Will of Steel by Grandmaster Doug Cook

                    Originally published by Totally TaeKwonDo Magazine

January 2021

Will of Steel

By

Grandmaster Doug Cook

info@chosuntkd.com   /   www.chosuntkd.com   /   www.ustaweb.com

The world today is a complex and dangerous place filled with reward, sacrifice and, most urgently, extreme adversity significantly more intense than we have ever experienced before in modern times. And unlike in the past where political or material woes threatened our sanity, we cannot negotiate our way out of what beleaguers us presently. No word or deed from whatever source can turn the demon at our door away. Not this time. World leaders, to a great degree, cannot be trusted to guide us simply because they are not magicians. They, like all, are impotent against the onslaught of unmitigated disease; the inhumanity and indifference of a microscopic monster bent of the devastation of our species. Yet, as we know, hope abounds in the form of a unique molecular grouping that even now is rushing to the rescue, cobbled together by a few illuminated pharma wizards optimistically in the nick of time.

So….where does that leave us. How, as resilient martial artists - as rare a breed as we are - can we fortify our minds, our bodies against the debilitating stress that we have globally endured for the past ten months?   

We are born into the lives we lead deserving nothing more than what we gain from honest work. Some believe that in order to get ahead you must think first and foremost of yourself. Nevertheless, while destiny may be fulfilled by the actions we channel towards our quest for personal success, both in our martial arts training and in private pursuits, we must possess a compassionate heart and remain sensitive to the needs of others. Perhaps most important, however, we must cultivate a Will of Steel, the strength necessary to protect ourselves and our clarity of mind from punishing hardship.

Will of Steel, also familiar to the taekwondoist as Indomitable Spirit, the last but perhaps the most important of the Five Tenets,  can further be quantified as the psychological muscle required to abide radical pain and suffering whether it be unique to the individual or external in nature relating to someone we know and love. It is the ability to remain focused regardless of concentrated distraction in order to provide support and stability to those around us at a time when they may need it most. Often it is irrelevant whether the trouble is physically or mentally rooted since the despair it creates results in the same emotional distress. Exhibiting a Will of Steel may begin by merely acting the part; putting on a game face and attempting not to waver while in reality your heart is plagued with fear. This may be a very difficult task to accomplish particularly if the crisis you are facing has come as a shock or surprise.

Fortunately, traditional taekwondo provides a platform upon which a Will of Steel can be nurtured. However, being a martial artist does not automatically qualify the practitioner as being someone gifted with this brand of enduring strength. On the contrary, having shed the bravado many people artificially display in trying times, we as taekwondoists, by virtue of the humility demanded by diligent training, appreciate the great effort required to genuinely develop the simplest component of a strong character. Yet, our ability to remain open to change and self-improvement gives us a leg up in our attempt to generate what amounts to internal resiliency. Furthermore, to realize the virtue of a Will of Steel one must approach their training with sincerity and purpose, fully appreciating the value of Do, or the Way. Mindful practice of any classical martial way assumes that the practitioner is intent on a path of excellence, a road towards holistic development and not just in search of combat skills. Paradoxically, it is through the practice of these combat skills that the martial artist nurtures moral fiber.

Regrettably, turmoil frequently lingers causing a Will of Steel to float on a foundation of patience. Pandemics, sickness, financial strain and family unrest have no determinate timetable forcing the individual to undergo unremitting anxiety and confusion. However, any martial artist devoted to their practice can testify to the fact that patience is the cornerstone of progress. The waiting period between color belt levels for instance is clearly an exercise in patience while the time span between dan grad levels is decidedly measured in years. This custom of waiting breeds undeniable patience that can be superimposed on almost any situation in life; even awaiting the termination of a worldwide pandemic.  

Moreover, if the practitioner is following the path of traditional taekwondo, then certainly meditation and its related benefits is a vital ingredient of their training regimen. There are many goals of meditation in the martial arts, but when attempting to build a Will of Steel, serenity of mind in conjunction with Ki enhancement, is a major contributor. Sitting in quiet reflection for a period of fifteen minutes in the morning or evening can prove to be a potent elixir when faced with an unending stream of anxiety. Likewise, the period of meditation can be used to visualize Ki fortifying the mind and body against the constant worry. The universal life force is not only an effective tool in amplifying combat technique, but in a practical sense, acts as a shield against bodily damage positioning it as a worthy ally of Indomitable Spirit. Consequently, Ki not only projects, but protects.

When examined closely, all aspects of taekwondo training can have a profound effect on the promotion of a Will of Steel. Something as basic as a solid front stance (ap koobi), when executed correctly, can have an enormous centering effect on the human psyche. Sparring, too, with its tendency to point out our strengths and weaknesses within the framework of a combat environment, fosters courage in the face of danger. Clearly, this is no small contribution when dealing with uninvited suffering.   

Additionally, breaking or, kyuk pa, while sometimes viewed as the theatrical, dramatic component of taekwondo, realistically develops focus and willpower. Comparing the destruction of a seemingly unyielding block of stone to a life challenge that must be dealt with and conquered, ultimately prepares the spirit for unforeseen challenges. Even the simple act, if it can be termed as such, of hard training enriches the senses through chemical reactions in the body leaving the martial artist refreshed and invigorated following an intense class.

