6th Dan Promotion

I was promoted earlier this month (November 2023) to 6th Dan by Taekwon-Do pioneer Grandmaster Lee Yoosun. My previous black belt test to 5th Dan, in April 2014, was also by a Taekwon-Do pioneer, Grandmaster Park Jongsoo. 

In both cases the promotions were a bit unexpected. When I got my 4th Dan here in South Korea under Master Kim Hoon, I was relatively content with my rank. I had started working on a PhD in Taekwondo at Kyunghee University, so I really didn’t feel a need for any higher ranking anymore. However, Master Kim Hoon told me that he wants me to be promoted by one of the original pioneers and said that when Grandmaster Park Jongsoo visits Korea again, he will arrange a test for me under this legendary martial artist. Then one day, Master Kim Hoon told me that Grandmaster Park will visit within two weeks, and I’ll have my test then. It felt very sudden, but I made the most of that forewarning to get ready for the test; and it was an honour to spend time with Grandmaster Park and be promoted by him. 

Something similar occurred recently with Grandmaster Lee Yoosun. We connected the first time in 2015, but it wasn’t until recently that we spent some time together and started to communicate more regularly. (Gransmaster Lee lives in Busan, Korea for half of the year and the other half he spents at his home in Houston, Texas.) My goal with getting to know Grandmaster Lee was mostly to learn about Taekwon-Do’s early history related to my research in the evolution of Taekwon-Do (which is part of my research on Korean body culture). Black belt promotion was not on my mind, so when Grandmaster Lee indicated his intention to promote me to 6th Dan I was hesitant at first. 

Some people are eager for promotions. If I was similarly punctual, based on mere time of practice, I would have been 7th Dan by now. However, for me the martial arts journey is not about belts, but knowledge gained and personal mastery – mastery over the self, which is a constant struggle (for me). I agree with the Kukkiwon’s recent description of “Geukgi” (which they translate as self-mastery / self-discipline) as foundational to Taekwon-Do philosophy. And since I always feel that I have much more to learn, and that I need much more self-mastery, I’ve always been somewhat reluctant for promotion. 

However, I contacted many of my trusted Taekwon-Do friends and they all strongly recommended that I accept the offer for promotion. GM Lee promoted me just before he returned from Korea to the United States. I look forward to meeting and learning from him again when he returns to Korea next year. 

I remain forever thankful to the many instructors and influential friends who keep pushing me to be better, particularly my first instructor, Mr. Johan Bolton, and my Korean big brother, Master Kim Hoon. And I’m especially thankful that another Taekwon-Do pioneer, Grandmaster Lee, approve of my journey in Taekwon-Do so far.  

-- Sanko Lewis

RIP Grandmaster Park Jong Soo

Grandmaster Park Jong Soo and Dr. Sanko Lewis (2014)

I am saddened to hear that Grandmaster Park Jong Soo – one of the most prominent (ITF) Taekwon-Do pioneers and one of the original grandmasters – passed away this weekend in Canada. I tried to contact him a month or two ago, but without success. One of his students told me that he is not doing well, so his passing didn’t come as a complete surprise, but it is still sad and a terrible loss for the global martial arts and (ITF) Taekwon-Do community. He was a phenomenal martial artist who inspired thousands of people.

 

Grandmaster Park is one of the “lineages” I claim, as he was the mentor of my instructor, Master Kim Hoon. I also did my last Taekwon-Do black belt test to 5th Dan with Grandmaster Park in April 2014. Master Kim Hoon insisted that I grade directly under Grandmaster Park so that I could have the honour of having been tested by one of the original ITF Taekwon-Do grandmasters. It was indeed a privilege to have met Grandmaster Park on several occasions. Even at his advanced age he had a powerful charisma that inspired admiration and respect. 

 

One memorable moment with Grandmaster Park that suddenly stands out to me now was directly before my 5th Dan test when I and my student Cory Wells who tested for his 2nd Dan went to pick up Grandmaster Park at his hotel and drive him to the dojang where the test were to take place. The traffic was somewhat heavy, so the ride was a bit slower than expected, but it also afforded us more time to just chit-chat as we made our way through Seoul. Grandmaster Park commented on the different landmarks he recognized and how dramatically Seoul had changed since the time of his youth. It was a sweet moment to share in his reminiscences. He talked about the political situation, the governance of Park Chonghee, his times with General Choi Hong Hi, and several other memories. It reminded me anew how much Taekwon-Do is connected with the modern history of Korea, with the politics and with the nation that took up the charge to rebuild themselves after the decades of Imperial oppression and the wars. Also, seeing Seoul through his eyes made me fall in love with the city I now call home all over again.

 

Cory Wells, Sanko Lewis, Grandmaster Park Jong Soo, Master Kim Hoon (April 2014)

 

I extend my condolences to Grandmaster Park’s family, loved ones, and many students. His impact was prodigious, and he will be greatly missed. Taekwon!

Black Belt Promotion at 'The Way'

Last Thursday evening, Lynne, a student at 'The Way' Martial Art Academy of Seoul--the only ITF dojang in Seoul, had her 1st Dan promotional test. As part of the test she prepared a pattern self-defence demonstration using selections from the pattern Choong-Moo. Assisting her was Tim.



