Passing along a bit of sabumnim's wisdom
I was just discussing martial arts with someone, and I realized that one of the things I admire most about Master Kim is his ability to cut through the bullshit of things and get right to what really matters. If you ask Master Kim what the difference between Karate and Taekwondo are, he will laugh at you, and say that they're the same.
When asked to clarify, he'll just shrug, and inform you that a martial art is a martial art.
He's right, of course. All of the arts share so many techniques, that it's rather silly of us to spend a lot of time trying to decide where to draw the lines between them. Many of the names relate to the arts' beginnings in other countries. Taekwondo is Korean. Karate is Japanese. Kung Fu is Chinese. There are african arts, and carribbean arts, and their names are all meaningful in their cultures.
In the US today, the names of the arts have become more like 'Brand Names'. People don't want a generic 'martial art'; these are Americans, after all, and we're taught that if something has real quality, it will have a brand name plastered all over it.
The reality of the situation, though, is that the labels don't amount to much. I took a class called "Hopkido" at MSU, which mostly taught Aikido with some hopkido mixed in, and a few things from Judo. The class I take right now is called "Karate", but Master Kim teaches in the style of a taekwondoist, and we learn little bits of other things, as well.
In the end, what matters isn't the brand of art you choose to study, but the character of your teacher. Master Kim has high ranks in Kendo, Aikido, Taekwondo, and Judo. He's generally straightforward, doesn't speak in riddles, and very common-sense oriented. He's a quiet man with a quick sense of humor and a great attitude. He almost always seems to think of the simplest answer to any given problem. I admire him very much, and I've learned a lot more from him than how to kick, punch, and throw people.
I think people who are looking for a martial art should instead look for a teacher, until they find one they think they'll like, and then try them out for a few classes. Even if they end up in a style they don't particularly like, a good teacher can probably point them in the right direction.
Anyway, that's enough martial arts philosophising today.
Forest and I are very glad we tarped our roof last night, since we have been getting quite a bit of snow today. It's a little early in the year to worry about it much, but I guess we're supposed to get an inch of accumulation, which would amount to a lot of water in our attic when it thaws.
Forest's really worried about money right now, and I wish I could do anything to help. He's already spent a lot of money on fixing the Neon, and now he's decided it's necessary to fix the Love Rocket right away, too. Christmas is coming, and the roof is leaking and so on and so on. This morning he was quite depressed, and talking about the need to find another job.
It's an idea that depresses us both greatly, because last year at this time he was working 4 different jobs, and it resulted in a lot of stress for both of us. This fall we decided that we were both going to keep our Sundays reserved for family time. We've only gotten to enjoy a few of those precious, wonderful Sundays, but now he feels he might have to forfeit that to make extra money.
In the backs of our minds when we were signing onto this new mortgage, Forest and I were thinking that Master Kim had said he wanted to retire this semester, and that Forest would have the additional income of teaching those classes. (Right now he's strictly a volunteer, unless Master Kim is away, and then he's paid as a sub.) Of course we're really GLAD that Master Kim has stayed as long as he has! We'd never wish it otherwise; it just changes our financial considerations that he's decided to stay with the class.
What all of this means is that we're close to overspent on our monthly bills, and don't have the reserve we'd like to cover our butts in emergencies. And as much as I'd like to figure out a magic solution, I just don't think there is one. I've got no way of making an extra few hundred dollars appear in our bank accounts without making some sacrifices. Forest's getting another job would probably help, but I really want him to be happy, and us to have a family life, and that's next to impossible when we're both working 60-hour weeks.
Ugh. Well, we will come up with something, I'm sure.
Last night after work Forest suprised me with small gifts of thoughtfulness. He knew I really wanted the new U2 CD, and decided that it just couldn't wait until Christmas. While he was at it, he picked out a very soft, comfy shirt for me, too. It was very sweet of him, and I was overjoyed that he thought of me! He never ceases to suprise me, no matter how many times he proves his kindness and generosity, or how much he cares about me.
As a matter of fact, last night as I was quickly falling asleep, he told me he wished I knew just how much he cared. I replied that I didn't think he could understand how much I cared about him, either. It's very sweet to love someone so much that you can't possibly express it. Sometimes I feel as though I could hold him tightly, kiss him a thousand times, and all the while shout sonnets of love on top of my lungs, and still be filled with overflowing feeling for him. I could dance for him, recite plays for him, and carve his name on the moon, and it still wouldn't express it.
Love is a powerful thing.
Before the kissing, squeezing, and shouting tonight, there will be much kicking and punching. I'm hoping my knee will allow me to return to most of the activities at taekwondo class tonight. I'm still not supposed to jump, but it feels a lot better, so I will be less limited by pain.