The classical martial arts offer support for the cultivation of a Will of Steel when viewed from their various philosophical perspectives as well. Most styles that train in a traditional manner acknowledge the influence of Zen (Seon) Buddhist doctrine. Plainly put, one of the key elements of this spiritual paradigm is the principle of existing in the here and now. This permits the practitioner to appreciate the moment in its fullness rather than becoming anxious about the future or regretful when looking backwards to the past. If approached in this manner, the specter of misfortune can be relegated to a place on the periphery of our consciousness rather than permitting it to assume center stage in our daily routine thus consuming us with worry; and these days, fatigues and deep despair. By the same token, Taoism teaches us that everything occurs in its appointed time and as clinical as this notion may initially appear when seeking solace from unbearable emotional pain it does presume a grand design outside the current scope of our understanding. Remaining focused and devoted to one’s traditional taekwondo training often results in the distraction one needs most when dealing with difficult times. In a therapeutic sense, while it may not be the decisive answer to every problem, it represents a lifeboat in a sea of troubled seas; an oasis in a desert of doubt.

Totally Taekwondo
Magazine Issue 143
January 2021

 At some point in our lives we are all faced with the necessity   of defending ourselves when faced with intense emotional   stress or physical danger; 2020 is undoubtedly one of those   times. Life is not exclusively Yang, but Eum as well; often     jubilant but in darker times, less forgiving. How we deal with   this dichotomy dictates the quality of our existence. It is the   goal of the martial artist, especially those cognizant of the   Way, to live life to its fullest whatever the definition of that may be to the individual, to accept change gracefully rather than view it as a knife to the throat. However, a Will of Steel is yet another hardened tool to be used in our quest for self-fulfillment and provides a worthy adversary to extreme adversity.      

Grandmaster Doug Cook, 8^th Dan Chang Moo Kwan and 7^th Dan Kukkiwon-certified black belt, is owner of the Chosun Taekwondo Academy located in Warwick, New York, a senior student of the late Grandmaster

Richard Chun, president/CEO of the United States Taekwondo Association, and an Advisory Council member of the World Martial Arts Alliance. He has authored four best-selling books entitled: Taekwondo…Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, Traditional Taekwondo - Core Techniques, History and Philosophy, Taekwondo–A Path to Excellence, and Taekwondo Black Belt Poomsae: Original Koryo and Koryo. Grandmaster Cook has been a monthly contributor to Totally TaeKwonDo magazine since 2009, and can be reached for seminars, Korea training tours, online ZOOM workshops or questions regarding USTA membership at www.chosuntkd.com, www.ustaweb.com, on Facebook, or through email at info@chosuntkd.com.

The Chosun e-newsletter Archive Volume 12 #5 May 2021

 Dear Martial Arts Enthusiast, 

Welcome to the May 2021 edition and the 137th issue of the 
Chosun Taekwondo Academy E-newsletter! 
It's the merry month of May and with restrictions lifting and vaccines more prevalent, things are looking up! Check out our beautiful new landscaping and don't miss the national flower of South Korea... Rose of Sharon prominently placed under the CHOSUN sign.  Our new Indomitable Spirit Patch is also patterned after the "eternal blossom that never fades" 무궁화

ONWARD AND UPWARD...NEVER GIVE UP!

View the 2019 Chosun Taekwondo Academy Video Retrospective 

Check out all upcoming CHOSUN events on the events page of the CHOSUN website!
Please visit the updated and improved CHOSUN Yelp page!   
and CHOSUN on Instagram
 
Happy Mothers Day (Please see Memorial Day Schedule below)
Kamsahamnida,                                                                                                                                            Patty Cook, Editor www.facebook.com/chosuntkd  
 

 Chosun Taekwondo Academy celebrating 24 years!
Chosun Taekwondo Academy Newsletter celebrating 11 years!

Read the entire newsletter...

Subscribe at: www.chosuntkd.com

The Meaning of Indomitable Spirit and How I Apply it in my Life

by Gregory W. Saucedo

Belt Rank Promotion Test Essay

Current Belt Rank: Blue

November 6, 2015

Indomitable spirit is what makes a person unique and gives them the hope, inner strength
and courage to face each day with a positive attitude. It is defined as a spirit that cannot be
subdued or overcome and allows a person to have determination and the confidence to handle the many challenges and obstacles in life. It is the desire to win and not accept failure. Without indomitable spirit, a person is unable to accomplish all the greatness that

Fist Tower: Jeju Island, South Korea

lies within him or her.
As a Taekwondo student, I am learning each day to find the strength and spirit within me.
I feel that within the last year, I have developed into a stronger and more positive person
because I am learning to believe in myself and what I can do. In the Dojang, you are taught to find motivation within you and your peers so that you are inspired to be and do your best at all times. It is that strength which gives you the ability to look at yourself and realize that anything is possible and you should never give up. I take these lessons that I am learning and I make sure that I apply them both at home and in school. In school, I find myself questioning how I will accomplish all the different tasks and at times I feel anxiety about doing really well all the time.
I realize that I can be strong and I can win. I find that spirit within me that says, “ You can do this.”
The discipline of developing and having indomitable spirit will allow you to think things
through very carefully and always have a positive attitude. I know that as long as I continue to have that indomitable spirit, I will become a stronger and more disciplined person at achieving anything I set my mind to.

