Jhoon Rhee International`s Web Site

On Monday, July 23, 2001, fights broke out between Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill. And this time, they were throwing real punches and kicks. Pieces of broken boards were flying through the air and people were yelling, but not to worry. It was all part of the Black Belt Exam conducted by Grand Master Jhoon Rhee in the U.S. House Cannon Building. Honorable Jesse Jackson, Jr., was promoted to 1st Degree Black while the Honorable Bob Schaffer and Honorable Nick Smith both tested and graduated to 2nd Degree Black Belt.

Grand Master Rhee has been teaching classes on the Hill three days a week for the past 36 years. The list of earlier Black Belt Congressmen and Senators encompasses:

The panel of dignitaries was an impressive collection of Martial Arts Masters and Instructors as well as political figures from both sides, and the middle, of the spectrum. Grand Master Rhee demonstrated his balance and power by breaking six boards with one front kick while balancing a glass of water on his head. He challenged the congressmen to balance the budget in a similar way, eliciting good-natured laughter from the audience.

The test was conducted before a panel of Korean masters who flew to United States specifically for the occasion. They were Master Seung Hoon Lee, Master Jin-Won Kim, Master Soon Ho Kim and Master Goen Ok Kim. The ceremony included forms and demonstrations by Jhoon Rhee Black Belt instructors from Columbia, Potomac Valley and Walkersville, MD; Falls Church and Woodbridge, VA; as well as the Woodbridge JRI Demo Team and the Black Belt candidates themselves. Master Rhee was awarded a plaque of appreciation from CHUNCHON City in Korea for his support of their recent tournament. As relations improve between North and South Korea, Grand Master Rhee remains personally involved in efforts to create links between Tae Kwon Do stylists of all nations.

Grand Master Rhee continues to be the living example of how to keep the three basic human qualities of youth: knowledge in the mind, honoesty in the heart, and strength in the body. As he approaches his 70th birthday (he is already considered to be 71 by Korean accounting which calculates age beginning in the womb), Grand Master Rhee emphasizes a daily physical regimen and a healthy diet for both the body and the mind. He demonstrated 100 pushups, plus 10 extra touching nose to the floor. Without any warm-up, he can touch his chest to the floor in a straddle split and can balance on one leg as he holds the other leg out in a kick extension.

The highlight of the exam was the sparring between the Congressional Black Belt candidates. While they are learning to apply balance to their physical and fiscal lives, they are also demonstrating their finesse in the sparring ring. With Rheemax safety gear on, they proved that their power is not just all talk. Although the fighters were aggressive at times, they remained congenial and controlled throughout the matches. After scoring a solid point against a more senior opponent, Jesse Jackson quickly checked to see that he had not injured his colleague. The crowd appreciated the irony of the exchange.

"I teach politicians because they have such an impact on our daily lives. If I can teach them the same values we teach in the dojang, then perhaps they will use their influence in positive ways," says Grand Master Rhee. "We really are blessed to live in this great nation, the United States of America. We must live by a sense of appreciation constantly." The Jhoon Rhee curriculum incorporates themes of patriotism, respect for ancestors, and appreciation for parents. The Congressmen in Grand Master Rhee's class are also expected to adhere to the same standards of behavior that he demands in regular classes. If Capitol Hill can practice these concepts, then surely the rest of the nation will follow.