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WHERE WE STAND ON ..... OVERVIEW This section consists of a series of essays addressing controversial issues affecting ChungTongKwan Yudo While these essays are not official statements by ChungTongKwan Yudo or the International Yudo Federation, they are written by the Founding Grandmaster of Chung Tong Yudo. Thus, they bear philosophical authority within our traditional military art kwon. These essays are provided for the use of scholars, military art researchers, ChungTongKwan Yudo practitioners, and others with a legitimate interest in our military art. They are not published for the purpose of inviting dialogue on this or any other world-wide internet site. Although what we have published may be controversial, it is not confrontational. Further, everything published herein is factual, to the best of our knowledge. Should a legitimate scholar or researcher possess information in conflict with what is posted herein, we welcome serious academic dialogue to resolve such a conflict or to at least define the issues to the limit of current scholarship. We also welcome inquiries from such individuals seeking clarification or additional information regarding what we have published. Practitioners of other styles or martial art organizations seeking a dialogue regarding what we have published, should refer their comments to the head of their system or style, as is the proper etiquette in the military and martial arts. We will be pleased to answer any communication received from the head of a recognized military or martial art, in the Korean or any other tradition, seeking such a dialogue. Publishers and writers seeking clarification or further information regarding information published in this section should provide a brief summary of their research interest when contacting us. They should also include the name of the publication in which the information we provide will appear, and we would appreciate a courtesy copy upon publication. Inquiries from individual practitioners of other military or martial arts may or may not receive a response to their inquiry, based upon our work load and the quality of the inquiry. Expressions of individual opinion will be deleted without being read. They not only are a waste of our time, but they reflect discredit upon both the martial art or martial sport, and the personal instructor or coach, of the writer. To some, the comments above may seem stern or even harsh. Let us put our rationale in context. According to a popular Korean martial arts magazine in the United States, a group of Korean expatriates, now citizens or legal residents of the United States recently traveled to their former homeland. Upon their return home - that is to the United States - they announced the creation of a new "traditional Korean martial arts" organization. The announced purpose of this new America-based organization is to "open the doors of opportunity and to improve communication" between the traditional Korean martial arts. On the surface this appears to be a good thing, especially to those living outside the Republic of Korea. There is one small problem, however. It is simply that these individuals are not involved in the traditional Korean martial arts. They are certainly not involved in the traditional Korean military arts. The traditional Korean martial arts are not based in New York, or California, or Tennessee, or Texas, or Canada, for that matter. They are a part of the Korean culture and Korean nation. They are headquartered in Korea, and by "in Korea" we do not mean a postal drop or a single "training center" for the benefit of visiting foreigners. ChungTongKwan Yudo was the first international kwon of the traditional Korean military arts. It is a kwon of the oriental martial art of Judo, that which Kano Jigoro taught, not what it became after his death. It was chartered jointly by the Korea Judo Association and the ROK Yudo Association. As a member of the Korean Martial Arts Instructors Association, along with the other legitimate traditional Korean martial arts organizations, such as the ROK Yudo Association, Korea Hapkido Federation, and Korea Taekwondo Association, we maintain the training and education standards established for the practice of such arts within Korea. As the only legitimate international Yudo kwon, we maintain those standards on a worldwide basis. There is also an international kwon for the traditional military art of Hapkido. They maintain the same high standards and the same close fraternal relations with the other traditional Korean arts and kwons that we do. Our position then, is simply that we welcome any sincere inquiry from reputable sources, but we have neither the time nor patience to banter with the followers of expatriate Koreans, who have renounced their country and culture, and who teach a "Korean martial art" which is neither recognized nor practiced in Korea; or, for an organization which is not recognized by the governing bodies in Korea. Nor will we demean ourselves by responding to the spurious attacks of the acolytes of Korean expatriates who pretend to teach a traditional art of which they were never qualified to teach while living in Korea, and in which they either promoted themselves or purchased their high dan certificate from another Korean expatriate living abroad. Neither will we grant to a martial sport athlete, with the meager training and limited education they possess, the status and respect due a true student of the military arts. When we say that we are a traditional Korean military art, it is truth in advertising. If our pride in being a part of that select community offends you, we apologize but we offer no excuse. It is estimated that, at this time, as few as 1% of those holding rank certificates in the "Korean martial arts" outside Korea have certificates that will be recognized by the legitimate governing bodies within Korea. We intend to change that percentage when to comes to Yudo. Our brother kwons in Hapkido and Taekwondo would like to do that for their own art also. We believe, as do the martial arts leaders in Korea, that practitioners living outside Korea are entitled to the same standard of training as those living in Korea. Those who do not share our vision are asked to just pass us by in peace. © 2002, 2003. Joseph F. Connolly, II. All rights reserved. MARTIAL SPORTS VERSUS MILITARY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE RECOGNIZE (AND ARE RECOGNIZED BY) THE KOREAN MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR'S ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL TAEKWONDO FEDERATION "LEGITIMACY" AND THE TRADITIONAL KOREAN MILITARY ARTS THE HOMOLOGATION PROGRAM FOR THE TRADITIONAL KOREAN MILITARY ARTS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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