A Retrospective of my Taekwondo Training

Bodan Essay by Brian Parkinson  October, 2015               

    It’s January 30, 2013 around 5 o’clock in the morning and I’m about to embark on an amazing journey.  One year of waiting has come to an end.  Today is the day I start training in Taekwondo.  I get dressed in my dobok for the first time, wrap my white belt around my waist and head out the door.  When I arrive at the dojang, I am confronted with a scene I am unaccustomed to.   When I bring my children for the youth classes, the dojang is a flurry of activity.  The training floor is usually crowded with students and the sitting area with

108 stone steps at Golgulsa Temple

parents.   I have never seen the dojang as it is before me now.  The lights are off with only a few corner lights to provide some illumination.  There are no crowds of children off or on the floor and the sitting area is naturally empty.  Not that I expected the dojang to be crowded at 5:30 in the morning, but the tranquil scene before me contains a power and serenity I don’t think I could have been prepared for.   I am very nervous at this point as the class consists of only a few black belts, one bodan and, I, a white belt.  It doesn’t take long for me to embarrass myself.  Master Cook has us each in turn punch a target to count.  Of course I kept punching after Master Cook stopped counting.  I felt foolish, incompetent, and of course embarrassed.   No one makes a big deal about it though, just a reminder to pay attention and not anticipate.  I remind myself to not be so hard on myself and this was a valuable lesson as I have embarrassed myself several other times over the course of the last two and a half years.

  Master Cook often says that crossing the threshold of the dojang is the hardest part of training in taekwondo.  That doesn’t mean that the rest of it is easy.  Training in taekwondo is hard.  Trying to fit it into a busy work schedule at the time I started was even harder.  The weekly sunrise class was the only class I could attend when I began my training.  I barely had time to practice outside of the dojang and after a couple of weeks I thought about giving it up.  It just seemed to be too much to learn.  I wanted to do it but I thought maybe I just couldn’t fit it into my schedule after all.  I rebuked this notion and pressed on.  After a couple of months I was invited to test for yellow belt.  So much consternation and trepidation surrounded this first belt test that I feel the cathartic sense of elation when my fist smashed through the board would be hard to beat. 

                I advanced to yellow belt with a new-found confidence and determination to train.  I remember enjoying this belt cycle.  New techniques like back stance and side kick were of course challenging to learn but I never felt overwhelmed as I did at white belt.  I attended class regularly and after three months successfully tested for orange belt.  Orange belt is considered one of the more difficult color belts.  Many people realize at this belt level that taekwondo is not for them and quit.  I had resolved to never quit unless I had to for health or financial reasons at white belt, so that was never a concern for me.  I loved orange belt.  Its many challenges felt right somehow.  Progress in taekwondo often comes slow, sometimes almost imperceptive but at orange belt the progress felt tangible and this only spurred on my desire to train.  I was even graced with an award for outstanding achievement at the belt test.  Every time I look at that award atop my entertainment center in my living room, I can’t help but smile.

               The green and blue belt cycles were probably the hardest for me.  My wife had surgery during my green belt cycle and I found myself taking on just about all of the household work she normally does.  This left me physically drained but I tried to never show how tired I was on the floor.  Once I step on the floor of the dojang, I feel all other concerns must be set aside.  If I made mistakes, I vowed to practice more instead of making excuses due to fatigue.  It wasn’t easy though and I struggled through the entire green belt cycle.  At blue belt I had to take my own hiatus from training to have a cyst removed from my back.  My dermatologist forbade me to train for three weeks, unless I wanted to rip out my stitches and risk further infection.  Three weeks felt like three years.  I couldn’t help but feel disconnected from taekwondo which of course let all the demons of self-doubt run rampant.  I marked the date of my return in my appointment book and anxiously awaited its arrival.  When I was able to return, I had just enough time before the belt test to feel ready.  Blue belt came to end with my foot smashing through a board with an ax kick.

               Without a doubt purple belt will always be the most special for me.  It was during this belt cycle that my entire family traveled to S. Korea on the Chosun Korea tour.  I am not well traveled.  This was only the second time I had traveled outside of the United States.  I think I am still processing all of the ways in which that tour has affected me and my training.  From all day training with Master Ryan An to touring the brand new Taekwondon, I think I could write a separate essay just about Korea.  Of course there are some standout moments.  Performing poomsae at Tong-Il Jeon Shrine was a very powerful experience.  I can’t help but feel that a part of the Hwarang’s martial spirit came home with me.  Our last training session was with Grandmaster Gyoo Hyun Lee.  Although I didn’t get to train personally with Grandmaster Lee as he took the black belts, I was given a Master instructor, Master Lee, by Grandmaster Lee.  I was informed that Master Lee is a champion in Taeguk Oh Jang.  My disappointment over not getting to train with Grandmaster Lee evaporated immediately.  He personally assigned a master instructor who had won competitions in my form-what more could I ask for?  Although my wife and I tried as hard as we could, we struggled with the changes to the form and the language barrier.   Master Lee’s frustration was evident.  Master Lee was so frustrated with us at one point that he simply walked away from us.   I was reminded of Gichen Funakoshi performing the same form all night to the point of humiliation for Anko Itosu.  I refused to give up.  I kept performing the form.  Master Lee noticed that I continued even though he walked away and came back over and continued to teach.  When we posed for a group picture later on, he came and sat next to me for the photo, an honor to be sure.

               Shortly after returning from Korea, I successfully tested for my red belt.  Red belt is known as danger within the Gup system for the practitioner is in possession of advanced techniques at this point, but not necessarily the discipline required to use them wisely.  For me, red belt felt like turning a corner.  There are many new techniques at red belt like the first use of a strength motion in a poomsae that clearly set it apart from the earlier belts.  I remember Master Wynne teaching me Palgwe Oh Jang and stopping me after only the first few motions.  “Stop.  Go Back.  You need to show a better back stance”.   I did.   “Stop.  Your knife hand is pitched wrong.”  Good thing I had been through this with Master Lee in Korea.  I was undeterred.  I know Master Wynne was only trying to help me improve so I kept at it.  I don’t think I’ll ever start that form without thinking of her.

