Jhoon Rhee International`s Web Site

By Jennie L. Ilustre
http://www.asianfortune.com/

Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, the man who made Tae Kwon Do famous in America, was recalling, perhaps for the gazillionth time, why he decided to learn martial arts. "I was six years old and a girl beat me up," he said at his basement studio in his McLean home. The girl, a neighbor, was five years old.

He said, finding this amusing now: "I remember crying on my way home, and my mother asked why I was crying. I said, ‘She slapped me again.’ My mother was so upset. I said to myself, ‘Wow, I have to defend myself. My mother is not going to help in this situation.'"

Right then and there, he set a goal. There was no karate school in the small town of Suwon, South Korea, so he started lifting weights. He did this until he turned 13, when he moved to Seoul to begin middle school education.

Always the smallest in class, Jhoon often came home crying because he could not defend himself against bullies. The bullies also motivated him to learn Tae Kwon Do. At 13, he started taking Tae Kwon Do classes, then known as Tang Soo Do. He vowed "to be the best in Tae Kwon Do someday."

He set another goal: to go to the United States and promote Tae Kwon Do. This at a time when Tae Kwon Do was unheard of.

This goal was fueled by another dream. "In 1947 I saw an American movie. I cannot recall the title now, but I remember seeing blond, beautiful girls. I told myself I was going to America and find myself a beautiful, blond American."

Philosophy

Rhee is known as a Grand Master in his field. But what he has really mastered is life, by setting goals and going after each one single-mindedly.

Since 1956, Rhee has modernized Tae Kwon Do, the art of punching and kicking, famous in the U.S. by opening -- with the help of the late action superstar Bruce Lee-- karate schools across the country before the karate boom came.

He also very smartly fashioned a martial arts philosophy: knowledge in the mind, honesty in the heart, and strength in the body. "I believe that 99 percent of martial arts is philosophy, and only one percent action," he said. "Martial arts without philosophy is just street fighting."

Rhee also created a high profile by making students of celebrities like boxing champion Muhammad Ali and also members of Congress. For 37 years now, he has been teaching Tae Kwan Do to lawmakers. He volunteers two-hour sessions three times a week in Capitol Hill, starting at 7 a.m.

Congressman James M. Jeffords (Ind., Vermont), a Blue Belt holder, said: "The martial arts has helped me better understand how much better the mind works with a fit body through disciplined exercise. The goals of self-defense, coordination, compatibility with music and dance, mental discipline, providing a more effective mind through a fit body, are all vitally important…"

"This type of instruction would be beneficial to almost anyone, including children. The discipline and accomplishment it offers would make it an excellent part of any educational program," observed Congressman Robert D. Wise (D, West Virginia).

Black Belter Congressman Bob Livingston (R, Louisiana) noted in the Congressional Record: "I encourage all Americans to follow Jhoon Rhee’s example of strength, honesty and leadership."

Role Model

Rhee turned 70 last January 7, still hale and hearty, a walking advertisement of his philosophy. Little wonder that today, he’s in demand as a motivational speaker, and travels all over the world, earning a cool $5,000 for a speech. But money is not his goal. His priority is helping others achieve balance. He has formed the 100-21 Club, "one hundred years of wisdom in a 21-year old body."

"I'm very proud of him," said his wife, the former Theresa Kim, who comes from a prominent family in South Korea. "He came to this country 46 years ago, an ethnic minority, not knowing the language very well, and without a PR agency to help him with publicity. Yet he succeeded by working hard and believing in his dream."

Harold Pyon, executive director of the National Asian Republican Coalition said, "He's a Commissioner in the White House Asian Pacific American Initiative, and he’s a leader. He’s truly a role model for the Asian Pacific American community. He’s a kind of a legend."

Kyuwon Lee, author of "History of Korean Americans in the Metropolitan Area," praised Rhee’s honesty. "I used to work as a manager in his D.C. studio in the 1970s. Other people paid less in taxes, but he told us, ‘Whatever your work, pay your taxes to the government.’"

