Posted by Darryl on April 25, 2003 at 08:24:28:
The moo seem to have a doctrine of 'never be foolish or weak', where any flaw is to be used against the person who possesses it, and any foolishness is to be publically brought to the forefront, often in front of class.
It's a rather foolish doctrine. After all, that pic of Kim using a staff to kick towards Forrest Troutner is silly looking. He flubbed the kick, the angle looks all silly, it's foolishly set up and flawed. And that's why they don't use it for advertising- because it's not even close to impressive.
But the moo will make all sorts of excuses, because their precious Kim CAN NEVER have a moment of mediocrity, so they dismiss it whenever it happens.
And then there's the tax case, and Kim's foolishness throughout it. His panicky reorganizations, emergency meetings that did nothing to solve the problem, essentially a bunch of bad management on his part. But no, the moo insist, it was all on everyone else, because they were weak, selfish people, or mismanaged everything. Sorry, nope, Kim dropped the ball as well as them, and the buck stops with Kim.
It's particularly amusing to listen to a bunch of moos who have MAYBE seen Kim a couple times try to correct people who have known Kim well enough to consider telling him that too much sesame oil can be a problem, even for a grandmaster. Nooo, speak not of the gas of Kim, you know not of what you speak, say the moo, for they've met him twice, and he was absolutely miraculous.
Mind you, he's a crappy driver.
But no, because while you and all your instructors would have it no differently than to have your flaws be known as well as your merits, your grandmaster would not. Publically, the only flaw he claims is that he is 'too compassionate'. This from a buddhist.
Did I mention he's a crappy buddhist?
However, he did turn a number on to some good korean food, but it's kind of hard to enjoy it while your buddies were being harrangued for wearing the wrong color, or while your old teacher was being used as a slave. But you know, Kim had to always check on everyone. No way he could view others as adults.
He also organized lots of weekends, instructors enjoying the common bond of being instructors. Mind you, those events were used for more harrangueing and control freak tactics. Good one.
But no, it's a grand conspiracy, the government, court psychologists, the bulk of former school owners, former students, the press, and the rest of the martial arts community are just jealous. That's the moo argument, at its core. And that's weak, and foolish.
Here's an idea. See if you can list 5 good and bad things about yourself. Then a classmate you like. Then one you don't like. Then your instructor. Now try grandmaster. What, can't do it? That can only mean you don't know him very well. In which case, shut up in conversations with those who did know him, because you don't know what you're talking about.
John Kim's spiritual strength and moral superiority are not exemplified in the pic of him walking out of the courthouse, convicted. Wisdom would be changing the methods that caused the problems, the weird mythology built up around Kim, but this has not happened, still I get reports from your students of 'we were told Kim can do 22 story leaps'. Sad that he seems uninterested in reform.
He has now told his instructors that there will be 'one more hit', one more scandal. He's just trying to look prescient. He knows that there will always be another, because he's making up stories, and a lot of those who knew him know it. It's not prediction, it's seeing the inevitable. Wise would be to change it by changing himself, and what he tells others of truth. Instead, he tries to capitalize off of it by using it to try to show his psychic abilities, one more time. This is foolish.
You only have one life, John Kim. What legacy have you already left behind?
When you are gone, your lap dogs will tear your remains apart, and then they, too, will see you for what you are.
Tell me, when your children avoid talking about your actual vocation in public, do you really feel it's been worthwhile?