In my high school days, my friends and I would hang out and practice our "martial arts" moves on each other after watching kung fu movies. Believe it or not, we looked pretty good. College was a little dry. All I did was concentrate on passing the next exam and did not really get into martial arts training.
Entered the United States in 1989 and decided to join the USAF in 1990. Six years later, a kung fu school, the Five Animal Kung Fu Academy, opened just a block from where I was staying. Not to let this opportunity pass, I enrolled and started training in Teoul Moon Kung Fu on Sep 1996 under SabuNim Mark Nischalke. It was during the school's grand opening when I met Teoul Moon Kung Fu Grandmaster Yim, Hon Sok. Our meeting gave me a much better insight as to what martial arts, specifically kung fu, is all about. My intentions on learning kung fu was geared more on learning self-defense but, Master Yim changed that. He said there is more to kung fu than self-defense. It will take a lot of hard work, dedication, patience and understanding to really appreciate its benefits.
On December 2001, I had the opportunity to train under GM Yim during my tour at Osan AB, SKorea. I received my blackbelt that same year.
On Dec 2005, GM Yim took time to visit me in Hawaii and evaluated my development. I was awarded my 2nd degree blackbelt on January 06.
On December 2007, I volunteered for another tour at Osan AB and took advantage of another great opportunity to train under GM Yim. I left Korea on January 2008 and am currently stationed at Hurlburt Field, FL. I plan on opening a Teoul Moon school in the area. Wish me luck!
- Teoul -
