Posted by MAV on May 12, 2003 at 12:53:43:
Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim's photographs:
The pictures you are talking about were taken in the 1970s. Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim was born in 1933. I'd say that isn't just in his 'youth' anymore. Where are the pictures of you in your late 30s and early 40s?
Others sets of pictures of his skills and abilities were taken in the mid to late 1980s. That puts Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim in his 50s. Where are the pictures of you in your 50s?
Other pictures were in the early to mid 1990s (1994 for example). That puts Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim in his 60s. Where are the pictures of you, or anyone you learn from in martial arts for that matter, of the skill and ability that you (or they) carry in your 60s?
Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim is 70 years old this year. He keeps getting older, but his skills and abilities are still demonstrated. More pictures are taken of him every so often. He gets older, yet his skills and abilitties reamin. Those that were at the 2001 convention (Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim was 68 years that year) saw recent photos of him and some even saw him in person. Time keeps ticking, he gets older, but his movement and abilities do not change. The more recent pictures have not yet been released.
This is why the knowledge of TRADITIONAL M00 D0E (not just exclusively O0M YUNG D0E) has been sought by martial arts practitioners for thousands of years. Each persons health, longevtity, and quality of life are important to him/her. Any human being has the potential to reach the type of youthfulness, longevity, and quality of life that Grandmasters and Masters have displayed over the centuries. Someone only has to look to the source of the knowledge that is being taught to see for themselves what they can achieve through that training. After that, it is up to each individual to follow by the proper training methods provided. Otherwise, they risk fabrication of movements and the potential to develop improperly.
Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim is the source of the knowledge for 00M YUNG DOE.
In 0YD (in the United States) Head National Instructor all the way down to the begining students are still learning and doing what they can to improve themselves. They are not the source -Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim is.
Since those that choose to carry out a campaign of attacking 0YD cannot compete with Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim's skills and abilities, the only recourse for them is to try to discredit him in any way possible. Their miscalculation comes from the essence of Traditional Martial Arts and why people seek the knowledge: the skill and ability that a practitioner can achieve that leads to excellent health and longevity. Practitioners are important to themselves and that is why those that remain negative cannot discredit Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim.
Think of it this way - is it not funny that someone in their 20s, 30s, 40s (50s for that matter) cannot show up a 70 year old, yet continue to try to discredit him? That shows the true colors and is a classic symptom of those who do not practice TRADITIONAL M00 D0E.
NOTE: 00M YUNG D0E IS NOT THE ONLY STYLE TO TEACH TRADITIONAL M00 D0E. How does someone know the difference? Take a look at the source. Ask to see pictures, videos, or a live demonstration and see for yourself.
Grandmaster 'Iron' Kim and, of course, 0YD does recognize any source of Traditional Moo Doe, as long as they can provide pictures, videos, or a live demonstration of the knowledge they teach (or if they are the source - of course). Anything else is talk (rhetoric) and DOES NOT follow by Traditional Martial Arts Principle. PUBLIC BEWARE!
MAV