Grandmaster Suh Chong Kang

My Interview with 10th Degree Black Belt, Grandmaster Suh Chong Kang

My original master did not talk much about his early training years with me as my current master and mentors do. But I knew a little bit on my own. I love history, not only culturally and socially but our own personal histories as well. To go back to our roots and bond with a certain understanding of where we came form in essence to grow further. I also love learning. I love people. And I love teaching. There are many avenues to doing this. So on my YouTube channel, besides talking about topics that come up that martial arts can answer, I also wanted to interview the greatest martial artists of all time.

I always wanted to meet Great Grandmaster Suh Chong Kang. All I knew about him was that he created two of the forms I was taught by my original master, that I continued out of respect for our small lineage. I also knew he was a former Vice-President of the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) in the 1970s into 80s. I wanted to find him and learn more about him as I felt a connection for some reason because, to me, it was a missing link to the origins of my martial arts.

I also knew he was one of the best and a great contributor to an art that is important to me and that I have been training in for over 16 years. So when I decided on doing my Martial Arts Masters project, the idea to do Specials for the YouTube Channel came to mind. I wanted Grandmaster Kang to be my first Special. But finding him was not going to be easy. I had no clue where to start. My first master was from Brooklyn. So that is where I began searching.

Sure enough there were several Kang schools still in operation in New York area. I contacted each one several times all summer. Until finally I began doing some very deep, and difficult research. I tried to get in touch with the youngest son. One day I got a receptionist on the phone and she told me it was the middle son I would want to talk to. Okay. Where is his school? He doesn't have a school?
 -__- Do you have a phone number I can reach him at? Afraid I cannot. -__- How can I reach him? She responds, maybe Facebook.

I said "Hold on,"...click, click, click, "Okay...spell it." She stayed on the phone until I found the correct name. I friend requested him and sent a message. One night, I see he accepted my request and he was up on Facebook and sent him another message and we began to talking. I told him the idea of my project that would lead into a few other projects. We spoke on the phone a few times and I immediately loved talking with Grandmaster Hosun Kang. Sometimes you talk to people in the industry and you can just tell from the conversation that they are real martial artists. The Kangs are such people. I was told his father does not normally do interviews. But we were able to arrange a day to interview.

Me interviewing Great Grandmaster Suh Chong Kang, founder of Kuk Mu Kwan and great contributor to Taekwondo.

I was absolutely THRILLED to meet both Great Grandmaster Suh Chong Kang and his son Grandmaster Hosun Kang. I was meeting my original master's masters. I am a fourth generation of the Kang legacy and yet this is the first time we met. I was well prepared, as I usually am VERY thorough and had all my questions prepared. Sometimes when I do this, I know more about the person than they know about themselves!

Interviewing Grandmaster Kang was fascinating to me as well. He was so kind, and the history was superb! He just turned 85 years old, yet he is a walking history book and remembered everything to the last detail. We talked about his earlier beginnings in martial arts during the time before Korea's independence from Japan, how he was involved in the first Korean martial art, his founding of his own martial arts, his Korean War experience, his working with General Honghi Choi, his personal accounts with working with General Choi, and some of his well known students such as Jhoon Rhee, Hee Il Cho (Who'se birthday is today), and Hangun Lee.

There were accounts Grandmaster spoke about that have never been spoken about before such as General Choi's involvement in the formation of the art and the beginnings of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF). It was all so fascinating to me. When the interview went live, I couldn't believe the response we would get. There were so many who knew of Grandmaster Kang who were so thrilled that "the truth has been told" and that it was "about time". I am happy to have done that for the Kangs.

There were also some who did not agree with some of the things said in the interview, but respected a great deal of what Grandmaster Kang had to say. General Choi's granddaughter was NOT happy with the interview, actually. I contacted her asking for an interview with me on her own account of her grandfather's history, but I have not heard back from her. Either way, people know about Grandmaster Kang and Kuk Mu Kwan.

I have to thank my friend Brian who produced the Special. I was a royal pain in the butt in every detail of the Special and it took so much of his time. God bless him, but it looks fantastic. I cannot thank Brian Wreckler enough and if there is anyone who wanted to do a video project with him, he's worth every dollar and comes highly recommended! Thank you Brian, for all your hard work! And thanks to Thomas Cubby and Heather Marte who helped on a few of the in betweens I needed to take care of in its production.

