my blog

Jung SuWon 83rd Testing Cycle and Master demos!

2009-09-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Click here

for photos of the latest JSW testing - 83rd Testing Cycle!! The Do Jung was packed for it. over 30 students tested for their next belt. Special guests included eastern europe royalty even! Below is the article from the Korean Comunity of San Francisco, www.sfkorean.com or click on the above link!

정수원 승단시험 축제 ((Jung SuWon Martial Art Academy)

지난 9월5일 캘리포니아 프리몬 테크놀로지에 있는 정수원(사범 김태연)의 83번째를 맞이한 태권도 승단 시험에 30여명이 참가하여 그 동안 익힌 실력을 내외귀빈들에게 과시하며 실력을 평가 받았다.

정수원의 엄하고 가혹한 수련과정은 정신력을 강조하는 김태연 사범의 독특한 지도철학과 방법론의 산물이며 내공의 기를 강조하는 지도에 수련생들로 부터 절대적인 지지를 받고 있으며 안되면 되게 하는 특유의 정신 무장에 연약한 아이들의 손에서도 벽돌장이 부서지는 결과를 만들어 내고 있다.

재외동포신문, 한국타임즈, 한국건설경제신문사. UPI통신사. SFKorean 편집위원, 한국화보 정승덕 지사장

기사제보 문의: 408-892-1188, SEUNGC@SBCGLOBAL.NET

Warrior! Express & grow!

2009-08-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

I just learned something incredible this week in class with Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim, at Jung SuWon - the power of ki up. All during my training I've had a small ki up - I never thought much of it. I recently had the opportunity to be in a class led by Great Grandmaster and to get to have Great Grandmaster give me the opportunity to change my ki up.

It was incredible. Several times Great Grandmaster had be ki up before running and kicking the bags --- suddenly I got a big ki up out and it felt so amazingly different - it felt really strong. It felt like a whole new me.

The next day that class stuck with me. And I found my voice too could be like the new ki up I'd uncovered -- strong, deeper, with conviction.

Before this I was always quiet and held myself back. Now I feel lit up inside - I want to express and share every change I can get to bring up and out my new voice and the new energy I feel inside. Great Grandmaster helped me uncover the real 'me' in me!

Thank you Great Grandmaster!
Jung Su!
Pil Seung!

Breaking Obstacles and limited beliefs at Jung SuWon

2009-08-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

He Can Do, She Can Do, Why Not ME!!!!

This pictures is from a recent Jung SuWon Belt Ceremony. I never imagined I could do this!! Never in a thousand years! But with Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim's energy and training -- Look at the result!

Jung Su!

Inspirational Life Story!!

2009-06-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite videos! Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim's life and her martial art, Jung Su Won, are so inspiring!

Click here!

Dr Tae Yun Kim's inspirational life story!!!

2009-05-16T18:06:00.001-07:00

Check this video out --- Be inspired! A clip on Great Grandmaster Dr Kim's inspirational life story!

Click here!

Be Inspired!

2009-05-06T09:47:00.001-07:00

Having a tough day?

Check out this inspirational clip! Makes my day every time I see it!

click here!

Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim's energy and spirit, and the spirit of Jung SuWon will lighten/enlighten your day!

2009-03-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

Break away obstacles! Never Give up! Be Inspired! Great Grandmaster Dr tae Yun Kim recently had a belt ceremony at Jung SuWon Martial Arts Academy and gave some of her black belts a chance to do just this!

Check out the following!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8C5f6fGZTw&feature=channel_page(Third degree Black Belt Paul Newman)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wulpHnZ5GvQ&feature=channel_page (Master Sarah Alex)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eGUSeQO_fo&feature=channel_page(Chief Master Mark Amador)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIM_iziUBqo&feature=channel_page(Third degree Black Belt Hope Winter)

Hope in a down economy! KBS-America Captures Dr Kim's Spirit!

2009-02-24T14:35:00.001-08:00

Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim's story, life, and spirit bring hope and inspiration to every one!

Here's a new show that just aired that does an awesome job of capturing and showing Dr Kim's spirit! (click here)

He Can Do! She Can Do! Why Not Me!

The only obstacle is in your mind!

