It was almost 30 years ago. In 1978, I was searching. Searching to figure out my future. Okay, so I am out of college, what next? Who am I? What is my destiny? What great adventures lie ahead? I knew I had to stay active to maintain my health. I always loved sports and love to be active. I played kickball, judo, baseball, tennis, basketball, boxing, and was on the high school swim team. I loved outdoor sports like hunting, camping, and fishing. My father always told me to find a sport that I could do by myself, so I could do it all my life, and not depend on others. He would tell me that team sports are great, but you then need a team of people to play. But martial arts was a sport you could do with others or by yourself. You could practice it outside or inside, or whenever I wanted to. And at the same time, it developed skills of self- defense.
So in 1978, I knew I would be graduating and moving to Vermont. I got a new job a big Semiconductor Company as a memory designer. But I knew I had to exercise and develop my mind. So I started to look for a good martial arts school. I had trained under many black belts, but something in this yellow page ad stood out. Train under real Martial Art Masters. Wow, that was an exciting prospect. In college I trained in the martial arts, and the 2nd degree black belt Master came around twice a year, and the Grandmaster came around every 2 years. Now I could possibly train directly under real Masters. Awesome. So I headed down to 127 1/2 College Street. It was an old clothes warehouse. It look deserted. But I walked inside, and decided I would find this place. I went to the third floor. Everything was wood and old looking. It look like it was built in the 50s. Finally I found a door and knocked. It was like an experience out of a movie. The door opened, and this beautiful young lady answered the door in the most beautiful oriental gown. Beautiful calm and soothing music was playing. The sweet smell of incense was in the air. This moment was magic. The young lady asked me to sit down, and was very polite to me. I asked about martial arts training, soon to find out she was a high degree ranking black belt. Her depth of knowledge was way beyond what I had expected. She asked me questions and the conversation became a deep learning experience for me. In the few minutes she interviewed me, she seemed to know me better than I knew me. She was young and beautiful, and yet seemed to have the wisdom of Merlin, or of an Older Wise Man.
I have had many college professors throughout my college days, and I had top honors in all my studies, but I had never met anyone so perceptive, and so wise. It was incredible. I could tell this was the place I wanted to learn the martial arts. I always dreamed of going to the orient and learning the true martial arts. Now, it was right in my back yard. Moving to Vermont had made my dreams come true. I now had a chance to really train and learn from the best. And better yet, it turned out that the school had 2 Master instructors. Both Grandmaster Tae Yun Kim, and her brother, Grandmaster Dae Yun Kim. Wow, I had the opportunity to learn from both. I felt blessed. I was determined to take charge of my life, and discover my true inner power. This was a powerful step in that direction.
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