I want to thank Grandmaster Hosun Kang who is a true martial artists through and through. He and I can talk for hours about martial arts and never get tired. It's great to see a Grandmaster with such great values the arts provides as well as a straight forward perspective with such depth of it's history. and of course a special thank you to Great Grandmaster Suh Chong Kang himself! Without him, any of us in this country who owns a Taekwondo school wouldn't HAVE schools if it weren't for this man's involvement in it's history, especially in this country.

PLEASE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL! Below are links to the channel, the interview, and below is the promo video on the interview. My goal is to get 1000 subscribers by Christmas, and I also hope the world gets to know Grandmaster Kang and his contributions to the Korean arts and Kuk Mu Kwan further gets recognized in the world. I also hope the martial arts world continues to learn from other masters that I get to interview on the channel. In the end, we're all teaching the same principles that martial arts has to offer. (BOWS)

Grandmaster Hosun Kang, Great Grandmaster Suh Chong Kang, and I having coffee after the interview. 

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Ara on the Mats

My student Ara Grigoryan testing for high blue belt.

Back in May 2011, right around Memorial Day weekend, I had a man and his wife with their two young children come in to my school. The man was very tall with a stern face. They were not coming in to see about the martial arts program for their kids, they were coming in to see about taking martial arts for themselves. It seemed like his wife was really the one who wanted him to do it.

So the two began a trial where they came to class once a week on Mondays together. After the trial, the two began to really enjoy the martial arts classes, and the wife began to do the fitness classes as well and her husband would take more martial arts classes a week. Over the course of a few months, the husband really warmed up to me and the other students and you began to see a positive energy exude from him and even his wife. Their names were Ara and Juneta (Yoo-nehta).

They took their first color belt test in October of Halloween weekend. It was the year we had crazy weather and it SNOWED tremendously. TMAFC still had power so we had ther belt test as planned. They did very well and afterwards a whole bunch of us went back to their house where we had what I believe was a FEAST! We had a night full of food, laughter, and good times. I think there was nine of us for that first dinner. And hence, Ara, Juneta, and the kids were a part of the family! (You can read about it HERE.)

Over some time, they continued to go through their ranks and even their children began to do martial arts. Juneta over time found a greater purpose for herself with martial arts, which I personally think caught her by surprise. And Ara, as we know him, is one of the sweetest men you'll ever meet. He is a good father, a great student, and a damn good team player. He has always been encouraging and supportive to all of the students of all ages. Eventually, Ara also began to compete for the school and has done very well in Olympic style sparring, forms, and eventually point sparring.

Husband and wife sparring! Juneta gets a good shot on Ara!

This past month, my instructor for Saturdays has been unable to teach due to personal things happening in her life, so when I needed someone to cover the classes, Ara stepped up and volunteered. Ara is now a high red belt, our Senior Competition Team Captain, and will be testing for low brown belt in October. A few weeks ago he taught only the second class while I was at the Korean school I teach at on Saturdays. When I returned from the Korean school, classes were going on still and I just sat and watched Ara as he taught.

I observed very carefully. I listened to how he was speaking, I listened to how he explained material to different students by age and rank. I was beyond pleased and so proud. He went straight through the curriculum, and he used notes from his own classes to follow as well. He was loud and assertive in his speaking, but also very encouraging. He acknowledged good things students did, he crituqued positively to improvements needed to be made. He referenced and reiterated things that I would say, like "Remember, like Master Trento always says..." and he included himself in the language he would speak to them like "When WE train, this is how WE...."; this is very good language to be using when teaching a class.

He also went outside the box and made sure not only were the students doing well in the class but also challenging them with different objectives to keep everyone stimulated and focused while still improving. He commanded the dojang so well, I was so proud watching him. The best thing, for me, was that he kept me in the classroom while I physically wasn't in the classroom. THAT is key! That is so important because if I ever were not on the mats for whatever reason, I have to know that things will run smooth and well, and the quality of the training is not compromised at all. It was like I wasn't even absent, and that's so important and it's been a long while since I've had that.

I am so proud of Ara and grateful for him to stepping up. I am proud of him as my student and he's always been a good friend to me as well. Ara you represented very well and did a fantastic job teaching the Saturday classes this month and thank you for "keeping me" on the mats even when I wasn't there!

