This interview appeared in Totally Taekwondo Magazine issue # 32 October, 2011
The I
Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Taoist classic. From it we learn that
“everything happens in its appointed time.” Master Doug Cook, 6th
dan black belt, school owner, author, and regular contributor to Totally
TaeKwonDo, couldn’t agree more. Where most practitioners begin their journey
through the martial arts during their adolescent years, Master Cook began his taekwondo
training in his late thirties; and, if you ask him, he will confirm that the
time was right.
Not being deterred by age, he trained
diligently under the direction of several masters, eventually earning his 1st
dan black belt in traditional taekwondo. His thirst for a thorough
understanding of the philosophy and advanced techniques unique to the art, however,
ultimately lead him to the door of martial arts legend, Grandmaster Richard
Chun. After receiving his 2nd dan, Master Cook established the Chosun
Taekwondo Academy, a school dedicated to traditional taekwondo instruction and
Ki, or internal energy, development. Later, in an expression of his passion for
writing, Master Cook decided to share his knowledge of taekwondo through the
printed word, composing many articles for leading martial arts publications. In
doing research for these articles, Master Cook discovered that there was little
material available concerning the philosophical doctrines of traditional
taekwondo. Seizing an opportunity to help remedy this situation, and to follow
in the footsteps of his grandmaster, he began work on his first book, Taekwondo…Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior.
Destined to become an international best-seller, this work was followed in 2006
by Traditional Taekwondo: Core
Techniques, History and Philosophy, and in 2009 by his most popular work to
date, Taekwondo – A Path to Excellence.
All three are currently available through international online suppliers and
major booksellers worldwide.
Today,
Master Doug Cook teaches as many as five classes a day, six days a week at his
dojang located in upstate New York, and travels to New York City to train under
Grandmaster Chun and his instructors on a weekly basis. He was a six-time gold
medalist in the New York State Championships and the New York State Governor’s
Cup Competitions. He holds a D3 status as a US Referee and has received high
honors from Korea in the form of a “Letter of Appreciation” signed by World
Taekwondo Federation past-president, Dr. Un Yong Kim. In 2003 Master Cook was
awarded the Medal of Special Recognition from the Moo Duk Kwan in Seoul, South
Korea. In 2004, while attending a training camp in Korea, Master Cook received
a Special Citation from the Korean government for forging a stronger
relationship between Korea and the United States through the martial arts. In
June 2006, he was inducted into the Budo International Martial Arts Hall of
Fame as “Taekwondo Master of the Year”. In 2007, Master Cook was invited on
several occasions to speak as a guest lecturer at the University of Bridgeport
in Connecticut, at the time, the only institution of higher learning in the
country to offer a major in the martial arts. Master Cook was recently listed
in Black Belt magazine as one of the Top Twenty masters of the Korean
martial arts in America. In 2009 he was invited to speak at the prestigious
Korea Society in New York City and will appear in Legacy, an upcoming television documentary on taekwondo scheduled
for release in 2013.
In this Totally TaeKwonDo exclusive interview, Master Cook shares with our
readers what it is like to train under a true martial arts pioneer, thoughts on
his literary contributions to taekwondo, and his formula for maintaining a
successful taekwondo school. He also spoke of his frequent experiences while
training in Korea, and his vision of taekwondo in the future.
TOTALLY
TAEKWONDO: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.
MASTER
COOK: The honor is mine. Let me say that I am blessed to live a life filled
with taekwondo and to be a regular contributor to Totally TaeKwonDo online
magazine.
TT:
How did you first become associated with Grandmaster Richard Chun?
MASTER COOK: As you know, Grandmaster Chun enjoys a high profile in the martial
arts community by virtue of his writings, his experience as an international
master instructor, and his position as president of the United States Taekwondo
Association. As a yellow belt, I recall
reading a description of poomsae philosophy in one of his many books. I knew
then that there was much more to taekwondo than kicking and punching and that someday
I would seek his instruction. My opportunity came in 1997, when I met with him,
demonstrated my skill, and was subsequently accepted as a student. It was the
realization of a dream.
TT:
How has your relationship with Grandmaster Chun affected your training?
MASTER
COOK: Aside from the fact that Grandmaster Chun is one of the five original
masters to emigrate from Korea
with the intention of spreading knowledge of taekwondo in America, he
sincerely personifies the spirit and beauty of the art. To see him train is to
appreciate the awesome power hidden within each technique. To speak with him is
to learn humility and respect for tradition. Frequently, I have gone to him for
advice and he has given it freely, often by answering my question with a
question in the Socratic Method, causing me to think the problem through for
myself. Furthermore, he and his instructors, Masters Pablo Alejandro, Samuel
Mizrahi and Maurice Elmalem have patiently taught me the importance of detail
and relaxation in self-defense, poomsae and sparring. Training at the Richard
Chun Taekwondo Center prior to its closure, significantly improved my abilities
as a martial artist both mentally and physically. Fortunately, I am able to
continue this brand of training with his instructors at Haddock Taekwondo in
New York City.
