International Master’s Seminar

Hey everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve posted on the blog… it’s been busy!

My little family and I moved into a new home, I quit working as a Taekwondo Instructor for someone else and started my own dojang… and I’ve been working hard on the YouTube channel trying to craft the best quality instructional videos possible.

Now it’s time to return to posting regularly here as well, and I’ll start with my experience with the 94th International Master’s Seminar!

I flew in on Tuesday evening (November 8th, 2022) and checked into the hotel. The lady at the front desk was not surprised when I asked if there were many martial artists checking in lately… our seminar started the next day! Apparently I was one of the last ones…😅

I got a restful night’s sleep, and then the experience began…

Day 1: Philosophical Lecture

We were all assembling in the lobby around 8:30am even though the event started at 9:00am. I was happy to shell out what was an exorbitant amount of money ($3.00 USD!) for a coffee.

(Fresno didn’t have many coffee shops in a walkable distance so I had no choice!)

I checked in, received my arm tag (Number 3-43), my textbook, a complimentary notebook and a goodie bag.

Once it hit around 9:30-10:00am we started gathering in the room and prepared to start. There was a welcome speech made by the CUTA (California Unified Taekwondo Association) president Grand Master Yong Choi. Along with a welcome speech by Grand Master Bang Mankyu.

Now here was a character, he told us we needed to remember when he entered the room he expected us to clap excitedly, yell loud and cheer.

He made us do it twice before he was satisfied.

GM Bang was very charismatic and explained about the Kukkiwon and how it was trying to standardize the training for all Masters around the world.

“If Kukkiwon is the sun for all Taekwondo practitioners, I will be your little sun!”

-GM Bang

He proceeded to get us to tell all the people around us that “You are the best” and “You are so handsome/beautiful.”

GM Bang got everyone relaxed and friendly with one another, and his energy was contagious. I was very happy to have him as the primer for the day!

We then got a brief summary of how the next few days would go by Grand Master Kim of the WTMU (World Taekwondo Master’s Union) and the bowing in.

GM Kim berated a few Masters for wearing their uniform while bowing… it was painful to watch!

We then took a group photo, and started the lecture.

Our first lecture was with Grand Master Clint Robinson about the history of Taekwondo. We learned about the 9 Kwans, the formation of the various organization behind Taekwondo such as the KTA, Kukkiwon, WT, etc.

Then we were passed over to Grand Master Bonghwan Kim for the philosophy lecture. His main topic was what it means to be a Taekwondo Sabumnim, and how without our Taekwondo Spirit we are just punching and kicking…

His lecture focused on “Do” 도 or 道.

There were different blurbs about philosophers over the years, such as Socrates with his virtues, Aristotle with knowing vs. practicing, etc.

The way he described a Taekwondo Sabumnim’s journey through the dan grades were as follows:

First dan to Fifth dan, we are developing technique and bodies… we demonstrate in class with our bodies!

Fifth dan and higher we are developing our mind… our spirit is developed over time consistently through practicing.

We are constantly developing a sense of inner self reliance based on our accomplishments, and by overcoming obstacles.

Now as a Sabumnim we must transfer this feeling to our students!

Basic Kukkiwon Definition of Taekwondo Spirit:

“Overcoming the ‘Self’ and then benefiting ‘The World.'”

GM Bonghwan Kim wanted us to overcome our carnal and greedy desires, and think about the world.

Then it was Grand Master Bo Soen Hwang’s turn at the reins. He reviewed the rules and regulations about dan and poom promotions, along with some of the major points of the history lecture. He gave us some subtle hints about the written test and off we went. Once we were done we could leave, and it was already 7:00pm!

I made a friend at the seminar so we went for dinner together, then it was back to the hotel to wash my dobok, make some notes and hit the sack!

Day 2: Physical Training

We assembled just before 9:00am in a larger room this time, and we started with Kyorugi.

Master Gus Villa (a Taekwondo Kyorugi champion) led us through an exhaustive warmup to get our bodies ready for sparring. (many people were gassed just at this point…)

We went through some pad work in groups of 3-4 while covering some of the basics

• Blocking
• Covering
• Re-directing
• Punch countering
• Cancelling
• Cancelling plus counters in the air
• A great new sparring game (new to me)

The sparring training was great, and the general consensus was “I know we all like old school sparring with the heavy kicks and the KOs, but these days with the rules… it’s better to use these tools instead.”

He did a great job, thank you Master Gus Villa!🙏🏻

Then we had lunch and reconvened for Master Michael Wong’s presention of the rules and regulations for Kyorugi and refereeing. We used what we learned to play Jeopardy and lost miserably. hahah

Grand Master Jaeyoon An’s poomsae training was next…

We went through another quick warmup, which included 20 burpees while jumping across the room…

Also some cools stretching techniques like putting your leg on your partners shoulders and hold their hand while they stand up.

