Jhoon Rhee International`s Web Site

Earlier, I bragged that I am able to do 1,000 push-ups. Where am I getting this energy to do 1,000 push-ups a day? It is a goal I set to do 100 push-ups in the year 2032 at age 100. I set the goal and made a public commitment by announcing through my speeches, radio, television, newspaper, and magazine interviews all over the world during the last ten years to force myself to keep the promise to no one but myself. Now, I have no choice but to get down on the floor and do my ten sets of 100 push-ups each day until the year 2032.

One great source of human energy results from our deciding on a specific goal. A person without a goal, without any particular ambition, does not need energy. But when you set yourself a realistic goal, based on your best judgment, and when you decide to act on that best judgment; you find that the energy is supplied to achieve your goal. There is an old expression that energy follows thought. That means your determination to succeed will immediately be followed by the energy to do just that--to succeed. If a mad dog is placed before a three-year-old lazy boy, that boy will receive instant energy to run fast, because he has a goal to survive. When your conscious mind sets a goal, your subconscious mind will do everything possible to achieve the goal. Human brains work like a heat seeking missile.

I already have scheduled one of the largest Martial Arts shows in the D.C. area on my 100th birthday, January 7, 2032, where I will demonstrate my 100 push-ups, board-breaking, and other martial arts skills. There are thousands of students of mine who promised to perform with me. I hope many of you will set the same goal now to join me to perform 100 push-ups at the show in the year 2032. I started my serious exercise program at my age, 53. So, if you are 53 and under, you still have hope.

When Roger Banister ran a mile in four minutes, over 300 people broke his record within a year. When the world sees a dozen centenarians doing 100 push-ups, I am sure millions will be motivated to set their goals to become healthy centenarians. Then, becoming a centenarian will be a very common thing.

Now, I would like to show you how to be younger. Although I am 63 chronologically, I am physically only 17. So my real age is (63+17)/2=40. Ever since I saw a 135-year-old Russian lady on one of CBS’s 60 Minutes TV news programs, my goal has been to become a 136-year-old antique human being. How would you like to be a person with 100 years of wisdom in a body of 17? All you have to do is to develop small daily discipline as your permanent habit.

The purpose of knowledge is to take action. Knowledge that has not been transformed into a good skill or behavior habit cannot function in the real world. Therefore, parents’ primary responsibility to their children is not merely to provide three good meals a day, clothing and shelter, but also to help them to develop many good skill and behavior habits during their growing period.

We often blame children for not doing things right. Whenever we find our children disappointingly ignorant or misbehaving, we must learn to blame ourselves for not teaching them right. Children are born to learn and eager to learn everything they can. In my opinion, a teaching disability is more reason for children not learning than a learning disability. Did you know that Thomas Edison was labeled a child with a learning disability? His mother did not believe it and took him out of school and taught him herself at home. Thomas Edison still is the greatest inventor of all time.

In my opinion, we never should tell children that they have a learning disability even though it seems to be true. What goes into our minds, dictates our behaviors, repeated behaviors create habits, and habits shape our destiny. Based on these principles, if children believe that they have learning disabilities, they will justify them and give up their efforts to improve themselves.

Let us help our children to develop many good skills and behavior habits by applying the following three Golden Rules for teaching good habits:

1. Lead by example.
2. Never fail to correct their mistakes with a smile until good habits are developed.
3. Again, Lead by Example

Jhoon Rhee

In conclusion of my presentation, I would like to leave with you:

THE MAN IN THE GLASS

When you get what you want in your struggle for gain
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself,
And see what that man has to say!

It isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass;
The one whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the man staring back in the glass.

He’s the one you must satisfy beyond all the rest,
For he’s with you right up to the end;
And you will have passed your most difficult test
When the man in the glass is your friend.

You may be the one who got a good break,
And think you’re a wonderful guy;
But the man in the glass says you’re only a fake
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of
years. And get pats on the back as you pass;
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

By Dale Wimbrow