion, and then to go beyond that point is mental toughness. Mentally, a Hwa Rang controls all that surrounds him, from his own actions to the actions of those around. Physically, a Hwa Rang is confident in his ability to do and to be what is required in any situation, whether that means remaining awake for long nights in preparation of an exam, or having to defend oneself against an attacker. The physical and mental toughness must both be in harmony in order for the Hwarang to have confidence in his abilities.

As my training in Tae Soo Do comes to a close, I look back at my accomplishments and find only room for improvement. I am proud that to date I have maintained commitments, but I have by no means completed any obligations to myself. I have only taken a small step forward, and into an abyss I know little about. I am not fearful but eager of the endeavors that lie ahead. Yet, I am also aware that if my Tae Soo Do education has taught me anything, it is that there is always substantial room for improvement in every endeavor. Practice and effort help to push us forward, but ultimately it is our desire to improve ourselves that keep us motivated.

Often, on my Wednesday drive down to LA I question my desire and wonder just how much “easier” my life would be if I stopped making that drive. I answer that question by reminding myself that an easy life is also an unsatisfied life. That, I know from experience. Tae Jun Sa is a commitment I have made to myself, and I intended on keeping my commitment. Without the Wednesday drive, I lose far more than a night worth of practice. In fact, giving up on this endeavor to be the “ultimate warrior” is a failure and a detriment to who I believe myself to be. I am a future Hwa Rang, an aspiring Tae Jun Sa, and a gradually educated individual. These all go hand in hand, one feeds the other and all strive together.

My performance in one area has a tendency to reflect onto the other areas in my life. When I do well in school, I have the confidence and motivation to do everything else well. This works with Hwa Rang Do as well. As I improve in Hwa Rang Do, my confidence in school and in all of my smaller endeavors also improves. Life is lived through harmony. Each endeavor feeds another.

So, the question remains, have the philosophies of Tae Soo Do and Hwa Rang Do changed my life, or were they simply the right tools at the right time? I believe that both happen to be true. Without a doubt I feel that it was some divine luck that brought me into the dojang on one random day, but it was my core belief in the Hwa Rang philosophies that helped me lean toward Tae Soo Do in my time of need. When I took the first step in Tae Soo Do, and devoted my time wand energy to the endeavor, my intentions were completely different. I had little knowledge that involving myself in a martial art system would shake and eventually destroy the foundations of my moneymaking, self-indulgent philosophies.

Today, I no longer look to Hwa Rang Do to make me “cool.” In fact, only a few close friends even know of my commitment, and even then I keep the explanations simple. I no longer pretend to know the exact direction Hwa Rang Do will take me. I wonder how much more my views on life will be altered as I become a Hwa Rang, but I no longer question that they will change. I am confident now that Hwa Rang Do is the right path, and that whatever change comes with my development is only improvement. Further, I no longer see a finish line in my quest to be a Hwa Rang. I see Hwa Rang Do as a continuing education, a similar view I hold regarding my academics.

Currently, my grades at school have once again improved, yet not quite at the level I expect of myself. I believe that the reason for this is that I am not quite yet comfortable with my new approach to education. I no longer study for grades, but for knowledge. In the long run, I am sure that this method of studying and of learning will produce the desired grades, but I am so new to it that as of yet I have not been able to reflect this turnover completely. As with all other things, time and practice will ultimately help guide me to my academic goals.

I have come a long way since I started, but have taken only small steps in the scheme of what I have to accomplish. The first was to break from the mold of ordinary, self imprisoning thoughts. Now, I work daily to improve on my areas of weakness, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Tae Soo Do has brought me great empowerment, and has helped direct me to the paths I follow. It is demanding and the challenges are often overwhelming; practice is grueling, both physically and mentally; and the level of commitment required is one I never dreamed about when I first signed up. All of these aspects inspire me to be my best for the sake of myself and as a reflection of the art I want to have my name associated with. My Tae Soo Do education has whetted my appetite, I am eager to embark on my journey to be a Hwa Rang…a Tae Jun Sa.

A Sacred Tradition

Hwa Rang Do, an art, a way of life?

Is an ancient system that guided life 1800 years ago still relevant today?

Do those that aspire to be Hwa Rang not realize that technology has changed the dynamics of our world?

We no longer need such ancient “traditions!”

And yet, what those that question do not realize is that it is those same ancient traditions that form the backbone of who we are as a race of people. It is those same traditions they wish to run away from that have withstood the test of time. They have fostered and grown as trends have come and gone. Tradition, Hwa Rang Do is tradition.

We look to our ancestors to help define who we are, Humans. We look to the past for answers and move to the future with questions.

Tradition can be given no true definition. It is felt and understood. Those deeply rooted may even be able to absorb its powers, but those lacking an understanding can never know. Hwa Rang Do is tradition. Tradition is deeply rooted and understood. Walk the steps of a Hwa Rang and learn about tradition.