2009-02-19T18:09:00.000-08:00

Watching testings and classes at Jung SuWon I've had the opportunity to witness feats that many would consider impossible or at best improbable... Great Grandmaster Dr. Tae Yun Kim, through her own example of overcoming a life where as a child she was beaten for born a girl on the Lunar New Years (a great curse in her family's mind and culture), that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and remain determined and dedicated. How else could Dr. Kim broken 5000 years of Tae Kwon Do history to (as a girl or woman) first train and then become the first female Grandmaster?

Here is a video of one of Dr Kims students - the world might see him and think he has a disability because as a child an accident with a friend and a gun left him now in a wheel chair, but he has demonstrated over and over again, through his training at Jung SuWon, that limitations are only in your mind. They can be overcome!

Click <here> to see this in action! And click <here> to see again the latest article on Dr Kim!!

2009-02-02T16:25:00.001-08:00

This just out!! check out the awesome cover article on Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim and Jung Suwon in TKD Times! I think its the best article ever!

click here:http://www.taekwondotimes.com/

Happy New Years - again! Second chance!

2009-01-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

Lunar New Years is just around the corner! At Jung SuWon Martial Arts Academy Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim teaches this is a second chance to set goals for the year, or re-start those goals!

If you ever think you can not reach your goal(s), see this. Let this motivation you! Here's one Jung SuWon Black Belt who shoes you that you can overcome anything. (click here) Physical limits (or limits you think you have), even the after affects of polio, mean nothing if your goal means more to you!

You can do it!
Victory!

Welcome to 2009!!! A new Jung Suwon Warrior Year!

2009-01-04T15:06:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2009!!

Feels like it was just 2000 ... and here its 9 years later! As time flies, and seems to go faster and faster each year, it emphasizes to me what Jung SuWon's Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim has always taught, "Celebrate every breath!"

Here's a clip to ring in the new year!! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FO-2aJGjztU&feature=channel_page

Proud to say "Merry Christmas!"

2008-12-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here!
Merry Merry Christmas to you!

From training at Jung Su Won Martial Arts Academy under Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim I've learned confidence to say what I believe in and what I feel. Unlike those who say 'Happy Holidays' out of fear of offending someone today, I am proud to say "Merry Christmas!"

Christmas is Christ's birthday - regardless of what you believe in, that does not change. So if you are Christian, or believe in Christ, or just believe in and want good for the world, proudly say, "Merry Christmas!"

Jung SuWon builds Kids' confidence!

2008-12-07T15:36:00.000-08:00

Jung SuWon Marital Arts Academy just had an awesome Christmas party! Part of the entertainment for the party was songs and dances by students. For one of the acts, two little girls, 6 years old stood up infront of the huge audience and performed a choreographed dance to a holiday song, dressed in matchng red and black outfits, reindeer antlers, and blinking red Rudolf noses.

They were so confident! They didn't appear to feel even a second of stage fright. They danced and smiled and had a great time. I think they got the biggest round of applause of the night!

Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun asked the audience afterwards, what were you doing at age 6?

I know I wasn't up in front of a audience singing and dancing - I was too shy. Looking back I would have loved to have trained at Jung SuWon as a kid -- the kids learn so much focus, how to set a goal and accomplish it, how to learn from their mistakes, self discipline, self confidence etc. The kids training at Jung Suwon have opportunities, like these two little girls did at the Christmas party, to develop the self confidence needed to speak, sing, and dance, in front of people. Things they can take with them their whole lives.

Thanksgiving Day Thanks!

2008-12-01T14:23:00.001-08:00

On Thanksgiving this year I want to recognize what I am most thankful for. It's too easy to let each day go by with out stopping and recognizing what is really important to me. In church yesterday the Priest, in his sermon, quoted hollywood stars' lists of things they were most thankful for, and he commented that none of them thanked someone (or the source) of all their things - God.

On my list of things I am most thankful for, and thankful to -

God - for giving me this life. And for all the family and friends I love.

Health - for God giving me good health and for giving my family and friends good health too.

My Parents -for raising me well and for giving me a safe, loved, secure, stable childhood that it often seems few kids today have.

Great Grandmaster Dr. Tae Yun Kim - for inspiring and motivating me that there is nothing that can not be overcome. Like Great Grandmaster's motto, "He can Do, she can do, why not me?"

