To start with, the intent of this paper is to elicit discussion and thought. Some of the ideas presented here will be uneasy to read, and might conjure up feelings of insanity or betrayal on the part of the author. Understand that I am not completely comfortable with many of these ideas, and as only one member of a larger brotherhood, I intend only to start the conversation and not outright revolt.

Recently I was browsing through a bookstore, national chain, looking at the exercise and fitness section for new books about weight training, and martial arts. My eyes popped out of my head when I came across the title, The Idiot’s Guide to Tae Kwon Do. Now I have seen "Dummy" and "Idiot" books on many topics from computer programs, to personal finance so I picked up the book and browsed though some of the pages. The more I read the more uneasy I became. I did not purchase this book, nor do I recall the author. My larger concern is that the discipline of study to which I have spent 17 years learning can now be obtained from an "Idiot" book! Many who know me have heard me talk, rant and rave about the commercialization of TKD, about how instructors are only out to make money and no longer care about the quality of the instruction, the purpose of learning, nor the impact they make upon their students. This book though scares me in that every student who walks through our doors now may be coming with a preconceived snapshot of what TKD is. In order to maintain popular image we would have to conform to this pigeonhole. I shiver at the thought that a student would question my instruction, not to grasp the knowledge, but to say, "well, that’s not how this book says you’re supposed to do it." In my option popular TKD has sold out. What I see advertised on TV and in the yellow pages is not what I started to learn many years ago from Master Petty, nor is it what I have been teaching my students. Is the TKD we see today what Gen Choi had envisioned? I would argue no. Instead TKD is a business concept, run by many large organizations which all claim to teach the only "true" TKD.

So as instructors what are our options? Well, we could quit teaching forever and become bitter about anyone who continues to teach TKD. We could continue to fight popular ideas by saying that we teach "traditional" TKD, and have to forever define what "traditional" means as opposed to what is not. Or we could make the next evolutionary step in martial arts, one that has occurred countless times for over 2000 years. That is to leave the nest of the parent art and fly independently under new principles. What I am suggesting is that we no longer teach "TKD" but teach our uniquely developed style which has evolved anyway. General Choi did this back in the 1940's when he combined his knowledge of Taekyon and Karate into TKD. His intent was not only to train the military of South Korea, but to invoke moral lessons which had been prohibited by the Japanese government occupying Korea previously (paraphrased Choi; 1988). We have already done most of this. TKD does not teach wrist locks, but many of us do. TKD does not teach weapons, but some of us do. The list goes on. We have even given ourselves a name in Saki Do Kwan. In the tradition of the martial arts, when a student can no longer learn from his teacher, or has learned more than his teacher, he would venture out on his own to teach. The new instructor was even encouraged to give his method of teaching a unique name. This invokes pride and purpose for those who learn the new system. TKD would not have been possible without Gen Choi. Jeet Kune Do would not have been possible without Bruce Lee. American Kempo without Ed Parker. And Saki Do Kwan would not be possible without the guidance from Master Petty, and all the other instructors who have joined us.

So, do we teach TKD? I would suggest that we do not. We teach Saki Do Kwan. A martial art of Korean influence and tradition. We focus upon defense and personal improvement. Our core lies close to Gen Choi’s 1946 vision of patriotic pride and moral responsibility. But we are also influenced by Master Petty, and our individual experiences over the years. Is this to say Master Petty has created a new art? I doubt if he would say so. But he and many of his students have expanded on his teachings and have learned beyond what Gen Choi’s book can offer to us.

Many will think these comments arrogant. Again, my purpose is to encourage discussion about who we are, and where we are going as instructors, and an organization. I am not clear on all the answers, but when I see others teaching "TKD", and it is not even close to what I learned, a decision has to be made. Do we continue to argue our position of being a different TKD, or do we simply abandon the stigma attached and teach Saki Do Kwan?

I would encourage comments in the forum section of the Saki Do Kwan web page. Continue to train and to grow.

David Barbero

IV Dan

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