 The next two belts:  brown and high brown seem to have melded into one long period in my mind.  When testing for brown belt, I encountered a new problem.  The required break is a hop-step hook kick.  Even though kicking is not my strong-point, I felt confident about this break.  I stepped forward and unleashed the kick only to feel my foot bounce off the all too solid board.  As a lower belt, this would have undoubtedly rattled me a great deal.  Instead of allowing my initial failure to deter me, I reset and performed the kick again breaking the board easily.  Afterward, watching the video my son took of the break, my wife and I noticed that we had both done the exact same thing.  We both failed on the first try, reset and then broke the board.  At brown belt my Korea training again benefited me.  The first stepping basic for brown belt is cat stance.  Every Korean master began our training with a review of all stances so I didn’t feel as confused by this new stance as I probably would have been had I not trained in Korea.  On test day I went home with a high brown belt wrapped around my waist.  The first appearance of black in a belt let me know that this was it.  I was entering the home stretch of the color belt cycle.  The next belt test had me advancing to bodan with a spinning hook kick as the required break.  I don’t think I had been so nervous about a break since white belt but somehow I did it on the first try. 

               The last six months as a bodan have been very different.  For one thing, there is very little new to learn.  Palgwe Pal Jang is the only requirement that is truly brand new.  Since I have been practicing and reviewing the entire color belt curriculum all along, I never felt pressured to remember all the past techniques.  Instead, I have been trying to focus on all of the details and improve upon them.  Just because I learned back stance all the way back at yellow belt, doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement.   As a result, I initially found bodan to be a fun belt.  While everyone else was confused at the beginning of the belt cycle by the new techniques they were learning, or stressing the upcoming belt test at the end of the cycle, I just had to keep training.  However over the last few weeks, I can feel a subtle and undeniable change occurring.  Much the way someone who has stayed up all night can sense the approaching dawn, I can sense a change occurring in my training.   I have always taken training in taekwondo seriously but now as I approach black belt I feel there is a responsibility to the art that wasn’t there before.  Master Cook often says that black belt is a license to learn and not a permit to quit.  I can’t agree more with this sentiment.  Being a black belt doesn’t mean resting on your laurels.  I feel that when that black belt is wrapped around my waist it doesn’t mean that I mastered the color belt curriculum.  It doesn’t mean that I have nothing else to learn.   It does mean that I persevered through the color belt curriculum and have now proved myself worthy of further instruction.  I am looking forward with great enthusiasm to exercising my license to learn.

A Retrospective of my Taekwondo Training

 Bodan Essay by Patricia Lennon                       October 2015

It’s all about the journey

As soon as I became a Bodan, I felt that I should somehow be “different”.  I was a little nervous at first – wondering “what” exactly should be different about me.  Soon, I began to notice some changes.  A small “error” in class felt “humongous” to me!  How could I do that?  I am a Bodan!  Then, something kicked in.  Maybe it was the beginnings of an indomitable spirit.  I responded to my error, with tenacity and determination – I would not let a misstep throw me off.  Instead, I trained harder.  I was almost glad I had made a

Gyeongju Plains-Home of the Hwarang Warriors

mistake, because it gave me the opportunity to strengthen my “will”, and focus my mind.  In martial arts, we are taught that our focus needs to be in the moment, mindful and aware.  You have to move on to the next moment, the next move, maintaining the positive energy that we call Ki.  Ki is the energy that flows through us – giving us an indomitable spirit.

As I move closer toward Black Belt, it seems that three specific martial arts concepts seem to be unfolding for me.  They are the basic martial arts teachings of “mindfulness”, “Ki development” and the “indomitable spirit” that we are called to internalize during our recitation of the five tenets of taekwondo.

Reflecting on these concepts, it becomes clearer to me that this is a life long journey – a process, which does not happen overnight, and which demands that I have patience - with myself, and with the training process.

A journey requires patience, and, I believe, patience requires courage.  Therefore,  I en-courage myself!  I remind myself that I will be a black belt soon!  I accept the many responsibilities that come along with this process – two of which are to train harder than I think I can, and to show good spirit!  I know that the “good spirit” that we are encouraged to show is more than a loud kihup, or throwing hard punches, blocks and kicks.  I believe it has more to do with “taking full custody of one’s life”, which is the journey we are on.

The journey is a personal one.

I suspect the changes in the transition to Black Belt will be subtle, gentle stirrings - 

felt subjectively, before becoming externally apparent.  We train for ourselves, first and foremost.  Not for outward appearance or appreciation.  The journey is a personal one.  Although we train together – and we do form bonds – we have a common purpose, and that is reason enough for such bonds to form.  We encourage each other, sincerely and enthusiastically, passionately and compassionately – always reveling in one another’s progress. 

We are truly “team mates” and “school mates”, yet always on our individual journeys.  Like a family, its members bound by many things - yet always and forever - walking their own paths, learning their own lessons, in their own ways – struggling, facing road blocks, overcoming them, mentally, physically and spiritually – challenged, and strengthened by the challenge.

Each small hurdle overcome adds another small muscle to one’s memory – until it becomes unforgettable – forever a part of us.