Jung SuWon - for being an environment I can discover more about myself. Beyond just working out and feeling good from that, learning from others, my seniors, my juniors, even the Jung SuWon Kids

Jung SuWon Double Palm Heel Brick Breaks - Everyone Benefits!

2008-11-25T16:44:00.000-08:00

At the end of a recent class led by Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim at Jung SuWon Martial Arts Academy, Great Grandmaster gave two students unexpected, unforseen opportunities to do some unique breaks.

To help demonstrate to students that besides being able to focus on one opponent, like in advanced su ki, students should be able to visualize and do su ki as if they were facing 2, 3 or more opponents, Great Grandmaster had two bricks set up, side by side, for a double palm heel break. The first student, a Jung SuWon black belt, was called up, stated his goal, focused on it, and broke both bricks, each brick with one palm heel, at the same time! It was really impressive!

But for me the next Black Belt's break, the same set up, was even more powerful.

He too stated his goal, ki upped loud, and struck the bricks --- but only the right hand one broke. He re-gathered himself, focused, kipped again and struck the bricks - but this time the left hand brick broke and the right did not. More energy, more focus --- third try the right one broke again, but the left did not. But this time, you can guess the energy bouncing back up his hands and arms with each miss, the mental tremble to keep going, the regathering of resolution he required.... Fourth try --- impressive ki up --- and just the left broke.

At this point 4 tries in... Great Grandmaster asked him if he wanted to stop or continue. With the determination of a warrior of old he strongly said he wanted to continue. You could see it re-wakened his determination. He WAS going to break this. Great Grandmaster also then spoke to everyone in class watching --- asked all to actualize the break in their minds. Not just visualize (see it) in their minds, but actualize it in their minds. Make it real in their minds.

Fifth try --- the black belt gathered his energy, let out a ki up that must have been heard aroudn the block, jumped up higher than the holding bricks and came down, striking, resolute --- and both lam heels, both bricks -- broke!!!

The cheers were deafening!

For me, watching, the first student's break had been impressive - he showed it could be done, but in a sense it was HIS break. The second student's break, because Great Grandmaster asked us all to really focus and actualize the break - felt like not just his break, but OUR break!

Jung SuWon Warrior - awesome ridge hand bottle break!

2008-11-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

Check this out!! This is a great break --

(click here)

watch in slow motion that his hand actually slides off right after impact --- that means in that just second of perfect contact, he had the energy to make the bottom of this bottle explode!

I never would have imagined such a break could even be possible! That spirit, that focus, determination, self belief is totally from Jung SuWon training under Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim!

Jung SuWon Warrior Relationships - life training!

2008-11-19T20:56:00.000-08:00

Martial Arts teach you many things -- physically how to kick and punch. How to put kicks and punches together to defend yourself or your loved ones. How to value yourself enough to defend yourself. How to learn how to learn anything - from a new kick to how to a new skill at work.

From my experience also, Martial Arts, in my case particularily Jung SuWon, as taught by Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim, is a foundation for better relationships and a better life - at work and at home.

Once example of a great warrior relationship - check this blog.

Jung SuWon teaches you to have a purpose and determination. Dont' be a lump on a log - have a direction you want in life!

Jung SuWon teaches you patience (Jung SuWon Code of ethics: "Seek patience in my ways") - all relationships benefit from patience. With co-workers, relatives, or your spouse or partner -- having patience and the empathy, care, concern for others behind it, goes a long way.

Jung SuWon teaches you to find the truth in your life (Code of ethics: "..So that I may discover the Truth about my strengths and weaknesses")

And Jung SuWon teaches you first to learn about your self. One of the code of ethics is, "I will learn to love myself." That sounds so basic, but for me I know it wasn't until I could really feel confident in my own skin, had learned to know and like myself, that I found real love with a wonderful partner. You have to learn to love yourself before you can truely love another.

Jung SuWon Warrior Relationship & Wedded bliss (part1)

2008-11-18T11:54:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to a Jung SuWon belt testing led by Great Grandmaster Dr Kim?

Do you remember the spirit and joy, laugher and happy tears you experienced watching testing? If you have and can - imagine how joyous and spirit filled a Jung SuWon warrior wedding day and reception was! :)

One of a Kind! Unique!

