Master Park: Health and Patience
By: Master Moon S. Park Head Master/PresidentThis article appeared in the Mahoning Times Record; November, 1997.
Kynugrye: Bow - (Kyung means Respect, Rye means Courtesy)One day, a gentleman came to my office bowed to me, and started asking about Martial Arts training. I asked him why he was looking at me during the bow. He said that his instructor taught him that when he bows to someone, he has to prepare to defend himself.
The majority of people who have training in martial arts in the country bow the same way. They may be practicing gun fighting martial arts. In this case, they're watching for their opponent to pull the gun to shoot, at the moment of the bow.
In the Orient, nobody teaches a bow in that way -- if they are a normal person. If they did, they would be teaching impolite manner and wrong posture.
When I was a little boy, my parents taught me how to bow: how to put my hands and arms on my body, how to keep my body straight, how to bend my body and my neck, how to step forward and backward, and how much distance to bow at. During grade school years and through high school, teachers always taught their students how to bow correctly. During the holiday season, students visit and have to bow to parents, teachers, Masters, neighbors, relatives. A bow is a showing of polite sincerity, gentleness, respect, truth, faith, trust, dignity, humbleness...
When we bow to each other, we are respecting each other. The Oriental Martial Arts training is a serious, high educational program. I see many people that have a better life with better physical conditions, mental attitudes and spirits.
None of parents of the children of my students are interested in turning their kids into big fighters. None of my adult students are interested in becoming big fighters.
The Oriental Martial Arts training has to be harmonized inside (mind) and outside (body). Slow and fast, strong and weak, relaxed and tense, soft and hard, circular and linear, ...all parts of the body must also be balanced together. Training is a way of life. It is real serious training. Before starting any program, you have to set goals.
We have personal coaching, private and group lessons in many programs: from beginning to advanced classes, ages 3-100, ranging from children to high school students, ladies, and men. We offer senior citizen classes, Kick-boxing, Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Hapkido, Hwarangdo, Jujitsu, Ninjutsu, Dahn, Yoga, Taichi....
Master Park is one of top quality black belt Masters, nationally and internationally. If you have any questions concerning yourself or your family, call or write to Master Park for Oriental Martial Arts Training.
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