My TaeKwon-Do Journey ~ 50 Years 20/11/1971 to 20/11/2021

BRIAN DUCKWORTH

My Tae Kwon-Do Journey 1971 ~ 2021 A summation of 50+ years involvement in Tae Kwon-Do, the Korean Martial Art that came into 1 the end of the Korean War. My Taebeing Kwon-Doat Journey Brian Duckworth (C) Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

1 The Beginning How does one start a sport and devote more than half of one’s life to learning and teaching that sport?

As a youth I was never very ‘sporting’ orientated; sure, I played cricket and football at school, but I was never particularly good at any of these sports.

At boarding school at Geelong, I took up playing field hockey and had some reasonable success as a left winger, winning a very minor award such as ‘most improved’ or some such. After being hospitalized after a savage hockey stick to the shin, I was told that if I sustained any serious strikes to that shin could have serious consequences and ceased playing hockey.

Always an avid reader since childhood in the late 1960’s I came across a 4-book series by the author James Munro; setin post-war Britain the hero was an excommando who skirted the law with ‘importing’. After making some enemies in this trade he learnt Karate which he uses to great effect and joins the British Spy Agency – an early James Bond perhaps.

Undoubtedly this created my first interest in the Martial Arts which I followed up with learning Judo at the YMCA in Warnambool.

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Rhee Tae Kwon-Do November 1971 introduced to Rhee Tae Kwon-Do by a university friend, while October 1971 sees the release of Bruce Lee’s first film “The Big Boss”

November 1971 is a date that will be forever in my mind as it was in this month that my involvement with Rhee Tae Kwon-Do commenced!

Introduced to the club by my close friend Frank Busby, who was at Melbourne University at that time, I was working for Lane’s Motors in the city. Suffice to say I joined the club as member number 141 dated November 20, 1971!

At that time the headquarters and training Dojang was in an old building 567 Little Bourke Street near the corner of King Street.

My original membership card, somewhat battered and bruised over the years…much like its owner!

The Dojang was on the top floor of a somewhat dilapidated building, downstairs was pretty much a squatter’s haven whilst upstairs was a wooden floored area, maybe 30 by 20 metres in dimension with 2 fairly small change rooms at the front.

Certainly, there was nothing about the Dojang; compared some of the facilities that some provide their students it would been regarded as the dark ages!

fancy with clubs have

In those days we would start warming up 5:30pm with class starting at 6:00 and running through till 7:30pm officially although many of us would stay until the Dojang closed at 8:00pm.

Classes were large, around 30 to 40 from memory and training was tough, pushups a plenty for not putting in the effort.

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With such large classes the senior belts, mostly 1st Degree black with two 2nd degrees – Tony Ng (Penang, Malaysia) and Andrew Hargrove.

A normal training session of course would start with showing respect to the Dojang and senior belts, then one could start on your warm-up routine.

Classes would start promptly at 6:00 pm; and woe betide the latecomer as no excuses accepted!

A typical class would commence with stretching, leg raising and of course pushups; Primarily to ensure that everyone was in a similar state, the assumption being that your serious warm-up program was concluded before the start.

Next on the agenda were the foundational techniques, stances, punches, strikes and kicks, done has a full class up and down the dojang with anywhere from four to six rows by 10-deep, seniors at the front and juniors at the back by order of rank…

Cohorts of student were then separated some to perhaps some bag work, others on the forging bar and some would sit cross legged on the floor while other students would be taken through their patterns.

The benefit of watching was of course for the junior to absorb the techniques required for their next level of expertise.

Sparring was usually at the latter half of the training session, starting with step sparring and moving on to semi-free and free sparring.

Sparring Sessions could be quite daunting, usually you were up against seniors, coloured belts were OK, however the black belts were a whole world of difference, amazingly fast, very powerful and, to be honest quite scary at times.

In those days the rules for sparring were that light contact was the preferred option, imagine if you will someone giving you a well-done buddy slap on the shoulder…well that is what very light contact was like, generally my recollection is that it was a bit harder than that!

I can vividly remember myself as a green belt doing a REALLY fast kick and suddenly finding myself on my back, on the floor with a footprint across my chest. I forget the name of the senior, a tall lanky Aussie who then took the time out to explain how to do a back kick correctly and accurately…slowly I’m getting there!

Regretabbly there are not many photographs from those days, yes, believe it or not this was before the IPhone!