Skills

Rhee celebrated his birthday by making moves that are supposed to be difficult for his age, and taking photos to record his skills. He constantly challenges himself. "When I turn 100," he said, "I will do 100 push-ups."

He still does 100 push-ups every hour. Daily, he performs his lung exercises by playing four harmonicas at one time. He demonstrated this in his basement studio, turning his CD stereo to play a Korean song, the "Blue Danube" and "Rites of Spring" and performing along with each.

He seated himself infront of a low table with a dozen harmonicas, dexterously picking them up as he shifted from key of a to g and the whole lot – not once missing a beat. He has performed with the Washington Symphony Orchestra and at the French embassy. A concert sold out 300 tickets, raising $3,000 for charity.

He has promoted education by requiring his students to have a B average in school just to qualify to a Black Belt test. His proposal to have an observance of "National Teacher Appreciation Day," was signed by President Ronald Reagan on October 16, 1996.

Of all his awards, he said he's proudest of the Thousand Points of Life medal from President George H.W. Bush.

He cherishes the letter from the elder Bush, dated March 17, 1992, which reads in part: "I have often noted that…any definition of a successful life must include serving others. Your efforts provide a shining example of this standard."

English

When Rhee was young, he knew that if he had to succeed in America, he had to study English. In the 9th grade, he had a very good English teacher, Mr. Kwang Kim. From 9th grade to 12th grade, he excelled in his English classes.

For two years, he said nobody except a few close friends knew he was training in Tae Kwon Do. When he was in the 11th grade, a class bully grabbed his pencil from him. Jhoon politely asked him to hand him back his pencil. He was rebuffed. He dared the bully to meet him after school.

He recalled: "To tell you the truth, I was very nervous. But I summoned courage to face him. He swung at me first. I punched him in his left eye and kicked him," Jhoon recalled. "To my surprise, he immediately gave up the fight. From that time on, my classmates treated me with respect. I began to enjoy going to school more. I gained peace through strength."

On June 25, 1950, the Korean War broke out. Rhee was 18 years old. General Douglas MacArthur successfully carried out the Inchon Landing Operation. MacArthur recaptured South Korea, pushing back the opposition forces beyond Pyong Yang, the capital of North Korea.

Freedom

It was an exhilarating feeling to be free again. Rhee had to hide for two months in a ground cell of his home. "I had to hide from my neighbors because young men my age were being forced to join the communist army. Most Americans take freedom for granted because it has always been there. Myself, I couldn't describe the incredible feeling of being free again."

But that freedom was shortlived. On January 4, 1951, Seoul was recaptured when Red China joined forces with North Korea.

"I was lucky to be among a few Korean personnel to evacuate with the U.S. Air Force. At that time, I was excellent in reading English. I needed to learn conversational English. I heard there were plenty of jobs for those with some knowledge of English."

He set a new goal. He decided to take a chance and he sought a job in the U.S. Air Force. The only way to travel near the frontline was to hitch a ride in the highway. He went to an army post near his home in Suwon to hitchhike.

A week later, he became an interpreter for the U.S. 25th Infantry Division Military Police Company. He said the American soldiers treated him well when he let it be known that he was a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Later Rhee graduated in the Officers Cadet School in Kwangjoo. On July 27, 1953 the Truce ended the Korean War. He heaved a sigh of relief. "Everyone knew that 70 percent of newly-commissioned officers got killed in action," he said. "The 250 men of our graduation class were the happiest people in the world. My hope of making Tae Kwon Do famous in America, which had been dashed by the war, was alive again."

He got the chance to go to America when he topped an examination for an aircraft maintenance training program in the U.S. Destination: Gary Air Force Base in San Marcos, Texas.

While in San Marcos, through the church he met Robert L. Bunting, a real estate broker, and his wife. The couple petitioned him to be an immigrant in the U.S., and helped make his dream come true.