04/28/2010

About Us

Origins:
We began as a small club receiving private instruction from Mr. Ui Jung Kim, a sixth degree black belt from Korea.  Mr. Kim was trained in the original martial form of Tae Kwon Do (taught to the Korean military in the 1950's), long before it was reorganized into the more sport-oriented form commonly found today.  He was not a professional martial artist, but simply a local business owner looking for like-minded individuals with whom he could share his experience.  We embraced his training, appreciating its purity.  Many of us continued the practice and have been perfecting our skills for over 50 years.

The original club is still active.  In addition, many of us teach privately.  We are also looking forward to expanding the experience into additional clubs as time allows.

What Sets Us Apart:
As you examine our methods, beliefs, and teachings, you will find we are quite different from other Tae Kwon Do schools.  To start with, our target audience is adults.  Most of the money in martial arts today is in teaching children.  There you will find large picture windows, big trophy cases, a rainbow of belt colors, and a goal of someday achieving black belt.  We have found that most adults aren't interested in learning point-sparring for tournaments.  The adult martial artist is looking for more private instruction in a self-defense oriented style where they can learn how to survive a fight.

Do you teach sparring?  Of course.  It is a necessary part of training, allowing students to practice defense and attack.  Our adult form is quite different.  Where as most modern day schools focus on accumulating points (any significant contact will suffice), we strive toward devastating strikes.  In addition, our rules more resemble those of an actual fight -- meaning joint locks, chokes, and take-downs are all legal and turning your back on your sparring partner in an attempt to suspend the match is not recommended.

We are a truly power-based style.  What does that mean?  No flashy flying kicks -- those can get you arrested in a public altercation.  Our techniques are low to the ground, fast, hit hard, and are often subtle to onlookers.  Our philosophy is very straight forward.  We do not block a punch to deflect it.  We block with the intention of breaking the arm (so they won't throw it again).

This sounds pretty brutal...  What about injuries?  As with any high-impact activity, we do have our share of injuries but they are not common place.  If we were training for tournaments our focus would be on speed and tactics.  Since this art form focuses on power, all of our training sessions blend an even amount of practice in both force and control.  The learning curve is longer, but you end up with extremely effective techniques and the ability to choose the level of damage you believe is appropriate.

What about the smaller adult?  Welcome!  We are not about being big and muscular.  We are about focus and power.  When Tae Kwon Do changed to a more sport-oriented art form, they discarded (or greatly reduced) their methods of teaching power.  It simply became less important as it does not significantly improve the chances of winning a tournament.  We have retained these skills and integrate them into all of the techniques.  Students discover that power not only comes from muscle, but also from focus, grounding, and energy.  Periodically a new student will challenge the idea of "energy", necessitating a physical demonstration.  Our 5'6" instructor takes great joy in throwing this large individual across the room.

What else was lost when Tae Kwon Do went to sport?  Self defense, joint locks, arm bars, chokes, take-downs, nerve techniques, surviving a heavy strike, energy work, and targeting vulnerable areas.  We still practice all of these.  Since we learn to target vulnerable areas (no rules), we also learn to protect them - which the sport does not.  This is why we fight out of cat stance, with no weight on the front foot.  If someone attacks and uses a now-common sport stance (weight evenly balance), the first thing we'll do is break their knee.

Was Energy work that important?  It provides a level of force even smaller individuals can master.  Mr. Kim's expression of energy did create some issues.  In our attempts to use a VHS video camera to capture his demonstration of hyung (forms), any time he put out a kiyup (yell) the electronics couldn't handle it and the video would glitch.  When we asked him about it, he proceeded to show us how the energy of the kiyup was designed to shock the nervous system of an attacker.  This was something that was very unsettling and we simply needed to get used to it during practice.

We teach a truly martial form of Tae Kwon Do, with an emphasis on self-defense.  We believe that avoiding or escaping a fight is the best way to win, and only use the skills if we have no other choice.  We live in integrity and hold ourselves accountable for our actions.

Welcome to martial arts for grown-ups.

Philanthropic Goals:
Mr. Kim believed that a martial art is something to share with community; In its practice, we benefit society as a whole (see Philanthropy).  None of the instructors within our organization are professional martial artists.  We believe that a martial art is all about intention, and turning it into a profitable endeavor negates its true form.  In the outside business of martial arts it is very common to have skilled individuals open schools with a goal of keeping true to their art.  In the beginning, the art is the focus and the money is a distraction.  Unfortunately, over time that reverses.  The money becomes the focus, and the art form is now the distraction.

We actively promote the idea of moving martial arts away from its current connection to capitalistic gains, and bring it back to its origins; a method of creating a community of safety and integrity.  We plan to accomplish this by establishing not-for-profit clubs, managed by dedicated educators, with a goal of providing these skills to any adult who has the desire to learn.

Currently, none of our instructors charge for teaching classes.

Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do:
Tae Kwon Do is based on an ancient Korean fighting art and means “The Way of the Feet and Hands.”  The style of Tae Kwon Do practiced by our club members is from Han Moo Kwan (a military form of Tae Kwon Do).  Mr. Ui Jung Kim, sixth-degree black belt, was our founding chief instructor.  He passed away in January of 1999.  The foundation of our techniques includes strikes, kicks, blocks, self-defense, sparring, and hyung (commonly called “forms” in English, and “kata” in Japanese).
 
Our Han Moo Kwan clubs retain the traditional style and philosophy taught to Mr. Kim in the 1950s, before the unification of the Kwans (schools) into the World TaeKwonDo Federation (WTF).  Unlike WTF, which markets its training toward younger students desiring to achieve through competition (sport), this form addresses the needs of the adult who wishes to practice a power form designed for personal combat.  This fighting art is used strictly for self-defense using only bare hands and feet, no weaponry, to fend off attackers.
 
The physical (body) aspect of our training provides the student with an aerobic and anaerobic workout. Other benefits include increased flexibility, improved balance, and strength training. The mental (mind) aspect of the art form teaches power and focus.  Other benefits include stress reduction and increased self-confidence.  The discipline of blending these body-mind skills is based on a respect for oneself and others.
 
Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do uses traditional rankings with a limited set of belt colors including white, green, blue, brown, and black (in various degrees).  At the end of each semester, students demonstrate their skills through formal testing.  They are then awarded their new rank, and often treated to a celebration dinner.

Although the art form is often seen as “harsh”, the clubs retain their underlying goal of building community.  Studied by men and women, the young and not so young, a strong sense of camaraderie develops among club members.

Han Moo Kwan Meaning:
The word Han is the South Korea name for Korea, the word Moo means Military or Martial, and the word Kwan means School or Hall; together Han Moo Kwan means "Korean Military School".
 

The Han Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do Emblem:
The emblem contains the symbols of the Han Mu Gymnasium, a connection to the school where Mr. Kim was trained. The emblem contains a "V"; for victory, olive leaves for peace, and a dragon for power.
 

Click here for the history of the original club (.pdf file)