There were toasts, for instance --- but not just with wine... (the wine toasts were later, after the cake, and by the Best Man and Matron of Honor)... but by Black Belts dedicating breakings of boards and bricks!

And the Groom and Bride couldn't be left out!

Here are two unique clips -- the Groom, Grandmaster Michael Fell in his tuxedo, and the Bride, Holly Chamberlain, (that's me!) in her big white wedding dress with their breaks.

Like Great Grandmaster teaches --- any time, any where!

Jung SuWon Warrior Relationship - Love & Unity!

2008-11-18T11:17:00.001-08:00

Jung SuWon Warrior - relationship and wedded warrior spirit bliss!

Click here for a cool video shown at the wedding reception Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim gave Grandmaster Michael Fell and I on our wedding day. :)

And please see below - I thought this was so creative!
From a wedding card from a close friend and fellow Jung Suwon Black Belt:

My wish to you is a Jung SuWon "Code of Ethics of Life"
(see its basis, the Jung SuWon Code of Ethics)

Body, Mind, and Spirit as one together and with God.
Truth in your hearts each day.
Purity together on your new journey in life together.
Love for each other, for God, for Great Grandmaster, your families, friends and community,
and unconditional love for the world.
Loyalty to your marriage commitment, and to your life goals as individuals.
Sacrifice and unity, especially in hard times.
And Patience with each other as you grow together.

Black Belt Testing!! (revisiting clip)

2008-11-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

I don't think I posted this yet --- click <here> to see part 1 of my Jung SuWon Black Belt Testing under Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim - it was life changing for me!

And click <here> to see part2!! Note the 3 brick break about 4:13 in!!! I never thought before I could ever, ever do that!!

He Can Do, She Can Do! Why Not Me!!!

Choices!!

2008-11-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

What to choose, what to choose… what to choose?

http://jungsuwon-instructor.blogspot.com/2008/10/make-your-own-choices-be-owner-of-your.html or click here

I love this posting – everyday we all make thousands of little choices. What time am I getting up in the morning? What am I having for breakfast? What am I going to work on first at work? Etc.

Most choices may not have much of an inpact on my life. Having cereal instead of a donut for breakfast isn’t going to change the world for me today.

But in each of our choices we, maybe unknowingly, chose good or bad. A life of eating cereal for breakfast could keep my healthier than a life of eating a donut for breakfast…

A life of associating with good people, with good hearts, who want to help others and help bring more good about in the world, will have an impact on my life.

All your choices count, in some way. Chose the good always!! I think if you do, ultimately good will always come to you.

I can remember in Jung SuWon class Great Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim saying each of us are like antennas – Good and bad things are out there just like vibrations. And unknowingly we pick up them. I want my antennae to only be tuned into good things!

So so funny!

2008-11-01T11:33:00.001-07:00

I laughed so hard at this, you just have to read it too!

Click here:
http://jungsuwonimals.wordpress.com/2008/11/01/jung-suwon-imal-sophie-is-really-sam/

It’s the most creative description of acknowledging and learning from a mistake I’ve ever read! You just have to read it too!!!

(It doesn't matter if you have not heard of Jung SuWon before, Dr Tae Yun Kim's teachings are universal -- this student found that!)

Be a butterfly! Not a ground grubbing caterpillar!

2008-11-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

Be a butterfly, not a Caterpillar!

Can you imagine? What if a caterpillar just didn’t turn into a butterfly? What if it said, that’s a lot of work, that’s scary, that’s not for me –

http://silent-master.blogspot.com/2008/10/terrible-spell.html

(Check this link out for additional links too to some inspirational stories.)

When I first heard Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim comment, in Jung SuWon class, what if the caterpillar decided to just stay like a worm and not take the determination to change into being a butterfly, in Jung Suwon class, it made a real impression on me.

If a caterpillar didn’t take that great leap of trust and faith to change itself over completely to a beautiful winged creature, it would just be a ‘worm’ crawling around on the ground.

I remember that comment when every I face a challenge or a new change in my life – change can be scary, unknown, it can me I have to face my beliefs (likely false and limiting about myself) – but if I don’t trust, at least in God if I can’t believe in myself, and go for it, then I’m just letting myself be stuck in a caterpillar stage. J

Trust, have faith, and change like the caterpillar does to become a beautiful butterfly!!

