Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 11:04:13 -0500 From: the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net Subject: The_Dojang digest, Vol 9 #369 - 4 msgs X-Mailer: Mailman v2.0.8 MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Sender: the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net Errors-To: the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net X-BeenThere: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Mailman-Version: 2.0.8 Precedence: bulk Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net X-Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net List-Help: List-Post: X-Subscribed-Address: kma@martialartsresource.com List-Subscribe: List-Id: The Internet's premier discussion forum on Korean Martial Arts. List-Unsubscribe: Status: RO X-Status: X-Keywords: Send The_Dojang mailing list submissions to the_dojang@martialartsresource.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/the_dojang or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to the_dojang-request@martialartsresource.net You can reach the person managing the list at the_dojang-admin@martialartsresource.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of The_Dojang digest..." <<------------------ The_Dojang mailing list ------------------>> Serving the Internet since June 1994. Copyright 1994-2002: Ray Terry and Martial Arts Resource The Internet's premier discussion forum devoted to Korean Martial Arts. See the Korean Martial Arts (KMA) FAQ and the online search engine for back issues of The_Dojang at http://MartialArtsResource.com Pil Seung! Today's Topics: 1. typo (Ray Terry) 2. To Morgan James= Seoul comments or Soulful comments (Ken McDonough) 3. Re: Master Whalen (JSaportajr@aol.com) 4. Re: U.S.K.A. World Championships (Ray Terry) --__--__-- Message: 1 From: Ray Terry To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net (The_Dojang) Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 16:59:24 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [The_Dojang] typo Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net >From korea.net. Note the mention of former WTF head Dr. Kim Un-yong along with future(?) ITF head Chang Jung (Ung) from NK. Also the typo(?) listing Dr. Kim as head of the ITF. Or does Mr. Chang now have competition for the empty ITF position? :) Two Koreas to Hold Sports Talks in Monaco July 31, 2002 North Korea has proposed that the South and the North hold talks to discuss exchanges in the field of sports, an overture instantly accepted by the South. Kim Un-yong, a South Korean member of the International Olympic Committee, said Wednesday (July 31) that he would meet with his North Korean counterpart Chang Jung later this month to discuss sports exchanges, including North Korea's possible participation in the Busan Asian Games, which will kick off on Sept. 29. "The meeting is expected to inject new vigor into stalled sports exchanges between the two sides," Kim said in a statement. Kim responded to a letter he received on Monday from Chang. In the letter, Chang proposed a meeting on Aug. 20 in Monaco. Monaco is home to the head office of the General Association of International Sports Federations, the umbrella organization of Olympic sports. Kim, a South Korean lawmaker, heads the association, as well as the International Taekwondo Federation. Kim said that topics at the meeting are expected to cover inter-Korean taekwondo exchanges and North Korea's possible participation in the Asian Games in the South Korean port city of Pusan, set for Sept 29-Oct 14. Inter-Korean exchanges flourished after the historic summit of leaders of the two sides in 2000 but came to a standstill because of political and military tensions. But South and North Korea will resume talks this weekend at a North Korean mountain resort to prepare for ministerial-level talks in Seoul. Chang's offer came four days after North Korea expressed regret for the June 29 naval skirmish near a disputed sea border. Kim and Chang were instrumental in helping their Olympic delegations march jointly for the first time during the Sydney Olympics in 2000. --__--__-- Message: 2 Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 17:09:20 -0700 (PDT) From: Ken McDonough To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] To Morgan James= Seoul comments or Soulful comments Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Mr. James commented, in part: Response: First, for those readers who believe I am espousing bar hopping in Seoul this is not the case. I would suggest you take a train from Seoul to Pusan and observe the sights of Korea. Visit the monuments and historic sights. However, there is a large military and American civilian population in Korea and therefore Americans hang where other brothers and sisters are hanging. So, Morgan I do not recall the name of the place you refer to but I know there was one great bar directly to the right of Hilltop Hotel. It played great music and was generally a good vibe place. Now, as your proceed down the infamous Hooker Hill you find various themes and shoebox type bars. I knew one bar where the ...ah, no--I won't go there. But, I did see a lot of bar fights. For some reason I managed to avoid them, although there was one close call. I think I avoided the stuff since I acted like a Korean, not ugly American tourist. I was polite, courteous, and tipped. I also went to a few selected places where the owners knew me and treated me well. Morgan I can't speak about the West Virgina connection. But, I know the Hatfields and McCoys were fighting on the weekends in Itawon. Itawon attracted a huge international crowd not just Americans. There were Russians, Arabs, Nigerians, Filipinos. You should return when u have a chance. It will bring back many memories I am sure. However, I heard from old timers that Korean really changed after the Olympics. Big Ken Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com --__--__-- Message: 3 From: JSaportajr@aol.com Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 