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1972 was a great year for us as students, for the most part gradings were run cojointly by Masters Rhee Chong Chul and Rhee Chong Hyup, they were always very daunting, held on the Saturday from 2:00pm through to 5:00 as a rule nerves were very noticeable and there was always a breath of relief at the end…We Had Survived!

I recall my 1st Dan grading, breaking technique done, TICK. Patterns done, TICK. Sparring done, TICK. Finish class bow to Masters Rhee, TICK. Sense of relief, Tick.

However, untick the boxes as the senior belts felt we the grading to 1st dan students had not quite done enough to be worthy of a promotion!

Juniors were all dismissed while we remained…for about another hour of sparring, from memory all free sparring.

Back in those days free sparring allowed some form of contact, the heaviness of that contact relied upon the skill and attitude of the participants.

Whilst I don’t recall any serious injuries one would finish training with the odd bruise, sore ribs and the occasional mouse under the eye.

I took about a week to recover! In those day we would hand sew the stripes to our belts, and I still have mine!

In my view having light contact is better for one’s skill level as an attack would not be seen as successful if the opponent were not ‘touched’. The theory being that to lightly touch the opponent using full power and pulling the technique before contact showed the control and skill of the practitioner.

Remembering that TaeKwon-Do in those days was a MARTIAL art of SELF-DEFENSE, not to far removed from the Korean and Viet Nam Conflicts and barely out of the South Korean army training manuals, and really coming to prominence in the Western world We also travelled to Adelaide’s Apollo Stadium to demonstrate in front the local politicians, my first of something like this so definitely an experience

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2 Master Rhee Chong Hyup

My Instructor!

On first meeting Master Rhee, like many of us whose only knowledge of the martial arts was from doing Judo or the Bruce Lee movies we were somewhat in awe of the skill, ability and technique displayed by both Rhee brothers; Master Rhee Chong Hyup and Master Rhee Chong Chul.

Their speed of execution, the completeness of technique and the power generated by them was mind boggling to us initial students. To say nothing of the jumping kicks that they demonstrated.

We were spellbound.

In all honesty we were perhaps somewhat scared to be facing them on the Dojang floor.

I recall one instance at the Prahran Dojang sparring with RCH where I did a fast attack…well for me it felt like it was a fast move. However somehow, I found myself, technique not fully executed looking at the lights in the Dojang, which were on the ceiling.

Comprehensively foot swept!

Undoubtedly Master RCH is a humble person, not the person that goes seeking additional adulation by attaining additional rankings, and awards.

His influence extends to the many students whom he has instructed…my estimation is well over 13,000…and far more if you count the students from country areas who are instructed by Master RCH’s instructors. Warrnambool, Portland, Traralgon, Sale and Thompson Valley to name a few.

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David Jewell and I once asked Master RCH about his ‘story’. His response? “Came to Australia, taught TaeKwon-Do’. A remarkable summation from an exponent of TaeKwon-Do who was involved from the very early days of our art.

Identified in many books as one of the original ‘Masters of TaeKwon-Do’ Master RCH is Featured in the Korean Contemporaries of Master RCH are Kim Bok Man, Rhee Ki Ha, Park Jong Soo, Nam Tae Hi and many others, however Master RCH being the humble person he is never mentions is long history and association with household names across the TaeKwon-Do world.

In the early ‘60’s Master RCH was featured on the first ever English book on TaeKwon-Do featuring the action that adorns our Dobok, Master RCH on the left with Park Jong Soo on the left. Many other photographs feature master Rhee in the book.

In the late ‘60’s master RCH was part of various tours with GM Kim Bok Man (as was GM Rhee Chong Chul), the image below is from the book TaeKwon-Do Origins of the Art: Bok man Kim’s Historic Photospective (1955-2015).

The image description reads: Members of the historic first International TaeKwonDo Federation (ITF) Demonstration Team pose on a street in Hong Kong, December 1967.

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The TaeKondowon in Korea also features that cover photo in the National Taekwondo Museum in a bas-relief on the wall. Although I have seen a photograph, I am unable to locate same.

Likewise Master TCH is also featured on the image below on the Original ITF Recognition Plaques – First right from the six o’clock position.

Taken from the book The Techniques of TaeKwon-Do by Jimmy Too (Singapore, 1975) is tribute to the World Masters where both RCH and RCC are featured, along with many other household names in TaeKwon-Do.

