Paths of Transformation

I’ve posted a new TMAA video on YouTube. This one stars adult student Kaia as she talks about training at our Dojang. Enjoy!

Each year, we have our Spring Open House. Students and families come together to share food and good company. continue reading…

I’ve just posted some videos from the school’s website on YouTube. Here’s old footage from 1996 when I was running a program at the University of Texas. My partner is Jobe Smith, a Tukong Moosul black belt. Also joining us is a tremendous amount of hair hanging from my head and face!

I’ve just posted a video of Nate Tingley describing his experience at TMAA as an apprentice and what it is like to work with such awesome kids. Let me know what you think!

Many martial arts programs specialize in either the martial or the artistic.  The former concentrates primarily on function, eschewing techniques and training methods that don’t create quick and effective prowess in a fight.  The latter focuses more on style, placing a premium on the beauty and athleticism of form.  Pyon Moo Do firmly places a foot into both of these perspectives, teaching an appreciation for both form and function.  continue reading…

For most of us, our concept of testing comes from school.  We studied for tests that we not only passed or failed, but also for which we received detailed grades.  The consequences of these grades could have a significant impact on our experience at school (and home, depending on parental involvement).  The tests were designed to evaluate how much we knew and their results opened, or restricted, our options for future achievement.

At TMAA, testing is very different, both in intention and practice, and is separated into two types:  tests for stripes and tests for belts.  The purpose of this posting is to help students and their families develop a better understanding of how we run testing at TMAA and why, so that they can better understand how to prepare and how to interpret the results. continue reading…

Long before I became a teacher, I used to imagine what it would mean to be a black belt instructor and to have my own school. I dreamed of technical mastery like that of my own teachers. I also hoped to become wise. Our school was full of “philosophy,” stories and words of wisdom, so I assumed that these concepts would be part of my training. This was not the case. We trained our martial arts techniques with vigor and dedication and my technical ability improved accordingly. But the stories and words of wisdom remained only that. By the time I earned my first black belt, I had absorbed many philosophical concepts with little practical understanding of how to integrate the ideas into how I lived my life. continue reading…

On Valentine’s Day, 2008, one of my teachers, Hasting Albo, was killed in a crash while driving to teach at his school. As many of you know me by my title of Sa Bum Nim, his students knew him by his title, Sigung. He was both my teacher and my friend. continue reading…

When students enter the Dojang, they get the experience of working with me as their immediate source of knowledge. In this posting, I would like to share with you one of my sources, Kwan Jang Nim Ken Corona. continue reading…

As a student in our Dojang, you know that you attend classes at Traditional Martial Arts Academy.  But do you know the name of what you are studying?  continue reading…