Twenty-five years ago, this month, I became a member of the Han
Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do Club. I had just started
at Lockheed Martin the previous August and worked with two members of the club,
Norio Tominaga and Sam Nazzal. Both of
them encouraged me to try the club out and, based on their encouragement and for
other reasons I joined.
It is sometimes hard for me to fathom it has been twenty-five-years
that I have been studying the art form and for twenty years I have been an instructor
(the last 11 being the Chief Instructor).
Twenty-five years ago, I would not have thought I would have been a member
of the Club this long or even had become an instructor. I did not truly understand or appreciate in
the beginning all there was to learn and how martial arts is a way of life – mind,
body, spirit.
The two main reasons I continue to train and instruct are I constantly
learn and grow (mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually) and because
I think the art form has so much to offer people. I think it is important to share this art form
with anyone who is interested.
Every day I train or instruct I learn something new. I learn something physical in the art form –
maybe a different way to mechanically throw the technique, a new energetic
intent or a new way to express it. I
learn from watching students, by experimenting with the art form or just talking
about it with students or instructors. Just
in the last couple of months, I have discovered another dozen or so
applications in various hyung and found another way to mechanically throw the
augmented medium block. And since we
also teach the energy side, we are only limited by our imagination of different
applications or intents. And once I discover
something, then the task is to integrate it within all the techniques, hyung,
self-defense, etc.
I have found for myself and seen in others what studying an energy-based
art form has enabled them to do in their personal and professional lives. For myself, Han Moo Kwan has been foundational
to my personal and professional growth. I
have seen people grow more confident in themselves, I have seen people come from
a place of power and clarity, I have seen people discover what their potential
truly is. Because I think some of the
most important work we can do is self-growth and becoming the best person we
can to help ourselves and our communities, for myself, I continue to train and teach
Han Moo Kwan.
I believe that all students that have joined Han Moo Kwan
have benefited from it. And I hope each
of you continue to train and instruct or, if you do not currently instruct, find
a calling to one day instruct to continue the art form and to continue to
support your community.
Regards,
Kelly
“Ever since I was a child, I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one's potential.” ~ Bruce Lee, (1940 –1973) American-born Chinese Hong Kong martial artist, actor, and founder of Jeet Kune Do