We are people on a very similar journey - kindred souls, lovers of an art – one in which the artist moves into - and flows with - at their own pace – an art that moves the body.  I am sure dancers and yoga practitioners must reap similar rewards.  Martial Arts, Yoga, Dance – they are all artistry in motion!

Taekwondo is an art form that puts you in touch with your strength – your inner ki strength – and your outward physical strength.

My authentic spirit yell

I think that finding your own kihup, your personal, authentic spirit yell, is part of this path we are on.

When we visited Chosun Rockland to participate in their women’s self defense class, we encouraged the women to “kihup” when they hit the target.  I noticed that some of the women were noticeably quite uncomfortable with yelling out the word kihup.  I understand that this, in part, could be because they’ve never done it before.  They may never have spoken the word “kihup”, no less yelled it, loudly, in front of a group of strangers. 

I remember the first time I let out a loud kihup.  Up until that day, I had probably whispered my kihups.  As white belts, we were taught that we needed to kihup in order to get more power into our moves, and in addition to this, it “showed good spirit”.  And our training had much to do with “spirit”.  After all, an indomitable spirit is one of the 5 tenets of Taekwondo.   So I would try to kihup, but I really didn’t know how.   I loved the translation of the word – “spirit yell”.  I really wanted my spirit to yell.  And I noticed that some people had louder spirit yells than others.  I had a feeling that it didn’t matter so much how loud my kihup would be.  But I still had some apprehension about it.  On this particular day, I did actually kihup quite loudly.  I remember that I was quite surprised about what had just come out of my mouth.  Just then, one of the black belts that I had been training with regularly, Master Sammy Testa, gave me a “thumbs up”, and ‘a look’ that said something like “you go girl!”.   She had witnessed my very first real kihup!  I won’t forget that day.

One Buddhist teaching says – you are already what you are seeking to become.  With this in mind, I think that the ki energy and indomitable spirit is already in me.  And that Taekwondo is a path which can lead me to this energy, this life force.

It reminds me of the art of photography.  The photographer sees something, and wants to savor it.  It’s already there… in its natural state.  The photographer snaps the photo… and goes back to the dark room … and develops the film – at first it appears that there isn’t anything on the film – but slowly – the image starts to appear – and, as if from nothing, there is it.  It was always there – the photographer just had to develop it.  And so it is with my ki.  And my indomitable spirit.  I am slowly but surely developing these aspects of myself – through my training.  Uncovering what is already there.  I look at Taekwondo as a true art form.  I realize it is a form of self defense – but for me, on a daily basis, as an integral part of my life, it is also an art form.  And in this way, it is much like music, or sculpture.  Artists have said that the music, or the statue – was already there – in its entirety – the image of it was in their mind’s eye, and they just needed to uncover it. 

And so it is with my spirit yell – not so much the actual yell that comes out of my mouth, but more, the place where the indomitable spirit within can find it’s voice, and express itself, authentically. The voice within that yells out – I have trained really hard!  I am a Martial Artist!  I am a White Belt! ... a Yellow Belt!......I am a Bodan!  I am a Black Belt.  Finding that voice is the source of my training -- developing my martial arts voice - my ki -  my indomitable spirit. 

The Warrior’s Path

Since I am practicing the Eastern tradition of Taekwondo, it follows naturally to investigate some of the philosophy at its foundation.  Zen is a basic philosophy behind the martial arts.  The Samurai warriors practiced Zen as a way of life. 

“Mushin” is the essence of Zen.  It is Mindfulness.  Mushin is a peaceful state of mind – one of pure mental clarity.  This is the way of the martial arts warrior.  It is, indeed, a peaceful way, and we are “defenders of the peace”. 

We encounter other warriors on the trail - humble warriors, who walk softly on this path – ever mindful of past travelers, and future ones.  In some, their “Ki” is almost visible.  And when you speak with others, their “spirits” practically yell out.  It is not the “kihup” sort of  “yell” that I am referring to, but a more subtle kind - an indomitable spirit, which has truly developed with much hard work, perseverance, and passion for their practiced art.

Our pilgrimage begins at the Dojang.  As with any traveler who dares to take a road less traveled, it will not be smoothed, nor tamped down by previous travelers, because there are relatively few. 

We are all homeward bound warriors – and when we meet our fellow “HoBo Warriors”, we humbly bow to one another – out of respect, and comradery, and reverence for the noble cause that we are all defending, and recognition of a similar spirit. 

We are martial artists, we continue to train, journeying from the dojang, to a place within ourselves, growing in strength, developing our martial spirits, and then, journeying back again, to the dojang, the place where we, together, strengthen our spirits. There, we gain strength and courage, and fine tune the balance - between strength and gentleness, courage and humility.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Serendipity of Change

by Master Doug Cook

Totally Taekwondo Magazine March 2015 Issue #73

     Several years ago, my daughter Erin completed a 200-hour instructor training course at the Kripalu Yoga Center located in Lenox, Massachusetts. My wife and I went to pick her up one beautiful, autumn day and while walking up a stairway I noticed a poster on a wall. In it was a photo of a woman sitting on a bus with a caption reading: “I was only trying to get home from work.”