]]> http://www.hwarangdo.net/blog/personalgrowth/philosophy/the-chosen-path/feed/ 0 http://www.hwarangdo.net/blog/personalgrowth/philosophy/what-is-a-martial-art/ http://www.hwarangdo.net/blog/personalgrowth/philosophy/what-is-a-martial-art/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:22:51 +0000 elcapitan http://www.hwarangdo.net/blog/?p=50 Surprisingly, there is no single definition of this term; different martial artists are unlikely to agree on the purpose or even the main elements that comprise a martial art. Is it to learn to fight? Competition? Self-defense? Personal improvement? Some may have such a narrow view but to me it’s all this and more.

Today’s martial arts are based upon fighting skills that date back thousands of years, which we re originally created for battle – empty hand techniques, archery, swords, etc. But as warring tribes grew into more peaceful kingdoms/countries and as warfare grew to include bombs and artillery, these battlefield skills diminished in importance. Many of these practitioners recognized the value of this training however, and so to honor this tradition they continued teaching their set of techniques – some merely being passed from father to son.

Over time, the focus changed from developing better warrior/soldiers to instead developing better human beings. These martial artists realized that those who follow the warrior’s path benefit in many ways; physically, mentally and emotionally. In order to provide the same benefit to the general public the leaders of many traditional schools of techniques founded a modern martial art by organizing their set of combat skills into an official curriculum; thus creating the “Do” for their style of techniques – the “way” to follow that will guide you on the path. This included a methodology and philosophy intent on achieving a specific goal. Not all had the goal to maintain the warrior tradition, however. Some preferred to focus on a subset of techniques with a more specific goal: sport/competition (Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Kendo), practical self-defense (Jeet Kune Do, Krav Maga), philosophical (Aikido), health/meditative (Tai Chi), etc.

Within the last several decades, many students have broken off to start their own schools and organizations, in many cases losing the methods and philosophies that founded their martial art. Very recently, the advent of so called Mixed Martial Arts has created additional fractionalization as many martial arts schools try to incorporate additional material to their curriculum. This presents many problems. Even if the instructors are highly trained in the new material, and even if it is complementary to the original style, this still results in diminishing the original martial art by reducing its importance and straying from its philosophies and goals. This is much like the combination of two cultures; the watered- down result is a loss to both original cultures. If the above criteria are not met however, then resulting clash of philosophies and styles of movement can be catastrophic.

The proponents of this movement claim to be improving upon these martial systems by trying to “modernize” them – highly unlikely, unless the goal is strictly that of self-defense. These people are myopic in their perspective, thinking that martial arts are nothing more than a series of techniques used for self defense. The reality is that a true martial art is many things – techniques, movement, philosophy, moral principles, strategies, etiquette, etc – which together form a framework that results in more than the sum of its parts. Much like archery can be used as to teach Zen; the archery is but a means to an end, not an end in itself. Similarly, martial art studies provide the framework to continually seek truth, enlightenment and a path to the art of living – the warrior’s path.

So, what is the purpose of a martial art? While it can’t be adequately summarized in one sentence; the best I can offer is: “to provide the means for individuals to develop as human beings, and by extension, to improve the human race as a whole.” And what could be more important than that?

By Sabumnim Scott MacKnight

It is more than coming to class each week clocking time on the mat. When I hit green belt, I came to every class just as I did in my beginner belts. However, I lost focus. Everything, including a spinning heel hook, was just too hard. I built obstacles where there none. After three months, I began to shift with impatience. Why was I not learning? Why was I not improving? Why was I not advancing? The hard truth was that I was letting other things dictate my training. I was in class, but thinking about the rough day I’d had at work, or the disagreement I’d had with someone, or the frustration I felt about my slowed progress. All of these cluttered my mind. I allowed them to crowd out my focus.

Instead of creating my destiny, I was succumbing to my life. When I finally got frustrated, though, that began to change. I began coming to class with a purpose – “I will improve on my heel hook today”; or, “I will effectively apply my Ho Shin Sul”. With each class, then, I had an attainable goal to mark whether I was training well. The results were almost instant. I tipped in my fourth month, and tested for purple belt in my fifth. The lesson I learned on the mats also carried over into my life.

Unhappy with my job, I focused on actively improving or changing my situation. At work, I aggressively pursued attainable goals to create and foster a more collegial atmosphere in my department and on campus. At the same time, I also pursued interviews with other schools. Rather than allowing the negative aspects of my workplace to determine my outlook, I determined my outlook and worked to create a new reality in my workplace. The dividends were amazing. At work, the situation improved nominally. The interviews at other places, however, proved to be life-changing. I scheduled an interview with a school that I had only peripheral knowledge of. However, their pursuit of me was aggressive, and they created an opportunity for me to come to campus to visit before I had heard back from some others.