Ara won three gold medals at the New York Metropolitan AAU Qualifier last year!

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Shane Dawson's Movie

In 2008, life made some huge changes for me. I was living on my own, I got fired from my job, I was working on creating my own business, and I had an entourage of friends who would come over every Sunday for dinner that are really no longer around anymore. It was a very good time but a very stressful time. Life was rough which made it stressful, but times were good and happy. When I found myself stressed and not able to sleep really late at night I would surf YouTube.

This was something Frankie would do. Look at random videos and he would show me them here and there. One time he showed me a video of this kid pretending his name was Fred with a high pitched voice. So one night it led me to looking around and I found a video of this kid pretending to be Fred with his high pitched voice and by the end of the video he was dressed up in as thie ghetto character Shanaynay and I remember busting out laughing. I watched another video called DMV with him and his character Shanaynay and whenever I need a laugh, I watch it.

Shane Dawson is one year older than me. He began making YouTube videos and wanted to become an actor. He would have what some may call a little raunchy humor, but very creative. In the essence of Joan Rivers, he said whatever it was everyone else was thinking which made it funny, but he also had the no limitations like Don Rickles, with sometimes the mouth of Richard Pryer and Robbin Williams.

Now most people who know me would be shocked that I find his humor hilarious because I can get offended easily. But he is so funny. It's funny! That's the bottom line. There's no harm in what he does or say you can tell it's all about getting a laugh, and he earns it! His videos began to become more and more professional, and we would love seeing his new skits on Ask Shane, or Shane and Friends with all of his characters he created, interactive videos, he went into spoof music videos, he also did original songs with music videos and sold on iTunes, but we also got to know him as a person with another channel he made to vlogging.

Hanging with Shane I remember seeing him move from home to home, he lived in several apartments, to all the animals added to his home, to when he was fired from working at Jenny Craig, to his grandmother dying, to him being able to take his family to Disney World, to winning a Kids Choice Award, to his emotional thank you to for his one million subscribers, to his T shirts being sold in Hot Topic, to his night adventures with his brother or friends, to his great tributes to his mother who he adores. Over the years we got to really know Shane as a person.

I began my business in 2009, and opened in 2010, and a couple of students reminded me of him. During a depressing time, I went back and watched every single one of his videos to date. He got me to get away from the troubles, gave me time to forget about what was going on in life, and above all he made me laugh. Laughter, as I've blogged about countless of times, is a gift to all people. My favorite is Lucy, but I've always loved Carol, Betty , Hope, Burns, and Williams. But here was someone I watched work so hard to making his dreams come true, while I was working hard to making mine.

A couple of years ago he came to New York to open a premier for a friend's movie coming out. I blogged about how much he meant to me during difficult times, as he has to so many people. I knew I really wanted to meet him. SO when I heard he was going to the AMC in New York, I KNEW iI was going to take my chance and I always showed my students that no matter how big or small your dreams are, you gotta go and make it happen, just as Shane himself was striving to do. So I made the trip and I got to meet Shane Dawson.

That was mission number one. Mission number two was a harder one. I didn't want to just meet Shane Dawson, but I wanted him to do a video at my school. My students would really get to see, no matter what, you can make what seems impossible possible. But I have been watching Shane through our parallel journeys for six years, almost seven, that I would really actually love to be his real life friend. Not a cyber viewer friend like everyone else. I have big goals, for big things. And I know Shane is going to make it big one day. Actually, I know besides acting he really wants to direct. I would love for my story to be directed by him.

For almost a year, Shane worked on his very first movie. It's in the top ratings of iTunes and was playing in theatres all over. He was returning to New York to plug his movie. I had to see him again. I know I am another nobody, he had a bazillion fans telling him how much he meant to them, how much he made them smile and laugh, how great they think he was, etc. But truth is, I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I've watched him since the beginning. And I was so very proud of him for making this movie and getting out there and DOING it. I wanted to get to tell him that.

And I did. I was last on line to see him, just like last time we met. I walked up to him and gave him a great big bug and told him where I came from, and told him how long I watched him, like everyone else, but I looked at him dead in his eyes and said "Shane I am so proud of you. You did it. You're making it happen, and I know you're going to be bigger than now one day." I think anyone can see that, but I also know when you're in the midst of it all, it's hard to see and believe and hearing it is important. I hope he knew how sincere I was.