Rosa Parks

      For those of us old enough to remember, the precipitous event that produced this antiquated photograph represented a world of change.On December 1, 1955, in segregated Montgomery, Alabama, USA, after a long, hard day at work, a seamstress named Rosa Parks headed homeward. Dog tired, she took a seat in the front section of a city bus. After a few stops, the bus driver demanded that she give up her seat to a man of European descent - she refused. Shortly after, she was arrested, convicted of disorderly conduct and, subsequently, lost her job. The response of one woman to this unreasonable command inspired the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott. Ultimately, it helped end segregation in Alabama and is a testament to the fact that the actions of one person can have a profound effect on the fabric of humanity at large. Later, when interviewed, Ms. Parks said: “I was only trying to get home from work.”

      Rosa Parks literally changed the complexion of racial discrimination in America without any premeditated intent whatsoever.Today, as martial artists, as modern warriors endowed with an ancient wisdom, we endeavor, by example, to live a life of virtue as dictated by the Five Tenets of taekwondo: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. We set our sights not on elusive perfection, but on a path to excellence both physically and ethically. As living vessels of these moral principles, we possess the power to influence change for the better whether it be at work, at home or in school. Yet, when we awake in the morning, just as Rosa Parks did one December day in 1955, we never know where our daily path will take us.

      During a recent promotion test at my school, the Chosun Taekwondo Academy, a ten-year old girl rose to read her required essay on the topic of indomitable will. By the conclusion of her reading, there was not a dry eye in the audience. I feel it is safe to say that not many adults could have enunciated this virtue as well as this child did. She is small; a little wisp of a thing, yet she spoke of her confidence and how, regardless of how her peers might attempt to discourage her, she would diligently press ahead with her adolescent dreams and, eventually, with those that will flesh out her adult life. Both she and her parents attributed this sense of self-assurance directly to her taekwondo training. Who’s to say what this youngster might accomplish in the decades ahead? Might she one day change the world simply by returning home from school or work?

      Fortunately for us today, the great martial arts masters of the past chose to imbue their hard-earned disciplines, no longer as viable in a world of advanced weaponry, with meritorious codes of honor in an effort to survive cultural upheaval within their society. Evidence of this trend manifested itself in the creation of Funakoshi’s karate-do and Kano’s

Master Cook (right) training at the Kukkiwon

judo. Rather than teaching techniques primarily intended to devastate an enemy on the field of battle, the original intent of the root disciple was altered, particularly during the early 20^th century, for the benefit of elementary and college level students in Okinawa and Japan. For the first time in memory, martial training methods were instead utilized as a vehicle for physical fitness and character enhancement. Later, following the liberation from Japanese imperialism in 1945 that coincided with the conclusion of the World War II, Korean masters returned to their native land, continuing this tradition. We, as taekwondoists of the 21^st century are the recipients this time-honored practice.

      Granted, practical taekwondo was initially developed as a form of self-defense for soldiers in the theater of combat. However, by recognizing the necessity for an ethical framework intended to govern and balance the destructive power we as martial artists

Chosun Taekwondo Academy Leadership Team

possess, our predecessors fashioned an environment where altruism eclipses apathy. By way of example, the Chosun Taekwondo Academy Leadership Team - a group of active, young students whose mission it is to serve our local community under the and train with diligence – year after year generates a vast amount of revenue for the Lions Club International and provides Christmas gifts for underprivileged children. Likewise, I personally attempt to gainfully influence fellow martial artists of all ages and creeds, by teaching with integrity and by sharing my knowledge of traditional taekwondo globally, through the written word, international seminars and by exposing practitioners to seminal skills by arranging training tours to Korea - the epicenter of the taekwondo.   

      Nevertheless, I am certain that my students are not unique in their pursuit of virtue through the practice of traditional taekwondo even though our comprehensive curriculum clearly emphasizes the philosophical elements of the art. Many of the schools I have visited across America and abroad can easily boast of members equally as devoted to leaving a positive stamp on their communities. A casual glace at the news section included in this magazine will verify this belief. In fact, since the promotion of ethical qualities in the practitioner has become a tradition in taekwondo, we at Totally TaeKwonDo would welcome hearing your stories spotlighting the beneficial contributions you as an individual, or your schools have collectively made within your community.

      Yet, regardless of the source, it is often the deed that occurs unlooked for that resonates most through humankind at large just as in the case of Rosa Parks or my young student who stands ready to create a climate of benevolence whenever necessary. Given the blueprint set down by previous generations of masters and grandmasters, the important work of cultivating an elevated lifestyle wrapped in virtue becomes less a chore and more a gratifying reward. Therefore, as modern day martial artists, we must strive for ethical consistency through the disciplined, virtuous practice of taekwondo so that if called upon by fate, we will be prepared to affect positive change anywhere, anytime or anyplace, as best we can…even if we are just trying to get home from work.

Master Doug Cook, 6^th 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 four best-selling books entitled: Taekwondo…Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Warrior, Traditional Taekwondo - Core Techniques, History and Philosophy, Taekwondo–A Path to Excellence, and Taekwondo Black Belt Poomsae: Original Koryo and Koryo, co-authored with Grandmaster Chun along with its companion DVD. Master Cook can be reached for Korea tours, seminars, workshops or questions at www.chosuntkd.com or info@chosuntkd.com.

Chosun May Belt Promotion Test Video Montage

Belt Promotion Test Essays by Young Chosun Students

Indomitable Spirit
by Chosun student, Aidan Morrison 
Chosun Belt Promotion Test May 17, 2015
     In Taekwondo, indomitable spirit grows in students as they move up through each belt level. The more forms and techniques and discipline a student learns, the more unconquerable they feel.
     When I earned by blue belt, I felt unconquerable because blue belt is the first

intermediate belt. At that point I knew I would make it to black belt. Having indomitable spirit lets a taekwondo student have perseverance.
In school I try to have indomitable spirit so I can persevere at schoolwork. When I grow up, indomitable spirit will help me be successful in going to a good college and getting a well-paying job that I really like. That is the meaning of indomitable spirit and how I apply it in my life.


