Who Do You Represent Today?

(From original post – November 2013)*** Sitting here watching “Miracle” for the first time. I know that its one that should have been seen before but I tend to shy away from movies about actual events. Anyway…

During the exhibition game of Team USA vs Norway, Brooks hears the players talking about the women in the stands. The game ends in a tie. The team is kept on the ice and Brooks states “If you don’t want to work during the game, you can work now.” They skates lines for a very long time (you know the kind… “workout until some one is puking”)

Brooks’ comment about the name on the front of the jersey being more important than the one on the back on the jersey has become a standard. Earlier during the training camp, Brooks regularly asked players their name and who they played for. Each always answering with their name and college. The workout after the game continued until a player finally announces that he plays for the USA.

Are you willing to work hard enough to prove you have earned the place you want to hold? Those who participate in training with World Haidong Gumdo Federation Master Kim, Jeong Woo (and USA Chief Master Marshall Parnell) have an understanding of this. I know that I felt bad whenever I made mistakes during training on stuff that I know or should know. I also know the effort that left me unable to raise my hand above my shoulder (from the amount of cutting).

Who do you play for? Remember, you represent your parents, family, community (back in the day, even your neighborhood) and probably a few others. Do you represent them to the best of your ability? Your martial arts training puts you into a family, as well. Is your work on the mat properly presenting your values and belief in the training? The proper amount of respect to your teachers? You DO represent them every day, as well.***

Since the original post , I have had the amazing opportunity to have a pioneer of Song Moo Kwan Taekwondo as my teacher. The original post listed my appreciation of the Haidong Gumdo lineage that I have. That lineage is

Jeong Ho Kim, World Haidong Gumdo Federation President
Jeong Woo Kim, World Haidong Gumdo Federation Director of Education/Pan-American Haidong Gumdo Director
Marshall Parnell. Senior Chief Master of USA Haidong Gumdo

I’m fortunate to have had several wonderful teachers join Midwest Haidong Gumdo to help continue the quality of training and spread the curriculum further.

Now, my Taekwondo past is muddy as I worked to learn more about the history and traditions of Song Moo Kwan. That I have only trained with Song Moo Kwan teachers is the point. I wanted to ensure that my Taekwondo education went back to a strong, truthful source. The biggest opportunity came in 2015 when I finally made contact with SGM Joon Pyo Choi, the only student promoted to 10th Dan by Song Moo Kwan founder Byung Jick Ro. This connection deepened my interest to study Song Moo Kwan and its history. The lineage from this side of my training looks like this.

(First)
SGM Byung Jick Ro – Song Moo Kwan founder
Sr. GM Jun Seon Hyon – (9th Dan) founder of the Karate Center & creator of the Chung Bong hyungs
Master Tom Sullivan – founder of Karate North (1981-1995)

(Now)
SGM Byung Jick Ro
SGM Joon Pyo Choi – (10th Dan) founder of Oriental Martial Arts College, Columbus OH (2015-2021)

Make sure to read the original for additional context!