Can Do NOW!!

2008-11-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

Now’s the time! At JungSuWon, Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim’s motto has always been “He Can Do, She Can Do, Why Not ME!” – recently and addendum to it is, Can Do NOW! (see here)

I love that! So many times I think I want to do X, or I will do X – but I give myself wiggle room, let myself weasel out and not set a date to accomplish something by. Since I heard it, “Can Do Now! Has been inspiriing me to hey – get off my butt and do it, set that goal! Make that plan! Give it a date! And do it now! Don’t wait! Take Action!

Listen to your Inner Words...

2008-11-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

Here’s a thought for the day:
“Listen to your inner words. Frequently check to make sure you’re talking positively about yourself. If you find a monologue running that goes…I’ll never make it…I’m no good.. nobody wants me… I have nothing to offer… on and on .. then you need to consciously stop and consciously create new words. I am succeeding… My talent is valuable… what ever you need to say to help you on your way, not hinder you” The First Element, by Dr. Tae Yun Kim

Today I’m only going to tell myself positive things about myself. Today I’m not going to let myself put myself down.

...Yet even just writing that I find those at best-neutral if not negative thoughts I have about myself and what I can do, seem to just about always be there! :)

I remember Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim teaching in Jung SuWon class, think about what you say in your mind about yourself to yourself every day--- If someone else said that out loud to you, you’d be really angry and upset – yet because its your thought in your head, you let yourself take it in.

So, today, I’m going to fight my thoughts and only let myself think good things about myself! Why don’t you try too?

20 Pounds of Emotions

2008-11-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

Quote of the day:
“Because your body and mine are one, they are in intimate communication with each other. You can look at your body and gain insight into the quality of your thinking; and you can look at your thinking to determine how to shape and direct your body. Doesn’t a healthy tree produce healthy fruit? Just so, when your thoughts are healthy, your body reflects this condition. Conversely when you are ill, it may be helpful to examine the state of your mind or the state of your beliefs to locate the cause…” Seven Steps to Inner Power, by Dr Tae Yun Kim

This is just my personal experience – but at one point about 10 years ago I was about 20 pounds heavier than I am now. The weight crept on over about 2 years time. At the time it just seemed like nothing I could do would change it, that it was out of my control, but now, looking back I realize the weight wasn’t just physical weight. At that time I was going through a lot of emotions and bad relationships - all of that ended up literally reflected in my body.

When I finally started decided I didn’t like the weight and wanted to change it, I dieted and lost about half the weight. But the last 10 pounds just wouldn’t come off. It didn’t seem to matter how much I worked out (I go to classes at Jung SuWon), or tried to watch what I ate – the last 10 pounds wouldn’t budge.

Then one day, about a year later – I had a revelation about my emotions for the last few years (about the years I started to gain weight, where I was then). I felt like an emotional weight suddenly left me.

And then the last 10 pounds came off in the next month. I didn’t really change any thing that I was doing, didn’t work out more (I train at JungSuWon - its awesome!), I didn’t eat differently .. my mind had suddenly cleared and so my body then cleared the last extra weight!

So if you’re stuck with that last 5 pounds, or stuck with extra weight – maybe some of it is like what I saw in my life. Look at your life, how do you feel about it, what’s in it, what makes you happy, what causes you stress and emotion --- maybe working on losing that ‘weight’ in your life will help you physically too!

Real Love comes FROM you!

2008-11-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

Here’s something to think about today:
“When you find real love in your life, you have a special feeling of happiness that is not dependent on anyone or anything in order to be. That’s because it comes FROM you, not TO you from outside sources” The Silent Master, by Dr Tae Yun Kim

Reading that today I thought, wow, there is so much in that short quote. Did someone ever tell you they loved you, but inside at that time you were stressed about something, or depressed about something, or unsettled or unhappy with your life over all? What did you feel back at that time? Stress? Love, but not joy? For myself, thinking back, I’d discount what that person said in a way. I just couldn’t take it in really. It would be like eating plastic or something indigestible – just couldn’t ‘digest’ that person’s love because I didn’t feel love inside myself, myself.

Real love, real happiness has to come from inside you first. It has to be your love, your ability to love, generated by you. Then any and all love that comes your way, you can take in.