The Meaning of Perseverance and How I Apply it in  my Life
by Chosun student, Gregory Saucedo 
Chosun Belt Promotion Test May 17, 2015
     An important tenet of taekwondo that I am learning to apply in my everyday life is perseverance. Perseverance means to never give up and to have a set of goals in mind that one wants to achieve. Without perseverance, one would not be able to overcome the everyday challenges that are present in life. Learning to persevere through challenges teaches us that we can achieve anything that is really important to us. Perseverance helps us continue to try to do something even though it may be very difficult at times. 
     Some examples of how I apply perseverance in my life include the following. In school, I am able to complete my schoolwork by focusing and setting goals that allow me to deal with my challenges. I have patience and I ask questions if I don't understand something. I study and work hard to maintain my excellent grades.  Most importantly, I always try to finish what I start.  I do not give up if something hard presents itself.
     At home, I practice playing my saxophone several times per week. Sometimes I would much rather go outside and play, but I try my best to focus on persevering so that I can become much better at playing my instrument. I also practice all the skills and techniques that I am learning during my Taekwondo classes. It takes much practice and determination as I know that at time goes by I may be faced with some challenges in improving my technique and applying everything that I have learned thus far. Through perseverance, however, I know I will continue to strive and achieve all of my goals.
     Perseverance is the path to success in life. As long as you are determined and willing to never give up you can achieve whatever you set your mind to do. My mom and dad always remind me that if you fall, you must get up and dust yourself off and try again. Once a person learns to persevere through hard times it only becomes easier to pick yourself up and become successful.

A Retrospective of my Training in Taekwondo

Excerpts from five Black Belt Candidates' essays
First bi-annual Chosun Black Belt Test of 2015
officiated by martial arts pioneer, Grandmaster Richard Chun

"When I earned my Brown belt, I practiced even harder than before. I learned my new requirements and I earned my stripe.  Then we started practicing our breaks. After I tried out my break, I talked with Mrs. Pyke. She said that she thought I was ready to break a one inch thick board using a "palm heel strike." She encouraged me to do it. I was really nervous about this, but I talked to Master Cook before the test and he told me to speak with Instructor Garrett. Instructor Garrett held for me. I broke the one inch board with a palm heel and earned my High Brown belt. I was so excited."
by Julius Radakovits, First Dan Black Belt

"When I got my yellow belt it was great but that wasn't the only thing I got. I also made a new friend and his name is Sean. He was the greatest friend I ever knew. I sometimes pick him for Il su sik and sparring. This was a great day."
by Jose Martinez, First Dan Black Belt

"Knowing now that the black belt test is about a month away, I feel nervous that one of the biggest days of my life is coming so quickly. When I come to class I work hard and try to make my forms the best as they could be. I think the hardest part of being a bodan is that you need to remember all of the previous requirements and forms, but I know with practice you can make that easier. In my opinion the best part of being a black belt will be that I know now that I am strong enough to protect myself and others around me. Also I will be proud that I have received this high rank. I will know that if I put my mind to something I will be able to accomplish anything I work hard for. I look forward to going deeper into Taekwondo and seeing the true meaning of "foot-hand-way."
by Jonathan Vargas, First Dan Black Belt

"Now that I  am a bodan, testing to be a black belt, I am proud of myself and the work I have done to get here. I am also proud to be testing in front of Grandmaster Chun on the 60th anniversary of taekwondo. Someday, I hope to get my 9th Dan black belt, just like Grandmaster Chun. To do that, I must first get my 1st Dan. That is why I am so happy to be testing today. I would like to thank Grandmaster Chun, Master Cook, all my instructors, my dad, Instructor Klugman, my sister, Olivia, my mom, and my twin, Ella. They have all supported me and I love them all very much."
by Noah Klugman, First Dan Black Belt

" My favorite memory of all, so far, was when I got my trophy for Outstanding Achievement for the May 19th, 2013 belt test. I was a green belt, testing for my blue belt and I sparred with Sammy. I was scared when my name was called because everyone was staring at me. I feel taekwondo teaches me to not be a bully but to know how to defend myself against bullies. Taekwondo has taught me to not give up, keep on going and don't stop trying."
by Amelia Barravecchia, First Dan Black Belt 
   

The Meaning of Indomitable Spirit and How I Apply it in my Life

by Rocco Manno
age 9 Blue Belt Essay

Tong Il Jeon Shrine

Indomitable spirit means you have a spirit that is unbeatable, unshakable and invincible. It does not mean you always win, it means you stay positive and you don't let other people discourage you. At Chosun Taekwondo Academy, the instructors teach us how to have an indomitable spirit. They encourage us to do our best and to never give up, even when training is hard. 
In my life I did not always have an indomitable spirit. When I was in 1st and 2nd grade, some boys were bullying me and I had a really hard time controlling my temper and emotions. I was very frustrated and I let them make me angry. It made me so sad that whey were so mean to me. I was beaten. 
Now Taekwondo has helped me to have an indomitable spirit. This year in 3rd grade, a boy in my class was bothering me but I handled it much differently. He cursed at me, hit me and even tried to ruin my art project. I don't like how he treated me but I didn't let his behavior control me. I got my teachers to help me and he had consequences, not me. I didn't let him ruin my day. My teacher even said I was dealing with the situation "maturely." I feel good about how I handled this and I feel strong because I can control myself and stay positive. I have an indomitable spirit!

