Traditional Taekwondo
     I studied traditional taekwondo (non-contact) under Grand Master Kwon Jae Hwa's system from 1999 through 2012.  Master Kwon was chosen at age 29 to join a six man team sent to introduce taekwondo to the Western world.  Master Kwon formed the German Taekwondo Federation which has grown to more than 70 schools today.  Master Kwon was promoted to 7th dan in 1973 and founded the Taekwondo Center of North America in New York City.  He founded the Traditional Taekwondo Federation in 1993.  In Charlottesville, the Chief Instructors/owners/founders of the Charlottesville International Black Belt Center were James and Virginia Hamrick, both 5th Dan Grand Masters.  GM James has passed away and GM Virginia has retired from taekwondo.  There are traditional taekwondo schools in several US locations including Davie Florida (GM Nestor Cerda), Sunshine Florida (GM Carlos Rodriguez), Ft. Pierce Florida (M Francis Champagne), Brooklyn New York (GM Bob Luciano), Tampa Florida (M Nenad Omerovic), and Hawaii (M David Ippen).  There are many traditional taekwondo schools in Europe including Erlangen (GM Papadellis), Nurnberg (M Eduard Lahner), Schwabach (M Torsten Stamm), Berlin (GM Thomas Wiener), Salzburg (GM Franz Eberl) and many others.  In TTK 5th Dan and above are referred to as "Sabuhnim" or Grand Master while Instructors (1st Dan --5th Dan) are referred to as "Kyosahnim" or Teacher or Master. 

     I loved practicing traditional taekwondo.  The combination of aerobic exercise, self-control, mind-body coordination, novelty in every class, strength, and flexibility are in my experience unmatched.  John Ratey in his book Shadow Syndromes declared that the best insurance against senior dementia and Alzheimer's was taekwondo because every class required the development of new neural-neural and neural-muscular linkages.  I truly miss it. 

     For those interested in the history and development of taekwondo, I recommend Alex Gillis' book, A Killing Art: the Untold Story of the History of Taekwondo, The Encylopedia of Taekwondo (15 volumes) by founder General Hong Hi Choi, and Stuart Anslow's books of the forms of taekwondo in several volumes.  General Choi's encylopedia discusses the rationale and spirit of TTK as well as each fundamental techniques and each form including the new techniques introduced in each form.
My Taekwondo Story & Why I Practice TAEKWONDO (.pdf)

The essay above includes an account of the impact of bi-lateral quadriceps tendon tears on my training.  A version of this essay appeared in TAEKWON-DO PUR, a German Publication, in March, 2008.

This photo is from my black belt test, October 28, 2007, after eight years and two months (chronological time) of training.  I was 60 years old.  Master Kwon was, I believe, 72 at the time.
This display shows my belt history. There are two kups or stages per color in Master Kwon's system.  "K" on the belts refers to "kup." Each level has several requirements including new form(s), defense techniques, special or power techniques, and number of classes.  All new students begin at 10th Kup.  One is a 1st Kup before testing for black, or 1st Dan (roughly 1,000 - 1,500 classes).  Master Kwon's signature appears on my red belt. 
Taekwondo has led me to make many friends in the US and Europe and the Mediterranean.  Although the sale of our local dojang resulted in the end of a long and enjoyable chapter in my TKD practice, I am now, by having friends visit from Germany, by visiting them, and by visiting GM Cerda in Florida, able to continue training on a much more modest level.  I have learned up through Form 19 Se-John Hyung, a total of 684 moves, though, and am co-teaching an informal (no uniforms are tests) beginners' class once a week throuh the county recreation system.  At 72,  I'm not so capable as before, but still enjoy the challenge of the art--the techniques, the forms, and the stretching are all great exercise, physical and mental.