Prior to viewing the movie and seeing all his fans, he made an apology video for offending some viewers who were attacking him and accusing him of being racist. Shane, I know you're reading this and I want you to know, no apologies! You're not out to hurt people, and truth is, these people aren't really offended. They are committed to just wanting to put you down. It's like here, there are Yankee fans and anti-Yankee fans, just because. I remember when Joan Rivers was being roasted and one of the comedians made a joke that made the audience go "OOOooooooo!!!" and Joan turned to them and waved her hadn in disgust calling out "OH shut up! It's FUNNY!!" Same goes for you Shane. You're gonna get bigger and it's only going to get worse, and you're doing nothing intentional to harm people. It's funny, like all the other greats. They need to get over it. No apologies needed.

I continue to watch Shane Dawson for good laughs quite often. Some people may not appreciate his humor. But many do. He has always made me laugh when I didn't want to laugh and anyone who can do that has a gift. I haven't completed my second mission with Shane yet, but it's still on the table. But I do believe in this kid, and I know he'll be great and I can saw I knew him when. I'd love to really know him too. But over the years, I think I have. I really am so proud of him. Shane, congratulations on your movie. Enjoy the success, and let the ones who are committed to not liking you just miss out. You're making your dreams come true. That's more than any of them can say. (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Schuman Dedication

Coach Howard Schuman

There are some people who are just legends who do great things. I was very proud to be a part of a high school that has a long lasting history and tremendous teachers who have all had a great impact on me. But if you ask any alumnus who came from that school, especially the early years on, they would probably say that some of these teachers were legends in themselves. They were true to form, masters of education. One of those great legends was Mr. Howard Schuman.

Mr. Schuman was a physical education teacher and head track coach at Saddle Brook High School for over 30 years. I had him for two years of middle school and all four years of high school, and I also ran with him in cross country briefly in high school, just to say I've been coached some way by Mr. Schuman. How could you go to Saddle Brook High School and NOT get coached by him?!

Mr. Schuman was enthusiastic and spirited. He was very proud to be a "falcon" and worked his team hard. His track and cross country teams were the largest in our school, next to football. People lined up out the door to be coached by the legendary Mr. Schuman. He produced some of the greatest athletes for 30 years, and every morning after some student made the morning announcements, we all awaited the voice of Mr. Schuman. He would get on that microphone and hound away at the results of the last track meet, proudly announcing EVERY SINGLE one of his athletes and the progress they made and the results of their meet. He did not miss ONE!

He took pride in his athletes which made the students take pride in them as well. His enthusiasm was contagious. But he taught respect above all else, not only on the track but in the gym in class. He had no problem stopping everything we were doing in class and talk 20 minutes of the class about keeping respect for one another. That's a true educator.

Coach Schuman coached the Saddle Brook High School track team from 1974 to 2007 with 100 county and state championships, producing some of the greatest athletes.

I interviewed Mr. Schuman when he retired from Saddle Brook High School in 2007. By then he had already 100 league, county, and state championships and inducted into the NJ COaches Hall of Fame in 2000. It was an honor to sit down with him and get to know him personally and hear the advice and the insight of Mr. Schuman as a teacher, as a coach, as a father, and as a person. He heard it in his voice how proud he was to be a part of his school. He gave so much to his students, to his athletes, to the school itself. Seven years after his retirement, it was time for the school to give back to Mr. Schuman.

Over the course of the last few years, the high school had construction done which included a brand new track for the school. Saddle Brook High School dedicated the track to Coach Howard Schuman in honor of his great success. It truly was an honor well earned and deserved. I am sure the entire town was in agreement and probably have talked about it for the last few years since the track was re-established.

 At the ceremony, there were students and athletes as well as faculty from old to new who attended to honor the coach. Speakers included an athlete from the class of '74 and the class of '87, another of the physical education teachers who worked with him for 30 years, Board of Education president, and then of course a speech from the coach himself. He was greeted by a standing ovation and he was thrilled and said that to be greeted with a standing ovation from the town he lived in for 38 years, there was "nothing better."

