My Story part 2 (from a former Jungyae instructor) (of 4)

Originally posted on the Dragons Dungeon on 11-03-02
http://anyboard.net/rec/sports/Royal_Dragons_Dungeon/posts/361.html




My Story part 2
Once I began training, it took over every aspect of my life. I lived and breathed martial arts. The training offered was incredible. It was not the “fluff” being offered everywhere else. Workouts were intense and the lessons were practical. They also offered wilderness survival training and what was some of the most comprehensive weapons training available. This especially appealed to me because I had always been a weapons nut. I trained whenever I had a free minute. The best part was the theory and principle training. JYMS used to not only focus on movements and techniques, but more importantly the theories and principles that are at the root of all martial arts. (side note: while the roots of all arts are taught, the difference in the application and expression of those root from style to style are not taught. Just knowing the roots is great but not knowing how they relate to the other arts is extremely limiting) I learned how to see and understand the martial arts.
A couple years into my training, Master Kim opened a second location and turned the Kirkland school over to his top instructor, who is still his right hand man. At first I was weary, as I had usually only worked with Master Kim. Things turned out Ok however, and my training continued to follow a very positive path.
Another year went by and I had been training intensely from the beginning. (I had to as nothing seemed to come naturally to me.) I was then approached to join the JYMS instructors program. I was thrilled. Here was my chance to really take things to the next level. I had to take an interview with Master Kim, submit a rather long essay, take a personality test and I’m sure a few more hoops that I cannot remember. After all was said and done, I was officially accepted into the program. I did not have much money so I was told not to worry about payment. (side note: when I eventually opened a school, I received an invoice for all the things I was ever told not to worry about.). Now I was ready to learn how to be an instructor. Train More. Come to more classes. Teach other people while I sit in the office. That was the instructor program. While I did get a lot of experience, I got no instructor specific training. Once and a while, which soon became all too often, we had instructor program meetings where we learned sales techniques and were pumped up and motivated by the dreams of Master Kim. JYMS was going to be the biggest, best and most complete. We were all witnessing the beginning of a modern day martial arts empire.
More to come…