Help Your Child - enroll them in JungSuWon classes!

2008-11-01T10:02:00.001-07:00

All you parents of young kids out there, there is a positive website out there for your kids.

Just click here

I started training at Jung SuWon where I was 25 -- every time I come to JSW class early and see the kids and teenagers training I think, wow, I wish I'd started training when I was a kid or at least as a teenager. I was in 4-H from age 9-19. 4-H gave me an outlet to learn indepence and experience succeeding and failing (like if something won a blue ribbon at a fair, or did not), and learning from it, in a small setting -- but it wasn't a physical activity.

I would have so much benefited from Jung SuWon and learning from Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim as a child! The kids in JSW kids class learn that they can face a challenge, like setting a goal and facing breaking a board, and then accomplish it! And they can face how do they overcome obstacles if they miss a break - how do they bring up their resolve and determination to try again --- and how sweet success feels when they they break it!

That's priceless!

Yea! Its November 1

2008-11-01T09:49:00.001-07:00

Yea! Its November 1!!

I am so happy the Halloween is over! I think we should just do away that holiday, personally. Why have a holiday that's so negative and at best encourages our kids to beg and do bad things?

(See this posting) Let's bump up Christmas! Let's push up Thanksgiving! Let's have holidays that make us feel good and encourage good things! Let's work on every day being positive - there is enough stress in the world, and that comes at us - let's celebrate every living breath, like Dr. Tae Yun Kim (author of "Seven Steps to Inner Power" (my favorite book), and many other books) writes!

Stand your ground - Vote!

2008-11-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

I listen to co-workers and friends comment, discuss, or at time argue over who should be the next president, or which propositions should pass or fail - with great passion and conviction often!

I was thinking today --- what if we each brought such passion and conviction to our own lives? Are you as passionate about your goals? Or do you get complacent? And act like your 'vote' in your life does not matter or make a difference?

I train in marital arts at Jung Su Won and one of the few people I have met who truly is passionate about life and her goals is our Great Grandmaster, Dr. Tae Yun Kim. She overcame incredible, near insurmountable personal challenges and later business challenges to become the first female Grandmaster in the history of Tae Kwon Do and the CEO and founder of multi-million dollar international companies. Dr. Kim could not have gotten to where she is today without being passionate about her goals and dreams - and then taking action and putting them into action. She put her 'vote' in in her life.

So in you are passionate about your views on candidates or propositions - Do your part - be a warrior - put your passion into action -- Vote!

"Your thoughts create reality" - Determination comes from within you!

2008-10-15T12:00:00.001-07:00

"Your thoughts create reality"
Six Silent Master Images ("From Seven Steps to Inner Power" by Dr Tae Yun Kim)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=19TpT3K_Fy4
(see at 4:04 min into it)...

The two seconds or so at 4:04min into this video of my Jung SuWon Black Belt testing, might seem like just one break of many - after all, the other candidates break lots of bricks, and even bottles, in the video.

But those two seconds made a huge impact on me.

You see, that girl is me, and a couple years before, when I was testing for Red Belt, Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim gave me the opportunity, during testing, to face breaking three bricks with ax kick.

I didn't break 3 bricks that night. I probably broke 30+ bricks--- first the top one of the stack of 3, then the top two, then the top one again, then 2, then none, then 1, then none, then 2, etc. At one point I somehow broke the middle brick in the stack of 3 while the top and bottom ones (all new bricks) remained untouched... I'd never seen that before! But - no matter how often I struck that stack of 3 bricks, that night during Red Belt testing I just couldn't gather together the extra bit of determination or focus needed to break a stack of three bricks in one shot.

For me, from that point to my black belt testing a couple years later, the thought of me breaking three bricks in with one Ax kick was about as believable as snow falling in the Sahara dessert. No way I could do that. It just wasn't going to happen.

It's hard to summarize Black Belt testing in words. It was an awesome mix of emotions (joy, fear, stress, happiness, etc) and techniques (forms, sparring tied to chairs, tied to poles, blindfolded...) but when, at Belt Ceremony, Great Grandmaster had three bricks setup in front of three of the candidates, one of them being me, I suddenly reached the most clear thought of my life:

I am only going to hit this once.

In that moment I felt a singular determination, a total, absolute focus, and a total letting go of any thought or concern for my foot, or pride, or any other emotion.