Reynaldo Macías

The Benefits of Traditional Martial Arts Training

Of course, there are innumerable ways in which we can benefit by training in traditional martial arts. I’ll cover many of these in the pages that follow. There are other pastimes that purportedly teach many of these same lessons; one commonly identified as such is being involved in team sports. While it’s true that in a properly taught football program, for example, you can learn important lessons about teamwork, discipline, perseverance, etc.; these are incidental to the pursuit, sometimes not even verbalized and sometimes not even realized until years later. It seems that most coaches spend little time if any actually directly addressing such important issues, arguably much more important than the game of football where they spend the lion share of their time.

Sadly, many if not most martial arts will purport that such virtues will come through their training but in reality fall into the same trap of actually spending very little time day-to-day discussing these important topics let alone tying them concretely into one’s actions. These life lessons are left implied or discussed in vague generalities. The student is then left to his own devices to see beyond the pure fighting skills to see how it benefits him in other ways. He might learn sound strategies and tactics but not see how this fits into the bigger picture – how doing this makes him a better human being. “He can’t see the forest for the trees,” as they say. Even if he does, it may not be until after many years of practice. The focus is instead on some other less noble but still important goal such as self-defense, better health, passing along techniques, sport competition, etc. Little emphasis is placed on the true benefits of such study — the values that embody the character of a true martial artist, the path we must walk to get there and how this affects everything around us.

So why make this an afterthought? My gut reaction is that they don’t really have a lot of depth of experience in this area. If their teacher didn’t see fit to incorporate such material directly into their training, and they didn’t take the contemplative time to figure it out themselves, then it becomes one of those niceties that we vaguely consider to be true without there being any substance.

Fortunately, Master Lee breaks this mold. Not only does he test these martial principles on a daily basis but he regularly shares these insights with his students. When I first met Master Lee I appreciated the fact that he would continually make the connection for us how what we were doing in class, no matter how basic, led to something truly important. I incorrectly thought that this type of wisdom was common among true martial artists since it’s typically how they are depicted in stories. Perhaps this may only be true once you take into account how few true martial arts masters there are — and even among this rarest breed, I wouldn’t consider this trait common; it is exceptional.

My friend, Kirk Retz, gave me some perspective many years ago when he switched to Hwa Rang Do from another school. He said that Master Lee’s discussions in the last five minutes of class were his favorite part. It was like a gift of wisdom all packaged together for you to take home. He said that his previous teacher never did that and then noted how important it is. I just smiled because this mirrored my thoughts exactly.

I remember back in the college club days, Master Lee would sometimes come over from USC to run the UCLA Hwa Rang Do Club. These were always amazing classes. Every so often instead of training he’d spend the entire session discussing the history of Hwa Rang Do or the philosophies behind our training. These were always so engaging that we’d usually stay overtime or if we had to give up the room, we’d continue over pizza at the student union. Everything was fair game as a learning experience — when we went to a movie or went drinking. Certainly he’d cover the exploits of the Hwarang from centuries past but most of it was then as it is today, lessons from his direct experience and those of his students; things that are relevant to our daily experience, how to better live our lives.

I think back to how valuable those lessons were (more so than most of my college classes) and how sad that there’s no college class teaching them today. I truly hope that Master Lee will get a chance to open his own school to teach this material. I don’t know how it will work outside the context of training in Hwa Rang Do but it’s worth a shot. I’ve also wondered if a book could be written to properly capture this material; but I’m not sure. There’s a lot to be gained by Master Lee’s delivery so perhaps some sort of seminars or videos would be better.

I consider myself amazingly lucky to have discovered Hwa Rang Do, both as a phenomenal martial art and path to not just self-betterment but to self-actualization (more below). I realized that this was fortuitous very early on in my training, but the depth of my appreciation continued to grow over many years as I my understanding deepened. I fully realize that on this point I have no right to ask for anything more however, I understand that I am actually double blessed. In fact, I recognized this with growing clarity even back when I was in the UCLA Hwa Rang Do Club. Again, I find myself astonishingly lucky to have found as my teachers both Dojoonim and Master Lee. Over the years I’ve had many opportunities to see the depth of conviction, the love for the art and its students, and the amount of self-sacrifice. They truly embody the ideals that we strive to live up to giving us concrete examples that it can be done. This has the added benefit of removing any possible excuse or rationalization as to why it can’t be done.

In particular, I’m astounded with how much Hwa Rang Do has improved over the years. The curriculum has been expanded to include Tae Soo Do for those new to martial arts. This was a visionary development that has paid off in ways too numerous to mention. This has allowed us to refocus on Hwa Rang Do and teach it as I believe Dojoonim intended instead of having to water it down for those new to martial arts and are not yet willing to put in the time and dedication.