In attendance were his son which he thanked by saying "I'm so fortunate that my children, who are no longer children any more, were the best possible children I could ever have. I thank them and I love them very much." As his son Dave said, the definition of the word coach should be followed by his name. Congratulations Mr. Schuman, and thank you for your many years of Saddle Brook spririt, and your dedication to US the students! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

The Choir Rehearsal

Annie Conway O'Shaunessey, My mother Karen Lazzaro Trento, Aunt Jeannette Lazzaro Ligouri, Lynne Van-Wyk-Wojick learning music with Mr. Chuck Broadhurst years after high school. 

Me in the 2005 Winter Concert with the Choraleers under Mrs. Cindy Verost

 "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent."

-Victor Hugo

SBHS Alumni singing under Mr. Broadhurst in 1999

Me singing at the Spring concert in 2006. 

 "If music be the food of love, play on,

Give me excess of it,; that surfeiting,

The appetite may sicken, and so die."

-William Shakespeare 

Back in 1964, Saddle Brook High School established it's choral program where vocal music would be taught to the students of the high school. The school itself was only in it's first few years of being established at the time. A man named Charles Broadhurst, originally from the mid west, had come to teach the vocal music department. The program began with eight or nine students in the choir. Two years later, there may have been eighty or ninety students in the choir.

By the seventies, the choir itself could be anywhere from 100-200 people. The choir was then split into Boys Glee Club where the boys sang their own pieces, the Girls' Glee Club which the girls sang their own pieces, the select choir known as the Choraleers, and of course the full choir sang together. The Choral department would have it's own concert in the winter and in the spring. Also incorporated in the school were the Spring Musicals which were known to be so professional and Broadway like at the time. To this day, no director would ever touch Fiddler on The Roof because you just can't compare it to the 1978 class production.

For 30 years, Mr. Broadhurst ran the choral department. What better legacy than to have an alumnus continue the school traditions and build the program in itself. Mrs. Cynthia Verost, class of 1975 became the SBHS Choral Director. Along with her own twenty years experience in teaching music and from the things she learned from Mr. Broadhurst, she continued to keep the Saddle Brook spirit alive in the music department.

Let's face it, times have changed and Mrs. Verost has had roadblocks that did not exist in the 1970s and 1980s. But no matter what roadblocks she has had in continuing pushing for an art program such as vocal music, she has created a choir for middle school, taught piano and drums, brought the choir to music festivals in Jackonsville, NJ by Six Flags and Virginia Beach, and several times to the Christmas Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World (which they will be going to this year and donations to help would be greatly appreciated-- she can be contacted at Saddle Brook High School).

However, some of the staple traditions are still alive such as the Choraleers which Mr. Broadhurst established in 1966. The Spring Musicals still go on each year. And at every Holiday concert, the concert ends with alumni in the audience joining for the final three pieces Carol of the Bells, Do You Hear What I Hear?, and The Hallelujah Chorus. This is a tradition that my mother, my aunts, uncles, and close friends of us all who graduated through all the years look forward to each year.

Me singing with my mother and aunt during the Alumni pieces at one of the holiday concerts. 

Alumni always sing Carol of the Bells, Do You Hear What I Hear?, and the Hallelujah Chorus.

Some of the choir in 2007 at the NOrth American Music Festival in Virginia. 

In 1978, 1990, 1994, and 1999 Alumni have had reunions to get together and celebrate and sing, and enjoy. It is now 50 years since the Saddle Brook High School Choir has been established. So this November, a reunion concert will be held in honor of the Choir that has been going strong for 50 years! Conducted by Mrs. Verost, who is still the choral director, alumni from 1964-2014 will be coming together for a magnificent reunion!

Recently, a group of local alumni got together to rehearse a few pieces of music just to get familiar with the music ahead of time, which may help when all of the participating alumni for our day reunion for the 50th anniversary. It was really so nice to be in that room again, and I think everyone who was there felt that way. Some alumni, I know feel bittersweet, knowing Mr. Broadhurst will not be there (it's been ten years since his passing), but they all know he will be there in spirit. I know alumni, such as myself, look forward to once again being taught and directed by Mrs. Verost.

We may not all know each other, some never met before. But we all share a common bond: music. It was a gift that has been passed down like an art. We share a love for the directors and the people we have met. It is a spirit that has been strong for fifty years and we are all excited and honored to be a part of it. And we hope if you're local that you can be a part of it as well.

