Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Yong Gi

At the beginning of this year, Choi Sa Bom Nim made it known he was going to be departing the United States to continue his Soo Bahk Do journey. He will be introducing Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan to China, beginning in Shanghai in July.

It is very sad to begin making plans for his departure - we would love to 'keep' him forever! But roads merge and diverge and that is life. That is Soo Bahk Do, too.

As if with the greatest foresight, Choi SBN once told me, "Soo Bahk Do is not Master Choi. One day I will be gone, but you must always train." He knew me very well even then.

When I learned that he would be leaving it suddenly became very difficult to feel as though my training had purpose. Soo Bahk Do, to me, is as much about the people as the physical training. I always found that Choi SBN's lectures in class gave me direction for my training, focused my energy with philosophy. Now I would no longer have his lectures to look forward to, only back upon.

So I looked back upon that very precise directive: "Always train." There it was. I brushed off the feeling of being lost, not knowing what to do next without his guidance. He had already told me what to do.

As my next rank promotion will make me eligible for Jo Kyo certification, I began in January to assist Choi SBN with the children's class twice per week. I am currently preparing the certification order form, which will be a birthday gift from my husband at the end of the month.

I am finding that, faced with a daunting path ahead, the best thing to do is continue forward. I can meet my challenges directly, or I can worry about them before they are in sight. Either way, the journey does not happen unless we have the courage to take that first step forward.