| INTERVIEWER:
Mr. Han, I would like to start by talking about some fundamental
concepts of Eastern thinking that may not be commonly understood
by Westerners. For example Taekwon-do is referred to as the "Way
of Taekwon-do". How is Taekwon-do a Way of life? How is it lived?
Grandmaster Han: In the practice of Taekwon-do, tae
means jumping or kicking; kwon means hand, or fist. A lot of people
train "tae kwon," but not the "do." A person who practices "Taekwon-do"
means they learn philosophy, they learn morality, and they learn
culture. So, to learn "tae kwon" means that you are only learning
hand and foot fighting. A person who learns "Taekwon-do" means learning
the art, and learning the Way of the art. This is the best we can
define it.
INTERVIEWER: A Korean martial artist and historian,
Sang Kyu Shim, noted that Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism had
a very strong influence on ancient Korean society and that these
philosophies are very present in modern day Korea. For Confucius,
the most basic thing was to become great internally and then to
live out one's greatness. How does Taekwon-do help one become great
internally?
GH: Taekwon-do helps a person become great internally
by equally stressing both "moon" and "moo." In Korean, the character
"moon" refers to the intellectual arts, and the character "moo"
refers to the martial arts. A person who has studied moon and moo
equally receives great respect because that is how one becomes a
whole person. For example, West Point does not only teach killing
people, there is an emphasis on developing the whole person, a leader.
It is like the training of a knight in European history.
GH: A person who focuses only on moon, or moo, will
one day be in trouble because they are not in harmony. They could
also be in danger. People who only study moo--they are only a weapon,….
they are dangerous. There has to be both moon and moo for harmony
and balance.
INTERVIEWER: John Koller, an authority on Oriental
philosophies, has written that in the orient "philosophy is not
divorced from life, and practice is inseparable from theory," saying
that philosophy is meant to be lived, not just studied. How does
this apply to Taekwon-do?
GH: See, for example, at different times in Asian
history, there were coup d'etat situations where a new king, or
ruler, would try and get people to change their beliefs, or philosophy,
for materialism, or for a high position. But people would not change
because they respected and followed a system that was important
to them. To use myself as an example, when I told my master I was
going to America he said, "Yes, you can go, but there will be an
opportunity to seek materialism." He asked me, "Will you follow
this school?" I said, "No." I am sure this is the same in the West,
too. There are a lot of people who would rather stay poor than change
their beliefs.
INTERVIEWER: We know that Taekwon-do has strict codes
of conduct, and tenets to guide the teacher and the student. Let's
please talk about the historical development of the tenets, starting
with some background on the beginning of a form of training known
as hwarang-do. What do the characters "hwa" and "rang" mean?
GH: Hwarang-do was founded by the 24th king of Silla,
Chin Heung. "Hwa" means flower, and "rang" means follow--to follow
people. There are different interpretations. Another interpretation
of "rang" is youth, or gentlemen.
INTERVIEWER: In order for the hwarang to have a code
of ethics, a famous warrior and Buddhist monk, Wong-Gwang, was asked
for advice. Could you please comment on the commandments Wong-Gwang
wrote to guide the hwarang warriors.
GH: The codes were actually simple. Five codes to
live by. They were, however, taken very seriously. For example,
in battle one could not back up. Whatever was ordered, you had to
obey. Hwarang warriors would die in battle rather than retreat.
INTERVIEWER: How has the code of the hwarang influenced
and guided you in your own life? Did you think of the hwarang when
you were in training? I guess what I am asking is, how did you connect
with the hwarang-do?
GH: The Korean background is influenced by Buddhism
and Confucianism, as was the hwarang. So, like the hwarang, people
in Korea know the values of Confucianism and Buddhism and how they
are instilled in one's personal life, one's family, one's society,
and one's nation. We studied the hwarang, so we know how they developed
moral character and ethical behavior. I am Christian now, but I
was influenced by Buddhism and Confucian principles. So, naturally,
I learned from monks. After instruction, I began to mountain train
by myself for almost 15 years. I got up at 4:00 a.m. and ran up
the mountain.
Around that time, one of the top monks in Korea asked me to become
his student. But I refused. The reason why I said no was due to
the way I would have to study - by myself. I wanted to have interconnection
with others. Once you become a monk, you are focused on yourself.