20:34:26 EDT To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Subject: [The_Dojang] Re: Master Whalen Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net I would like to publicly thank Master Hal Whalen for being my Hapkido teacher and for teaching me so much. In the years that I have been with him I have learned a tremendous amount. I have trained in a variety of martial arts over the last 25 years. Master Whalen is one of the best martial artists I have trained with. What impressed me most about Hal though is what a good person he is. He is warm and caring. I could be a difficult student in some ways, questioning certain techniques, and spending two weeks in close contact in Korea could bring out irritating traits occasionally in every one, but Hal was always ready to offer a warm handshake, he NEVER took any interpersonal conflicts on to the matt by hurting students or cranking them up too much. On a couple of occasions we were in the midst of a conflict, but when demonstrating with me on the matt he was as respectful and gentle as always. Hal is also a man of great personal integrity. He also has a wonderful, playful sense of humor. Thanks to Hal I have come to know and love Hapkido. However, I have NEVER encountered such dirty, back stabbing, viscous politics in my experience with any other martial art. I tried to stay out of it completely, as I couldn't care less about it and all I am interested in is training and learning. But it has been impossible to not be affected and demoralized by it. The political atmosphere around Hapkido in this country, due to a few power and control hungry individuals at the top is sickening, and again, though there are politics in every organized martial art, I have never seen any thing like this. As a result of this I will likely not continue my training in Hapkido and explore some other martial arts. I love learning and training and there are so many good martial arts that have much to offer. There were those who were wished to make Master Whalen submit to their authority and pulled out all the stops to accomplish this. One of the things these people did was to spread rumors, including to the KHF that we went to Korea to buy rank and that we were not legitimate students, that all we did in Korea is drink beer and shop, and they even threatened to use their influence and take our rank away. Well, I was in Korea, I trained very hard every day, and at the end I tested before a legitimate testing board of the KHF, including the chairman of the KHF testing board, Grand Master Kim. As a result of this test and of years of training that preceded it, I was awarded my black belt. This was an honor, but frankly I couldn't care less if my rank were removed by those with influence in this country in the KHF. The training trip to Korea, thanks to Master Whalen, was one of the highlights of my life, and no one can take that away with viscous rumors sent by anonymous emails. I already have a third degree black belt in another art, so it really doesn't matter to me if and with whom this black belt is registered. In "the old days" one received a black belt from one's teacher and there was no concern with registering it with any larger organization. I have met some unbelievable martial artist in other arts, people who could wipe the floor with some of the overweight, out of shape Hapkido players that are obsessed with rank and certification and organizations, and these guys have rank that is recognized by no one other than their teacher. They don't care about anything else. In fact, based on my history in martial arts I would submit that generally there is an inverse relationship between a person's preoccupation with politics, organization, registration of rank on the one hand and that persons skill on the other. I think of another great martial artist I know, an 8th dan in Taekwondo, 8th Dan in Hapkido and former professional kick boxer with an undefeated record (he is not registered with nor has he heard of the KMIA though, and is therefore not legitimate). I have never, ever heard this man express any interest in politics or attempt to gain power or control in an organization. He could care less and would look at all this and laugh. Re my Hapkido black belt and who recognizes it, all that matters to me is that my teacher of many years gave me the rank of black belt and he recognizes it. My skill on the matt and my dedication to training legitimate my rank. I support Master Whalen in his leave of absence, and I know he wants to spend more time with his wonderful boys. If he retires, I hope we will remain friends. But I hope that someday he will return and shut out all the politics and just do what matters, train, teach and turn out good students. Jose' Saporta, MD --__--__-- Message: 4 From: Ray Terry Subject: Re: [The_Dojang] U.S.K.A. World Championships To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 18:10:58 -0700 (PDT) Reply-To: the_dojang@martialartsresource.net > Just kidding. Anyway, wish us luck. A few of my students are members > of the digest. Nathan and Kent will be competing, some of you may > remember some of their posts, so send them a good luck post. Also, my > wife to be just joined, her name is Amanda, send her a hello post. > Lets try to make her start writing. Maybe her and Bruce will play nice. Luck! And welcome to you all. Ray Terry rterry@idiom.com --__--__-- _______________________________________________ The_Dojang mailing list The_Dojang@martialartsresource.net http://martialartsresource.net/mailman/listinfo/the_dojang http://the-dojang.net It's a great day for Taekwondo! Support the USTU by joining today. US Taekwondo Union, 1 Olympic Plaza, Ste 104C, Colorado Spgs, CO 80909 719-866-4632 FAX 719-866-4642 ustutkd1@aol.com http://www.ustu.org Old digest issues are available via ftp://ftp.martialartsresource.com. Copyright 1994-2002: Ray Terry and http://MartialArtsResource.com Standard disclaimers apply. Remember 9-11! End of The_Dojang Digest