Other notable improvements include: incorporating the TGT group both as assistants but also to better themselves; systematizing the Goo Too Gi material into the curriculum; expanding the curriculum to include Hwarang Kumsul; adding the redirects in Hoshin Won Sul to teach proper joint application; the Tae Jun Sa program, etc. With the expanded weapon fighting using the innovative tari strikes and the addition of begi sul I’m continually amazed. Even without moving up in rank all of these new areas represent a significant growth in knowledge and have dramatically improved my abilities as a martial artist and as an instructor. With all that is improving I am more excited by Hwa Rang Do today than I have been during my 23 years of training.

It may seem ludicrous to some that we are expanding the requirements given how comprehensive Hwa Rang Do already is and how difficult it is to learn as a result. I’ve heard a tale of another martial arts master once telling Dojoonim that he’s crazy to try to teach so much material, especially to Americans who don’t train enough — that there is so much to learn that it’s like multiple martial arts, impossible to master in one lifetime. And that was before all of these new requirements. It’s likely true that the average person cannot hope to master it all; but we don’t strive to be average. “Average” is an insult to the exceptional. Was Einstein average? How about Shakespeare? Our goal is to be exceptional; at all times; in all things.

It is because of this vast amount of material that I believe that Doojoonim and Master Lee have been working equally tirelessly on improving the teaching methods. By breaking things down, clarifying the body mechanics, and systematizing the steps both in how things are done as well as how they are taught, we can now accelerate the student’s progress through this very difficult material. This level of instruction is truly amazing. It’s like not only attaining a Master level at performing the material (which is the limit of most people), but also being a Master at how to clearly identify and articulate how it is done. On top of all this is the Master level ability to draw the connections to the bigger purpose in life and to lead others beyond their so-called limits. As I said, we are truly blessed.

I can safely say that Hwa Rang Do continues to live up to its claim as the most comprehensive martial art in the world. This also demonstrates that Doojoonim and Master Lee live up to the principle of continual improvement; that we can never rest; that we can always get better. Of course, the above advancements touch on the curriculum and some of the enhanced teaching methods but mention nothing of testing procedures, school management, marketing techniques, seminars, tournaments, videos, articles, books, etc. — the list not only goes on, but I suspect will continue to go on with future additions and improvements.

The Path from White to Black

Going forward, I’d like to present some of the broader areas where Hwa Rang Do training mirrors and supplements our natural progression in life. I’m sure that most of these have been directly addressed by Dojoonim or Master Lee at some point in my training so even those that I feel may have come from some personal insight are likely to originate from them. I suspect that this is true of any great teacher/student or parent/child relationship.

One clear analogy in martial training is that the path we all take from white belt to black sash is one of continual maturation from being childlike into becoming a mature adult — as not all adults are mature, sadly. As with life, we all start out clumsy, inexperienced, ineffectual and somewhat naïve. This is as true for adult white belts as it is with children. The children actually have an advantage that they’re more of a clean slate. Adults frequently have to unlearn certain behaviors or struggle with preconceived notions that become obstacles.

We treat the white belts much like we would a child in terms of simplifying the material; how it is explained; the mistakes that are allowed; etc. We are very forgiving because they don’t yet know or understand so we don’t yet hold them accountable.

Even the training methods are different for beginners. They get more direction, more motivation, and more positive reinforcement. Hwa Rang Do students by contrast have already achieved their Tae Soo Do black belt and have gained the strength and discipline to understand that they are accountable for their actions. Through the steadily increasing responsibility and consequences we help the students become strong, independent self-learners. These concrete lessons are sometimes hard to come by in the real world so it’s even more valuable that they are learned in a safe environment where the outcome of failure is small.

Having students from 4 to 64 yrs old, it’s clear that you’re never too young or too old to learn — especially the harder ethical lessons like distinguishing right from wrong or admitting to a mistake and accepting the consequences. Again, it’s the rationalizing minds of adults that have been trained for too long how to protect the ego. It takes honest self-criticism to strip that away before the real work of improving can begin. Initially, the Tae Soo Do adults have their egos somewhat spared as the emphasis is placed on highlighting the achievements or mistakes of the younger students. The implied message is “look what a 5-yr-old can do; you should do better.” Or, if a mistake, “sure he made a common error, but he’s only 5 — learn from his mistake” (even though the adults are frequently doing the same thing).

Lose the Ego

In Hwa Rang Do however, we shouldn’t have to protect our egos. In fact, we should be the most critical of ourselves. But just in case you miss an opportunity to recognize one of your mistakes or areas of weakness, it’s the duty of your instructor to help you see it and fix it. This is done out of love for it is much better to learn the lesson in the dojang than out in the real world where the consequence could be much more severe. Master Lee is very good at being the metaphorical mirror, showing you your true self — for your benefit. This has the unfortunate effect that some students naturally wish to avoid such uncomfortable truths. Still, this is what they need to be honest with themselves and grow stronger in the process. Certainly it’s not fun for Master Lee to have to be harsh all the time, but that is a burden that he’s accepted as your teacher. Since this is undoubtedly a thankless part of his job, I wish to publicly thank Master Lee now for being there for me all these many years as my teacher — Daedanhee Kamsahapnida Susuk Kwan Jang Nim! We should all say it more often.

Of course, in our quest to become self-reliant we need to learn to be our own toughest critic — to be ruthless with ourselves and never letting the rationalizations begin. We need to continually fight the natural urge to think that we’re good enough, smart enough, or strong enough. We must never be satisfied. When we know ourselves at our weakest at our worst, only then can nothing surprise us or hurt us. This is why truly strong individuals are humble. They don’t need to feed their ego, they understand that we’re all imperfect and they’ve come to grips with their own flaws. It is as Master Lee says, “it is the empty can that makes the most noise.” This bravado is a put on by boys pretending to be men. The largest egos truly are carried by the smallest of men.

We don’t have any people such as this in Hwa Rang Do. They quickly learn the difference between talk and action. Those who can’t stand shining the light of truth upon themselves will create some rationalization to feel good about quitting. This is definitely too bad for them. The better for the rest of us though. Following the warrior’s path is not easy and it’s not for everyone. It should be as everyone would unquestionably benefit but we’re not all wired the same and perhaps some find it too stressful, too challenging. Of course, the answer to such an excuse is “that’s exactly why you should do it — to overcome the challenge and defeat the perceived stress.” But again, that’s the righteous path toward personal strength of character and some can only walk this path so far. At least when we do lose students, we know that we’ve shown them a better way and have improved them to some degree. Who knows the effects that can come from attending even one class or seminar? It can touch eternity.

As students progress to the black sash and beyond, they have progressed from the childlike need for help and encouragement to instead becoming independent, self-teachers who are now able to help others. And as they become instructors, like parents, that’s exactly what they’ll do; sharing these teachings to an ever widening group of not just Hwa Rang Do students, but students of life.

How We Learn

One of the most basic yet most important things you learn in Hwa Rang Do is how to learn. This is arguably true as we all progress through public school and, hopefully, into college. By the time you get a bachelor’s degree you should have learned how to study and how to pass tests. But is this really how to learn? Not necessarily.

There certainly are different ways to learn: auditory, kinesthetic, visual and verbal. There also are many interrelated types of learning (or intelligence) which include but are not limited to: linguistic, logical, spatial, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal and intrapersonal (emotional). Traditional schooling focuses primarily on the first two but unfortunately spends a lot more time on regurgitating facts than critical thinking skills, let alone these other types of personal growth.

So where do children magically acquire these important life lessons? Colleges are expected to emphasize depth in a specific major of study and not the breadth needed by the whole student. Unfortunately, K-12 education isn’t much better — as I stated in my article on How Children Become Adults:

Schools are fearful of lawsuits and are already overwhelmed with additional non-academic requirements such as PE, nutrition, shop, sex education, drug awareness, etc. They are more interested in teaching conformity and self-esteem so students will fit in and feel good about themselves, even as they fail. Students do not learn the consequence of their actions. Just look at the near total lack of discipline. Teachers are no longer allowed to have kids stand in the corner, put their heads down, write standards, or even clean erasers. To make matters worse, they are removing any competitions that might hurt a child’s delicate self-esteem. This has gone to the extreme of discouraging harmless games like musical chairs because not everyone gets to win.

By sheltering children we create unrealistic expectations of how the world works. Children need to learn their strengths and weaknesses and be taught how to cope with adversity. If we delay this until they are “old enough” then they will miss learning opportunities, which will only make it much harder later. When will they be taught to be strong and self-reliant? How will they learn to respond to real world obstacles if they are never given a chance to practice these skills in a safe, controlled environment? Martial arts, properly taught, are one of the last bastions where students learn these powerful skills.

I don’t think that I could have said it better.

Of course, real parents, teachers, coaches and mentors realize that this is not the path and are doing what they can to combat this slide into mediocrity. Hopefully, we can reach the children before they get summarily dumped into society and are expected to now get by in an environment where no one cares about your “self-esteem” — they want results or you’re out of a job! And while this type of politically correct behavior seems to be particularly problematic in the US, this is truly a worldwide problem.

In Hwa Rang Do we expect a lot from our students, not just in terms of curriculum but also behaviorally. Through their interaction with various senior/junior students and teachers they are trained and then challenged in nearly every area: linguistic, logical, spatial, kinesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal. This translates to exemplary human beings who also are taught how to learn in the process. This is one of the most useful skills we can have.

Some of the lessons on how to learn include:

• Learn from your mistakes, or preferably the mistakes of others.
• Break things down into their constituent parts and if necessary, break those into smaller parts. Then put it back together into one whole. Then practice it until it becomes second nature and not a series of disparate items.
• Start with a simple model and then add the necessary complexity to mirror reality.
• Learn to synthesize facts into information, information into knowledge and knowledge into wisdom.
• Recognize patterns so you can learn more quickly.
• Seek the underlying principle and extrapolate this into as many different situations as possible. The biggest of these are universal principles that apply at all times.
• Understand the rules of how things fit together so you can learn the “language” of our movements. Then you’ll know how to continue modifying and creating new movements that are in harmony with existing material.

Applying this to our “C-lock,” for example; you first learn the basic angles to make it work statically. Then add in the necessary redirecting movement to setup the technique and the lockup to finish it. Try the same from various angles, differing attacks or with various size partners. Add dynamic movement of the partner to learn to apply it on a resisting opponent. Then continue to test this in many different situations and combinations seeing how it works within the context of our other techniques — how does it work, when do you use it, how can it be modified, how can it be combined within our existing knowledge?

How things interlink and affect one another is the metadata that frees us to step back and see the underlying relationships — the forest for the trees, as they say. This is the path to deeper knowledge, wisdom and ultimately Truth.

Of course the above example would work with anything you wish to learn, and in Hwa Rang Do we would like to learn it all — to be philosophers, statesmen, warriors, poets. We strive to be comprehensive in our approach because breadth of knowledge is freedom. That’s why we practice “The Art of Unlimited Options.” The importance of this is clear when you realize that our reality is clouded by our perceptions — but the more tools we have, the more responses we can choose for a given situation then our response can be more natural and in harmony with reality.

The Perfect Environment

In Hwa Rang Do we are very fortunate to have a perfect environment to teach these lessons by providing real life experiences. Our students are expected to be on their best behavior at all times. This means that they must actually exemplify proper behavior: being polite, helpful, hard working, disciplined, etc. This is expected of them; they don’t get “sunshine points” for good behavior as is done in my son’s kindergarten class. They quickly learn the consequence of not fulfilling this contract; children and adults alike. When they make a mistake they can literally get knocked down. They then have to get back up, dust themselves off and figure out how to make sure that never happens again. For other types of mistakes then it’s up to the instructors to point it out noting that in battle, one mistake could be fatal. At least in our safe environment, they can live to fix it and hopefully to never make the same mistake when the stakes are that high.

As adults in the Hwarang Kumsul class can attest, there’s more at stake than merely being knocked down. With the emphasis on treating our bamboo swords as live blades and that being hit is equivalent to death, it’s a big price to pay for a small lapse in focus or judgment — but that’s the true warrior’s way. A small lapse with a live blade truly can cost you your life. And it’s amazing what this can do for your focus!

More so than in any other part of our training, in the Kumsul class we must face death. It may be metaphorical but it’s treated with the sincerity of the real thing. Everything seems more acute in this heightened atmosphere — the preparations before class are more thorough, the meditation deeper, the focus more intense, the kiaps louder. It’s very cathartic to be able to face someone who is “trying to kill you,” suppress the fear and focus on action — without the uncertainty and without any attempt to defend.

In this environment there’s no such thing as “good enough.” This to me is the clearest lesson of commitment. You either do or you do not. There’s nothing else — no words, no rationalizations. I’ve also found remarkable how much more you can achieve when you focus just on success and rid yourself of concern over failure. I wish that I had the benefit of this training back when I was struggling to improve my sparring. It would have helped me learn to worry more about hitting my opponent than about him hitting me.

Early in my training I thought that sparring should be a quick exchange of strategic strikes executed with near-surgical precision. Finding the exchanges too fast I became a very defensive fighter always looking for the perfect counter. Basically, I was relying more upon my brain to respond than my body. Also, I didn’t want to admit it to myself at the time but I had a healthy dose of the fear of being hit.

After wasting time trying to avoid the inevitable, I admitted that I was going to need much more sparring practice where I get in close, mix-it-up, and get hit. Once I started with this new mind-set it was clear that I had been actively avoiding doing what I knew I needed most; and that this had been holding me back. I then took this as a personal challenge and I saw quick improvement in my sparring. I also didn’t get hit as much as I thought I would.

The lessons I learned from this mistake were many but the most notable are:

• honestly assess your weaknesses and start fixing them now
• face your fear and do it anyway
• then overcome your fear so it no longer is a weakness

As with all lessons, it’s important to state them as generally as you can and learn to apply them as widely as possible. This is something else I learned through Hwa Rang Do. Sometimes the biggest lessons come from the most unlikely places. So this isn’t just about sparring, it’s about any challenge in life. Don’t sell short such important lessons; otherwise, you’ll continue to make the same mistake in other areas of your life.

