티스토리 뷰
Photo Cred: Brad Nam
Basically, taekwondo is a Korean martial art. Taekwondo became an official sport in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and people can see taekwondo in the 2016 Olympic Games to be hosted in Brazil. There are a few different types of events in taekwondo. Just as in the Olympics, two people compete against each other in sparring, utilizing their techniques, speed, and power. Other events are forms and breaking. Koreans have promoted Korea to the world through taekwondo because many Koreans have believed taekwondo has the soul of Korea. Actually, the terms of taekwondo are all Korean.
I had one opportunity to visit a taekwondo gym located in Carmel, Indiana. Master Yoo’s World Class Taekwondo is more popular among Americans, than Koreans.
Photo Cred: Brad Nam
Master Yoo started his training when he was in the second grade and attend Yongin University, where he majored in taekwondo. He was selected as a member of Korea National Taekwondo Demonstration Team from 1999 to 2001. While he was in the National Demonstration Team, Master Yoo visited about 15 different countries including the United States. It is then when he decided to become a taekwondo instructor overseas.
After graduating from University, he started to work as an instructor at World Class Taekwondo, in Buffalo, New York. For 7 years he taught there. After completing his teaching in Buffalo, he traveled throughout the USA, in order to find a suitable place for his new taekwondo gym. He finally found Carmel, Indiana, to be the right place, and opened his first taekwondo gym in 2007. Summer of 2014, he opened his second taekwondo gym in Fishers, Indiana.
Master Yoo does not only focus on students learning the techniques, but wants the students to learn to respect others, to increase self-esteem and concentration, and to build character. Master Yoo said that taekwondo is a vessel that leads people to live better lives. Some students overcome their weaknesses, or their personal difficulties, and better themselves. One of the members even left his job of 16 years to become part of this gym. There are about 30 part time and full time staff members at Master Yoo’s World Class Taekwondo.