TT:
Tell us about your school, the Chosun Taekwondo Academy, and how you arrived at
the name.
MASTER
COOK: In doing research for my book, the term “Chosun” continuously surfaced
throughout Korean history, first as Ko-Chosun in ancient times, and then again
when referring to the Yi or Chosun Dynasty that existed between 1392 and 1910.
Literally translated, it means “land of the morning calm”. Flying at
thirty-thousand feet, about to make our final descent into Incheon International
Airport during one of my many training trips to Korea, I recall seeing the peninsula
shrouded in mist. In that moment, all the political turmoil that existed below
evaporated and truly all appeared calm. I knew then, if and when I established
a school, it would be called “Chosun”.
TT:
Do you import the lessons you learn at the Richard Chun Taekwondo Center to
your school for the benefit of your students?
MASTER
COOK: For the most part, yes; certainly the self-defense drills and advanced
Moo Duk Kwan poomsae. However, at Chosun we adhere to a stringent curriculum
composed of a repeating template that increases in complexity throughout the
various belt levels; for instance, promotion from one rank to the next is
predicated on proficiency in an escalating series of basics, one, two and
three-step sparring, self-defense, poomsae, sparring and breaking skills. Students
are also expected familiarize themselves with Korean terminology and the
philosophy associated with their forms. There is nothing haphazard about our
program; every student knows exactly what is expected of them in order to
achieve advancement. Everything is clearly written out to avoid confusion and preserved
as downloads on our web site to be included in the training journal our
students are required to maintain.
TT:
Do you emphasize some aspects of taekwondo over others in your teaching
methodology?
MASTER
COOK: My instructors and I highlight the self-defense, physical fitness, and
self-enrichment components of taekwondo; this is in keeping with taekwondo as a
martial way or a path to enlightenment. In addition, we amplify our practice with
meditation and Ki development exercises. While our school attends several
tournaments a year, I do not view the classical martial arts simply as sport and
subsequently do not focus on competition. Instead, we offer a series of
technical seminars and self-defense courses to dojangs and civic groups at
little or no charge or, in some cases, as a community service. Not long ago, a U.S.
Army medical unit requested that we instruct them in taekwondo self-defense skills.
This was a great privilege. It was an honor to serve our country in this
manner, doing what we do best.
TT:
What forms do you practice?
MASTER
COOK: As a United States Taekwondo Association affiliate school, we perform the
eight Taegeuk and Palgwe set of poomsae, in conjunction with the traditional
Moo Duk Kwan and required Kukkiwon black belt Yudanja series. We also practice
the Pyung-Ahn hyung and several of the ITF tuls, although these are not
required for promotion.
TT:
Tell our readers about your experience of training in Korea.
MASTER
COOK: Almost indescribable! We have traveled to the “land of the morning calm”
on five separate occasions now and are in the throes of planning our next
training tour for July 2012. Clearly, I feel one must experience Korean culture
firsthand in order to fully understand the roots of taekwondo. In doing so, the
practitioner makes a geographical and historical connection with their physical
training. Visiting the Kukkiwon, the various dojangs and universities; meeting
the many gifted masters and students of the art, adds color and meaning to
one’s practice that can only be appreciated by traveling to the homeland of
taekwondo. We attempt to go every three years and are fortunate beyond measure
to be accompanied by Grandmaster Chun since doors that typically remain closed
to Westerners, open wide in his presence. We welcome practitioners from all
styles of taekwondo. Parties interested in joining us can contact me at
info@chsountkd.com.
TT:
How would you characterize the training in Korea versus here in the West?
MASTER
COOK: We train very hard for extended periods of time during our visits. After
all, that is why we go and we choose to take advantage of every educational
opportunity available. We balance the intense kicking and self-defense drills
found at the university level, we travel to outlying dojangs and to Kyongju,
the ancient capitol of Silla, where we visit and train at ancient Buddhist
temples located in the training grounds of the Hwarang. There, we practice
basics, poomsae and meditation. During our last excursion in 2010, we were
exceedingly fortunate to train at Kukkiwon, Kumgang Taekwondo Center, Gulgosa
Temple and, as always, with Grandmaster Gyoo hyun-Lee at his dojang in the
suburbs of Seoul. Naturally, we reserve time for cultural pursuits and sightseeing
as well.
TT:
Aside from being a professional martial arts instructor, you are an author, columnist
and frequent contributor to this magazine with three best-selling books to your
credit. How did that come about?
