A BRIEF HISTORY OF MARTIAL ARTS
No one knows how martial arts got started. An early legend tells how a Buddhist monk called Bodhidharma made a long and hazardous journey in about the sixth century to the Shaolin Temple and monastery in Hunan Province in China, to teach the monks there some rudimentary aspects of martial arts for their own spiritual edification, and eventually for self-defense from brigands during their travels. This temple was destroyed in the late 1800's. From these beginnings, the practice of martial arts spread throughout China.
From the beginning, martial arts was considered to be a religious activity, especially in the Buddhist tradition. This philosophy teaches such concepts as reverence for all life, harmony with the universe, love of natural beauty, and the practice of virtue.
Several centuries ago, the knowledge and practice of martial arts spread from China to Okinawa, Korea, and eventually Japan. In the twentieth century, the practice of martial arts has spread throughout the world. Now there are many different styles, each with a specialty. Most of the systems are very old, but are also constantly growing and changing through contacts with each other and the cultures in which they are practiced. Those who practice martial arts take part in a living tradition.
Martial arts developed over centuries to strengthen character and improve physical conditioning. Although the practice of martial arts teaches the ability to focus power and physical strength in a blow of the hand or foot, unarmed fighting is not a match against a modern weapon like a gun. The deeper purpose of martial arts is not fighting or even self-defense, but to develop character, confidence, and virtue.
OUR STYLE: TANG SOO DO
Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art. It is the same style practiced by the movie actor Chuck Norris. "Tang" refers to the Tang Dynasty of China, "Soo" means "hand," and "Do" means "the way of." Tang Soo Do therefore means "The Way of the Chinese Hand."
Tang Soo Do is a relatively recent martial art, founded by Grand Master Hwang Kee. In 1936, when he was only 22, Grand Master Hwang Kee was already recognized as an expert in the Korean kicking style called Soo Bahk Do. In 1936, Hwang Kee traveled to China to study martial arts further. In China he studied the fighting style of the Tang system. He then combined these two systems in a style he called Tang Soo Do. At the end of World War II, he returned to his native land. On November 9, 1945, he organized the "Moo Duk Kwan," or Association of Martial Virtue. This date is seen as the official founding date of Tang Soo Do.
After the Korean War in the early 1950's, the Korean government tried to unify the various Korean martial arts. In 1965, many Korean schools combined to form Tae Kwon Do, a Korean national sport with international tournaments and world games.
Grand Master Hwang Kee refused to enter the Tae Kwon Do association, saying, "Tang Soo Do is not a sport. It is a classical martial art, and its purpose is to develop every aspect of the self, in order to create a mature personality totally integrated in intellect, body, emotions, and spirit. This total integration helps to create a person who is free from inner conflict and who can deal with the world in a mature, intelligent, forthright, and virtuous manner."
Born on November 9, 1913, as of the writing of this manual Grand Master Hwang Kee is still alive and serves as head of the Moo Duk Kwan.
OUR SCHOOL
A BRIEF HISTORY OF OUR SCHOOL
In 1960, a sixteen-year-old young man named Richard Kern spent a year in Korea with his family. During that time, he practiced Tang Soo Do in Seoul under the instruction of Grand Master Hwang Kee and his assistants Mr. Cho Hwan and Mr. Shim Sang Kyu. He earned his black belt at the end of one year, following an accelerated course of intense study.
When he returned to the United States, he taught Tang Soo Do in Maryland, being one of the very first practitioners and teachers of Tang Soo Do in this country. Later he became an assistant instructor for Jhoon Rhee, who came to be known as "the Father of U.S. Tae Kwon Do." Jhoon Rhee, however, originally trained in Tang Soo Do, and only changed to Tae Kwon Do after he came to the United States.
Mr. Kern, not wanting to abandon his training in Tang Soo Do, then started a Tang Soo Do school in Bethesda, Maryland. When Tang Soo Do Master Ki Whang Kim came from Korea, Mr. Kern turned his students over to him and became an assistant instructor in the school he had founded. Master Kim eventually awarded Mr. Kern the ranks of second and third degree black belt.
A few years later, 1972-1976, he lived in Japan where he studied techniques in aikido (a Japanese martial art involving joint manipulation and throwing) and iaido (the art of drawing the samurai sword). He attained the rank of first degree black belt in iaido in the splendid examinations at Osaka Castle. His teacher in iaido was Eitsuka Tsuyoshi.
In 1985, when he was a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, he founded the Aiten Kyuden Daito Ryu (Japanese for "Love of Heaven, Palace of the Great Sword School"). Although the style and method of training were Korean, the philosophy of the school was strongly Japanese. This meant that it was meditative, traditional, and spiritually deep, but also practical and progressive.
This school was a Christian ministry of instruction in Tang Soo Do, with additional training in aikido techniques and iaido. Students from the church and the community took part. Among the first students were the Rector of the parish, Father David Baumann, and Nancy Parker, another member of the parish. These two students attained the rank of first degree black belt after about three years of instruction.
