Overview

Pop! Pop! Pop! The kicks landed alternatively on the sides of my midsection with startling rapidity before I could block. Preparing for the next exchange did not make a difference as a foot was emphatically placed upon my shoulder before I realized that an attack had been initiated. "Goman!" As we rotated to the next partner, I thought to myself that the previous partner must have one of the national champions and that the next partner will be a bit more manageable. Instead, I find that my new partner is just as technically proficient and also pushes me to keep up with him. This was the type of training I expected: the opportunity to spar with the students of possibly the most thorough and intense collegiate program in Korea, one after the other. This experience created a vivid image for the Korea Friendship Visit, and provided unique insight to the training methodology for Taekwondo.

Even after hearing second-hand from various individuals in the UC Berkeley club of how comprehensive the training in Korea is and having experienced something of that training in preparation for various competitions at Cal, it was not sufficient for the actual experience. This was because it was not the physical training that was so unique, it was instead viewing the results of that training and that system. Seeing the individuals at the university execute their techniques, with each person more skillful than the next, was a very stunning realization of the potency of this program to teach, train, and prepare future leaders of the Taekwondo community. Perhaps more than anything else, this trip made it possible to understand more fully why the Korean students are so highly accomplished.

The 1994 Korea Friendship Visit began on May 30 and included seven days at Kyung Hee or YongIn Universities for full-time Taekwondo or Hapkido training respectively, a refreshing overnight stay in Inchon, and a three-day stay in Seoul visiting various universities and, of course, the kukkiwon. The group totaled 25 people including Dr. Ken Min, Technical Director of the UCMAP, 8 current members of the UC Martial Arts Program, 9 members from Taejin Taekwondo in San Francisco, an instructor from Mill Valley, CA, and 6 individuals from Idaho, Montana, and Washington DC (including Brian Wright and Chuck Thornton). Dr. Tim Browne of Missoula, Montana served as Team Leader with Mr. Tim Ghormley and Mr. Chuck Buhs serving as co-Team and Equipment Managers [Master Ghormley is now the head instructor at the Stanford Taekwondo Club].

Upon arriving in Seoul, we were met at the Seoul International Airport by Professor Byung Wook Lee of Yongin University, a long-time friend of Dr. Min's, who provided us with two shuttle buses to take us to the Inchon Beach Hotel. We had just enough time to unload our bags in the hotel rooms before heading out for dinner at a traditional Korean restaurant generously provided by Dr. Min's instructor, Dr. Lee, and the Inchon Judo Club.