All three bricks were going to all break, and I was only going to hit the stack once.

Watching the video today, you can see me strike the bricks with an ax kick (not even that high of an ax kick, really), see all the bricks explode into pieces, and see me I jump back into cat stance in such joy and total elation.

I had done it! Before I'd thought it was impossible -- but I had just done it!

I want to thank Great Grandmaster so, so much. When ever I face a challenge, I remember those 3 bricks. I remember my Red Belt testing, where I just couldn't break the stack of three, and I remember successfully breaking them at my Black Belt Testing because of my singular, determined thought - I was only going to hit this once.

I'm not physically that big or tall, nor do I weigh that much. The moment I broke the stack of three bricks, though, showed me that I am not limited by my body, actually, but only by my mind. I can, when my mind, focus, and determination is totally set --- break through any obstacle life hands me.

Pil Seung! (Victory!)

Attachment... stronger than velcro

2008-10-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

From "Seven Steps to Inner Power" by Dr. Tae Yun Kim -
"How to Deal with Negative Emotions"
"You may have already carved some negative emotional states, such as anger, worry, resentment, fear, or sorrow, into your consciousness... You may have felt so righteously justified in feeling them that you accepted them and had no intention of letting them go. But whom does this really affect? It hurts only you. Perhaps when you adopted these negative feelings you didn't know that this option would eventually obstruct your growth."

I encountered a case of this this week. About two months ago my immediate family had an anniversary dinner at a restaraunt for my parents. Two days ago one of my younger sisters emailed me that something had been bothering her about that dinner for the last two months and she wasn't going to say anything about it, but finally decided she had to. Basically there was a misunderstanding about the bill, in her view. For two months she couldn't let it go. She even got my other, youngest sister embroiled in it. When my younger sister brought it to my attention I was stunned- first stunned that she'd been harboring it for two months, and second, that she was upset for two months over about $50-80. In a way you could say she sold her soul to the devil for $50-80 because for two months she wasn't generating love or good things, instead she was generating strife, hate, and stress over $50-80.

It made me stop and think about what I've learned at Jung SuWon from Great Grandmaster Dr. Tae Yun Kim about attachments and about communication.

You have to let attachments go to be really free.

My sister was so attached to her view of that dinner and its bill that, in essence, she had let it take her on a wild ride, like a run away horse, for two months.

And, you need to communicate!

If my sister hadn't finally emailed me about it, she'd still be wrapped up in it and would still be letting it affect her.

Emails went back and forth over the dinner and bill and each of our view of that night, but in the end we resolved it. She let her feelings out, I let mine out, and calmed the issue down.

I realized when I'm attached to something, or some point of view, I do the exact same thing. I can let it brood in me until its all out of proportion and then usually find when I say something, that the issue didn't even exist in the other person's mind!

I'm really proud of my sister for finally communicating so we could work on resolving it. Communication is key!

A light moment --- Cooking and training meet!

2008-10-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

Stressed today? I was... until I saw this. For a light, fun minute --- take a look at this video. :) It's my favorite this week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kjCJNw1A0k

Have a Positive Mental Attitude!

2008-09-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

"Have a Positive Mental Attitude!"

"...Your feelings and emotions play a large role in what you manifest or fail to manifest. If you think of your thoughts as seeds, think of our emotional environment as soil. Therefore, your positive seeds must be sown in positive soil to grow and flourish. Together, your positive thought and feelings create a positive mental attitude...Your attitude has everything to do with what you are capable of achieving." Dr. Tae Yun Kim, 'Seven Steps to Inner Power'

When ever I have a tough day, I remind myself to keep a positive mental attitude about what ever is going on. I may not be able to control what happens, but I do 100% have control over how I react to it.

Maybe its one of those days where everything seemed to go wrong. You know, one of those where you wake up late, spill juice on your white shirt, get stuck in traffic, and then your computer crashes just it is saving changes to an important file your boss wants half an hour ago..

I can't control the traffic, or stop the computer from crashing, but I can control how I react to it. If I let myself get all stressed out and let my blood pressure rise until I'm all set to snap at the first person who asks me something - that's MY choice. It might not be a particularly good choice, but it is a choice, and a choice I could make. If I instead stop and tell myself to breath, calm down, and detach from the stress, that's MY choice too.