The Meaning of Indomitable Spirit

Bulguksa Temple

by Harrison Gratzel 
age 7 Blue Belt Essay
The meaning of Indomitable Spirit is having a strong and unbeatable spirit. I think I am strong inside myself.
I apply an Indomitable Spirit in my life by beating my fears. Having an unbeatable spirit makes me feel happy and confident. 
And also I think having an unbeatable spirit make our dreams come true. 
My Indomitable Spirit keeps me cook and awesome

"Weaving the Stories of Women's Lives" National Women's History Project 2015

by Kate Pernice, Chosun Taekwondo Academy 3rd Dan Black Belt
The following is her "story"

I grew up in Orange County and somehow my travels always brought me back to this area.  My dad farmed, had several businesses and then went into construction.  His entrepreneurial spirit influenced me in many ways, both in the work that he chose and in his belief that you can do anything you put your mind

 Via Ferrata, Circleville, West Virginia

to.  My mom is a wonderful story-teller.  I grew up hearing about her adventures of travel and work.  She was an independent woman, she sailed, she was a pilot-- her favorite story was when she worked for the military in Minnesota during WWII and she would pack her own parachute and go up to test the airplanes to do “spins and stalls” after they were repaired.  I learned from both of them a free-spirit determination, creative thinking and the importance of love.

Surrounded by nature in my childhood, I learned about the relationships between plants and animals and humans.  I became a vegetarian at the age of 16 along with my brother (with the concern of my parents).  I became interested in spacial design, studied architecture and did construction renderings for my dad’s business.  After traveling and the birth of my first son, I went on to study childbirth education, herbal medicine, homeopathy, yoga and eventually I entered nursing school and then a graduate program to become a nurse practitioner.  I remember in those first few months of practicing in a busy clinic, often coming home, discouraged and crying.  I felt that people deserved more than 10 or 15 minutes of my time, that their stories were important and that the act of listening has a healing effect especially when someone is struggling with life issues.  After 14 years of practicing in inner-city clinic settings I opened my own practice in order to offer the kind of care that I believed in.  Throughout those previous years I had 2 beautiful boys, (now grown) and my musician husband and I became interested in education, a direction that he pursued.  We renovated houses, camped, gardened, sailed, traveled and grew a family together.  At one of those disillusioned moments of my life I decided to attend a 4-year training in psychology and energy healing, brought this work into my practice, and went on to teach at that school for the past 15 years.  This is why you sometimes don’t see me in the Dojang.  The school is based in Miami and I travel there 5 times a year.  A few years ago I was simultaneously teaching in the Miami school and our sister school in Japan.  So I was traveling every month and although it was a wonderful experience I very much missed my time in the Dojang.  I feel so grateful to be part of these two wonderful communities of colleagues, friends and students.  Community has become very important to me; it is where we share our stories, our differences can be heard and our common ground found.  For the past three years a colleague and I have developed retreat-based work, The Sacred Living Project, examining the Sacred in ordinary life through music, poetry, movement, stories, group work and native traditions.  Each August for the past 11 years I trek to the wilderness-mountains of West Virginia as a facilitator for The Women’s Hero’s Journey.  It is my favorite way of doing the work that I do—bringing personal and group work and the complexity of our psyche into the raw simplicity of nature.  Courageous women from all over the world come to journey together with other women in the largest expanse of mountainous dark sky on the east coast.  The work is based on Joseph Campbell’s call to the mythic life, The Hero’s Journey.  We engage with the elements of air, water, fire, earth, we work with trust, grief, fierceness, vulnerability, we climb mountains, we descend into the earth, we walk on fire, take leaps of faith, we wander on the land, we face our aloneness, but mostly we come together in a loving community to discover more about ourselves.  And our program has now expanded to include a young women’s journey so that our circles span over a woman’s life-time.

So many times I have drawn upon my Taekwondo practice for strength, insight and perseverance and especially during the times that I have struggled in my life.  When I was a red belt I became very ill with Lyme disease and couldn’t practice for several months.  I remember reflecting again and again on the five tenets and the one that spoke loudest to me (as often one or two will come to the foreground when I need them) was “Indomitable Spirit”.   I found a connection to my larger self and could find comfort in the strength of my spirit while I simultaneously was quite disturbed by the strange and new experience of not having a strong and healthy body available to me.  I consider my Taekwondo practice a constant opportunity to find focus, inner balance and self-acceptance.  I love the rigor and the internal quiet, the yin and the yang of Taekwondo and the sense of belonging, not only to our Dojang but also amongst the tradition of our ancestor practitioners that have passed on the teachings.  I can’t imagine my life without Taekwondo.  As I enter my 10^th year of practice and take stock of the things I feel immeasurably grateful for, and that are at the heart of my life as daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, teacher, healer, gardener, wild woman, seeker, martial artist…  Taekwondo came into my life at just the right time and has continued to be a guiding post for me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  I have surpassed my ideas and limiting beliefs about myself countless times and my inner indomitable spirit more times than not takes on the attitude of, “Why not?” when I am faced with a challenge.  I am so grateful to Patty and Master Doug Cook for their perseverance and dedication in bringing our wonderful community together.  That is no small feat in these busy times.

Kamsahamnida, Kate