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During the late ‘60’s and 1970 Master RCH instructed in Malaysia and were a major part of the Second Malaysian TaeKwon-Do Tournament in 1970, held August at the indoor Stadium Han Chiang High School, Penang (Co-incidentally where one of my ex-brother’s in law went to school).

Master RCH instructed in the State of Malacca and visited his old Dojang around 1986, I am extremely fortunate to have some images of that visit in colour – a pleasant change from the majority of my collection which are rather grainy black and white…no IPhone in those days!

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1971 and onwards started my journey, Master RCH featured on the front page of the Melbourne Age with this spectacular jumping kick taken in the Flagstaff Gardens.

Standing Andrew Hargrove, I’m behind his leg and Bob newsome immediately to the right – the hair and beard Bob!

1974 – Demonstration at the RAAF base in Laverton (Vic).

Closest to the camera and facing is Max Healey who was in the RAAF at the time.

Circa 71-72 at the Little Bourke Street (Melbourne) Dojang. One does wonder who the lucky bag holder was!

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One of the few I have in colour; I think around 1986 at the Prahran Dojang. Bob Newsome in the back row, next to self, the other faces are familiar, but I cannot put a name to them!

Prahran Dojang Circa ‘80’s with master Rhee performing a jumping kick with both attacking feet striking the target.

This may have been Adelaide jumping over …I count seven lucky participants.

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3 Rhee International TaeKwon-Do (Australia)

The 1970’s were a period of huge activity within the Rhee organisation. As the first Officially sanctioned by the International TaeKwon-Do Federation and General Choi in Australia we had significant pre-eminence within the Martial Arts Community.

RITA had notable politicians of the day as patrons, Hon T M Casey and Chris Hurford to name a few.

In 1973 General Choi made his first visit to Australia, landing in Sydney, December 19th, he also visited Adelaide, contemporaneous account spoke of ‘mounting excitement as this was the first time Australian practitioners had the opportunity to see the most important man in the world of TaeKwon-Do. In Adelaide an enormous Welcome banner was prepared, and students assembled, dressed in their Dobok’s and a demonstration of step sparring was done.

On his arrival members quickly formed ranks (military emphasis coming through).

Further demonstrations were held the gymnasium later in the day with the usual speeches by dignitaries; again, contemporaneous accounts have General Choi praising the RITA (A) for high standards, the Masters Rhee for their careful instructions and attention to technique.

General Choi also made mention that Master Rhee Chong Chul was the first official International Instructor to be appointed to Australia.

It is perhaps unfortunate that at some time during that decade there was a split between the ITF and RITA(A). This was not an unusual occurrence in the world of TaeKwon-Do, in fact I have a research article from 2001 by Chris Morton called ‘TaeKwon-Do: A broken Family? Unfortunately we see this continuing, not just with ITF and WTF but withing ITF itself With currently three ‘official’ ITF organisations.

Why did RITA(A) sever links with ITF or, vice versa I personally do not know, I have heard rumours, but nothing that I could factually comment on.

In any case is it so vitally important, after all it the respect one has for one’s Instructure that is more important.

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Many of the RIT(A) Senior Belts, as is common in practically all Martial Arts left Rhee TaeKwon-Do and formed their own Dojangs, these include some of the most senior ITF instructors in Australia…

Ming Tuck Low, 8th dan, was promoted to Rhee Taekwon-Do 1st dan in 1971 and was a Rhee TaeKwon-Do instructor at the University of Western Australia in 1972. Peter Wong, 7th dan, trained in Rhee TaeKwon-Do in Western Australia in the early 1970s, Jamie Moore, 8th dan, commenced Rhee TaeKwon-Do training in Queensland in 1976.

Hans Fricke, 8th dan, first met Rhee in Perth in was a Rhee TaeKwon-Do 2nd dan instructor in Sydney during the 1970s, Christopher Nasiłowski, 10th dan, trained in Rhee TaeKwon-Do in Adelaide from 1972 to 1984, was a Rhee TaeKwon-Do 2nd dan instructor, Graham Healy, 8th dan, trained in Rhee TaeKwon-Do in Queensland from 1977 to 1982.

Australian Tae Kwon Do Institute Chief Instructor Graham Johnson from Queensland, Michael Kordanovski formed the ITDF. There are probably many others whom I have not identified, however it would be reasonable to say that RITA has had a significant influence on the development of TaeKwon-Do in Australia

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4 Brian Duckworth…

Decade by Decade

The 70’s

1971, 72 and 1973 was training at the Little Bourke Street Dojang, pretty much on the corner of King Street.

The Dojang would open at 5:30 pm and most nights there would be 10-15 students on the floor warming up, practicing techniques, using the bag, forging bar or benches. I can even today visualize Pasquale Caramides doing his situp routine on the bench legs hooked around the bench, head touches floor and back up to sitting position. Pasquale also had the biggest clench fist I have ever seen, I know Bourkey from Gippsland has huge fists but Pasquale’s would be 50% bigger.

We would train until 7:30 pm formally the after Master RCH left for another 30 minutes.

Although this was the Monday to Thursday routine, by the way I don’t belief I ever missed a training, Saturday was an afternoon of training 2:00pm through till 5:00pm usually.

However it wasn’t all training, after training we would generally go to Kun Ming or the ‘Warehouse’ restaurants in China Town, 10 or 15 of us around a big round table and the dishes would come thick and fast and would be finished even faster.

Woe betide you if you couldn’t use chopsticks! Not Western cutlery allowed! First introduction to chopsticks, I had them mastered in a week…because there was no sympathy at that table!

Pretty much zero photos in my collection from that era… we were all to busy getting in our 13 plus hours of training in each week.

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As you can see there were no creature comforts in those days! Very, very basic and, to be honest we didn’t need any more than that. Our whole focus was on learning and practicing TaeKwon-Do. We didn’t need weight stations, stationary bikes, yoga mats and the like; all we needed was a floor to train on, a forging bar and a bag to kick and of course a partner to train with!

Pretty much impossible to recognise anyone from this grainy old pic however the person at the back of the hall in the middle is Andrew Hargrove who was one of the senior instructors.

Absolutely fabulous technique with incredible power and speed plus awesome control, although occasionally he would let the beast within out, not usually a pleasant experience for the recipient to say the least…but that was all part of training!

Prahran Dojang commenced in the mid 70’s. As you can see a good turnout!

Prahran was operational from those early days right up to around 2018 when rising costs from the RSL necessitated a move to Caulfield North.

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1973, March I moved back to Warrnambool with a bunch of mates, me to get my formal accounting qualification and the others for various reasons.

With my usual low profile many were surprised to find out that I practiced TaeKwon-Do! After a couple of weeks I had a number of people saying ‘Brian, teach us!’. So I found a hall in Warrnambool – Scout Hall on the corner of Banyan and Timor Street.

Gary Heath, middle back row created the sign and we were off and running!

Like Little Bourke Street a pretty bare bones Dojang of similar size…perfect for what we needed.

We trained 5:30 to 7:30 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and before long we had quite a number of students; no doubt helped by demonstration we would do at the WIAE (Now Deakin).

As you can see just a basic hall big enough for us to train in…good attendance.

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Warrnambool of course was a beach side town and we were blessed with a great beach to train on a short run away, opposite the Dojang and open park where we would train.

It was probably these outdoor training sessions that attracted students in those days…so here are a few pics of outdoor sessions!

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We did many demonstrations. As you can see we did like our jumping kicks!

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We all benefited by the Melbourne Dojang joining us for a weekend training camp, they did it tough in those days…everyone slept in the scout hall sleeping bags and no mattresses but enjoyed by all! Of course, the obligatory run for beach training!

Of course, some fun at a BBQ, and some may remember playing Korean Volleyball in the hall…a turning kick made for a very speedy return of serve!

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By this time, I was instructing 5 days a week with Tuesdays and Thursdays running a branch in Hamilton, about an hours drive from Warrnambool. Our student numbers were around 50 regularly training between the two Dojang’s.

We were privileged to have Master RCH fly down to Warrnambool and hold the grading in our town, because of the numbers we used the Warrnambool Tech Hall 3 time bigger than the Dojang!

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In 1976 I decided to do a series of photographs show casing different techniques, naturally heaps of aerial work, so gathering a cadre of students we assembled in the camping grounds.

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5 Brian Duckworth…

Decade by Decade

The 80’s & 90’s

The two decades signified, like many who were of my generation the growth of our families and work commitments as a consequence of leaving the student life behind.

Travelling to Melbourne from Geelong by car for work does take it’s toll and my training suffered to some extent by not being able to train for some years.

Over this time I was able to grade to 2nd Dan, suffered my only ‘real’ injury in TaeKwon-Do; a broken cheekbone (thanks Bob LOL).