MASTER
COOK: Clearly, it is not enough to address the physical portion of our art; one
must contribute academically as well. The inspiration for all three of my books,
was drawn from great masters such as Dr. Richard Chun and Sang Kyu Shim, who
have demonstrated their devotion to taekwondo through their literary skills. In
reading their work, it quickly became evident to me that taekwondo is not merely
a series of physical techniques, but a road to enlightenment, a path to
excellence. Realizing this, I too felt a desire to express my love for the
martial arts through the written word. Following in the footsteps of my mentor
was not difficult once I began research for my books. As odd as it may sound, I
almost felt I was being guided by an external force that was using me as a
conduit to disseminate this knowledge. Writing my books was one of the most profoundly
rewarding experiences of my life. Presently, I am working on my fourth book
with Grandmaster Chun, a work that will focus on the original iteration of
Poomsae Koryo in conjunction with the current version we refer to as Kukki
Koryo. The response to this body of work has been favorable, indeed, based on
the many letters and emails I receive weekly from around the world inquiring
about the differences in these two poomsae. Release is planned for 2013.
TT:
What expectations do you have for your school and how do they coincide with
your prediction of how taekwondo will evolve in the future?
MASTER
COOK: This is an interesting question, the second part of which I can only
voice an opinion. As I see it, taekwondo currently sits at a crossroads. On the
one hand, we have an element dedicated primarily to the practice of WTF Olympic-style
taekwondo. Schools of this nature are clearly in the majority and mirror the
approach taken in Korea. Conversely, there exists a minority of institutions
and associations, here and abroad, that focus largely on the self-defense and
life enrichment aspects of the art with little or no emphasis on sport
competition. I, and other like-minded instructors, refer to this alternative
style as traditional taekwondo. Nevertheless, this
nomenclature may appear to be somewhat of a misnomer since the history or
“tradition” of taekwondo as it exists today, is relatively short with much of
it being devoted to its promotion as a world sport. Like it or not, the answer to
this paradox lies in the fact that taekwondo owes much of its pedigree to foreign
influences, some of which are rooted in Funakoshi’s Shotokan karate-do and, to
a lesser degree, Chinese gungfu. Consequently, in its early developmental
stage, prior to its promotion as an Olympic sport, taekwondo contained a complete
palate of offensive and defensive techniques including hand strikes, blocks,
throws and sweeps. Sadly, at least in its sportive form, these techniques have
been forfeited altogether in favor of those certain to score in the ring. With
this in mind, the notion of taekwondo having a “traditional” component based on
self-defense, predating the WTF, materializes. It is my belief that we must
maintain this traditional approach to training if the defensive art of
taekwondo is to survive in its fullness. Subsequently, the primary mission of
the Chosun Taekwondo Academy, in unison with establishing satellite schools, is
to, first and foremost, promote the complete art of taekwondo while recognizing and appreciating its sportive
mate for the catalyst it has been in promoting Korea’s national martial art and
Olympic sport, worldwide. In the end, however, I think all practitioners will
agree that both martial art and combat sport, in union with their diverse
administrative arms, must learn to coexist harmoniously if taekwondo is to advance
successfully into the future.
TT:
In closing, are there any final thoughts you would like to leave us with?
MASTER
COOK: Yes. I feel extremely privileged to teach taekwondo professionally. As an
instructor, it is gratifying to know that you are instrumental in helping students
of all ages develop confidence, defensive capabilities and improved health. Taoists
metaphorically claim that one can achieve immortality by sharing their
knowledge; if this is the case, then every taekwondo instructor should strive
to live forever!
Master Doug Cook, a 6th dan
black belt, is head instructor of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in
Warwick, New York, a senior student of Grandmaster Richard Chun, and author of
three best-selling books entitled: Taekwondo…Ancient
Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, Traditional Taekwondo - Core Techniques, History and Philosophy, and his most
recent contribution, Taekwondo–A Path to
Excellence, focusing on the rewards and virtues of taekwondo. Master Cook
and Grandmaster Chun are planning their next training and cultural tour of
Korea for July of 2012. Those interested in joining this excursion can contact
Master Cook at www.chosuntkd.com or info@chosuntkd.com.
How did
these two ancient yet complementary disciplines with roots in Asian culture
become mainstream physical and spiritual enrichment activities in modern
American life? Not surprisingly, if you study the historic progress of both
disciplines, you will find that they had their beginnings largely at the same
time, and their paths of development are intertwined. The third son of a Brahman
Indian king, Zen patriarch, Bodhidharma is credited with initiating a program
of exercises and drills that he taught to the shaolin monks. These techniques
were imparted with the hope of strengthening the monks’ ability to concentrate
during meditation while preserving the spiritual harmony required in monastic
life. Considered the Father of yoga, another mystical figure, Sri Patanjali
Maharishi, is believed to be the author of the famous treatise, The Yoga Sutras, which remain one of the
most influential spiritual writings in yogic practice today. Consisting of 195 aphorisms or sayings, the
work lays out a clear and practical path to gaining spiritual insight and
self-realization. Through the subsequent years and up until the 20th
century both philosophies became strong cultural components in their lands of
origin but only marginally penetrated the western way of life. Then, during the middle of the last century, interest
in yogic philosophy and martial arts found its way into the American psyche
mainly through popular culture. The current outlook that yoga and martial arts
study has become a “way of life” for so many Americans is a testament to the
popularity and accessibility of these two ancient disciplines.
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