Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Belt Demo WMAC Sunbae Danielle Uchitelle, member of the 2015 Black Belt Demo Coordination Team

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Watching bodans training night after night Dragon, a children’s form adult’s determination, beginner’s mind.

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On the roof flaming boards, guttering, your kiyap so powerful the fire vanished.

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Sword form when wooden, a form when steel, a sword.

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Training with pain none can see performing with grace all can see a catch in your breathing only I can see.

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I tell them that I will recognize the Grand Masters by the spirit in Grand Masters, surprise myself by recognizing Sabumnim’s mother.

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Injury can’t stop you others stumble, you hop over.

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Perfect balance empty mat empty mind teaming room silenced.

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The weapon you used for your staff form, red taped, is mine Now I’ll need to work harder not disappointing my weapons.

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Our security guard had never seen hapkido I can tell he now understands.

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If I imagine myself doing this, I can do it. I can do it.

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A beautiful form; I should learn it realizing I know it, realizing I should learn it.

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Dojang group photos so many faces unknown to me Where are the bodans of yesteryear?

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They stood beside me as bodans they’ll stand beside me as Black Belts next will be our turn.

Feet to the Fire: Instructors Training at UMAC by Hak Seng

When I first heard about the Instructors Training being held at United Martial Arts Center (UMAC), I imagined it would be similar to past instructors seminars I had attended at the dojang: a combination of lecture, application exercises, and lots of writing in my notebook. They were always eye-opening and informative, and definitely helped when teaching a student, as well as for my own learning (of how to be a better student).

What I didn’t expect: to be exhausted by the end of what was almost 15 straight hours of training, and to learn way more than “how to be an instructor.” My notebook remained blank the entire time; no time to write. Our feet were thrown into the fire!

Here are my six key learnings (all of which are cultivated in our dojang):

1. GO WITH THE FLOW I quickly let go of the expectation of doing a lot of sitting, listening, and writing notes when I saw different stations set up: calisthenics, sparring, and self-defense techniques. There were upwards of 60 students ranging in ages from likely 4 to 65 years, and ranks ranging from Master to white belt. No time to ask questions; the WMAC crew just dove in. After we moved from station to station, everyone came together to learn the rope stick form—even the children! From there, we had a session with Grandmaster Ciarfella of UMAC, who led a reflection exercise on personal development. We ended sometime after midnight and started the next day with sitting meditation at 6am, followed by more rope stick form and several defense applications. The beauty of not having any structured ‘breaks’ is that one really has no time to ‘think’ about what one is doing; we just go with the flow.

2. HAVE AN OPEN MIND Knowing that Sabumnim had provided a lot of support to UMAC, including curriculum and seminars, I expected that there would be some similarities. I also expected differences, e.g. the different environments (small town v. urban); each school is primarily based on distinct traditions (TaeKwonDo and HapKiDo), etc. The practice of an “open mind” (“beginner’s mind”) which is a critical part of our school—as cultivated by January White Belt Month—served me well by enabling me to observe, practice, and reflect on certain aspects of UMAC that differ from ours. In particular, during the session on personal development, I appreciated this new framework for developing personal goals. I was reminded of Sabumnim’s seminars—different styles, but ultimately the same outcome. Both Sabumnim and Grandmaster Ciarfella clearly understand the importance of internal transformation and having a sense of purpose in our martial arts training and in our overall lives. And both are indisputably invested in their students and creating optimal conditions so that each one of us can realize our fullest potential and power.

3. JUST DO IT How many of us have been on the mat and heard Sabumnim say “Just do what I say”? Don’t think. Don’t talk about it. Just do it. 24 hours before the training, I was told to bring my rope stick. I hadn’t practiced the form for a while, and didn’t have time to drill it. Despite some quick tips from the WMAC group before the training started, it was not enough to build my confidence but I figured I would be re-learning the form with the rest of UMAC students. To my surprise, I (and the rest of the WMAC crew) would be leading groups to drill the form. My group happened to be some of UMAC’s Black Belts and Masters…no time to think or have anxieties. I needed to lean in and just do it.

4. REPRESENT Though I had been to a past Warrior Weekend where we did some seminars with UMAC students, this was the first time that I really felt that I was ‘representing’ WMAC, Sabumnim, and my rank. I felt proud of the tremendous respect that UMAC showed Sabumnim, Kyosanims Betty and Jonathan, and the rest of us. There was a strong sense of fellowship. Whether it was when we were doing an insane number of various push-ups, delving into our personal goals until after midnight, rolling out of sleep to meditate at 6 am, or being called up to do rope stick form while UMAC students watched, we, WMAC students, represented our school and Sabumnim at every moment with mudo spirit! And the act of “representing” makes me feel more committed to WMAC and to my fellow students and instructors. My personal confidence also grew because Sabumnim trusted his students to lead these groups. His faith in me/us was a critical confidence boost.

