Master Kim:
King of “Can Do”
by Denise Springer
My 13-year-old son, Tyler, expressed an interest in Tae Kwon Do, leading us to investigate a couple of schools. We entered Master Kim’s near the end of a class comprised of elementary students and their parents and were immediately charmed by his Korean take on the English language. “At Master Kim’s,” he said with conviction, “no four-letter word; no C-A-N-T. Understand? Only C-A-N. Everybody Can Do!” Tyler and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows. We knew this was the place. I had no intention of becoming a student at that point, but two weeks later the appeal proved irresistible.
Before immigrating in 1982, Master Kim taught Tae Kwon Do in Korea and had traveled widely in America and other countries as a featured Tae Kwon Do tournament exhibitor. Master Kim has shared the spotlight with such notables as Arnold Schwarzenegger. “He doesn’t know me person to person, but he recognize my name. That exhibition, in Columbus, Ohio, was very big—50,000 people watching Tae Kwon Do Masters from around the world. I was the last demonstration that time.
”Having seen Master Kim in action, I understood why. “They saved the best for last?” I asked “Yes. I think so,” he replied with a smile. “No, really many better than me but.”
Master Kim and his wife Myong became U.S. citizens in 1987 and 1988, respectively. Their 17-year-old son, Yale, was born in America. Master Kim’s older brother, Joon, lives in Wichita, Kansas and has some 30 schools throughout the state. “After my father died,” Master Kim said, “Joon was like father to me. He’s good trainer and I learn a lot from him. My younger brother, Kap, has a Tae Kwon Do school and a very good Japanese restaurant in Wichita Falls, Texas.” Like Master Kim, both Joon and Kap are U.S. citizens and 8th-degree Grand Masters.
In order to surpass the 6th-degree black belt level, students must be tested by a Senior Grand Master at the World Tae Kwon Do Federation in Korea. Master Kim has been certified as 8th-degree black belt by both the World Tae Kwon Do Federation and its predecessor, Moo Duk Kwan. Tests for 8th-degree black belt cover form, technique, knowledge, background and especially attitude. “Good technique or not doesn’t matter—I’m not good attitude, they can’t give it to me. Not many people 9th-degree belt; highest you can go. They have more knowledge, more wisdom.”
I asked if he planned to test for the ultimate ranking. “I don’t know. Have to wait 8 years. Eighth-degree is pretty high; is high enough. Important thing is keep training, keep learning.”
Training could be 50-year-old Master Kim’s middle name, but Young fits just as well. A typical morning begins by getting Yale to Oklahoma City’s Classen School of Advanced Studies. Then, as if teaching two or three one-hour Tae Kwon Do classes a day weren’t enough, he heads off to a Quail Creek gym for 90 minutes of weight training. To keep his mind as fit as his body, he plays golf several times a week. “Is small ball; is good pay attention,” he explained. “Also, play 18 holes takes about 4 hours. Most of the time I walking with clubs piggyback. The people I play with, they walk straight [from hole to hole], but I go zigzag—maybe run. Is good exercise. They say, ‘He’s still young.’ I say, ‘Of course, I’m 19!’ After golf I come to school to practice and work before teaching.
“When I live in Korea, all day I’m exercising. At that time I ate 5 meals every day. I eat, then one hour later, hungry again! When I come to United States I weigh 135 pounds but I could bench-press 360 pounds. Three years ago at Oklahoma Sooner State Games there was a bench press competition. My students say, ‘Master Kim, go!’ In my weight division, I win easy first place!” he said with glee.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays Master Kim instructs an early class of, “little children, you know, tiny boy. Girl too, but none right now; It’s fun.” Each weekday he teaches two evening classes, back-to-back. “Here we have a lot of families in class. Is good family exercise”
Oklahomans in Elk City and Enid have known that since 1985 when Master Kim left Kansas. He spent a year in Enid and opened his first school now run by former student Craig Willeford, a 5th-degree black belt. Elk City’s Dragon Kim’s is run by 4th-degree black belt Dean Leal. In 1986 Master Kim moved to Oklahoma City and opened a school near Casady. He moved the school to its present Edmond location on Second Street, just east of Bryant Square in 1997.