ANY AND ALL CHOIR ALUMNI who want to sing for the concert, please reach out and sign up at THIS LINK. The concert will be 7:30 on November 29, 2014. It is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Those who are in town, please come to the concert! Tickets will be $5, and alumni, it's an all day event! Rehearsals, lunch, concert, and after party! It will be a beautiful way to celebrate 50 years of a magnificent tradition! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Loyalty and Virtue

Sifu Pedro Cepero Yee with Grandmaster Frank Yee, a solid loyal lineage.

 "Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles from less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses."

-Ann Landers

One of my dear friends worked for a job that made her do things according to their policies that went against her values. In order to keep her job, she had to do what her predecessors in authority told her to do. She was in charge of hiring people for the facility she worked for. She would run into many people who were good people, some had a past like all of us, and they would come for a job trying to make great changes for themselves. But her company would not hire them because of their past mistakes.

In one instance, someone was hired and they ended up finding they were arrested for some stupid reason. Because they were already hired, they could not let them go for that reason, but would inform the supervisors of the facility to "look for something" to fire them for. Fire them for "something". It would break my dear friend's heart. She hated lying to good people who were looking to work hard, saying she would call if anything opened up, knowing there was a position available they'd be perfect for. She hated that she had to go against her values due to this job. This is one of many circumstances that were entailed in her job. Apparently this happens every day in corporate America.

Jack Canfield taught me that when you do things against your values, it erodes your self-esteem. It can destroy a person when you are forced to do things in the day to day that just are not of your virtue. When I was younger, I understood this, and even lost my job because of it when I was put in a situation that compromised my values. I knew what I was being asked was wrong and out of line, and I wanted to teach my students to stand up for what you believe in, especially when you know it is wrong. Even though I lost my job several years ago for it, it was the right thing and the truth. Several years later, however, I lost myself and began behaving in ways that did compromise who I was and it destroyed a great deal of who I was. I know that may be vague but you can look forward to the book or a future blog.

SO when Sifu was over for a little get together a few weeks ago, my dear friend happened to be present there when I asked Sifu how to deal with being in a position where an authoritarian or someone in a position of authority makes you do something against your values. He immediately began to discuss the importance in the Chinese culture of loyalty and virtue. In China (Or at least Chinese martial arts), there is nothing more important than this.

Me and my master Sifu Pedro Yee; I am proud of be a part of this loyal lineage.

 "To bring good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him."

-Buddha

Nothing should ever break loyalty. When you swear loyalty or allegiance to anyone, there is nothing that should ever break this sacred bond. In this country, if you say "I give my word," that means NOTHING to anybody, and no one would believe you or take you on it. In China, you say "I give my word" and it is gold. There is nothing greater to one's honor and loyalty goes beyond limits. You follow and do whatever your master says no matter what.

I remember a story Sifu told of a Chinese general, General Kuan (aka Kawn or Guan Gong) who gave up his own life rather than betray the loyalty of his own training brother. Loyalty is a treasure of great stature. You may not agree or understand, but you follow and listen without question. HOWEVER! If you KNOW that your master or predecessor is doing something wrong, or not of good integrity, then you must follow the path of virtue.

Virtue is the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. Patience is a virtue, we have all heard that. My grandfather will joke, so is consideration. But the Chinese also knew, if we were to go against our virtue, it would not only bring us dishonor, but hurt us as a human being. If the loyalty you have is based on the stature of virtue and not ego or selfish needs or greed, you are on a greater path to better....well....I'll use the word enlightenment I guess.

Always stand upon the values which you stand on. It keeps a strong sense of self and self-esteem. Self-confidence is your force-field against negativity and doubt. If keeps your healthier mentally and more stable as a human being. I am honored and proud to being a part of lineages I share, which I am very loyal to. The mentors and masters I follow all have great integrity and do not force me to go against my values and want to build me up with no strings attached. It what makes the loyalty so strong and pure.

In fact, one of my mentors was the general manager of a gym. The owner was very nasty to her, berated her, overstepped boundaries, and very borderline abusive verbally and emotionally. Luckily my mentor has VERY strong and thick skin. But in the end, one too many times is one too many times. It didn't matter if she had a mortgage, five kids, and single parent, she would rather find other means to making her life work and doing what she had to do then to be treated the way she was being treated, after going above and beyond, more than anyone who came after her contributed. She valued herself first and followed virtue, what was right and what was wrong.