Of course, the other lesson from Kumsul is worth repeating, focus more on what you can do to succeed and worry less about the possible consequences — they may never come to pass anyway. If you worry about taking any action, then you have effectively beaten yourself by choosing inaction, which surely is not the path to success. We need to continually challenge ourselves to act, to move, to strive on and never take our sight off the goal. Obstacles may get in the way but those are just there to keep out those who easily give up. If it were easy it wouldn’t be worth doing. Be determined. Determination can never be underestimated.

The Whole Student

As implied above, in Hwa Rang Do we focus on the whole student — what they do in class and outside of class — how they approach life. We’re not interested in their ability to kick and punch; we’re interested in their character. Bullies can kick and punch; it means nothing. We focus on what makes them exceptional human beings.

“The Way of a Warrior is based on humanity, love, and sincerity; the heart of martial valor is true bravery, wisdom, love, and friendship. Emphasis on the physical aspects of warriorship is futile, for the power of the body is always limited.”

Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace

The discipline, morality and control needed to be a true warrior is far more important than mere coordination or physical strength. In fact, I think that if you asked people what’s the most notable trait of a martial artist, their first thought would probably be their athletic strength and control. But if you pressed further it’s their emotional strength and control, their character that makes them true warriors, heroes.

I particularly like the emphasis we place on the whole student when it comes to the progress report required for our children to test. Everyone I mention this to is always impressed; which is pleasing on one hand but a little concerning that perhaps this isn’t being done anywhere else in society. It’s important that we teach from a very young age that you must do what’s right at all times; not just in public, not just when you might get recognition, and not just when it’s easy. This is the first step of extending our “best behavior” in the dojang into all facets of our lives.

This is also why it’s so important to regularly discuss our successes and failures to live up to these high ideals so we can all keep them fresh in our mind. The Hwa Rang Do Meng Sae is not something to only be thought of at the end of class. We clearly embody these values when the children come to testing having been rated by their parents and teachers if they’ve been good, strong, caring individuals in all areas of their life. Those present at the exam are reminded that this too applies to them, even if they’re merely spectators — that they should also do more to help others and share their strength.

Famed psychologist Abraham Maslow described a hierarchy of needs that he said all humans struggle to fulfill. While there’s some argument as to whether or not they actually build upon one another, the general categories still hold true:

Looking at the human condition from this perspective, it’s clear that while we have a lot of needs not everyone strives as hard for those near the top of the pyramid; the “lofty” goals. Arguably, these are the very traits that separate us from other living things: morality, confidence, respect. Many so-called martial arts focus on self-defense, which falls within the more plebeian Safety concerns. Important? Sure; but that’s not all there is to life. We focus on all levels of the hierarchy.

One of the key methods for achieving this in my opinion is the TGT program. Teaching skills are some of the most difficult and most valuable that you can gain. It’s hard to imagine achieving much in life without being able to motivate, coach, teach, or parent others. Fortunately, we don’t wait for our students to reach Black Belt before they start teaching.

For one, rank alone adds responsibility akin to being an older brother or sister, which comes with the added expectation of being able to assist the junior ranking students. But it doesn’t end there. The TGT program is a volunteer corps of the best and most respected students. These already notable individuals then get special instruction on how to teach, not just what to teach, so they may assist in class. While this certainly improves the student/teacher ratio to the benefit of all students, the TGT members are actually the ones who gain the most.

These role models must exemplify the ideals of the school in order to be respected by the other students. As such, they are held to a higher standard, must do more and must pay a higher price for their mistakes. Remember, with greater authority comes greater responsibility. The lessons learned when trying to teach others and live up to their expectations are very valuable, but not easy. This accelerates their maturation however and ultimately helps create better instructors and future leaders. I also believe it makes them better children, parents, employees, etc. — you name it. I don’t think that I can over emphasize the value of this one program.

SUMMARY

Actually, there are so many lessons learned by following the warrior’s path that I’m not sure that my title is accurate. Perhaps instead Life is a Microcosm of Hwa Rang Do. This certainly is true for many who are not fortunate enough to have had good parents and teachers and never found the path to self-betterment. And I’m not just referring to the bottom rungs of society; this applies to people from all walks of life. We are losing touch with what makes us tick, what we need — and this is causing us to lose touch with our humanity.

Seriously, HRD in many ways is better than life — or at least, better than real life — because it’s an idealized version of what life should be. Everyone tries their best; helps each other; is accountable; is selfless; is on their best behavior; works together; focuses on the positive; encourages growth; seeks wisdom; gains strength; … If only real life were like this! But little by little, we impart this glimpse of a better world; and each student carries this with us into our communities to set an example and positively impact our environment.

