Kyung-Hwa Jung, the Taek Gyeon grand master, has an important job in the eyes of the Korean government.
He’s responsible for conserving the art and culture of Taek Gyeon, the martial art said to be the precursor to Tae Kwon Do, and passing his knowledge on to the next generation.
His job is so important that he is called a national treasure, or “Intangible Living Asset No. 76.” In the first performance of Taek Gyeon in America, Jung and his two disciples, Misook Kim and Sung-Kyun Cho, captivated an audience of about 200 people Saturday and Sunday at the 16th annual Asian Celebration.
He’s also been asked, and has agreed, to teach Taek Gyeon at the Eugene HMD Academy, a martial arts academy owned by Tim Greathouse. Jung will teach seminars Monday through Thursday on the mental and physical aspects of Taek Gyeon.
“Taek Gyeon is a different martial art because it is flows more softly, like water,” Jung said through his translator Namsoo Hyong, who is a grand master of Tae Kwon Do. “The rhythm is like a waltz.”
Hyong has been sanctioned by Jung to be the only American allowed to teach Taek Gyeon to Americans. Jung himself is the only grand master of Taek Gyeon and is the third in a line of grand masters of the 2,000-year-old art.
“Grand Master Jung trusts Grand Master Hyong because he’s developed an understanding of the art and how to teach it,” Greathouse said. “They’ve developed a trust.”
Jung agreed to teach at Greathouse’s academy because it he feels it’s important to pass his knowledge on to others.
“I want to transform Korean martial arts worldwide so other countries can share the value and meaning of Taek Gyeon,” Jung said.
Greathouse said that when the Japanese occupied Korea in 1910, they tried to eliminate all Korean culture. Martial arts, including Taek Gyeon, were kept alive only by those who practiced underground. The Korean government now pays people like Jung to keep the art alive.
There are currently 200,000 people in Korea who are being trained in Taek Gyeon by Jung and his predecessors.
Unlike most martial arts, Taek Gyeon uses more than two distances for combat.
“There are three or more distances used in Taek Gyeon: punching distance, kicking distance, grabbing distance and throwing distance,” Hyong said. “Most martial arts just use punching and kicking.”
Jung added that Taek Gyeon can be practiced by everyone because of the emphasis on the art form as well as mental development.
“There is less gender, age and social status requirements,” Jung said. “Anyone can practice for health or other reasons.”
Jung said he has found fulfillment in practicing Taek Gyeon.
“I am rewarded by the pride and respect I get from people,” Jung said. “By mastering the art, I have been able to develop a respect for others and consider their lives and how I can help them. My cultivation can be extended to others.”
Greathouse, who trained in Tae Kwon Do under Hyong’s instruction, said Hyong made contact with Jung because of his Korean heritage and that of his own teachers. They formed the American Taek Gyeon Association, which guarantees that Jung will come to America each year to train martial artists.
Greathouse took 16 of his students to Korea last summer to train with Jung. Greathouse’s students expressed excitement over Jung’s visit and his abilities.
“It’s funny because so many people have come to see him perform, and we actually trained with him,” said Shanti Rios, one of Greathouse’s students. “It was such a huge honor.”
Another student, Scott McNulty, said the dedication of Koreans to Taek Gyeon is amazing.
“Korean kids start training when they’re 4 years old,” McNulty said. “By the time they’re high school age, they’re black belts.”
Jung said it takes time for one to get to the level to teach but the learning process itself is continual.
“It takes three years to get the basics, 10,000 days to become a master or teacher, but beyond that, the learning is endless,” Jung said.
Jung will at least be able to teach some basics to Eugene residents during his stay, which will extend through Sunday. His last days will be spent as a tourist in a city he describes as “comfortable.”
“I feel people in Eugene have a close relationship with one another,” Jung said. “It’s very family-like.”