My dear friend stepped down from her position as well. She could no longer do the things she felt were wrong in her field of work, and also stepped up for herself when she knew she was being told she was wrong for not doing the wrongdoing she was instructed to do. It didn't matter, it was not worth it. She was happier than ever, thrilled, and had a huge weight lifted from her shoulders. Know when to be Loyal, and know when to be stand on virtue. 

Me and Master Kevin Balon, my sacred Taekwondo lineage.

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO

Specialization: When is it Important, and when is it Not.

Simo, Sifu, and I (Don't I look Chinese?!)

A few weeks ago, Sifu and Simo came over for a little bit. A small group of us got together for dinner and to spend time with each other. Sifu has been working a great deal on a major project with Sigung (Not sure if I'm supposed to give any details on it yet) but they have been working very hard. I was also working on several projects myself, so it was nice for all of us to take a break on work and JUST BE and relax.

It was a beautiful night of eating, relaxing, enjoying each others' company, answering questions about Qigong, making it rain on and off with Qi, hearing two versions of how Simo and Sifu met between the two (which I wish I filmed as it was cute, entertaining, sweet, and hilarious), and just enjoying the moment of BEING.

But of course, when the master is present, I will always pick his brain for knowledge and insight. He made a comment a few days prior to seeing him about specialization. I am two years into my master training, and it has always been very important to me to be a very well rounded martial artist. My roots were very well rounded, thanks to my first master. I have great training in traditional Taekwondo forms, great training in Olympic style sport-Taekwondo, great training in self-defense, great training in fitness, great training in psychology and law of attraction, and great training in Qigong. I also train in Haganah, Songahm Taekwondo, and Hung Ga Kung Fu.

Over the years I have continued to build and master each "field" so to speak in my training. But there gets a point where specialty is important to choose and truly envelope one's abilities and expertise to grow as a master and a human being. After all, each of my mentors is the best in their field, even if they have experience in the other fields. Charlene is the best fitness trainer. Mary Ellen is the greatest psychoanalyst around. No one comes close to Master Balon in traditional Taekwondo. Master Bardatsos is the best in the area for sport Taekwondo. Master Canzoneiri is fantastic in his Qigong. Mr. Valentino is superb in Songahm style of Taekwondo. And Master DeJesus is an elite expert in self-defense.

Even Sifu himself, it's not only me but most who meet him can see he is the best at what he does. He specialty in Hung Ga Kung Fu cannot be challenged. His true understanding and continuous building upon this art inside and out, along with the help with Sigung's guidance I am sure. I believe Sifu is the only person handed down the secrets of the art in it's entirety by Grandmaster Frank Yee.

I heavily train in many fields, but in my training I am certainly not spread out too far. Can't say the same for general life things LOL, but my training I love having well rounded aspects. But I do believe in my continuing master training, I will have to decide in a specialization to enhance my growth even further.

Even founders of an art like Mike Lee Kanarek, founder of Haganah. He knows his entire system inside and out and it has come from years of experience. But he will be the first to tell you his passion is Muy Thai and his specialty in his system is knife fighting. He actually has other people within his own system who will certify people in other aspects of his system because he feels they're better than him at it and it is their specialty. That's not to say he cannot do it or know it to an elite level. But his specialty is in knife fighting and his passion lies in Muy Thai.

So in personal growth, specialty is significant. HOWEVER, it is bad for business! Specialization is good for a well rounded business for multiple streams of income. I could have a wellness center that offers aromatherapy, hypnosis, Qigong, and Reiki. But My specialty may be aromatherapy. I may know the others, but you'll get the best from me in aromatherapy and the best from someone else with their specialty, such as Qigong.

So Specialization has it's place and others it's not important. So have a well thriving practice of any sort, you want to be well rounded. It is also important to have a good experience in being as jack of all trades. I find that a compliment. For how can you teach or know or understand without being experiential? Without having that understanding and knowledge? But to be the best at something, you take you specialty and allow it to enhance you in ways you could never have foreseen before. Especially in the higher ranks of martial arts. I guess that will be my mission eventually. (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO