‘Long-term vision planning needed for taekwondo’s longevity’

Min Kyung-ho

Master of Korean martial art plants seed in US

For most people, taekwondo is a great hobby but not for Min Kyung-ho.

“It’s a way of life,’’ says Min, a taekwondo master who has spent more than 50 years practicing and teaching the sport.

Credited as the taekwondo pioneer in the United States, the 77-year-old has dedicated more than half of his life to promoting the Korean martial art, eventually to see it an official Olympic sport.

In an interview with The Korea Times, Min recalled his journey and lifelong efforts in bringing the once little-known sport to the international stage.

“Taekwondo had a lot of potential without proper direction and organization,’’ said Min of the days when he first came to the United States in 1963.

Born in Onchun, North Korea, Min came to the United States for graduate studies in physical education administration at the University of Georgia. He taught at a few colleges and universities before beginning his 40-year-long career at the University of California, Berkeley in 1969.

Today, taekwondo ― a fast, kick-centered, defense-oriented style ― is easily recognized and accepted, but not when Min first started teaching.

“It was a stiff rock climbing experience due to the lack of general perception of Korean martial arts compared to those of Japan and China,’’ said Min, whose first task was to convince people to use the term taekwondo instead of “Korean karate.’’

Over the years, he organized dozens of national associations and tournaments that brought together hundreds of contestants from around the country and overseas.

Taekwondo started gaining recognition but Min wanted more.

So he led a move to get the U.S. Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to recognize the sport in 1974, the first milestone that set the sport apart from other martial arts, such as karate and judo.

Karate had been accepted into the AAU in 1972 and judo in 1962.

“The AAU’s recognition paved the road for taekwondo to become an Olympic medal sport,’’ says Min, who now believes that it has established its place as a true “international sport.’’

In the United States, it isn’t hard to spot a taekwondo studio even in the suburbs. However, the rapid growth isn’t without side effects.

“I suspect that there are more than 100,000 taekwondo schools and studios throughout the U.S. and I also suspect that there are more than 100 taekwondo competitions held on any given weekend for one reason or another,’’ says Min. “It is my opinion that taekwondo has grown too fast in quantity without quality control.’’

Its popularity has been abused by extensive commercialization as a business even though there are genuine masters that carry action philosophy as part of a valued education, he said.

The National Governing Body of the United States Olympic Committee of Taekwondo and other affiliated organizations have pursued standardizing the teaching curriculum and methods, but their efforts have not succeeded.

He said active promotion of the sport is important, but keeping in mind taekwondo’s true values is more essential.

“I believe that taekwondo leaders overseas, especially in the U.S., must provide a harmonious leadership to eliminate confusion and frustration,’’ he said. “A long-term vision planning is an absolute necessity for the longevity of taekwondo’s popularity.’’

After retiring from Berkeley in 2006, Min continues to look over key tournaments, but is no longer able to train.

“My old injuries and aging process have slowed me down drastically in recent years,’’ says the master, a 9th Dan Black Belt in taekwondo, judo and youngmudo.

But his passion for the sport still lives on.

“I spent all my life digging in one well,’’ he said. “Imagine spending more than 50 years in one field. Wouldn’t you consider this to be the way of life?’’ <Korea Times/Jane Han>

news@theasiana.asia