5. LEARNING THROUGH DOING As is described in our student handbook, there are many ways of learning and many ways of teaching. To me, this training was an excellent model for learning to teach through ‘doing.’ Watching Sabumnim lead the full group in defense techniques or rope stick form, I was learning not only for my own training but also paying attention to ‘how’ he was teaching. When I was in my small group, I had the opportunity to apply immediately what I had learned. There’s an art and science to how Sabumnim teaches and this training gave me more focused time to practice.

6. THE POWER OF LOVE AND FAITH Another unexpected learning was witnessing the incredible power of love and faith in action. At the end of the training, Sabumnim called up Caleb, a young child who is physically challenged; he doesn’t have any arms. Pretending to be a schoolyard bully, Sabumnim began taunting Caleb who then knocked Sabumnim down by using his body and energy. And if that wasn’t convincing enough, Caleb did it a couple of more times! What struck me is that (a) Caleb embodies an incredible energy of love and light; you see it in his face, you feel it from his presence. This makes me think that he is being raised with a lot of love and care, and that UMAC is a loving and caring community; and (b) as we have heard Sabumnim say when he puts the yellow tip on a white belt, we have within us all the DNA that it takes to be a great martial artist. When watching Caleb, I saw (yet again) how Sabumnim is masterful in creating conditions to bring forth our inner power.

My gratitude for being part of WMAC deepened through this unique experience. Both on and off the mat, being with Sabumnim, Kyosanims Betty and Jonathan, and fellow practitioners reaffirmed that our dojang and UMAC are indeed extraordinary, and Sabumnim is a priceless gift.

by Kyosanim Betty

As 2015 begins, everyone turns to thoughts of the New Year and their hopes and dreams of what it may hold. While that's so important and vital for renewal; for me, 2014 was a turning point in my life and a year that will always hold much significance and remembrance because of the loss of my father. This especially hit home to me during the recent Black Belt test in which I participated. While the physical and mental part was, as always, challenging (and honestly, always quite fun), the spiritual part, especially during the time where we do our gratitude bows was especially meaningful to me, because of my recent loss. This had me thinking about my long (almost 18 years!) journey with Sabumnim and I think of how lost I was when I started. Though I was, on paper, fine (had general health, great education etc) there was a lack of meaningful connection with people and the world. I thanked Sabumnim after my dad's funeral because if not for Sabumnim and his gentle guidance through the years, I would not have had the healthy and loving relationship with my dad that I ended up having in the last years of his life. Sabumnim and the martial arts path, in essence, helped me with the tools to build the life that I wanted, have meaningful relationships, and become a good contributing member of society. I feel sad that there's a turning away from the traditional martial arts by the general public. The path towards peace lies in oneself through the focus on the internal as well as the external; through practices like meditation, the constant emptying of one's cup, sharing your knowledge in a humble way and an attitude of gratitude for what we have. The WMAC family is very lucky to have a safe and loving place to practice all of this. WMAC has been a gift to me and I am taking this opportunity to thank the universe for bringing it and Sabumnim, as well as Chungsanim, my husband Kyosanim Brad, and all my fellow martial artists into my life. May this be a year that we share joy, abundance and health with each other. With much love, Kyosanim Betty

The time leading up to the pre-Black Belt test in October was a period of increasing excitement and nervousness. The bodans quickly organized ourselves and committed to training together to review forms and techniques and unify ourselves as one. We came to the test with our own personal fears and reservations, but in our hearts we knew we had the support of one another. Our forms, self-defense techniques, kicking and hand techniques, stamina, listening skills, fitness, mental ability and warrior spirit were being tested from the moment we stepped on the mat until over 5 hours later when the test was completed. Through our successes, stumbles, exhaustion and personal challenges, our spirit did not break. We survived the pre-Black Belt test and are humbled and grateful for the opportunity to participate. We thank Sabumnim, Chungsanmim, Kyosanim Betty, all the Kyosanims and black belts for preparing us for this incredibly special moment. We also thank all the students of the school for sharing in our excitement and giving much support. It is truly an honor to be a part of the WMAC community.

2014 was supposed to be a grand year for all. However, right away, in the space of several months, 3 of our most beloved members Gabriela Van B, Stephanie G and Michael O. passed away. The winter was long and hard and their deaths were profound losses to not only their heartbroken families but to their martial arts family as well. After such a tragic early time, the rest of 2014 has been quieter, if not in the world, then at least at the DoJang. A few of our most dedicated students moved away for work reasons; the King family, the Spierer family and black belt Teresa Hartmann. They know, as all who train here know, they will be very much missed and will always be welcome here whenever they are in town. In some happy news, 2nd dan Instructor Ralph M and black belt instructor Pavan M married their respective fiancées. We wish them much happiness as they start on a new joyous chapter in their lives. We also welcome back Black Belt Kristen Walsh from her three year meditation retreat. What an outstanding accomplishment and commitment to the Do!

We are already in the 8th month of the year; in a blink of an eye, it will be 2015. With so much turmoil in the outside world, it's more important than ever to have gratitude for the precious time we have here, not only here at the DoJang but for your time here on earth with your loved ones.

Sabumnim's um and yang symbols are the bright spots of color on his dobok.

Yin and Yang (Chinese). Um and Yang (Korean). In and Yo (Japanese). No matter the words, realizing the 2 forces are present is essential to a balanced life. As martial artists, we are much more aware than the average person of the concept of the duality. Whether we are working our techniques or practicing our form, we are always thinking about- should I extend or contract? Should I go fast or slow? hard or soft etc? We do this until one day, hopefully, we will get to a point where we are martial artists like Sabumnim, who doesn't even think about what to do. He flows with the situation whether it calls for Um or Yang. This is also another reason he's an extraordinary master- his ability to provide that for the students as well. Some days he puts us through the paces, pushing us physically so hard. Some of us call it "an old school class"; the kind where you take a peek at the clock thinking half an hour has gone by and are astonished to see only 8 minutes has passed. Other days, he delves deep into a specific technique or form. This fall he is focusing on having contrasting Saturday 2pm/Sunday 1pm classes. Last weekend's Saturday class was a totally Yang/high energy affair. The following day saw us working our baton/knife techniques. It required extreme focus, footwork and awareness of the surroundings. Both were challenging and fun but very different. We hope to see you at some of the um/yang classes this fall! (check out Wikipedia's page for a brief read on Um and Yang)

Shannon King celebrates his third year at the dojang.

Spring has arrived and it's a time to start new adventures, so we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the past year personally, professionally, and as Martial Artists.  There have been many changes for us as a family, and there have been a few key things that kept us grounded as we grew. One of the key ideas from WMAC is to keep your basics solid. We do this as a family and as martial artists. A bit of advice is to annually if not monthly watch the beginners DVD’s  (all of them) and read the Beginner's Handbook.  I studied Hapkido for 4 years in another state and was told that there were no forms in Hapkido.  Since learning the many forms in the WMAC curriculum, my Martial Arts has become even more grounded. These have been key to growing and is crucial for all Martial Artists. We encourage and challenge you to make time to practice your forms.  I can’t tell you how many times I had “funny” looks while practicing a form waiting for the train on the platform or even in my office after lunch. In fact, I think the entire Q train knows basic elbow form from a few years ago! Much like life, our Martial Arts can grow to become shaky, so it’s great to have these available tools to reform, strengthen, and deepen our foundation. This is one of the many lessons learned at World Martial Arts Center that we carry into our personal family life. Our family is committed to continued training and keeping up through the school newsletter and social media. Hopefully we are welcome back home to train and test in order to be apart of SaBuNim’s World Martial Arts Center “Special Forces.”

Our Spring as a family begins with newness as well. It’s with a heavy heart that we write to the family at WMAC, that our family is moving in the middle of June to Boston to start a new beginning with opportunities we just couldn’t pass up. Sydney has successful been excepted to a great new school there and Allyson continues to escalate her career as the President/ CEO of an international company. I will continue to expand my own personal company with new national accounts.  For now we will say, “see you all soon and never good bye to our extended WMAC family. Thank you.

“Anytime we come back to Brooklyn, we hope to visit the WMAC family.”       

Thank You SaBuNim, ChukSaNim, KyuSaNim’s, JP, John, Delta, The front desk staff: Janet, Lauren and Howard, The Special Forces, and The WMAC Team

Respectfully,

The King Family
Shannon, Allyson, and Sydney

Tiger One, Elbow form, Hapki 2 and beyond, we are very familiar with the routine of learning a new form, drilling it, correcting a position here, sharpening a movement there, and drilling again; all in the pursuit of executing a perfect sequence with utmost precision, focus, and force. Forms represent our dedication, progression, and hurdles to the next belt. However, how often do we stop and consider their significance?

Upon reaching a plateau in my training, I pondered the significance of forms. I did a brief research on its history and was surprised to find that it is an ancient art - forms date beyond the Korean Poomsae (TaeKwonDo forms) and the ancient Chinese forms that influenced the Okinawan Kata (which would later give rise to Karate) in the 14th century.

Forms served as transmission of Master-proven techniques and philosophy to generations. Through choreographed memorization, forms succinctly communicated how and when to use each technique, as well as ingrain those techniques into muscle memory so they can be used instinctively in any situation. They also served as unified defense that exerted collective fortitude in times of turmoil and war. Imagine an enemy scout spying on a feuding kingdom and witnessing an army executing a form, with their battle cries (kyaps/kiai) reverberating powerfully across the fields - an intimidating display of immense physical and mental fortitude.

Although times have changed, forms are history, our lives, and the future of martial arts. When we practice our forms we are living decades, centuries of Masters discovering and perfecting the art. We are the inheritors and torch-carriers of a lifestyle, artform, and precious knowledge.  Thus, with a humbler, awed, and renewed perspective, my ambitions on the mats are reignited - please join me for the millionth time, in our drills of Tiger 1, Dagger, whichever form it may be:)

With Respect,

Laura