The sign above the outside entrance of the River Valley Tang Soo Do Academy has a slogan that reads: “Martial Arts for the Whole Family”. After studying Tang Soo Do for over a year and attending a few events, I am beginning to realize the meaning of this slogan. For me, this slogan’s meaning states that the flow of the river is strong and the river runs deep. The river is a symbol of the studio’s students.
Many students at our dojang take class with members of their family. Like many of these students, I have the distinct privilege of studying martial arts with members of my family, my wife and my brother. What about the students who do not take Tang Soo Do with their family members?
It is believed that Tang Soo Do is an “individual sport” where we compete against ourselves mentally and physically challenging ourselves to our highest potential. Although I train with my wife and brother, I physically step on the floor alone. Mentally, I am there alone. Master Homschek has even discussed with me that I cannot look at my family as wife and brother: They are others training just like me. This belief may be confusing to what the sign outside our studio reads: “Martial Arts for the Whole Family”. How can this be martial arts for the whole family?
In my opinion, the sign is correct. All students, regardless of rank, train together where we can work together to better ourselves and prepare for our next rank. We don’t look at each other as fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, yet we are one unit.
One of the greatest feelings that supports my theory occurred when I attended the Region 8 Championships. I was standing there watching Mr. Pauvlinch have his black belt tied on him by Master Homschek for the very first time. At my back, the scholarship table, ran by River Valley students and instructors, began cheering. You couldn’t help but feel a little emotional, happy and excited for Mr. Pauvlinch. This was the feeling of a family unit. Also at Region 8 Championships, students I recognized from Lancaster Tang Soo Do, where I only took one class with Master Beam while on vacation, approached my wife and I and asked us when we were coming back to Lancaster and asked about our training. Just talking to Master Beam and his Cho Dan Bo again made me realize the camaraderie that is formed by Tang Soo Do.
At the Brandywine clinic, we did Hyung as a large group of about a hundred students. Hyung may be the training and visualization of an individual conflict, but for me, it is a great feeling to hear the sounds of all the students moving as one. This is the same in class. When we do forms, I listen to the class move as one unit.
Another view you can look at occurs during class. Think of a time in class when you needed help. Who did you approach and why? Did they help you? Or before class has a black belt ever approached you when you were working on a technique, form or one-step and ask you if you need help with something? Has anyone ever asked for your help? This feels very similar to what happens at home. When you need help, you seek out family members.
I share a common bond with my wife and my brother, but I realize that when I am at the studio, my family has gotten bigger and I share that same common bond with others. This is “Martial Arts for the Whole Family” whether my wife or brother is there. Our logo has a river on it. The river is a symbol of our studio’s students. Each drop of water entering that river is an individual yet it creates one massive and powerful dynamic body of water. You are that drop of water flowing into that mighty river and once the river starts flowing there’s no stopping it.
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