We practiced basic (Kibon) movements like stances and blocks, and we had our partners hanging on our high block to help us find the best position of our shoulder and elbow compared to our fist.

Then we proceeded to practice Chuchumseogi (horse stance and middle punch) for almost an hour!

The main ideas from this training session were

• Don’t TRY to block or punch… too much intention… relax and LET your body block and punch
• Use your hips, North Americans are notorious for only using their upper bodies (strong upper bodies mind you)💪🏻
• Keep your head the same level as you pivot and turn in the poomsae going from stance to stance.
• Practice using your bodies kinetic chains (shoulder-elbow-wrist) (Hip, knee, ankle) to make it quick and snappy.

It was a glorious workout, and we covered the colour belt poomsae (Taegeuk poomsae) this day. We also drew our poomsae for the practical test. (Poomsae #4 and Keumgang) at the end of the day.

My friend and I tried a new restaurant and then it was back to the hotel room, to hand wash my dobok, make some more notes, and sleep! I was quite tired after the hours of training today.

Tired, but happy!

Day 3: Physical Training & Practical Test (Last Day of the International Class Master Course)

After the incredibly expensive, but equally delicious coffee.. we all limped and hobbled back into the conference hall.

The sound of percussion massage guns and the smell of tiger balm wafted through the air. Everyone was very sore from the previous days training.

Grand Master Jaeyoon An had said, we should “practice our chuchumseo every day.” I believe he follows what he says. He looked limber and happy-go-lucky as we all tried to work out some kinks.

The training was similar to the previous day, we reviewed the colour belt poomsae quickly and moved into the black belt poomsae. GM An said because we are doing keumgang on the test that evening we should review it a little more thoroughly.

They divided the conference room into three sections, a staging area, the test area, and a waiting area for after you tested. We went out in teams of 4-5 and performed our two poomsae for the Kukkiwon representatives. It was nerve-racking for many, as we had not competed, or tested ourselves in many years. Lots of nerves going into it.

After the test was over, they lined us up and we had a closing ceremony. There were many high profile Korean guests who were acknowledged. A few select trainees were awarded “Citations,” and then we took a group photo.

We celebrated by checking out a beer garden with several other practitioners. We couldn’t stay out too late, because many of us were staying on for the Poom/Dan examiner course starting the next morning.

Day 4: Poom/Dan Examiner course first day

GM Jaeyoon An pushed quickly through the colour belt poomsae. Many of the practitioners in attendance were also attendees from the International Master’s course. We drew the poomsae and we were going to be tested on Taegeuk 5 Jang, and Koryo.

(Much to everyone’s dismay!)

GM A focused on the poomsae we were supposed to do for the test. We had quite a bit of free time to practice while he went through the higher level blackbelt poomsae with the 2nd and 1st class master participants.

The evening ended with italian food, and an early night. 3 day of multiple hours of training was taking it’s toll!

Day 5:

We started the day with GM Bang telling us he had toured around the building and set up lasers to keep the evil spirits away. He wanted to make sure we had a good exam this evening.

We learned more philosophy from GM Bonghwan Kim, along with rules and regulations for examining and promoting blackbelts of all levels. We learned about skip dans, time reductions, honorary dans, etc.

We then went over how to grade for a blackbelt test. Looking at the specifics for Poomsae, Basic motions, Kyorugi, and board breaking.

Practitioners need a combined 60% to pass the test.

The majority of masters have to agree to pass a student. For example if two masters say “Pass” and one says “Fail…” Then the practitioner would pass.

We had our practical test that evening, and it seemed like the expectations were much higher in this course. There were many nervous people this time around, and the Kukkiwon representatives even seemed more intense!

We finished the course with another closing ceremony, with many more citations handed out for practitioners who stood out during the training.

Some of the masters and I went to celebrate at a sushi bar, and it was bittersweet. We were happy to have made it through the seminar… but we also loved every minute of it and hated to see it end.

As we came back to the hotel, we were spotted by some of the Kukkiwon representatives and invited to have some drinks with them! It was a special moment I loved, and will remember well.

The next morning we packed up and prepared for the journey home.

All-in-all, I would do that seminar over again in a heartbeat! The new friends, the training, the mentorship, and the fact that we’re doing what we love literally ALL DAY (12 hours!) was amazing.

If you get a chance to attend the International Master’s course, or the Poom/Dan Examiner course…

DO IT!

Train hard, and see you on the mats!👊🏻