Creating the right ambiance always help set the proper mood.   And while it doesn't just have to be on your dates with significant others, training can also be enhanced by doing so in a space that is inspirational toward our goal of focus, clarity, and energy.   After the trip to Korea this summer (and of course years of movies, books, etc) and seeing the temples/training grounds of the past, the ongoing quest to create a space that really feels like a real "DOJANG" continues in Minneapolis.

It does run in the blood as Instructor Sirny worked the construction crews of his father's architectural company during high school, and the remodeling of the world headquarters back in 2000 provided great education in preparation of the Minneapolis dojang original renovations.   However, trying to make an inspirational space out of modern buildings and cookie cutter mall space, well sometimes there is only so much we can do.   Until the day when we build up our Hwarang temple like dojangs anew from the ground up, sometimes little things can make a difference.

In the middle of February the Minneapolis Academy added decorative rice paper screens to the big ugly florescent light fixtures to diffuse the light and help provide a more traditional and inspirational mood for the dojang.   Along with the dragon mural painted up the staircase earlier, the move is always toward a space that is conducive toward setting the mood for training.   Even though we are not up in the fresh air mountains of Korea, it is important that we leave the grind and grudge of the city to a place where the warrior spirit is cultured.   When you walk up the stairs (or through the door) of your training center, you are not entering a building, you are entering the timeless space of a training environment dedicated to infinite discovery - that is your dojang.

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