When Mr. Kern retired from this ministry in the late 1980's, Father David continued it for several years. Father David retired from this ministry himself in the early 1990's. In July 1997, Father David re-opened a Christian ministry in martial arts, and offered training in Tang Soo Do to all interested persons, both adults and children. Following the tradition of his own instructor, Mr. Kern, but not wanting to presume upon Mr. Kern's prerogative, Father David called the school the "Ai-Ten Ryu" (Love of Heaven School)--a name different from the original name, but derivative from it.
Nancy Parker continued training in several schools, is still under instruction, and teaches T'ai Chi at Blessed Sacrament on Saturday afternoons. Since the first school opened in June 1985, probably over 100 students have participated in the martial arts programs offered at Blessed Sacrament.
One of Mr. Kern's first students in Jhoon Rhee's school was a man named Dale Tompkins. Mr. Tompkins also studied under Mr. Kern at the Tang Soo Do school in Bethesda, and earned a first degree black belt in 1963. He continued his training, became a professional martial arts instructor, and eventually founded the Tang Soo Do Karate Association (TKA), which later became the Tompkins Karate Association. Mr. Tompkins was designated a Master Instructor in 1968, and received his sixth degree black belt in about 1990 in an exam at Blessed Sacrament. He now heads the TKA on the East Coast serving several thousand students in about two dozen studios. Father David's first degree black belt is registered with TKA.
One may contact the Tompkins Karate Association at
P. O. Box 8611
Gaithersberg, MD 20898-8611
(301) 840-9262
The web site for TKA may be found at http://users.erols.com/lomac/
WHAT MAKES OUR SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY CHRISTIAN
For many, the very concept of Christian martial arts may seem to be a contradiction in terms. First, there is the common but mistaken notion that martial arts are violent. Those who investigate the martial arts even a little will find that this is not so. However, it is quite clear that the religious origins of martial arts are not Christian. Some, but not all, of the traditional philosophies of martial arts involve beliefs and practices which are at variance with Christianity, and which the orthodox Christian cannot wholly assume without, at the very least, an implicit conflict with a faith in Jesus Christ.
Therefore it must be clearly stated that a school of Christian martial arts will definitely not be a synthesizing of Christianity with another religion or philosophy; nor will it be putting on a Christian veneer over a way of life which remains fundamentally non-Christian. It will mean taking the classical philosophy of martial arts and making it something different.
The school at Blessed Sacrament Church is thoroughly Christian in philosophy and goal. The name "Ai-Ten Ryu" (Japanese for "Love of Heaven") marks the specifically Christian dedication of the school. Although the students do not need to be Christian to participate in the training, the chief instructor is a Christian priest, and the school is a ministry of Blessed Sacrament Episcopal Church. Christian prayer and Bible study are a regular part of the class experience.
The Episcopal Church's primary statement of faith is the Nicene Creed, which was written in the fourth century and expresses the faith of the undivided Church. The text of this creed will be provided to any interested person. (However, no specifically denominational teaching is given in the martial arts classes.)
The conviction behind the training is that Jesus is always our Companion and Example, our Lord and our Strength. All virtue and perfection are found in Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus is the ultimate and perfect Lover, ever-victorious Warrior against Satan and all evil, and Redeemer of the world. It is only by the grace he provides that any good is achieved.
Following Jesus, the students in the Ai-Ten Ryu will learn respect for all others, love of neighbor, and will be called to seek God's grace in order to excel in virtue. Students will build both confidence and humility, learn to remain calm in all situations, and follow orthodox Biblical teaching in behavior and attitude. Students will also confront their "negative" side, such as indifference to others, conceit, anger, fear, and pride. The redemption which Jesus manifests in the students will overcome these sins, so that the students will learn love, courage, peace, and reverence for truth.
Biblical passages which express our school's position include:
"One can receive only what is given from heaven" (John 3:27).
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
"Encourage one another and build each other up" (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:16, 21).
The operative Biblical verse for the school is "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22).
POLICY ON MINISTRY WITH CHILDREN
Blessed Sacrament Church, as part of the wider national Episcopal Church, has thorough policies on the prevention of sexual misconduct and the prevention of child abuse. These policies are strictly followed in the training of martial arts at the church. Copies of the policies are on file in the church office, and may be inspected by anyone at any time.
Because training in martial arts is a physical activity, and of necessity includes a lot of touching, parents will want to know some of the basic policies followed in the class. These include:
- No child will ever be trained alone.
- No class will ever take place unless at least two adults are present.
- Although signs of affection are an important aspect of the training and developing the class spirit, they will only occur in a public setting, and will never be invasive or inappropriate.
Father David, as well as every adult student who assists in the instruction of children, has taken a workshop required by the Episcopal Church on the prevention of sexual misconduct and the prevention of child abuse.
In short, it is the strong intention that, without exception, the classes will be a setting where every student will have complete confidence that he or she is both safe and loved.
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