I wanted to live with people. I wanted to live with others--to
sometimes learn alone--but I needed to learn in a practical way,
and not just through intellectual study.
INTERVIEWER: Master Han, you have lectured many times
on how important it is to work out regularly in order to develop
a healthy mind and a healthy body. How does physical exercise develop
harmony and reduce stress?
GH: It happens step by step. We have an Oriental expression:
"If you have good health, then you will have good spirit." If you
have a bad body, then no matter what, you are going to have bad
spirit. You have to keep healthy step by step.
INTERVIEWER: You are a grandmaster in Taekwon-do,
but before you attained such a high level of skill and accomplishment
you, too, had teachers. Could you please comment on your teachers
and their teaching methods.
GH: I had a top grandmaster. I was so lucky because
I met one of the top masters in the world. Actually, I had a few
masters. one master was expert at patterns. I learned from him how
to become a leader. I learned how to fight against evil--the concept
of "might for right." From another master I learned technique. Different
masters taught me different things.
INTERVIEWER: If you don't mind still talking a little
bit more about yourself, would you please explain where and when
your studies began as a student of Taekwon-do.
GH: I started when I was 9, in Seoul, Korea.I used
to study gymnastics. But my master showed me technique that just
fascinated me.
INTERVIEWER: So you were really interested in Taekwon-do,
like a passion?
GH: Yes, passionately. I started at a main school
in my home town. I think 300 people started and now only the master
and myself are left.
INTERVIEWER: So you started with 300 others and you
alone, and your master, still study. Why do you think so many people
left the study of Taekwon-do along the way while you stayed?
GH: I always push myself. In Korea, after you get
your first degree, you get instruction from your master once a year.
Other than that you have to build up on your own.
INTERVIEWER: So you would be working on your own
for long periods of time?
GH: Yes, and not only doing sparring and patterns.
After I became a black belt, I had to build up a wide knowledge
for myself.
INTERVIEWER: Do you recall what age you were when
you got your black belt?
GH: I think 17 or 18. I didn't take the test until
the end of the Korean War.
INTERVIEWER: Did you have any heroes when you were
growing up? Anyone who inspired you?
GH: One example would be the monk Won-Hyo. He was
a famous monk who introduced Buddhism throughout the Korean peninsula.
His contribution to Korea was very great. Buddhism changed society.
INTERVIEWER: Mr. Han, you have been involved in the
art of Taekwon -do for over 40 years. Do you recall at what point
you decided to literally devote your life to the art? Did it happen
slowly, or did you make a decision to do so?
GH: Slowly, slowly. When I started Taekwon-do, I
never thought I would become a black belt. I never thought it. Really.
I always thought I was not good at it. Many times I got scolded
by my master. You wouldn't believe it. When I became a blue belt,
my master asked me, "Who promoted you?"
GH: Progress depends on the individual. For instance,
in Korea, we have a pot, then we put it into the kiln for heating.
After we take it out, some pots are ugly, and some are like porcelain.
Some porcelain is nice, some porcelain turns bad. We train anybody
in Taekwon-do, but that doesn't mean everyone turns out best. It
depends on the individual.
INTERVIEWER: Sometimes I have seen you work with
the most difficult people. For example, once you gave a troubled
young man a chance to work in the dojang (school). He drank all
the time. He was always cussing, always seemed to want to start
a fight. And yet you were very interested in him. Why did you have
so much interest in such a hard person to reach?
GH: Because I knew how to improve his life. Also,
if I improved him, then it would be a life education for my students.
So, if they would one day become a master, or a lawyer, the commissioner
of a jail system, whatever--if they, too, could learn to apply what
I taught, then they can change the whole system.
INTERVIEWER: Is there anything else you would like
to add before we end this conversation? Anything about the liberal
arts or the martial arts; or how we train?
GH: Taekwon-do philosophy teaches how to live wisely,
and how one finds harmony, in the person, and in nature.
INTERVIEWER: What do you mean, in nature?
GH: That you become water. If you pour water in this
cup (on the table) water will take that shape. Water goes into any
shape. So, be flexible, like water, under any circumstances. Martial
arts teaches you that. How to deal with people, all kinds of people,
all over the world. You can meet the enemy; you can give forgiveness.
so you become, yourself, adaptable under any circumstances.
INTERVIEWER: Grand Master Han, thank you very much.
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