The more I keep a positive mental attitude as I go through the day, the more I find that things that could otherwise build up and cause me stress, don't stress me out. If I can keep a slightly detached view of all that happens to me, and not get emotionally wrapped up in it, I find it is much easier to get through any stressful situation. Instead of being like a leaf blown about in the wind, as each new stressful thing comes up, if I keep a positive mental attitude, I can be like a leaf blower instead - and be in control of blowing the leaves (i.e. stress) away.

Learn From Your Mistakes!

2008-09-20T18:41:00.000-07:00

Jung SuWon Martial Arts Academy just had a testing cycle and belt ceremony - watching it I was struck by something.

One of the tenets of Jung SuWon are Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim's 5 Principles of Mental Conduct, including, "Learn from your mistakes".

On the surface "Learn from your Mistakes" might seem an obvious thing to do - who would not want to learn from their mistakes? But how do you REALLY go about doing that?

During testing I watched some students fail to break their boards on their first attempt. Just like life, one of the first things you need to do, is to allow yourself to make a mistake. Let it be OK that you made a mistake. Let it be OK you didn't break that board the first time. That is not always easy, though. How much have we decided we have to be 'perfect' in everything we do? How much do we (in error) decide that making a mistake is failing to be the 'perfect' student or employee or family member?

Watching testing I saw too how important it is to not become attached to a mistake. Don't hold on to it. Don't beat yourself up emotionally over your mistakes.

During testing I watched a color belt strike at a board and fail to break it. Not once, but several times. Watching him, it was pretty easy to see the student's mistakes. He was physically strong, but he was not twisting his waist enough. During another miss, you could see he was stopping at the board instead of visualizing and striking all the way through it.

At that moment he could have given in to feeling embarrassed that he was in front of an audience and missing his break, or he could have beaten himself up emotionally over how could he miss, when he's broken boards before, or, after a few more misses, he could have started to give into self doubt and start to believe that maybe he would just never break this board.

But he didn't. Each time he missed he didn't seem to let emotions get to him, instead he just re-gathered himself and tried again. And again. And again.

Finally he broke it!

Wow!

How he faced his 'mistake' (his unbroken board) until he over came it, left a huge impression on me. I thought of all the times I've made a mistake, or failed at something. My first reaction is usually to give into my emotions. Internally I beat myself up - How could I do that? How could I be so stupid? What was I thinking? etc.

Watching this student fail and then successfully break his board, I saw that there is no way I can learn from a mistake until I first let my attachment and emotions go.

But when you do - when you face a mistake or situation, when you keep the attitude that you are ready to try again, and ready to try until you succeed or accomplish your goal, you truly learn from the mistake and truly succeed.

Favorite Youtube video of the day

2008-09-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Black belt testing! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjsbz2osHFA

WHO AM I

2008-09-16T08:28:00.000-07:00

Favorite Passage of the day:

'WHO AM I?'

(from "Seven Steps to Inner Power" By Great Grandmaster Dr Tae Yun Kim)

'A quick answer may bring the response: "I am an engineer." Or, "I am a person who likes people; I am full of stress and axiety; I am a mother; I am a nobody; I am athletic; I am intellectual; I am shy..." Note how often we tend to describe ourselves with positive or negative perssonality characteristics that we've developed or acquired over the years an accepted as being 'us'. Most of us do not look much deeper than that...'

Before I started training at Jung SuWon, I was 24 years old and I thought, "Of course you should know who you are. You know what your name is? Right?" Well --- not necessarily... and maybe you do not really know yourself or your abiltiies at all. Maybe you have not really met yourself yet.

For instance, before I started training in a martial art, I was an extremely un-physical person. Before training the most physical thing I really did was turn the pages of books. I never, ever in a thousand years would have thought I would ever train in a martial art - let alone discover I alone love training in martial arts.

When I look back now, I see that if I'd never started training at Jung SuWon, I would have missed learning so much about myself. I might never have learned I can be disciplined and focused physically and mentally. If I had never started training, I would never have learned I can grow physically stronger, discover the joy and accomplishment of focusing on a goal and then breaking a board or a brick with my hand or foot, and feel the resulting self confidence in both my home life and at my work.