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6 Brian Duckworth…

Decade by Decade

The 2000’s

The 2000’s, an interesting time whilst in the late 90’s and early naughts I tried Zenshin karate as it was close to home some of the technical aspects escaped me, however the use of some krav maga style techniques were very effective, particularly for close in hand techniques.

I certainly gained an appreciation of the Kukushkin style and the toughness of practitioners, despite the need for political correctness of these times.

The one thing I noticed was how much training had altered! Sine Waves were in and I found them hard to understand as the excessive use of them seemed to be totally out of wack with what I had learnt and bore little resemblance to a Martial Art and Self-Defense.

I did some training with Phil Zydbel a 4th Degree ITF local instructor, as well and competed in and anniversary tournament run by Michael Muleta in both patterns and sparring, both were educational!

As I used original non-sine wave movements for patterns

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And not the excessive sine-wave my score was on the low side to say the least!

Sparring was another matter entirely, there were 3 rounds of two minutes (or maybe 2 of 3 minues), notwithstanding the round length I was exhausted halfway through the first round.

Takeaway numero uno, competition fitness is a quantum leap above Dojang fitness.

The other aspect of sparring was that you are going to get hit. Yes hit. Despite wearing the appropriate gear and using gloves getting hit with intent is a whole different kettle of fish!

No friends in the ring!

Takeaway number two, getting hit is good from the selfdefense perspective, the shock and adrenaline rush, the fact that someone is trying strike you with intent is so unexpected (for someone who has never competed) it is quite unnerving.

Unfortunately I only have a video of the competition and no still photographs. So over the page for some scraped shots

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7 Brian Duckworth…

Decade by Decade

The 2010’s

2013. The Australian Masters Games: held in Geelong, how awesome is this…I enrolled!

Both WTF and ITF were being played and any practitioner could compete in both styles, or not as they desired.

Being a total fool I though, yes why not both. So I had some private tuition in WTF and bought the required PPE. The tournament started with ITF patterns, as usual my old school gets severely marked down because of the sinewave affectation, so no joy there!

On to the sparring, 2 by 3 minute rounds, first up I’m against Charlie Ashe bigger guy than me. Takes me about 60 seconds to get into the old groove and then next 30 second playing with fire…then boom!

I go down like a sack of spuds with a severely torn hamstring! No more tournament for me!

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Master Rhee Chong Hyup, Founding Master of Taekwon-do his students from 1971 Bob Newsome, David Jewell & self.

Hard to believe that we have been so privileged to have been able to train under the guidance of Master Rhee for nearly 48 years!

Quite a few years of experience in this photo Master RCH, Bob Newsome, David Jewell and self original members from 1971 and 1972.

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April 2021 I was accepted into the weekend International Instructor Course held in Sydney, conducted by Senior Master Andrew Kang-Hae Rhee (son of FGM Rhee Ki Ha), this was an experience.

I was the only person that was not part of the ITFA organization and was warmly welcomed by all the students attending.

An extremely educational program over 3 days, very formal all were addressed as ‘Mr Duckworth’, not by first names. Execution was very technical and precise and when coached one was forced to think of the why of performing a technique rather than just executing, breathing was an important aspect and the manner that SMR performed was generally used.

Uniforms were required to be spotless and without any creases – an iron was on hand in the student area.

The Sunday afternoon was dedicated to a formal grading, my word the gradings were hard, technical skills, Korean terminology, and explanations of the techniques used were required for your testing.

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I learnt a huge amount from the course and will return, unfortunately the next is later this month, However I will attend a future International Instructor Course.

For me an incredible learning experience.

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The Future!!!

For me TaeKwon-Do is a pathway to health and longevity, despite having a bionic hip, a heart stent and a few other minor ailments I love my training.

Frequently I receive comments about how I stand, move and enjoy life, unlike some in my age group whose posture is poor, movement is hindered I am so lucky to be at this stage of good health.

My flexibility is still good, my speed of technique is ok, power (strength) is probably a bit down, having said that my aerobic fitness seems to be improving…not sure why, but I’m working on it.

The only regret is that my jumping kicks have left me…perhaps if I get my weight down by 10 – 15 kilos they may come back!

I remember doing a jumping spinning back kick for my second dan grading, it may be my optimism thinking it was over two crouching students!

Long may I continue to train and help other students to achieve excellence in the wonderful art we know as TaeKwon-Do. I am extremely fortunate to have been able to train for the last 50 years under the instruction and guidance of Master Rhee Chong Hyup, one of the foundational masters of the

Art of TaeKwon-Do

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