“My job is Tae Kwon Do. I’m very proud. I’m very happy. I teach not only physical, but attitude—respect. That’s what I want because not only in United States, but everywhere, many people have problems. Problems like crime, drugs and lack of respect for people. That’s why I teach here technique is important but more important is respect, attitude. My master and especially my father teach me that. My father teach me that if you have bad attitude, if you don’t respect people and be nice—no excuse; he give me punishment. My father said, ‘You must teach attitude.’ I want to do that.”
“Korea to here totally different. When I live in Korea our village surrounded by mountains. I wake up every morning 4:00 or 4:30 and climb over mountain to waterfall. In Korea, winter is very cold. But doesn’t matter how cold, everyday, four seasons, I shower in waterfall. When I move to United States I first live in Wichita, Kansas because my brother was already there. I fly in at night and everything looks good. First morning when I wake up though, big problem. No mountain. I teach class first day and ask my students if Kansas had mountain. They say, ‘No, Master Kim. No mountain, not even hill!’ I say, ‘Oh, you kidding; you lie to me.’
“Some years ago, I think of moving to Boulder, Colorado. I look around but I say, ‘No.’ This, Oklahoma City, looks like my hometown now. I think not only of me but of students. All my students look like my kids. Parent leaves, who take my kids? Just think of myself? That’s wrong. I love here. Here’s my family. If I have no students; I’m not a Tae Kwon Do Master.
“I have been to more than 40 states in this country on exhibitions—different cities, big and small. I see I hear many problems. People think a little problem is not a big deal. But later on, too late! I want to make this country better.” In typical style, he’s achieving his goal.
On December 9, 1998, the Oklahoma Human Rights Commission gave Master Kim an award of recognition. The certificate reads, in part, “An outpouring of words from the many students and friends of Master Jin Young Kim, ‘Dragon Kim,’ paints him as a mentor, humanitarian leader and father. From his teaching of the ‘family’ to his ‘Can Do’ attitude, Master Kim has taught his many students the basics of Tae Kwon Do and most importantly of respect. Master Kim treats all his students and friends as family and reminds his ‘family’ that all have red blood all are people and deserve respect. He lives his beliefs, thus his students learn to do the same.
“When they give me that award I am very happy. I am very honored.
“I try to do best, to study—try, but it’s not easy. English language is still difficult for me. Two years ago I got my General Equivalency Diploma—I study very hard. When I have opportunity I try to go to college too. It doesn’t matter age. I want more knowledge, more wisdom.
“I try my best, I not give up. I don’t want to use four letter “can’t.” Can do When training, if I miss one time; again, again. In my studio here, the brain is most important. Some schools just fighting, fighting, fighting—champions at tournament but not good attitude. Big trouble I don’t need that. Here, after class everybody shake hands, bow. Most schools after class just, ‘bye.’ Here many different nationalities but we make one nation; one family.
“I’m very proud of my job. I try do best teaching. I don’t know when I die but day before, I still teaching class. I see how much my students change after a year here—totally different. They kick higher have better balance, more self-control, more confidence. Lots of people have no patience; just want everything now. That’s no good. I want people to be more patient, wait longer. We eat every day; we have to exercise the same way. Black belts have to continue too. Even if my students move I want them to continue training because it’s good for them.
“Training I can, you can. No magic—I don’t have extra finger, even 60 years old, doesn’t matter. Your mind is young; your body is young. Your mind is old; your body is old. In my lifetime I don’t want to be sick. I want a healthy body and a healthy mind, so I have to exercise. You know when we die, we go with empty hands. Might as well be strong ones.”
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