For some reason I have been blessed
with many contacts in the world due to Taekwon-Do. I get to share much of my
American culture with them and they share their culture with me. I listen and I
learn. I have had the opportunity to visit Korea 6 times and I have been to Japan
11 times. I have learned so much and I hope to share a little with you. One of my
trips to Korea and Japan was to
write a thesis on the influence of traditional martial art mind set on modern
Korean and Japanese sports. I learned a lot of the mind and point a view in my
research. One point of view is the major impact Confucian thought has played on
their culture, but that is another article for another day. (See Toi Gye and
Yul Guk).
I could also go the route right now
of sharing lots of Korean food and recipes since many of my Korean friends have
taught me a lot. To my Texas
friends I love Texas BBQ but I also love Korean BBQ. But that is another
article at another time.
I have the opportunity to socialize
with Korean International students at my university. That is always an experience
and I encourage those in school to make friends with as many international
students as you can, first to make them feel welcome, because they are lonely
in a foreign country, second you will learn more than you ever expected to
learn in a friendship. But that is another article for another day.
So where am I going with this? I
will tell you. Korean soap operas. I bet you never expected that. Korean soap operas
are the most watched soap operas in the world. They are imported all over the
world. The stories are simple. They lack the over violence and sexual innuendoes
and graphics as US soap operas have. A matter a fact if there is a kiss or hug
at the end of a love story, that will be the extent of it.
How did I get hooked on Korean soap
operas? Well, there is a PBS station that devotes certain hours of the day to
KBS (Korean Broadcasting Service) for Korean and American audiences. While
switching channels one day a few years ago my eye was caught on a battle scene.
I was mesmerized being a martial artist, the after hearing the language I knew it
was Korean. It was subtitled so I could follow the action. It was the story of
the first king of the Yi Dynasty. It had all the action, political intrigue, devious
of the villains and yes even a love story in it. I was hooked. The next one
after that was finished was the life of King Se Jong (3rd degree
form). After a while I shared with my students and quickly there was a small
following. There are many different soap opera not all historical, many day to
day stories and scenes of daily life.
My one black belt Theresa teaches
ESL in the same building as my dojang and she is hooked on the soap operas too.
A main reason is she is able to understand more of the culture of Korea by
watching daily life stories. She has the opportunity to teach English to many
of the Koreans in our area.
In my encounters with my Korean
contacts I was told of a web site where you can find and see all the Korean
soap operas you want. All sorts. As I entered this site I was like a kid in the
candy shop. It was filled with, Korean soap operas, full length Korean movies, Japanese
soap operas and Japanese movies, Chinese, Taiwan
and Hong Kong soap operas and movies. I will
never be able to watch them all, and new ones are added daily.
Here is my pick, once you get there
you can look for anything that interests you.
Kingdom of the Winds: A Korean soap
opera based on the Kingdom
of Koguryo in its early
development and the difficulties with its neighbor Buyo. Many good
battle scenes with realistic techniques and armor used. There is mystery,
intrigue, comedy, treachery and a good love story it is 36 episodes.
Red Cliffs: A Chinese soap opera
based on the Chinese kingdoms about 209 A.D. based on a true story of a great battle and
navel battle that decided the future fate of China. Awe inspiring scenes of the
navel battle and the political treachery and tactics of battle.
The last one is only if you can
handle crying. This one will have you in tears no matter who you are. It is a
Japanese soap opera called "1 Liter of Tears" based on a true story of a girls
fight against a neurological disease and the strength and endurance she had in
her losing battle and the hope she gave others. It is almost the same disease Master Hatabe
has.
So explore, look, learn, enjoy and
find a story which appeals to you. Explore a culture and people that has influenced
our Taekwon-Do.
www.mysoju.com
it is in English. Oh yes, soju? That is a different article at a different
time. Maybe I will bring some to nationals in June. See you there.
Kingdon of the Winds
Red Cliffs
This beautifully moving drama is based on the real-life struggles of a 15-year-old girl named Aya who suffered from an incurable disease, but lived life to the fullest until her death at 25. The script is based on the diary Aya kept writing until she could no longer hold a pen. The book that later followed entitled “One Litre of Tears" has sold over 1.1 million copies in Japan alone. Fifteen year old Ikeuchi Aya was just a normal girl, soon to be high school student and daughter of a family who works at a shop that makes tofu. As time passed, unusual things started happening to Aya lately. She started falling down often and walks in a strange way. Her mother Shioka, takes Aya to see the doctor, and he informs Shioka that Aya has spinocerebellar degeneration - a terrible disease where the cerebellum of the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat. A cruel disease, as it does not affect the mind in the least. How will Aya react when told about her disease? And how will Aya live from now on?
red Cliffs Epic Battle
Kingdom of the Winds, a story from the Korean 3 Kingdom Period
red Cliffs the most expensive Chinese Movie made to date. part 2 was just released in Asia in January
CHIN MU KWAN - TRUE TAEKWON-DO - THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE!
