KyoSaNim's Question Corner 3

[Claudia Vlcek]

Maya Angelou says:   courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently.  You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.  Being a leader takes a certain kind of courage, that requires a person to wear many hats, to achieve many goals personally and especially with helping others reach their goals.  This person accompasses that challenge everyday, and as a side note has been known to physically put on different hats through out the day.  Hello Master Strongheart!

1)  Tough question, what is your favorite book?

Well, you know that is a tough one.  I really love to read.   So I am going to cheat.

Favorite contemporary poet:  Maya Angelou

Probably all time favorite poet:  William Blake

honorable mentions:   WH Auden, Pablo Neruda, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, Allen Ginsberg, T.S. Elliot, John Keats, Shakespeare (especially Hamlet, and the Merchant of Venice), Robert Bly, Adrienne Rich, William Carlos Williams.  Oh dear, I need to stop thinking about this one.  Sorry to all the great ones I haven't mentioned.

Novelist/short story/essays:   Tom Spanbauer, Ken Follet, Johnathan Switft, Maurice Sendak, Johnathan Stewart Mill, Heinlein (don't remember his first name), Andrea Carlisle

2)  I know how you like your 5's, What are 5 words to describe you?

laughing, introvert, teacher, faithful, creativity ( I asked sbn wells to help me with this she said "nutty professor")

3)  How long have you been involved with Martial Arts and what is your favorite activity?

I started Martial Arts training in Judo when I was 8.  I am 44 now.   Favorite martial arts activity:  teaching, having fun, kicking hard, fast, hapkido, kumdo, punching,

4)  Kenny had asked about our style and form of taekwondo in a previous blog, can you please elaborate on his question a little?

My primary study of TaeKwonDo was under a Korean Master who studied life long in many aspects of Korean Martial Arts.  We, at MIMA have an eclectic approach to our practice of the arts.  We use a Western Boxing style of hand techniques (primarily, with the exception of some of our blocking, and work in traditional forms).   Our kicking in a "sport" TKD style, with elements of kickboxing.   We do traditional stances, and techniques primarily as part of the poomsae (forms) work etc.  The traditional comes from the Moo duo kwan, and JiDo kwon history.  We also as part of our self-defense training use hapkido, a little aikido, and judo for dealing with grabs, and for redirecting an attackers force against him.  We use reality based self-defense training in terms of our self-defense workshops, and include the mental, emotional aspects in that.

We train, to "get out of the way" of the aggression, and therein a counter attack is executed.   We currently are working with, and studying with Master Tom Callos who is a high ranking, and lifelong martial artist.  He started in the 1970's with the practice of Korean, and other martial arts.   We also work in association with GrandMaster Rudy Timmerman of Ontario Canada -- again a life long practitioner of martial arts.   He is also the head of the certification body, the International Korean Martial Arts Association.  

5)  Miles, wants to know what is your favorite song?

If you want to sing out-- Cat Stevens;  perhaps others would rank as high, but aren't rated pg.

6)  What do you do when you are not at Martial Arts?

Do a lot of reading, surfing the web, watching favorite shows, researching, love to have bbq's in the summer/spring with friends, and playing with and training my dog.    

7)  Joe wants to know your favorite animal?  He likes panda's.

I've gone through quite a few favorite animals.   Probably overall it would be birds of all kinds, especially hawks.  

8)  CGN Ena wants to know what is your favorite food or sweet?

I like just about everything, with Frank's Hot Sauce on it.  Love spicy foods.  Foods not overly hot, but clearly spicy.

9)  What keeps you motivated?

My desire to make a positive difference in the world, and to have a meaningful, fun life.   

10)   Who inspires you or Who do you consider to have great courage?

I consider folks who have suffered, and lost, and gone to, and through dark times, and places, who have struggled and come back, have courage.   I think kid's who stand up to others who are picking on, humiliating other kids because they are different, are courageous.  I think people, and especially kids, who are open about their differences, whether they be religious, ethnic, cultural, sexual orientation, or belief's are courageous.  I believe those who serve others, whether they are appreciated or not, are courageous from the Navy Seal, to the Social Worker.  I believe foster kids are courageous.  I find artists of all kinds, painters, actors, musicians, and also martial artists, who stand up, work hard, for their art, and perform, are courageous.  I think those who have power, whether it is physical, social, or economic, who reach out to those, and protect those who do not, are courageous.  I think parents are courageous.  I think those who take a risk, make an investment, believe they can change the world are courageous.   

11) Thank you for being one of our courageous leader's and thanks for wearing the many hats (it cracks me up).  I know how much Maya Agnelou inspires you so I'd like to end this question corner with my favorite quote of hers:  I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.  I am grateful to have you as a friend, a leader and my big sister. Don't forget:  BE RESPECTFUL, BE POSITIVE AND KEEP KICKING!! 

[MeLisa Turcott Strongheart]

KSN, i am honored by your post.