So once again I find that I have much more material that I can compress into this limited space. I’m sure that I could write a book if I kept on; and Dojoonim and Master Lee could write many many such books — I wish they would as we’d all benefit immensely.

There are a few points that really shouldn’t be left out. We are a school of leadership, of strength, of character. We are not the Boy Scouts, we’re not a gym, we’re not a church and we’re not the military. Each of these has their own end in mind for you and they don’t care so much about your personal growth.

Some might say “so then you’re like team sports?” No! The main difference is that we are not playing a game! We’re not pretending to prepare for battle, we are preparing for battle. We fight to strengthen ourselves for the demands of life so we can approach it with courage and emerge victorious. As such, we require more focus, more determination, and there’s a greater consequence for failure. As accurately as possible we test ourselves on a daily basis to ensure that we have the mettle.

“Oh, so then you’re like the military?” No! They focus on a very specific outcome — to pigeonhole individuals into the war machine so that together they can win a given battle. Our goal is not so plebeian. We do not limit individuals but strive to expand their self-imposed limits. A soldier is taught to follow orders and fight without thinking — that thinking will get him killed. By contrast, a warrior is self-governing and chooses to follow a leader but does so with his brain fully engaged. If he sees a mistake it is his duty to point it out; even at great personal consequence. The ideals we follow are greater than we are — integrity, courage, honor, humanity, justice, virtue. These can never be compromised. Nor can they ever be fulfilled — but in my opinion one cannot spend their lifetime in a pursuit that’s more important.

Lastly, this is all really about giving back — doing what you can to make this world a better place. If we knew of a better way to do this we would. By training people to be stronger, they can go out and help the weak. By showing them how to lead, they can better leverage these teachings to the benefit of an even greater number of people. It’s as Master Lee says, “you should become a doctor in order to save lives; you should become a lawyer in order to fight injustice.” Well, we are teachers and leaders — so we can show others not just what can be done but also teach them how to accomplish great things. And sure, some might do this to feel good about themselves as part of the natural desire to leave a legacy; but if you ask me, Hwarang warriors act this way just because it’s the right thing to do.

This morning, Master Lee was explaining the finer points of the second HRD hyung to me, demonstrating the proper body mechanics for the reverse punch. I’ve seen plenty of high level practitioners throw a reverse punch, and I myself have thrown thousands of them. But when you see it done properly, as if every cell of the puncher’s body is in perfect harmony with that movement, that punch is no longer just a punch. It’s an expression of transcendence.

The beauty of that transcendence is lost, however, on 99% of the people that walk through the dojang’s doors. The average person, even a so-called “educated consumer”, lacks the perspective or experience to see the value of what’s being given to them so freely for nothing more than the price of enrollment. I see it almost every time I walk into the dojang: “That which comes too easily, you esteem too lightly,” It’s a bloody shame. It expresses itself with every rude comment, every careless action, every half-hearted kick, every defensive response to criticism, and every moment when our ego allows any sort of behavior that is anything other than respectful, diligent, committed, and generous. This is the cold, hard truth of every asset or precious commodity – from money, to relationships – not just martial arts. We get into the habit of taking things for granted, and we do it with the things that we cherish, let alone the things that we cannot comprehend the value of.
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Almost 2 decades ago, when I first came to Los Angeles, I was at Caltech, watching Tsutomu Ohshima teach his Shotokan karate class. As a newcomer, I knelt just inside the door of the gym in the corner, watching the class train and observing the instruction. Master Ohshima noticed me kneeling, and came up to me after maybe 30 minutes and invited me in, asking me to sit more comfortably on the bleachers. When he came up to me, I bowed down, touching my forehead to the ground in the same way that you bow at the beginning of class.
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At the end of class, one of Master Ohshima’s higher ranking brown belt students came up to me and snidely asked why I was brown-nosing “Mr. Ohshima” with all the kneeling and bowing. I shot back a glare that would have cut through a tree and told him that if he had any clue who his teacher was, how his teacher was the prized pupil of the father of modern karate, how his teacher’s skill is legendary in the world of martial arts (even in Japan), he should cry at the number of times he failed to kneel down and show the utmost respect for his sensei. Embarrassed, he skulked off to change out of his uniform and find his pocket protector. In all his years of training, that student never comprehended the value of the moments he had with this great master. If you knew the kind of level of achievement and genius that Do Joo Nim has accomplished, if you knew the kind of persistence and dedication Susuk Kwan Jang Nim has put into training and continuing Do Joo Nim’s legacy, and if you knew how little you appreciate it and respect it, maybe you’d cry too. Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Don’t show your thanks with a Honey baked ham, or some cheap words. Show how much you understand what is being given to you and how much you esteem the Hwarang ethos by pushing yourself in every moment to be stronger, more dedicated, more respectful, and more aware not just in the dojang, but in every moment of your life.

Dr. Mark Cheng