Taekwondo Grand Masters are never too old to learn

Grand Master Kim Seng achieved a 9th dan black belt in Taekwondo from the World Taekwondo Academy -Kukkiwon (the highest level). He is teaching at the Australian Taekwondo Academy. Photo: Character permitted

Why did you take the course ``The World Police Taekwondo Federation special seminar`` in the Kyungdong University, Korea?

Grand Master Kim Seng: I have practiced martial arts for more than 50 years and I continually update my knowledge and practice. There is always something new to learn either to be it techniques, skills, knowledge or different ways to practice or a different perspective or different ways to apply knowledge and technique for different situations. When I saw the promotion of this course, it held my interest and when I decided to come to Korea for the Hanmadang, which covered competition events for martial arts, I decided to attend this course as well as the timing and scheduling fitted in well.

What is your impression of this course ?

Grand Master Kim Seng: This course started with basic skills such as Taekwondo kicking techniques, basic movements and applications of Taekwondo skills for Kyorugi and self defence applications. These were well covered by accomplished instructors, like Professor Lee Hae Dong from Hanyang university self defence and special forces army master’s association and ably assisted by Master Jo Jae O, Kukkiwon Poomsae coach and instructor who recently won the senior 3-4 Hanmadang Poomsae competition. This session was covering a refresher of taekwondo kicking skills and began as the first phase of the course.

Grand Master Kang Ik Pil, an accomplished instructor for Kukkiwon and World Taekwondo, plus himself a poomsae world champion instructed us in basic Taekwondo movements for poomsae skills and how to use these poomsae movements for daily practice and for competition plus also applications for self-defence. It was interesting as he showed us the connection of putting poomsae to use for self-defence practice. Grand Master Kang put us through 4 sectionalised practices of poomsae movements for the Koryo poomsae, explaining each set of movements for practice and practical use. This session is the second phase of the course.

Grand Master Kim Seng training the course ``The World Police Taekwondo Federation special seminar``. Photo: WPTF

Sir, how does this course practice fighting and self-defense?
Grand Master Kim Seng: The course also covered more detailed applications for self defence in close up and real-life situations and applications. This section is the 3rd and main phase of the course and was covered in 3 main sessions. It was interesting as the techniques and skills covered were from a combination of martial arts including taekwondo, jiujitsu, police work, krav marga and special forces commando style fighting and self defence.

Our self-defence instructor was Master Kim Myung Hwa, who had trained in taekwondo, jiujitsu and spent years in Israel training from the founding lineage of the krav maga fighting system. The instruction covered close up outside and then close up inside parrying and blocking techniques with a clear centred focal point to commit to memory, starting with slow motions and building up speed as we got better.

We then learned body and arm grabs, arm locks and techniques to attack and then to defend against and put attackers away in close quarters. We then progressed to using weapons, such as the knife and staff batons to attack and defend against likely attackers wielding these weapons. The instructors were very patient and went through the application and execution steps in stages as we learned, practiced and committed to memory of these varying self defence techniques. There were many situations or scenarios practiced and the instructors were careful not to advance to the next techniques until we showed an acceptable level of competence for each technique.

Taekwondo Grand Masters are never too old to learn and always bow before their Grand Masters.  Photo: WPTF

Taekwondo practitioners around the world are a considered family, right?

Grand Master Kim Seng: Yes, the overall course was enjoyable, and the atmosphere made it fun, while learning as we tweak and flex our aching muscles and bone joints through all sessions learning and practicing. For some of us, it was great learning new skills while for some it was great refreshing similar skills.

The days were hot and sweaty. We stayed at the Kyungdong University dormitories and the companionship was great. We had breakfast lunch and dinner together at the University and nearby in Yangju district restaurants. We even had some fun singing with some of us belting out our national language songs, and with some back up harmony from among us some of use wannabe singers.
I have enjoyed the course and I will certainly consolidate my learnings and practices to take home to pass onto my members when I return home.
Thank you very much Grand Master !

Australia, 12/8/2024