Nam Tae Hi CHUNG DO KWAN’S QUIET I MAN By Earl Weiss If this man, along Grandmaster Han Cha Kyo and Grandmas with other well- Shon Rhee. . In 1954 there was a military demonstrati known martial before the president of South Korea. Sue} artists of his time, other weaponry and martial arts, Nam Tse ; then a second degree black belt. broke three i hadn't been so ing tiles with a downward punch. Presid . ‘was so impressed by the demonstration 1 adept at their mar- asked for it to continue after the planned: gram concluded. Since nothing was pl tial art--we might Nam, Tae Hi and Han, Cha Kyo assembled | ae rials and did a variety of breaks, President not be practicing ‘even examined Naru’s hands to see how bi able to perform the breaks, Tae Kwon Do today!“ siver the demonstration that o impre Grandmaster Nom with Mr. Eorl Weiss. ‘The Grand- Tn 1946. a young, mavferpe” Korean named foe inte arial at teie ne, He would Jeave school at 3.30 p.m. and go. tothe dojang and train, not returning home until midnight. This was a five day a week regi men. Tang Soo Do training con- tinued under Won Kuk Lee at the Chung Do Kwan, and his classmates included, Sun Duc Son, and Uhm Woon Kyu, the current head of the Chung Do Kwan in South Korea In those days the only belt col- \ ors were white, brown and. black, though there were eight levels or “Gups", Power breaking practice by Oh Do t before reaching black belt. Promotion tests were Kwan black s. Grandmaster j held every six months and students wsually geste Nami pcre is rom righ. edand were promoted two pup levels ata time. Alto ptured are Woo Jong im Ittook the young Nam, Tae HR about wwo.and.—— &%d Beek Jon Ki among others one half years to reach first degree black belt. 82 January 2000 / taekwondotimes.com‘Above: Nam, Tao Hi and Cho Kyo Hon prac- He in front of | the Oh Do Left: stration Team ln Tal m7 January 2000 83Nam Tae Hi SHUNG DO KWAN’S QUIET MAN President Rhee, he ordered all military personnel to receive martial att training, General Choi recruited structors from the different Kwans as instructors, This was the impetus for creating the new military gym, the Ch Do Kwan. Tasked Grandmaster Nam the meaning of the term Oh Do Kwan (widely translated as “The Gym of My Way”) and why this name was chosen, His answer ‘was very interesting, He told me that ifn established name was used, an instructor from another estab- lished Kwan may have been reluctant 10 train or teach at another “Kwan dojang,” and there could be some confusion, (For instance, a Chung Do Kwan instructor may not want to teach his art at a Moo Do Kwan gym, So the name Oh Do Kwan meant our gym, or the gym forall of us. (Books on Korean translation substantiate this meaning.) Or perhaps, i reflects someone speaking in the fitst person whereby ‘each person could consider it the gym of their way. (My idea.) Although somewhat inactive from teaching Tae ‘Kwon Do for the last few years, Grandmaster Nam invitation to teacl a class in the Chicago 116, 1998. During the class, he reflected ‘on the days of his training preceding the formation of Tae Kwan Do, and the early days of Tae Kwon Do. ‘These reflections included the introduction of the: At Sa tie CATA 1 Ei (© FREE rye RIBBON. ‘Sos Revo 400 200 ‘© FREE DELIVERY. ‘ie PaoTrir& Pua Oi 07 00 ‘e FINEST QUALITY Com in Bis © FREE ENGRAVING rv uns ee mes as CROWNYTROPHY 800.227 1557 Y.COM| 84 Janvary 2000 / tackwondstimes.com blue belt by General Choi (later leading to the current ten up color belt system), and how he performed the physical part of the new patterns as General Choi was mapping them out. He made an analogy saying that it \was as if General Choi wrote the script and was the director, and he was the actor, Perhaps that is why he is referred to as “General Choi's right hand man" in the General's books, Tcould not help but think that a certain amount of credit goes to Grandmaster Nam forthe art we prac- tice today. Had he and the others performing the demonstration for President Rhee been unimpressive, the president would not have ordered instructing the troops in martial arts; Tae Kwon Do would never have been formed and the Korean government would, not have been so supportive of Tae Kwon Do spread- ing throughout the world, All of ns practicing Tae Kwon Do might very will be doing another martial art (or none at all) right now Students from the International Taekwon-Do. Federation, Universal Tackwon-Do Federation (Founded by the late Han Cha Kyo) and students: swith no large organizational affiliations took advan- tage of an. opportunity to hear some history of Tae Kwon Do from someone who lived it Ibis not often that many people can listen to someone whose expe- rience in the mertial arts spans over fifty years. @ fen Seca cn ETN e eee Deana eg eee ROO nee easy PMS eens cients bien or Pernt wees ee ies Dr, Jerry Beasley's UNIVERSITY OF TAE KWON DO at Karate College 2000, June 23-25 (lympie TKD, tng odo. apd. sak, miso kton do, suits, eet une do, and instructor busines raining, Since 1988. All style, ll ranks welcome, ign) www AIKTA.net