What a bonus the practitioners from Z&R Taekwon-do schools had on Saturday 1st May, First Grand Master Rhee and his son Master Rhee were no longer going to be in China and therefore decided to come to Dundee to conduct the scheduled seminar instead.
The students already know how lucky there are to get a minimum of a Master come to them to teach them at least twice a year, but this time they not only had a Master but the legendary Father of European & British Taekwon-do First Grand Master Rhee!
To put it into context a man who in equivalent terms is bigger in the Taekwon-do world than David Beckham is in the football world (No disrespect David!). I would have to use the old cliche and say China’s loss and our gain. It was also nice to welcome his son on his first visit to Dundee; Master Andrew Rhee, I know he made at least one little girl feel very special as he got on his knees to partner her during the seminar.
The day started with the early arrival of First Grand Master Rhee and Master Rhee, their early arrival gave Miss Tate and Mr Dolan a chance to catch up with them both and First Grand Master Rhee emphasised how important it is to encourage students to learn this self defence art. The 3 students grading were first up and Miss Tate encouraged them to breath and reminded them that First Grand Master Rhee was here to see them advance. The senior coloured belt grades looked on in envy knowing that if only they could have mastered their power test they too could be stood waiting for his approval to proceed to the next grade. Still they know it is better to wait and be ready, than try and rush through the grades. The 3 grading did show some nerves (unsurprisingly) but sailed through, allowing the day to move onto the seminar.
Prior to the seminar commencing a group photo was taken and a photographer from the local Evening Telegraph came - Miss Truong showed her skill as she stood in side kick position for all of the snaps taken (given there where many camera’s besides the photographers this was no mean feat - she earned herself around of applause). As First Grand Master Rhee, Master Rhee, Miss Tate and Mr Dolan went and changed Mr Wordingham started with a warm up.
Once changed First Grand Master Rhee entered the do-jang and appeared to grow in presence further, the local children looked on in awe and excitment. Master Rhee began the training with some fundamental movements and lots of jumping; first 90, then 180, then 270 and final 360 ensuring we performed the knife hand strike before we landed - other wise we were not allowed to come down! First Grand Master Rhee took over moving us onto partner work, which was followed by pattern work. The newly promoted members were shown their new patterns by Master Rhee (so we are expecting no mistakes in class!). The children were dismissed and the adults continued on, working up a sweat with explanations given for the application of each technique, that seemed obvious once you know!
The day ended with First Grand Master Rhee, Master Rhee and the local black belts going for a well earned chinese, where Stuart Wordingham had baked and decorated a cake to celebrate Taekwon-do’s 55th birthday. I have been reliably informed that the other members of the Rhee family throughly enjoyed the remaining cake portions. All in all it was a fantastic day and a real bonus for the Z&R Taekwon-do and visiting students to learn from this amazing man and his son.
Thank you to First Grand Master Rhee and Master Andrew Rhee.