Congratulations to Lynne on attaining her black belt. Lynne practices basically everyday, often attending multiple training sessions per day. This is a black belt well deserved. Apart from answering theory questions thrown at her from the black belts attending, Lynne also answered the pattern theory all in Korean! Now that was impressive!

Promotional Tests at 'The Way'

Master Kim Hoon ceremoniously
ties Cory's new black belt

Since coming to Korea I have been forced to rethink the purpose of promotional tests and the methods of testing.

Last night a friend and colleague, Cory, received his black belt at 'The Way' Martial Arts Academy of Seoul. Shortly after I joined the ITF Taekwon-dojang in Seoul as an assistant instructor, Cory also showed interest Taekwon-Do so I invited him to join the gym. After nearly three years of training, Master Kim Hoon told him it is time for his black belt test, which occurred last night. I've assisted with other black belt promotional tests here in Korea with Master Kim before, but Cory's feels extra special because he is, in a sense, also my student. He is the first student that started as a white belt attained black belt since I've started teaching at 'The Way'. Since Master Kim allows me to teach according to my Soo Shim Kwan philosophy, Cory is somewhat part of our system too.

Master Kim has an interesting approach to promotional tests. Usually colour belts are not tested at all. When he is convinced that they have attained the next level he would merely walk over to the student, take off his or her belt and replace it with a new higher ranking belt. (He has hinted to have done the opposite too. A student that digressed had his belt revoked.) I once asked him why he does not do formal promotional tests. He answered that he knows his students. They train with him every day so he knows their individual levels and therefore do not feel it necessary to formally test them. However, if he were to promote another instructor's student he would have to test that student to ascertain his or her level first. His approach is very different from my experiences in South Africa and even from my Hapkido and Taekkyeon training in Korea where the promotional tests are quite formalised. In my hapki-dojang colour belt tests occur on a monthly basis and is performed by the kwanjangnim. In Taekkyeon, tests are spaced out more and performed by an external examiner, much like we tend to do it in South Africa.

To be honest, I like Master Kim's approach. There is something simple and personal about it. The idea of your instructor testing you all the time, always checking your progress, feels more engaging. Of course a formal test with an outside instructor could assure quality control as it brings a level of objectivity to the table, but if the instructor is honest and clear-headed, as I consider Master Kim to be, I can see no reason to object to his approach.

For black belts, Master Kim does have an actual promotional test, but his is more of a formality. The tests are not as formal as I've seen it done elsewhere. My own fourth degree black belt test with Master Kim occurred over several weeks. He would sometimes suddenly ask me to do something, like break a number of boards, or do a pattern, or answer some theoretical question. Only later, when he announced my black belt test day, did I realise that I have been tested for quite some time.

A formal test has an advantage in that it tests your ability to function under stress. But it can easily become something else, like a money making scheme. Many instructors use the test, not really to test a student's progress, but as an extra income for the club. This is something that is absent from 'The Way'. Colour belts do not pay a testing fee and black belts pay only the testing fee required of the international certification body. The instructors therefore do not benefit financially from the students' progress. With money out of the equation, progress becomes a much more personal thing. You can be assured that the instructor is interested in your progress, for your sake, and not for the instructor's sake.

Congratulations to Cory on attaining his black belt!

Colour Belt Promotional Test

Congratulations to Charl and Lenie on their successful promotions at the ATC grading some weeks back.

4th Dan

Dear Soo Shim Kwan friends,

This is just to let you know that I have received my 4th Dan certificate last night, after passing my 4th degree promotional test earlier this year. My new ITF number is: KO-4-150.

Taekwon-Do regards,
Sabeom Sanko

Hwang Su-Il

(Are you looking for information on Master Hwang Su-Il's gym in Japan? See this post.) 

I've met Master Hwang Su-Il on one or two occasions and found him to be a very friendly and humble person. During one formal occasion he quickly noticed that I do not drink (I'm a teetotaller), so he helped me out in a sticky situation: alcohol is a very integrative part in Korean social life and often at such formal events, a lot of toasting and drinking occurs. If you do not participate, it might be seen as an insult to your guests. First, he indicated to me to allow someone to pour me a drink, and to use this glass to toast with. Then he immediately ordered me some sodas and tea to drink.

Hwang Su-Il is Japanese-Korean; he is Korean but was born in Japan -- 3rd generation -- and still lives there. You might be more familiar with him as the character Hwoarang in the Tekken-game series. He was used for the first motion capture of this fighting game character, introduced in Tekken 3.

My instructor here in Korea told me earlier this week that there is a possibility that Hwang Su-Il will be the chief examiner on the panel to test me for 4th Dan, around September/October. Of course this makes me a little nervous, since the Japanese standard is exceptionally high.

Below is a YouTube-video of Hwang Su-Il in action.

Training and Gradings

There will be a training session on the 8th November with Bsb Karel in Pretoria.

There is also a black belt and colour belt grading held on the 22 November in Pretoria

We hope that everyone can make it to these events.